Exactly two years ago on this day, Nov. 30, 2023, I wrote a column for the East Valley Tribune that many people had varying opinions on across Arizona.
The headline: It’s time to hand over the football crown.
The story itself didn’t involve much research, interviews or anything else like my normal work during my time with the East Valley Tribune. Instead, I wrote from the heart and mind of someone who not only grew up playing high school football in the East Valley, but also covered it and made it my entire life for six-plus years.
The topic of the story was straight forward. It was time to give the West Valley its flowers and hand over the crown East Valley football programs held for so long. From Basha to Saguaro to Chandler to Hamilton … the list goes on. Sprinkled in there were West Valley programs making their way to the top of the state’s highest conference. But in 2023, when Centennial and Liberty met at Sun Devil Stadium — as it was still named back then — it was the culmination of a dominant season from both programs.
So, I wrote the column.
Many agreed. Many argued. Some even accused me of being from the West Valley. In reality, when my then-girlfriend became my fiance, I actually forced her (not really) to move away from her family in Goodyear (West Valley) to a home in the Eastmark neighborhood (East Valley). So, Joey Vincent, I wasn’t a West Valley guy then and I’m still not now. In fact, I moved even further east and very north to Colorado Springs.
Anyway.
I mentioned that the crown may not come back to the East Valley for “years.” I didn’t know exactly how long that would be. But two years later, I can say I was sort of right.
Here are the top headlines from this past week in Arizona high school football.
All CUSD Open Division final puts East Valley back on top
I can honestly admit I didn’t see this coming.
I fully believed Liberty would be the team to play for a third Open Division state championship against Hamilton. Though, the Lions opponent I went back and forth on.
But the outcome was one not many expected.
Basha, behind quarterback Jake Rogers, knocked off Liberty and became the first Arizona program to beat the Lions in 1,092 days.
Chandler, meanwhile, took down rival Hamilton in the other Open Division semifinal, 30-17. Sure, the Huskies were still without starting quarterback Jax Sculley. But the Wolves led 30-3 at one point. Pure domination.
The Bears and Wolves will now face off at Mountain America Stadium next Saturday at 6 p.m. for the Open Division crown. Basha is looking to take home the gold ball for the first time since 2022. Chandler is looking to win the title for the first time since 2020.
It will be one hell of a matchup featuring two fantastic coaches in Chris McDonald and Ty Wisdom. Which brings me to my next headline.
Ty Wisdom is a winner
Maybe this really isn’t earth shattering news, but I wanted to make sure it was included. Ty Wisdom took Horizon to the Open Division in 2019, the first year of the top eight bracket. The Huskies were a 5A program at the time.
He departed Horizon for Desert Vista, where he took a winless Thunder program and led them to the playoffs. He had that program on a good path before he mutually parted ways with the school due to not seeing eye to eye. To this day I believe that was a monumental mistake by Desert Vista that set the program back years.
Wisdom then left for Nebraska to lead his alma mater, Millard South. In just two years he won a state title and had the Patriots boat racing teams and gaining national recognition.
Then, the Chandler job opened. Wisdom saw an opportunity and less than a year later is preparing to coach the Wolves in the Open Division championship.
Pure winner.
More first year coaches squaring off in 6A final
Andrew Taylor and Joe Bushman have led their programs to the 6A final in their first year as head coach. Sure, Taylor has been at Centennial for some time under his father, Richard, but navigating a difficult schedule and the loss of players to transfer is no easy feat.
The Coyotes knocked off ALA Queen Creek in the semifinals, while Casteel downed upset-minded Salpointe Catholic. Bushman came in as an unknown in Arizona, coaching at the collegiate level before taking over the Colts. Now, he leads them and their Penn State-esque uniforms to the big schools title game for the first time in program history.
Canyon View, Desert Mountain to face off in 5A title game
Name a better person than JR Alcantar. I’ll wait.
He calls his players his “mijos,” meaning sons in spanish. He emphasizes a family culture in his football programs, from Cesar Chavez to adult pop warner and now to Canyon View. The Jaguars are led by a stout defense and high-powered offense that managed to take down ALA Gilbert North in the semifinals.
On a personal note: shoutout to James Fischer. He was my head coach in adult pop warner. I won a championship with him when he and my teammates (also my best friends) convinced me to swap teams three years ago and join them. Best decision I ever made.
Finally, Desert Mountain is playing for a title. After years of coming up short in the semifinals or being elevated to the Open Division, the Wolves will play in Mountain America Stadium under Conrad Hamilton.
Well deserved.
Arcadia the lone top seed to make a big schools final
Only one top seed remains in the big schools championships. It also happens to be the team that hasn’t won a title since 1962.
The Arcadia Titans are looking to end a draught against the defending champion Mica Mountain, which turned it up a notch in the last few weeks of the season to make a run toward defending the 4A championship.
Round Valley, Ralph Amsden make Team AZV look silly in 3A title game
We all believed in Benjamin Franklin. And for good reason.
The Chargers flat out dominated all season long, including beating Round Valley earlier in the year. But the Elks came to play, especially on defense, and forced a missed field goal that would have sent it to overtime.
Scottsdale Christian outlasts St. Johns for three-peat
Scottsdale Christian was on the ropes down 15-0 at the half. But the Eagles have been the best team all season in 2A for a reason and showed it yet again.
St. Johns’ season was a special one, but the Redskins weren’t able to hold off the Eagles long enough in the 2A title. That’s now three in a row for Scottsdale Christian.
Championship games set for Mountain America Stadium
4A Conference – Friday, Dec. 5, 3 p.m.
No. 7 Mica Mountain vs No. 1 Arcadia
5A Conference – Friday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Desert Mountain vs No. 6 Canyon View
6A Conference – Saturday, Dec. 6, 12 p.m.
No. 4 Casteel vs No. 2 Centennial
Open Division State Championship – Saturday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m.
No. 4 Chandler vs No. 2 Basha
Leave a Reply