After weeks of debating who’s in, who’s out, and who has no business even being discussed as possibly being in, the first round of the Arizona Open Division playoffs is just hours from kicking off.
While Liberty, by nearly everyone’s account, is the clear cut favorite over the next three weeks to raise that elusive Open Division gold ball at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, there’s quite a bit of intrigue in a year where the field is without mainstay Saguaro, but includes Highland, a team with plenty of recent post season success.
Let’s take a little closer look at the opening round match ups with further analysis from good friend of the “Zone Read,” ArizonaVarsity.com’s Cody Cameron.
(8) Hamilton at (1) Liberty
Many wondered if Hamilton would be included among the eight following a lop-sided loss to Chandler to end the regular season. The Huskies finished 7-3, with all three losses to Open Division participants (Liberty, Basha, Chandler).
Mike Zdebski’s team, who has battled nagging injuries, took care of business against mostly over-matched opponents, but the Lions are a completely different animal as he knows following their 56-20 thrashing of the Huskies in Week 1.
Does facing a team a second time in the same season give any schematic advantage to Hamilton?
“As the saying goes, it’s hard to beat a good team twice,” Cameron explained. “Hamilton is a very good football team who has been riddled with injuries late in the year. Scheme-wise, Hamilton offensive coordinator Jeremy Kitamura is one of the best in the state. I know he has made adjustments on the offensive-side of the ball to combat what Liberty has shown on defense this year.
“So yes, there is a slight advantage, however the Huskies are going to have to play near-perfect football to knock off the Lions on Friday night.”
5th time in the Open in the 5 opportunities. #Dawgs pic.twitter.com/PvINQcCtkg
— HamiltonHuskyFootball (@Husky_Football7) November 15, 2023
The Lions’ dominance on both sides of the ball has further validated the job head coach Colin Thomas and his staff has done, not only building the power program, but sustaining Liberty’s high-level success year after year, despite significant roster losses and turnover.
The 6A Northeast Valley Region champs allowed just 73 total points in nine in-state games, while their offense averaged a staggering 49.1 points per game in those nine contests.
So, is this 2023 roster, loaded with size, speed, skill, and experience the perfect storm to win their first Open Division Championship?
“Similar to last season, Liberty has been a juggernaut all year. Do the Lions have a good shot at winning it all this year? Absolutely. Do I think it’s 100% guaranteed? Absolutely not. Both Chandler and Highland, in my opinion, both match up against Liberty better than any teams in the state. They run the rock efficiently, they convert third downs, and they both have fast, furious defenses that force turnovers.
“That semifinal match-up will not be a gimme game for Liberty by any means and the semifinals have been Liberty’s kryptonite the last couple of years.”
If Hamilton doesn’t pull off the stunner in Peoria, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some off-season changes within the program.
(5) Highland at (4) Chandler
The Highland Hawks have (finally) entered the Open Division chat.
Like Liberty and Hamilton, the Wolves and Hawks played earlier this year (a 24-22 Chandler win). Both head coaches, Rick Garretson and Brock Farrel, have a tremendous amount of respect for one another and the programs they run.
According to Cameron, one possible x-factor for the Wolves, in what is expected to be another tight game at Austin Field, is their improved defense late in the season.
“I think the biggest difference for Chandler is that their defense is playing its best football of the season right now,” he explained. “After giving up 47 points in their loss to Basha, that unit tightened up and held two high-powered offenses in Perry and Hamilton to season lows, seven, and 13 points. Both teams have players coming back from injury who should make big impacts in this football game, as well.”
Defensive POY @Jeremiahyoung44 and Offensive POY @CalilValentine lead the Wolfpack in this years 2023 All Premier Region FB Team. Congrats to all and looking forward to watching them compete in the Open Division Playoffs! #TogetherWeStand pic.twitter.com/GTkDwdaLQi
— Coach G (@GarretsonRick) November 16, 2023
Highland, the two-time defending 6A State Champions are no stranger to deep post-season runs and Farrel’s tough, disciplined team won’t be intimidated on a bigger stage with brighter lights Friday night in Chandler.
