Top Games of the Week (Sep. 16-17)

Nick Rock September 15, 2021 @ 04:58 PM

Arizona doesn’t lack strength of matchups this week, as there are a plethora of big time games, especially in the 6A conference. take a look at the top games of the week: <img class=" wp-image-64677 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/IMG_4635-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="194" height="259" /> Bishop Gorman (NV) (3-0) @ Hamilton (2-0) Hamilton will get a shot to test themselves against a top 10 program in the country, with Bishop Gorman coming in with a national rank at #7 according to MaxPreps. This game is loaded with premier talent with West Virginia commit [player_tooltip player_id="42783" first="Nicco" last="Marchiol"] leading the Hamilton offense, and Bishop Gorman’s 4 star Oregon commit in Cyrus Moss who will try to get in Marchiol’s grill on Friday night. Zion Branch (ATH) and Fabian Ross (DB) are another handful of players to watch for Bishop Gorman, while Hamilton WR [player_tooltip player_id="42837" first="Christian" last="Anaya"] has been hot lately, so the Anaya-Ross matchup should be one to watch. The Hamilton pass rush between Arizona commit [player_tooltip player_id="100647" first="Russell" last="Davis"] and [player_tooltip player_id="42904" first="Chandler" last="Davis"] has been something to take note of as well. Prime time game on ESPN will go down Friday night, as this is one of the most anticipated matchups in Arizona for the 2021 season.   Brophy (1-1) @ Basha (2-0) Another 6A matchup that will be loaded with elite talent. Brophy’s [player_tooltip player_id="42784" first="Zac" last="Swanson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="42785" first="Benjamin" last="Morrison"] will go up against the talented young Basha QB [player_tooltip player_id="115519" first="Demond" last="Williams"] and Hamilton transfer [player_tooltip player_id="42897" first="Deshaun" last="Buchanan"]. Basha also has some big time players in the secondary which includes 2023 DB [player_tooltip player_id="42934" first="Cole" last="Martin"] and the Louisiana transplant in Jeremiah Vessel. Brophy comes off a close loss to Mountain Pointe while Basha is in the conversation as an open division powerhouse contender with their hot start and their highly touted young prospects. It should be a gritty game on Friday night with tons of intriguing players going head to head.   Centennial (1-1) @ Mountain Ridge (1-1) Two 1-1 west valley programs will go at it on Friday night. Centennial comes off a close 13-12 win over Millennium to bounce back from their week 1 loss at chandler, while Mountain Ridge comes off a 75-22 blowout win vs Fairfax to bounce back from their week 1 blowout loss 27-74 at Liberty. Ridge’s standout 2023 QB [player_tooltip player_id="42892" first="Brendan" last="Anderson"] will look to dice up the Centennial defense while Centennial RB [player_tooltip player_id="42899" first="Kavaughn" last="Clark"] will look to bust loose. Two programs who need that W will both get a big test Friday night.   [caption id="attachment_48101" align="alignright" width="200"]<img class="wp-image-48101 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/09/AZ-Adryan-Lara-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="42789" first="Adryan" last="Lara"], QB, Desert Edge ’22[/caption]Horizon (2-0) @ Desert Edge (2-0) Horizon is a big sleeper 5A program, as they have been playing lights out lately, especially with their 24-15 upset win last week against the reigning 5A champs Sunrise Mountain. Desert Edge comes off a 58-0 win over Westview where Washington State commit [player_tooltip player_id="42789" first="Adryan" last="Lara"] absolutely lit it up. Horizon’s Skyler Partridge, [player_tooltip player_id="162082" first="Ethan" last="Tinsley"], and Cole Linyard have stepped up big thus far, as they’ll get a huge test Friday night against an explosive Desert Edge squad.   Yuma Catholic @ ALA-Gilbert North Yuma catholic has not been challenged yet this season as they start with 3 blowout wins. Standout QB [player_tooltip player_id="110084" first="Richard" last="Stallworth"] continues to put up video game type numbers every week, and nobody seems to have an answer for him. However, ALA looks like a legit powerhouse for 3A ball and could be Yuma Catholic’s biggest challenge all season. Yuma Catholic hasn’t even given up a point yet, but ALA standouts [player_tooltip player_id="110157" first="Adam" last="Damante"], [player_tooltip player_id="115533" first="Brandon" last="Phelps"], and [player_tooltip player_id="100674" first="Johnny" last="Bellino"] will look to go head to head with Stallworth and Yuma Catholic and light it up, as this game has the potential to be a shootout given the talent on both offenses.   Snowflake (2-1) @ Blue Ridge (2-1) The reigning 3A champs will head about 30 minutes down the road to take on 3A East Region rival Blue Ridge. Snowflake’s [player_tooltip player_id="100690" first="Caden" last="Cantrell"] has thrown for 450 yards and 9 TD’s thus far, so the Blue Ridge defense will have a tough task. Blue Ridge’s run heavy offense will look to wear down the snowflake D, as both teams have a gritty, hard knock reputation up north for 3A ball. Very intriguing and important matchup for both teams which could impact playoff seeding down the stretch.