Prep Football Previews: Sept. 14
Kofa at Cibola
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Records: Kings 0-3; Raiders 2-1
Last week: Kofa lost to Gila Ridge 49-7; Cibola defeated Yuma High 49-0
Players to watch: Jesus Polino did something every lineman dreams of — scoring a touchdown. The junior fell on a punt blocked by Joshua McDonald for the Kings' only score last week against Gila Ridge. ... Cibola running back Jordan Mitchell didn't need a lot of touches to have a big game last week, rushing for 151 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries. And he should be able to add to his season totals of 414 yards and seven scores this week — he's rushed for 402 yards and eight TDs in three career games against Kofa.
Kofa coach Kevin Moore's comments: “We have to play our best game of the season, that's for sure. They are very talented. They are throwing better than they have in the past, and of course they're running the ball too. We have to stop their big plays and make some big plays ourself.
Cibola coach Lucky Arvizo's comments: “We have to do better at recognizing defensive fronts and communicating blocking schemes. And defensively we just need to continue to be aggressive in recognizing the offensive scheme and attacking it.”
The lowdown: Kofa hasn't beaten Cibola since 2007, when the Kings closed the season with a 36-22 win to clinch the city championship. That's the Raiders' only loss to the Kings in the last eight years. ... Last year, the teams played twice in the first four weeks of the year, with Cibola winning 52-13 and 47-20. ... Cibola quarterback Lucky Arvizo Jr. is still trying to find a rhythm with his receivers. He's completed 46 percent of his passes this year and thrown four touchdowns to one interception. Michael Decorse-Hall has been his top target, catching eight passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns.
Gila Ridge at Brawley
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Records: Hawks 3-0; Wildcats 1-1
Last week: Gila Ridge defeated Kofa 49-7; Brawley lost to Hoover (San Diego) 27-13
Players to watch: Junior fullback Kainoa Renaud had a big night against Kofa, rushing for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the night as the Hawks rushed for 355 yards for the game ... Brawley junior Issak Comparan, listed as a wide receiver/wing back, scored both touchdowns against Hoover while in the backfield as the Wildcats' fullback.
Gila Ridge coach Jay Denton's comments: “They're a good team. We're going to have to play real solid and consistent game on both sides of the ball because they are very solid.”
The lowdown: Denton isn't worried about this being a trap game for the Hawks. The Wildcats' win this season came against Indio, which is 0-3 thus far. With 2-1 Perry coming to town on Sept. 21, it could be easy to look past Brawley and assume the Hawks will be 4-0 heading into the chance to get revenge on Perry, which beat Gila Ridge 50-16 last season. But Denton is confident that his team's full attention is on beating the Wildcats.
Yuma High at Sahuaro
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Records: Criminals 1-2; Cougars 2-1
Last week: Yuma High lost to Cibola 49-0; Sahuaro lost to Buena 48-31
Players to watch: Criminal senior quarterback Jeremy Conde is responsible for the only touchdown Yuma High has scored the past two weeks — an 8-yard pass to Sedric Rash. Last week, Conde completed four of his 16 passes for 22 yards. ... Against Buena, Sahuaro senior running back Alexander Howe only rushed for 53 yards. However, that's most likely because the Cougars trailed 42-10 at halftime and needed to throw the ball. In their 56-7 win over Santa Rita, Howe rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Yuma High coach Tom Fox's comments: “They put it to us pretty good last year. But we've had some really good practices this week and the kids are excited; they get a bus trip to play someone out of town. They play real physical, but we' played a physical opponent last week. I don't think they'll be any more physical than Cibola was. Maybe it's working with the kids that's rubbing off, but I think we have a chance. They are so upbeat and have the right attitude.”
The lowdown: After a 45-0 win to start the year against San Luis, Yuma High's offense has stalled the past two weeks — a 41-6 loss to Gila Ridge and a 49-0 shutout against Cibola. While Sahuaro is coming off a 17-point loss that wasn't as close as the score indicates, the Cougars also have a 56-7 win (Santa Rita) and a 41-6 victory (Cholla) this year. ... The Cougars rolled to a 45-0 win in Yuma last year.