“Having a roster with playoff experience is always a plus,” said Cameron. “Yes, this first round match up against the Wolves is a much more daunting opponent than a first round 6A match up, but what makes Farrel’s teams so special is [their] kids have zero fear in any team they face. Those kids want to play Chandler. They want to play in games like this, and not only do they belong, they have a great chance of beating the Wolves.”
Grab your popcorn and enjoy this 4-5 showdown.
(6) Desert Mountain at (3) Centennial
Conrad Hamilton’s Wolves are the lone 5A participant in this year’s field.
DM finished 9-1 with their lone loss coming to Higley in a game they played without a number of key players due to injury. Now they draw Centennial, easily the most physical opponent they’ve seen to this point.
The general consensus is split as to how this one will play out.
“A lot of people think Centennial rolls Desert Mountain by three or four touchdowns,” Cameron explained. “I don’t think the Wolves get blown out, but I also don’t think they are close to being the favorite in this one. Desert Mountain has to win on 3rd downs on both sides of the ball to have a shot at the upset. Defensively, I actually do think they have the players to go head-to-head with Centennial.”
Centennial’s Noah Carter, a University of Washington commit, figures to play a key role in this one.
While on the other sideline, another future Power 5 player will look to play his best game in the biggest game of his four-year Wolves’ career.
“The x-factor for Desert Mountain is their tight end, Dillon Hipp,” Cameron said. “The six-foot-six Ole Miss commit is a match-up disaster and can be used in short third down scenarios – utilizing Hipp’s frame to shield off smaller Centennial defensive backs.
“When Centennial brings pressure, they will most-likely still double Dylan Tapley on the outside. Hipp is great at finding soft-spots in the intermediate zones and should be used as a hot-route many times in this game. Let the big man eat!”
COMMITTED. pic.twitter.com/1wurL6dwps
— Dillon Hipp (@dillon_hipp) August 6, 2023
The Coyotes will be…well, the Coyotes.
Offensively, Richard Taylor’s squad will come right at DM’s defense. Centennial’s offense is extremely balanced having passed for 2,137 yards, and rushed for just under 1800. They’ve throw for 20 touchdowns, while rushing for 19.
On the opposite side of the ball, Andrew Taylor’s defense has more than looked the part again, holding eight of their 10 opponents this season to 21 points or less.
(7) ALA Queen Creek at (2) Basha
Despite top-seeded Liberty being the odds on favorites, the defending Open Division Champion Basha Bears are ready to run it back.
It will start with a match-up against ALA Queen Creek.
Of the eight Open teams, “Zone Read” is least familiar with Ty Detmer’s squad, a team which has caught many, including Cameron, by surprise a bit this fall.
“ALA Queen Creek team is a dangerous team in the Open division,” he noted. “A lot of people in the state (including myself) slept on this team as they transitioned from 5A to 6A ball. The moment the schedules came out and I saw who the Patriots had to play, I thought it was a 5-5 year for sure.
“Head Coach Ty Detmer, his staff, and most-importantly those players deserve all the credit in the world for how they performed this year. They beat multiple 6A playoff teams this year and are extremely battle-tested. Offensively, they spread you out and get their athletes the ball in space. Defensively, they attack gaps with constant pressure and they hunt down ball-carriers will all 11 to the football.”
The Bears’ offense has been white hot during their current 8-game win streak.
beardown.❤️ pic.twitter.com/Z2bE3I1KB0
— Demond Williams jr✞ (@QBDwilliams1) July 31, 2023
It’s all in front of Chris McDonald’s team, but it certainly won’t be easy.
“A lot of media who have made their Open predictions have Basha winning their first two playoff games and playing in Sun Devil Stadium to defend their title,” said Cameron. “When you have an all-world player in Demond Williams and an incredible coaching staff, that’s not a bad prediction. But the pressure to even make it back to that game is there.
“The Bears will have to go through a gauntlet with facing this Patriots team and then potentially Centennial. Basha had another special year, but it’s not easy staying on top of the mountain. They have the talent to go back-to-back, but they need to play their best football of the season in the next three weeks.”
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Eric Sorenson
A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.