Top Playoff Matchups (Open Division-4A)
In this article:
Tomorrow will open up the first week of playoffs for the open division down to 4A. Take a look at some of the state’s top matchups by conference: Open Division: #5 Saguaro @ #4 Cactus Cactus (4A) enters the contest…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTomorrow will open up the first week of playoffs for the open division down to 4A. Take a look at some of the state’s top matchups by conference:
Open Division: #5 Saguaro @ #4 Cactus
Cactus (4A) enters the contest with a perfect 10-0 record as they’ll host a 9-1 Saguaro (5A) squad. Saguaro has been a consistent powerhouse in the state while Cactus has beat up on 9/10 opponents this season, with their closest win coming last week against rival Peoria 29-13.
*Prospects to know:
Saguaro: Javen Jacobs Javen Jacobs 5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH Saguaro | 2022 State AZ , Tristan Monday Tristan Monday 6'4" | 240 lbs | LB Saguaro | 2022 State AZ , Parker Brailsford Parker Brailsford 6'2" | 265 lbs | OL Saguaro | 2022 State AZ , Jojo Clark Jojo Clark 5'11" | 195 lbs | ATH Saguaro | 2024 State AZ , Ridge Docekal Ridge Docekal 6'3" | 210 lbs | QB Saguaro | 2022 State AZ , Devon Dampier Devon Dampier 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Saguaro | 2023 State AZ , Thomas DeChesaro Thomas DeChesaro 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Saguaro | 2022 State AZ , Jaedon Matthews Jaedon Matthews 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Saguaro | 2024 State AZ , Junius Marsh Junius Marsh 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Saguaro | 2022 AZ , John Butler John Butler 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Saguaro | 2023 State AZ , Cole Shivers Cole Shivers 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Saguaro | 2023 State AZ , Myller Terameau Myller Terameau 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Saguaro | 2022 State AZ , Jaci Dickerson Jaci Dickerson 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH Saguaro | 2024 State AZ , Zaccheus Cooper Zaccheus Cooper 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Saguaro | 2023 State AZ , Dajon Hinton
Cactus: Joseph Lagafuaina Joseph Lagafuaina 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Cactus | 2022 State AZ , Ata Teutupe Ata Teutupe 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Cactus | 2022 State AZ , Damian Jiles Damian Jiles 5'8" | 200 lbs | RB Cactus | 2023 State AZ , Will Galvan Will Galvan 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Cactus | 2023 State AZ , Tovia Vito Tovia Vito 5'10" | 175 lbs | LB Cactus | 2023 State AZ , Justin Holmes Justin Holmes 5'10" | 185 lbs | DL Cactus | 2022 State AZ , Mason Cullop Mason Cullop 6'4" | 270 lbs | OL Cactus | 2022 State AZ , Aki Pulu
6A: #10 Pinnacle @ #7 O’Connor
Despite going 3-7, Pinnacle locked up the #10 seed as 4 out of their 7 losses came within one score, as they had one of the toughest schedules in the state with their losses coming against open division, 6A, or 5A playoff teams. O’Connor comes into the contest 6-4 and has also lost some close games to some of the state’s top opponents (Chandler, Basha, Chaparral, and Highland).
*Prospects to know:
Pinnacle: Duce Robinson Duce Robinson 6'6" | 230 lbs | TE Pinnacle | 2023 State AZ , Myles Libman Myles Libman 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Pinnacle | 2023 State AZ , Elijah Paige Elijah Paige 6'7" | 305 lbs | OL Pinnacle | 2023 State AZ , Zach Wren Zach Wren 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Pinnacle | 2022 State AZ , Ryan Meloche Ryan Meloche 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Pinnacle | 2022 State AZ , Jacobi Rucker Jacobi Rucker 5'9" | 205 lbs | RB Pinnacle | 2023 State AZ , Carson Tininenko Carson Tininenko 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB Pinnacle | 2022 AZ
O’Connor: Brandon Craddock Brandon Craddock 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB O'Connor | 2022 State AZ , Brevin Czosnyka Brevin Czosnyka 6'3" | 195 lbs | LB O'Connor | 2022 State AZ , Kolten Warner Kolten Warner 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Sandra Day O'Connor | 2022 State AZ , Blake Ware Blake Ware 5'9" | 190 lbs | LB O'Connor | 2023 State AZ
5A: #10 Apollo @ #7 Notre Dame Prep
Both teams can be sneaky teams throughout these 5A playoffs, and definitely deserve some more respect put on their names. Apollo enters the matchup 8-2, with their losses coming against Glendale (12-14) and Horizon (21-58). Notre Dame comes into the contest 7-3 with relatively close losses to some solid programs such as Verrado (14-21), Brophy (7-20), and Saguaro (28-42). However, just last week Notre Dame Prep upset Horizon at home 31-28. So a lot can happen in this matchup as both teams have played slightly inconsistent but have flashed strong potential all year.
*Prospects to know:
Apollo: Adam Mohammed Adam Mohammed 6'0" | 180 lbs | RB Apollo | 2024 State AZ , Aiden Estill, David Viloria
Notre Dame Prep: Gavin Smith Gavin Smith 5'10" | 190 lbs | WR Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State AZ , Duke Frye Duke Frye 6'1" | 275 lbs | DL Notre Dame Preparatory | 2022 State AZ , Ben Roberts, Braden Wells Braden Wells 6'2" | 170 lbs | QB Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State AZ , Andrew Vines
4A: #9 Bradshaw @ #8 Prescott
For the first time in history, the biggest rivalry in northern AZ will go down for the second time this season. Just two weeks ago, Bradshaw beat Prescott 24-6. Now, they get a chance to duke it out again in the playoffs, and that atmosphere up in Prescott on Friday will be off the charts and rockin all night. Assuming Prescott is as hungry as ever to get another crack at Bradshaw, this game projects to be a 48 minute war between the two programs.
*Prospects to know:
Bradshaw: Malachi Stephenson Malachi Stephenson 6'1" | 200 lbs | TE Bradshaw Mountain | 2023 AZ , Elijah Acua, Kaleb Hill, Grady Rose, Gabriel Ricketts
Prescott: Cody Leopold Cody Leopold 5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH Prescott | 2023 State AZ , Cody Hanna Cody Hanna 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Prescott | 2023 State AZ , Jake Hilton, Cervando Vega, Landen Francis, Landen Aurich