Yuma Catholic at Wickenburg
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Records: Shamrocks 2-1; Wranglers 1-2
Last week: Yuma Catholic defeated Estrella Foothills 35-21; Wickenburg lost to River Valley 35-15
Players to watch: A big part of the reason for sophomore quarterback Jagan Cleary's breakout game against Estrella Foothills was receiver Ricky Hampton. The junior caught four passes for 89 yards with a pair of touchdowns and displayed some impressive ability to make cuts in order to break tackles. ... In Wickenburg's only win of the season — a 20-12 victory over Parker — senior fullback Jordon Mills carried the ball 16 times for 137 yards and a touchdown.
Yuma Catholic coach Rhett Stallworth's comments: “We thought this was going to be a game we had in hand, then this week happened and now it's going to be a dogfight.”
The lowdown: After barely surviving River Valley on Sept. 1, the Shamrocks offense looked like it was clicking on all cylinders by the second half of their win over Estrella Foothills. Cleary threw three touchdowns and senior running back Kody Hazlett rushed for 172 yards and two scores. But this week, the Shamrocks will have six starters out because of injury, so the reserves need to fill the void for the Shamrocks if they want to escape Wickenburg with another win, just like last year's 57-21 victory over the Wranglers.
Buckeye at Antelope
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Records: Hawks 3-0; Rams 1-1
Last week: Buckeye defeated Parker 51-6; Antelope lost to Tonopah Valley 42-14
Players to watch: Although the Rams run a spread offense, running back Fred Pearson still has a big role in the offense. ... Senior running back Jabril Taylor has rattled off three straight 100-plus rushing yard games for Buckeye, including last week's 160-yard performance in their big win over Parker.
Antelope coach Dan Gardner's comments: “At least on paper they are the second-best team we're going to face all year. They have larger numbers, both in numbers and size. Their school population is significantly higher, so it's definitely a big challenge.
The lowdown: In just his third game at Antelope, Gardner will face his biggest challenge yet. Buckeye is a strong team off to an impressive 3-0 start; their closest game was a 42-8 victory at Sierra Linda. The Rams defense will be tested against the run game of Taylor and if Antelope can at least stay competitive, that should be something of a moral victory. Gardner called them a “statically superior team” but that the Rams are excited for the chance to rise to the challenge.
San Luis at Blythe-Palo Verde Valley
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Records: Sidewinders 0-3; Yellowjackets 1-1
Last week: San Luis lost to Lake Havasu 49-0; Palo Verde Valley lost to Shadow Hills 36-7
Players to watch: Despite the lopsided loss to Lake Havasu, San Luis coach Mark Shields said he liked what he saw on defense out of Manuel Gonzalez, who came up with some big hits for the Sidewinders. ... Palo Verde Valley isn't afraid to throw the ball, with senior quarterback Ryan Galvan attempting 25 passes — completing 10 for 91 yards — in their loss against Shadow Hills.
San Luis coach Mark Shields' comments: “They pass a lot, they run a lot — we have to be ready for anything.”
The lowdown: Coming into his fourth game as coach at San Luis, Shield's Sidewinders have yet to score this season. The 39-game losing streak is bad enough, but the team's scoreless streak is getting long as well. They haven't scored in their last four games and last scored in a game against Kofa on Oct. 21. ... The Sidewinders will be missing Jorge Sanchez, who has been anchoring the offense whether he's been playing quarterback or running back. Shields said Daniel Amaya, the team's Week 1 starter at QB, will return there tonight.
Harvest Prep at Casa Grande-Mission Heights Prep
Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday
Records: Eagles 2-0; Phantoms 1-1
Last week: Harvest Prep beat Summit 22-14; Mission Heights Prep lost 36-6 to Apache Trail
Players to watch: Junior running back Ruben Amaya didn't need many touches to do some serious damage last week. He carried the ball only four times for 164 yards — including a 65-yard and 85-yard touchdown. ... In the Phantoms' season-opening win, Mission Heights' senior Jose Garcia rushed for 104 yards on four carries.
Harvest Prep coach Nathen Baker's comments: “They're very balanced. They'll run it with one back out of the backfield then spread out and open it up.”
The lowdown: The defense stepped up for the Eagles in their win last week over Summit and with Amaya back after missing the first game of the year, the offense has its most valuable tool back. Baker has said he expects his team to win at least six games this season and with a win at Mission Heights, they'd be halfway there.
Capsules by Edward Carifio and Jesse Severson
