5A Semifinals Preview
In this article:
The top 4 seeds will all play in the semi’s this week for 5A ball, all of which have several big time prospects looking to capatalize on their productive seasons. Both should be close matchups, so here’s a look at…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe top 4 seeds will all play in the semi’s this week for 5A ball, all of which have several big time prospects looking to capatalize on their productive seasons. Both should be close matchups, so here’s a look at the 5A semifinals preview:
#4 Desert Mountain @ #1 Horizon
Desert Mountain entered the playoffs on a 9-1 record, and has won 10 straight games since their lone week 2 loss against Chaparral 9-27. They keep it in the family at Desert Mountain, as QB Drew Tapley Drew Tapley 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Desert Mountain | 2023 State AZ has established a lethal duo with his younger brother Dylan Tapley Dylan Tapley 6'4" | 205 lbs | ATH Desert Mountain | 2024 State AZ . Drew has thrown for 1,902 yards and 22 TD’s while his brother Dylan has hauled in 42 receptions for 605 yards and 8 TD’s. On the defensive side of the ball, Porter Sweet Porter Sweet 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB Desert Mountain | 2022 State AZ has been extremely disruptive all season and should be an identified threat pre-snap. At the beginning of the year, Horizon was the best kept secret in the state, fast forward til now, and they were in the discussion for a potential open division slot but ultimately land the #1 seed in 5A. Horizon is stacked with high motor, competitive kids across the board. Daniel Santiago Daniel Santiago 6'2" | 295 lbs | DL Horizon | 2022 State AZ is an absolute bully along that defensive line, with Ethan Tinsley Ethan Tinsley 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Horizon | 2022 AZ locking down the back half of the field. TE Matthew Klopfenstein Matthew Klopfenstein 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE Horizon | 2023 State AZ , WR Cole Linyard Cole Linyard 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Horizon | 2023 State AZ and RB Wesley Lambert Wesley Lambert 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Horizon | 2023 FL are three promising juniors that have been having impressive seasons, and they’ll look to continue along the same trajectory to help Horizon light up the scoreboard and get a shot at a state title.
*Players to know:
Desert Mountain: Drew Tapley Drew Tapley 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Desert Mountain | 2023 State AZ , Dylan Tapley Dylan Tapley 6'4" | 205 lbs | ATH Desert Mountain | 2024 State AZ , Porter Sweet Porter Sweet 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB Desert Mountain | 2022 State AZ , Matt Katergaris Matt Katergaris 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Desert Mountain | 2022 State AZ , Nolan Clement
Horizon: Daniel Santiago Daniel Santiago 6'2" | 295 lbs | DL Horizon | 2022 State AZ , Matthew Klopfenstein Matthew Klopfenstein 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE Horizon | 2023 State AZ , Cole Linyard Cole Linyard 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Horizon | 2023 State AZ , Wesley Lambert Wesley Lambert 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Horizon | 2023 FL , Ethan Tinsley Ethan Tinsley 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Horizon | 2022 AZ , Skyler Partridge Skyler Partridge 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB Horizon | 2022 AZ , Chase Jung Chase Jung 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Horizon | 2022 AZ , Landon Smith
#3 Desert Edge @ #2 Salpointe Catholic
Desert Edge will travel down to Tucson to take on Salpointe Catholic in a game that will showcase two of the top 2022 QB’s in the state in Adryan Lara Adryan Lara 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Desert Edge | 2022 State AZ and Treyson Bourguet Treyson Bourguet 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Salpointe Catholic | 2022 State AZ . Last season Desert Edge lost to Chandler in the first round of the open division playoffs, now they’ll get a shot to compete against another 2020 open division squad. We know that Lara can dice up defenses with his arm, but the Desert Edge defense has been lights out the past 4 weeks and deserve some more respect. 2024 prospect Aundre Gibson Aundre Gibson 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Desert Edge | 2024 State AZ will be a kid to watch, as he’s a had an impressive sophomore season thus far with 4 INT’s and will most definitely get tested on Friday night. Salpointe Catholic nudged out a close 45-42 win over Notre Dame Prep last week, and they’ll need some guys to step up and compete with a Desert Edge squad who has been playing lights out. Dual-threat QB Treyson Bourguet Treyson Bourguet 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Salpointe Catholic | 2022 State AZ and RB Anthony Wilhite Anthony Wilhite 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Salpointe Catholic | 2022 State AZ have been a nice duo to watch in the backfield, but a sneaky kid that could potentially be an X factor in this matchup is WR Dyaln Dreis. Dreis has had a productive season and an underrated role, as he is a very talented athlete all around with the ability to make a difference from multiple spots, as he could probably start at QB a most other schools in the state as well. Either way, a very intriguing matchup to watch down south this week.
*Players to know:
Desert Edge: Gavin Broscious Gavin Broscious 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Desert Edge | 2022 State AZ , Adryan Lara Adryan Lara 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Desert Edge | 2022 State AZ , Aundre Gibson Aundre Gibson 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Desert Edge | 2024 State AZ , Matthew Willis Matthew Willis 6'4" | 215 lbs | WR Desert Edge | 2022 State AZ , DJ Warner, Fabian Lopez
Salpointe Catholic: Treyson Bourguet Treyson Bourguet 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Salpointe Catholic | 2022 State AZ , Anthony Wilhite Anthony Wilhite 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Salpointe Catholic | 2022 State AZ , Elijah Rushing Elijah Rushing 6'6" | 255 lbs | DL Salpointe Catholic | 2024 State AZ , Cruz Rushing Cruz Rushing 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Salpointe Catholic | 2022 State AZ , Luis Cordova Luis Cordova 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Salpointe Catholic | 2024 State AZ , Dylan Dreis