Playoff Preview: Morenci @ Paradise Honors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most interesting matchup of 3A goes down in Surprise this week, with #6 Morenci traveling to #3 Paradise Honors. A run heavy, physical team vs a score on command explosive offense. Take a look: <img class="wp-image-1044522" style="width: 250px" src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/PRZ-Generic-Grayprznm-800x525-2-crop-640x420-1691943084-crop-639x420-1696970017-crop-639x419-1696970043-crop-511x336-1697256183.jpg" alt=""></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Morenci</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morenci posted a 7-3 regular season record and are fresh off a 1st round win over Ben Franklin where they beat them handedly 35-7. They had a tough schedule this season as well, with those 3 losses coming against tough programs such as Pima, Blue Ridge, and Safford. They dropped those 3 games in a row, and bounced back to show how well they battle adversity. They're a tough, physical team that will hit you in the mouth for 4 quarters and display that high energy throughout both sides of the ball. Run heavy offense with a standout Back in [player_tooltip player_id='115520' first='Michael' last='Casillas'] who has put up 1,379 yards and 13 TD's this year, and holds over 5,400 career rushing yards and is approaching 80 TD's. Casillas is the main focal point of that offense as everything really clicks through him. They feed him the rock constantly as he holds that workhorse ability, which ultimately creeps up that defense so much that it opens up the play action super well. This matchup almost couldn't be more two opposite teams facing each other. Morenci is a physical, beat you up type of team with bad intentions, while Paradise Honors is that air raid, score on command type of team that loves to get in those shootout games. Definitely the biggest test this Morenci defense will get all year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*<strong><em>Key Players</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='115520' first='Michael' last='Casillas'], RB, 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='217593' first='Tristen' last='Sanchez'], TE/DE, 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavier Fernandez</strong>, DB, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emilio Roybal</strong>, DB, 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/phathleticsaz/status/1719870758757994702?s=43u0026amp;t=CHwVAtJaf7AJX4h6oaOkoQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/phathleticsaz/status/1719870758757994702?s=43&amp;t=CHwVAtJaf7AJX4h6oaOkoQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Paradise Honors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paradise Honors enters this matchup as the most explosive offensive team in the state after going 8-2 in the regular season, and a 1st round blowout win over Gilbert Christian 64-23. Their 2 losses came against top 3A schools which were Mohave and ALA-West Foothills on a close 49-48 shootout loss. You already know the man behind it all, which is QB [player_tooltip player_id='115507' first='Gage' last='Baker']. Baker has proven week after week for multiple years that he can stand and sling against anybody in the state. Baker has thrown for 3,923 yards and 61 TD's during his senior campaign and looks to be the unanimous OPOY in my opinion. Now to debunk the theory that Baker's ability is due to the amount of times Paradise Honors throws and the pass-run ratio, Baker has just 5 INT's on the year in 319 attempts. Not only that, but his completion percentage is .746 while his average yards per completion are 16.5, proving that he doesn't only hit those shallow routes and check downs. Lastly, if you got a guy that averages 392 yards and 6 TD's per game, combining that will all those other numbers along with his ability to lead, I'd throw the rock nearly every play too. Paradise Honors has scored less than 50 points just 3 times this season, and have proven that they can and will put up points against anybody in the state. As stated before, two polar opposite teams matchup in what In think is the most intriguing matchup of 3A all season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*<em><strong>Key Players</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='115507' first='Gage' last='Baker'], QB, 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1116509' first='Isaiah' last='Thomas']</strong>, WR, 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='663020' first='Josh' last='Morales'], WR, 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bode Joncas</strong>, DE, 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1116461' first='Coleman' last='Burkhart']</strong>, ATH, 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->