Week Eight’s Best Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week Eight has arrived, and the stakes couldn't be higher. With the regular season winding down, every matchup plays a crucial role in shaping playoff positioning and determining who controls their own destiny. Rivalries are intensifying, and each matchup carries added weight in the race for region titles. Teams are deep into the grind of the season, and this is the stretch where momentum can swing quickly, and every win matters in setting the tone for the final weeks. Here are Week Eight's Best Games:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pinnacle (5-1) vs Hamilton (6-0)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A ultimate matchup in the 6A landscape with the Pinnacle Pioneers heading to Chandler to take on the Hamilton Huskies. Pinnacle is coming off a major bounce back win as they were able to take care of Cesar Chavez, winning 44-7. Hamilton continues to roll out wins in their undefeated campaign as they crushed Valley Vista, 54-0. This matchup features two completely different styles of offense that look to put up points in a variety of ways. For Pinnacle, they will continue to lean on the rushing attack from RB [player_tooltip player_id='1682303' first='Gavin' last='Hammond'] and RB Brandon Morgan who each had over 100 rushing yards against Cesar Chavez. Meanwhile Hamilton will be looking to be getting it done through the air with their excellent quarterback play that they have from QB Jax Sculley. Sculley threw for over 6 passing touchdowns with some of his top targets being to WR Christian Riley, WR Royce Oliver lll and dual threat RB Skyler Cole. Both defenses have been outstanding all season, so we will see if they can slow down this offensive firepower. Pinnacle DL [player_tooltip player_id='1682193' first='Haydon' last='Franklin'] and Hamilton DL [player_tooltip player_id='1399752' first='Derrick' last='LeBlanc'] Jr. will be the guys looking to set the line of scrimmage early on in this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hamilton QB Jax Sculley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22523128/68e1ab8d755b7576b2d38e1d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f10b2494d9a"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Goldwater (4-3) vs Sunnyslope (5-2)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An underrated 5A matchup that can really propel each team into the higher echelon of contenders for the conference is the Goldwater Bulldogs heading down into Phoenix to face the Sunnyslope Vikings. Goldwater is coming off a sour defeat at the hands of McClintock, losing 22-16. The Vikings are riding high off their win against Dodson, beating them 38-7. Goldwater is hoping its ground game takes a big step this week, with someone emerging as the go-to back from their deep rotation of ball carriers. That could very well be sophomore RB Jorge Gastelum who has seen more carries as of late. Don't be surprised to if senior RB Marvin Larry or RB Jay'el Lozano decide to take over as they have proven they can early on in the season. Meanwhile Sunnyslope has a balance offense tandem with QB [player_tooltip player_id='1603406' first='Royce' last='Vanacore'] lighting it up through the air and RB Kelton Rogers on the ground. They are led by a talented offensive line with players like OL Joseph Gillespie and OL Jude Jacobs. Meanwhile don't sleep on LB Anthony Teran to have a big night for this Viking's defense with the type of offense he will face.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sunnyslope RB Kelton Rodgers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19427583/68e962ef342d9a74f9661def' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f18092068e0"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Arizona College Prep (7-0) vs ALA - Gilbert North (6-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This matchup will have massive implications on the 5A conference with two juggernauts ready to square off with the Arizona College Prep Knights heading down to Gilbert to face ALA- Gilbert North Eagles. The Knights continue desolating their competition as they were able to recently claim the victory off Skyline, winning 52-14. The Eagles have caught fire, winning three straight, including a commanding 49-6 win over Gilbert. The Eagle's defense has been unstoppable lately, giving up only 6 points in their last 3 games. Led by a talented unit with LB [player_tooltip player_id='992812' first='Stockton' last='Dye'], who has two picks in their last game against Gilbert, and DB Weston Powell. They will have their hands full as they face a talented signal called in QB [player_tooltip player_id='1587252' first='Evan' last='Heinrich']. Additionally, RB Jcory Horne has really emerged as potent weapon in the Knights offense, averaging almost 90 rushing yards a game in his last 3 games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ALA - Gilbert North LB [player_tooltip player_id='992812' first='Stockton' last='Dye']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12603746/68eabf1b58748e6fc18ff0ff' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68f1809206918"} /-->