Welcome to the annual ArizonaVarsity Pick’Em Contest! Each week we pick 10 games and do our best to pick a winner, with the twist of the perceived favorite getting “points” to make choosing the winner more challenging.
Standings
Week 4 Games, 1-5
ALA Queen Creek (-7.5) vs Salpointe
All time record: N/A- First Meeting
Game Notes: ALA Queen Creek (0-4) has had one of the more brutal schedules in recent memory, and because of that, the defense is giving up 48 points per game. The Patriots have done some positive things, offensively, however- and Bobby Nesbit has been effective as a runner and pass catcher. Salpointe Catholic (3-1) is coming off their first loss of the season, but the week before that they won a thriller over Saguaro. RJ Gory has been Salpointe’s most effective offensive player this year, averaging 7 catches and a TD per game.
Valley Vista (-3.5) vs Mountain Ridge
All time record: Mountain Ridge leads 9-0
Game Notes: Valley Vista (1-3) secured their first win over the season against Desert Vista two weeks ago before turning around and dropping a game to Shadow Ridge last week- but QB Damir Ilicic is looking very effective lately, with over 600 yards passing and 6 TDs in the last two weeks. Mountain Ridge (0-4) has never lost to Valley Vista, and so we’re guaranteed to see a streak end in this game- either the Monsoon get their first ever win in this series, or Mountain Ridge breaks a 5-game losing streak.
Desert Edge (-9.5) vs Mountain Pointe
All time record: N/A- First Meeting
Game Notes: Desert Edge’s (4-0) Antonio Para and Camren Piel lead a defense that has only allowed 3 TDs in the last 12 quarters of play. Mountain Pointe (3-1) is going to have to find a way to break through the Scorpion defense, and their best hope might be 2028 RB Jamier McKinney, who has scored in three straight games for the Pride.
Marana (-11.5) vs Buena
All time record: Marana leads 5-2
Game Notes: Buena (3-1) lost this game 55-0 two years ago, and last year they showed massive improvement on offense in a 51-38 loss. Now the Colts need the defense to show up- maybe DB Jayden Thomas (2 INT) and LB Cooper Kraus (3 sacks) can help make that happen. Marana (3-1)has Sean Roebuck averaging 84 receiving yards per game and is on a 3-game winning streak.
Willow Canyon vs Tolleson (-12.5)
All time record: Willow Canyon leads 3-0
Game Notes: Tolleson (4-0) did not score a TD against Willow Canyon (3-1) the first two times they played- and both of those games had Rich Wellbrock at Head Coach of the Wolverines- but coach Wellbrock is back and has his team undefeated, and looking to get their first ever win over the Wildcats, who have been getting great games out of senior RB Channce Jones this year (3 TDs last week).
Week 4 Games, 6-10
Thunderbird vs Deer Valley (-6.5)
All time record: Deer Valley leads 5-1
Game Notes: Deer Valley (3-1) has WR Coleston Paxton helping the offense this year, with at least 6 catches in all 4 games. We’ll see if he can outduel 2028 RB Daryl Little, who has 866 yards of offense and 10 TDs already for Thunderbird (5-0)
Pueblo vs Catalina Foothills (-9.5)
All time record: Catalina Foothills leads 14-4 (10 win streak)
Game Notes: Catalina Foothills (2-2) is coming off two games against top-ranked teams in 3A and 4A, so they’re likely welcoming the chance to take on a Pueblo (1-3) team that has only beaten Copper Canyon.
Florence (-8.5) vs Coolidge
All time record: Coolidge leads 43-31-3
Game Notes: This game has been played for over 90 years, and Florence (1-4) has won the last 3 meetings. The Gophers are led by QB Brody Ramirez (7 TD passes), and he’ll face a tough Coolidge (3-2) defense led by Zayne Sigmon (7 tackles per game).
Thatcher vs Pusch Ridge (-6.5)
All time record: Thatcher leads 6-3
Game Notes: Pusch Ridge (5-0) has a seriously tough defense, and sophomore Cameron Shoaff has been cleaning up whatever senio defensive linemen Logan Carey and Aaron Kenworthy miss- which isn’t much! We’ll see if they can coral Chad Johnson and Ryan Jones, who are combining for 100 rushing yards a game for Thatcher (3-1)
Coronado vs NFL Yet
All time record: N/A- First Meeting
Game Notes: Coronado (0-4) has won 1 of their last 37 games, and has lost 9 in a row. NFL Yet (0-4) is looking for its first win of the season. Something has to give!
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