Week 4 brought plenty of close games, upsets and blowouts as the Arizona high school football season nears the midway point.
The usual suspects continue to stand out amongst the rest, while other teams are making late pushes into contender status.
Here’s a look at some of the top storylines from Week 4 of the Arizona high school football season.
Hamilton on the verge of Open Division championship
It may not happen this year or even next, but Hamilton is well on its way to winning its first Open Division championship, something that has eluded the Huskies since the inception of the elite playoff tournament in 2019.
And the reason for the Huskies knocking on the door is simple: a group of elite sophomore players led by quarterback Jax Sculley and receiver Roy Oliver III.
The duo is the among the best I’ve seen since I started covering Arizona high school football, rivaling the likes of Mountain Pointe’s Antonio Hinojosa and Jalen Brown (2013), Chandler’s Jacob Conover and Brayden Liebrock (2018) and Hamilton’s Nick Arvay and Brenden Rice (2019), just to name a few from recent memory.
Sculley and Oliver showed once again why they are among the most lethal combinations in the state – and perhaps country – as they connected nine times for 141 yards and three touchdowns in the Huskies’ 70-33 trouncing of Brophy.
Add in rising star running back Dezmen Roebuck and Skyler Shaw, who runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, and the Huskies are in good hands for the foreseeable future.
Devin Fitzgerald carving his own path
Sure, his name holds a lot of weight. His dad is a Cardinals legend and a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But Devin Fitzgerald has quickly made a name for himself in football.
The Brophy senior went toe-to-toe with Roy Oliver III in the Broncos’ matchup against Hamilton last Friday. The two went blow for blow, scoring a combined six touchdowns. Oliver and the Huskies got the big win, but Fitzgerald had a career night, hauling in 14 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are getting more than just an NFL legacy, they’re getting a playmaker with breakout speed, sure hands and top-notch athleticism.
Westwood playmakers shine in win over McClintock
Brandon Large has started to build the Westwood program in a way that is attracting talent and resulting in wins – sometimes big ones.
The Warriors hung 70 on McClintock last Friday, beating the Chargers 75-36 behind career performances from two of their biggest stars.
Junior running back Keshawn Barkus had his number called 20 times and made the most of it, rushing for 257 yards and four touchdowns. A performance like that on any other team may have warranted Player of the Game honors. However, senior safety Dallin Hansen had something to say about that.
He finished with seven tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a blocked field goal, a 37-yard pick-6 and 197 total kick return yards, including a 99-yarder for a touchdown. Get those kids a bronze medallion.
4A Conference starts weekend early
The 4A Conference didn’t wait until late Friday night to cause mayhem, as the only explanation for what transpired is it had to be drunk.
Sunnyside upset the defending 4A champion Mica Mountain to hand the Thunderbolts their second straight loss. Coconino picked up an upset victory over Mohave, and Kofa is now on a two-game win streak after defeating Cholla.
Speaking of upsets, Gila Ridge welcomed Northwest Christian to Yuma and knocked off the Crusaders 31-24 while the battle between two silent contenders in Combs and Paradise Honors ended in a 2-0 victory in favor of the Coyotes. Yes, that was a football score.
Other Notables
- Thunderbird won a track meet over Greenway 43-42
- Desert Edge continues to roll with a 29-7 win over ALA Gilbert North
- Veritas Prep keeps moving up the 2A standings with another win
- Blue Ridge upset Round Valley 25-21
- Buena bounced back in a big way with a 42-28 win over Tucson
- Chandler continues to prove its back with a 27-14 win over Williams Field
- Canyon View dominated Chaparral, 41-2
- Pinnacle beat Higley 41-11 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools
- Desert Mountain made a statement with a 51-16 win over Mountain Pointe
- Perry picked up a much-needed win over Highland; Hawks now 0-4 for the first time since 2011
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