Dominance is on full display across the Arizona high school football scene.
Before we get into the action from Thursday and Friday night, I wanted to take a few paragraphs to go over the AIA’s new ruling on out-of-state transfers coming to Arizona in-season.
On Friday, the AIA Executive board met to pass an emergency bylaw to prohibit out-of-state transfers from playing if they transfer after their season has began. This ruling is not retroactive, meaning the players who enrolled in classes at schools before Thursday September 8 will be eligible 10 days after their first class. That includes the four players who came to Mesa over the last week, and two who enrolled at Saguaro, among others.
This suddenly came about after Nineteen Bishop Montgomery players were suspended for two years by the CIF for accepting payments from a “money man” to transfer to the Torrance, Calif., high school. It’s a national story with so many layers.
My thoughts are layered as well.
On one hand, these athletes deserve the chance to play high school football. It’s not their fault that their parents, administrators, and “money men” failed them. If their families had the means to move them here, then they should be allowed to earn playing time as soon as they’re eligible. I don’t think a coach should hand them playing time based on their “star” rankings or reputation, but they should have the opportunity in practice to compete.
The other side of this coin is the current athletes at these schools. They’ve spent all year fighting for playing time and working their tails off for their school. To lose a starting spot to an out of state transfer mid season isn’t necessarily fair. But, sports teaches many life lessons, including the fact that life isn’t always fair.
I feel for all the athletes involved. Ultimately, I trust the coaches at these schools to make the best decisions for their athletes.
One coach (anonymously) texted me, “These athletes seem to have chosen these schools based on family ties and opportunities to be coached well. The coaches at these schools are top notch and they will do what is right for all involved.”
Dominance on display
Now back to the games.
We’re used to seeing Liberty steam roll everybody in the regular season. That continued when the Lions throttled ALA Queen Creek, 48-7. Colin Thomas continues to show that he has the best coaches team in the state.
Nobody thought the Patriots would be win less at this point, but here they are. I still won’t count them out as a threat in the 6A playoffs. They will continue to get better.
Basha steamrolled Mesa Mountain View 31-13. The Bears led 24-0 at the half and now get ready for a home match-up with Queen Creek. How do we not start looking forward to the Bears’ match-up with Hamilton on October 24th? Mainly after the Huskies laid the wood on Brophy Prep Friday night, dropping 70 points on the Broncos. The top dawgs in CUSD are going to be a must see this year. Both have a real shot at meeting Liberty in the Open Finals come December.
Red Mountain looks like they are once again among the elite teams in 6A after taking apart Tucson Salpointe Catholic 36-0. The 4-0 Mountain Lions travel to Brophy Prep next Friday. Kyle Enders’ team played a complete game in all three phases. Title contention is real for this team, expect them to be in the running for an Open title, or based on the new format, dropping into 6A to run the table there.
Perry moved to 2-2 with a mauling of the Highland Hawks, 35-10. Quarterback Kael Snyder continues to grow and the culture Joseph Ortiz has been building with the Pumas is really settling in.
Like ALA Queen Creek, Highland is yet to notch a win. The Hawks have only managed to put up twenty-eight points through the first four weeks of the season. It doesn’t figure to get any easier for head coach Brock Farrell’s squad. Next week, they host Saguaro, who is fresh off a dominate win over Cesar Chavez on Thursday night, and is only six points away from being 4-0.
Dobson, in its first year under former Casteel head coach Bobby Newcombe, was sloppy in the first half against Central before running away in a penalty-filled 36-9 win over Central. The Mustangs improve to 2-2 and will make the Fiesta Bowl Showdown on CW7 on October 9th against Sunnyslope.
Higley and Pinnacle was touted as a great match up and then Pinnacle welcomed Higley back to 6A football with a 41-11 throttling. Pinnacle has quietly been one of the most dominate teams in 6A so far, with those 11 points being the first points the Pioneers have allowed all season.
Score of the night – Westwood drops 75 on McClintock, winning 75-36. Incredible showing from Brandon Large’s squad…
The post Friday Night Notebook: AIA new ruling, Dominance all over first appeared on Sports360AZ.
