Top Games of the Week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some of the top games of the week: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Centennial @ Highland </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Centennial looks to bounce back after the close week 1 loss against Hamilton to get their season back on track, while Highland looks to keep their momentum rolling. This is going to be a huge test for Highland QB [player_tooltip player_id='704775' first='Kalen' last='Fisher'] (Central Michigan commit) against one of the fastest, physical, fly around defenses in the state. Highland hung up 35 on Shadow Ridge last week and shut them out as well, but their D is going to get a much bigger test vs a quick and explosive Centennial offense with [player_tooltip player_id='739454' first='Kainan' last='Manna'] leading the reigns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Swoll_2_/status/1831538665287512420","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/Swoll_2_/status/1831538665287512420 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">O'Connor @ Liberty</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't underestimate this O'Connor squad, as I think coach Cole has them fired up and ready for a dog fight. Super physical team that plays with a ton of intensity and a relentless motor on both sides of the ball. They're fresh off a 49-0 blowout over Chaparral, but they'll also face a much better team all around vs the defending open division champs. Liberty comes off a 22-0 week 1 win over Desert Edge, which is extremely impressive defensively knowing the weapons they have over at DEHS. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Higley @ San Juan Hills (CA)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I talked about this matchup earlier this week, as it falls under the top game in 5A this week. Higley is a legit powerhouse that has all the potential to 3-peat, but this might be their toughest matchup of the season, which is saying a lot considering they still have to play Desert Edge, Marana, and Desert Mountain. San Juan Hills enters this one 2-0 and would love nothing more than to beat a top ranked AZ team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cactus @ Snowflake</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cactus will take the long bus ride up to the mountains in northern Arizona to play Snowflake. Cactus comes off a blowout win over Sunnyslope 52-14 while Snowflake also enters 1-0 after a win last week over Bradshaw 47-27. Cactus's schedule gets progressively tougher as the season goes on, so this one is a more important week 2 for them than in years past to go up north and come out with a win against a tough 4A opponent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/RidgeAllen07/status/1831888089427669119","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/RidgeAllen07/status/1831888089427669119 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pusch Ridge @ Ben Franklin </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't know why Ben Franklin isn't being talked about more, as they look like a top team in 3A right now and I could see them being a tough battle for any 4A school as well. They're loaded up with prospects on both sides of the ball with [player_tooltip player_id='992794' first='Ammon' last='Alexander'], [player_tooltip player_id='1145581' first='Ridge' last='Allen'], Chase Judd, and a ton of others who fly around. Allen is a huge factor on both sides of the ball, and looks to be an FCS type of caliber kid that is plying out of his mind through 2 weeks. Pusch Ridge is always tough, as they blew out Show Low last week 42-3 with a 4 TD, 200+ yard game from RB [player_tooltip player_id='1145573' first='Jacob' last='Newborn']. A huge 3A heavyweight matchup this Friday, and it's possible we see these two meet again in the postseason later down the line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->