Sande Sez- Postcard under the Friday Night Lights

Arizona Sports News online

Regular season football is in the books!! Thank you to everyone who made this season possible. There are still playoffs, but to get 10 games in during a pandemic is huge. I cannot thank everyone enough for doing their part. We are in this together! So let’s get to it.

 

Week 10 postcard! 

 

It’s hard to start this week anywhere else other than with #1 versus #2, Chandler versus Hamilton. The intensity is different, and the talent is different. Hamilton gave Chandler all it could handle in the first, playing a physical style and leading 14-10 at one point. Great coaching staffs, though make great midgame/halftime adjustments, and Rick Garretson’s Chandler staff did just that, ripping off 24 unanswered points and running away with the Arizona Avenue championship. After tonight, a few things are for certain, UCF got themselves a stud in quarterback Mikey Keene, and the other thing is wide receiver Kyion Grayes is making a run for best 2022 wide receiver in the West (Chilly will tell you best in the country). During the game, though, two Hamilton Huskies stood out- senior offensive lineman Connor Deprez drew the tough Brandon Bucker matchup, and it ended up making it quite the battle. The other was junior defensive end, Russell Davis. If you like rush ends with a great first step and consistent motor, Davis is your guy. He’s got a bright future with even more development to come. Hamilton QB Nicco Marchiol suffered an injury during the game.  Praying for a speedy and healthy recovery. 

 

 

Next, we head to the Highland at Higley matchup. This should come as no surprise, but Max Davis led the way for Highland to a 33-22 victory. The senior running back ran for 247 yards and four touchdowns (somewhere Al Bundy is smiling in approval). Junior quarterback Gage Dayley made his presence felt as well with 255 passing yards and a touchdown of his own with his arm. One wonders if Highland could have made its way into The Open if not for that Mount Everestesque schedule. Highland should be very fun to watch in the 6A playoffs. Higley’s Kai Millner closed out another great season and now turns his focus to preparing for college football at Cal Berkeley. The Knights left it all out on the field, and what a game it was. Higley’s defense showed up and made adjustments left and right to keep up with Highlands well-balanced attack. The whole Higley crew should be proud of a job well done. To Coach Z and staff, keep up the great work.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly, we check in on ALA- Queen Creek as they picked up their first 4A playoff victory, defeating Flagstaff, 58-21. The Patriots have a lot of pieces for a strong 4A postseason run behind junior quarterback Logan Hubler. Hubler has several weapons to work with running backs senior Trae Moshier and sophomore Ryan Jensen. Sophomore Drake Cluff at wide receiver is a consistent playmaker as well. Thanks to other players like sophomore defensive back Ryan Meza and junior linebacker Jaden Manwaring, the Patriots are looking to enjoy some playoff sustainability for a few more seasons afterward as well.

 

 

What a great night. Looking forward to the playoffs. Thank you to all of the teams and players that worked so hard this season. It was a tough season, and you all persevered.