Flagstaff-Kickoff Preview: Arbor View (NV) vs. Pinnacle (AZ)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Previewing a featured matchup between the Arbor View Aggies (Las Vegas, NV) and the Pinnacle Pioneers (Phoenix, AZ) in Friday's Flagstaff-Kickoff at NAU's Skydome (4pm). Arbor View struggled to get points on the board in their 27-2 opening loss to Cajon (San Bernardino, CA) in week 0- they're led by a talented pair of brothers that are some of the top prospects in the state at their respective positions. It's the season-opener for Pinnacle after finishing as runner-up in the 6A State Championship last season. They feature one of the top 2025 QBs in Arizona and plenty of D-I talent on both sides of the ball</em> <em>heading into this season. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Arbor View</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 QB [player_tooltip player_id='803284' first='Thaddeus' last='Thatcher'] won the starting QB job for Arbor View after picking up his first offer from UNLV in late June. He presents elite traits in his explosive arm strength and accuracy at all three levels. The offense struggled to find it's rhythm in week 0 after facing long lightning delays and shortened quarters- they'll look to be more prolific in game two. 2026 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='402175' first='Jayden' last='Williams'] was the top target last week, catching 4 passes for 38 yards- he's a primary playmaker for this offense that should continue to see plenty of opportunities. Look for other pass-catchers to get more involved this week including senior WR <strong>Dominic Griese</strong>. 2025 RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1571166' first='Sean' last='Moore']</strong> led the backfield with 10 carries for 30 yards and added 2 receptions. The OL unit brings a solid mix of talent and experience with seniors Shaheem Jackson, [player_tooltip player_id='817728' first='Alex' last='Bobbera'], and [player_tooltip player_id='821005' first='Ethan' last='Medcalf'], and junior [player_tooltip player_id='820612' first='Daniel' last='Boyd']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 LB [player_tooltip player_id='811010' first='Christian' last='Thatcher'] leads the Aggies defense as one of the top overall prospects in the state. He's a physical tone-setter that totaled 6 tackles and 1 TFL in week 0 vs. Cajon. He holds 15+ offers from some of the elite programs in the country. 2024 CB [player_tooltip player_id='817723' first='Adrian' last='Peterson'] is a reliable defender in the secondary that'll look to make an impact against Pinnacle's strong passing game. Senior TE/DE [player_tooltip player_id='817727' first='Jackson' last='Miller-Carpenter'] is an athletically versatile player on both sides of the ball that had 2 tackles and 1 TFL last week. AV's defense will need to contain talented QB [player_tooltip player_id='368975' first='Wyatt' last='Horton'] or risk getting into a shootout in Flagstaff.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Pinnacle</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 QB [player_tooltip player_id='368975' first='Wyatt' last='Horton'] leads Pinnacle's offense in his second year as starter- 2800 yards, 31 TDs, 12 INTs and a 65% completion percentage as a sophomore. He's a talented passer and a tough athlete that can stretch the defense vertically with the deep ball and runs strong with the ball when plays break down. Horton picked up offers from Utah Tech and USD this offseason. Senior RB <strong>Mason O'Rourke</strong> returns to the backfield after rushing for 300+ yards and 4 TDs on 61 carries as the back-up last season. The offense also added 2025 RB <strong>Victor Valdivia</strong> from Chandler, who offers major playmaking upside. Senior WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1116179' first='Mac' last='Richards']</strong> is a sure-handed receiver that can make contested catches with a pair of strong, natural hands. Senior IOL [player_tooltip player_id='927210' first='Krush' last='Sowers'] was a recent addition to the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/arizona/rankings/2024-rankings/">PRZ-AZ 2024 rankings</a>. He shows great feel for the C position and sets a physical tone in both the run and pass games. Sowers picked up his first offer from Southern Utah in June. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior LB/SS [player_tooltip player_id='542803' first='Spencer' last='Halvorson'] is a talented, athletic defender that can make plays in the box or out on the perimeter. He's a physical tackler that can stick ball-carriers at the LOS and shows great closing speed in space. Halvorson picked up offers from Idaho and Fort Lewis over the summer. Senior DE [player_tooltip player_id='927185' first='Jack' last='Franklin'] committed to Air Force in May after picking up an offer in February. Creating pressure up front against a freshman QB could be the difference for Pinnacle's defense, but Arbor View presents an experienced OL group with size and continuity. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->