Eric Sorenson
Still Perfect
Yes, it’s early, but it’s hard not to notice the success of the 5A Northeast Valley Region.
ALA Gilbert North, Cactus Shadows, Desert Mountain, Horizon, Notre Dame Prep, and Higley are a combined 12-0. This trend is similar to one we saw last season before the war of attrition in region games.
Desert Mountain has allowed just 14 points in lopsided wins over Verrado and Sunrise Mountain. Horizon has outscored their first two opponents 100-8. NDP got a likely big power points win at Desert Edge last week, and we all know the high-level success Eddy Zubey’s Higley Knights have had the past few seasons.
For a deeper dive into 5A’s deepest region, “Zone Read” asked Sports360AZ.com’s Chris Eaton (Gridiron Arizona) for his thoughts on the five-team league which saw every team in the region win at least four games, and five qualify for the playoffs, in 2023.
“Desert Mountain was in the Open, Higley took the 5A, and ALA-Gilbert North, Horizon, and Notre Dame all won playoff games in the 5A bracket, Gridiron noted. “Taking a look at this year, ALA-Gilbert North has a new head coach with Ty Detmer making the move over from ALA-Queen Creek. The Eagles have played a pair of quarterbacks this year and have a nice two-way player in Kody Thorley (RB/LB), who is leading the team in rushing and in tackles.
#AGTG 2-0. pic.twitter.com/LsVIUs1UIR
— Donivan Dixon 2026 (@donivanndixonn) September 8, 2024
“Cactus Shadows is winning the games they need to win before region play begins. The Falcons are doing it with a high-octane offense (pair of 60-point games) behind dual threat Donivan Dixon, who is in his third year as the starting QB (and is just a junior).
“Desert Mountain is the defending region champ and graduated a lot of seniors from last year’s team.
https://t.co/acmVGz88bu
Another great team win 36-0. 5 tot tds and 271 tot yds in one half. 73% completion percentage. Wolves start off 2-0! Lot of thanks to my guys for making it easy.@coachconrad41 @LoganRadke @Elev8QBacademy— Bryce Herges (@BryceHerges) September 7, 2024
“The Wolves have a new quarterback in Bryce Herges (7 TDs, 0 INT), who will face the high school he started out at this Friday with a game at Chaparral.
“I got to see Horizon last Friday night and the Huskies are loaded on offense with returners in QB Jase Ashley and RB Bodie Zamorano. It’s been a new offensive playbook with new head coach Tyson Ditmore, but Horizon has handled it well through two weeks (100 points scored).
“Notre Dame Prep scored a big upset last Friday at Desert Edge (20-14). The Saints are determined to flip the script from last year’s 5-7 mark. Head Coach George Prelock told me back at Just Chilly’s Flight Club in June that it was the first time for many of those players to endure their first losing season at any level. NDP is always dangerous with consensus No. 1 in the class recruit Cooper Perry, who is an Oregon commit.
“And that just leaves the two-time defending 5A champions in Higley. The Knights don’t want a third gold ball this year. They want into The Open. So far, it’s been Arizona commit Luke Haugo taking most of the snaps behind center (after missing the playoff run with an injury in 2023). Running back Justin Bender posted a 100-yard game in the Knights’ game in California last Friday. JD Decausmaker has flourished at receiver to give Higley another weapon to go with Jaden Taylor.”
The match up I’ll be watching closely this week is ALA Gilbert North at ALA Queen Creek.
Expect that one to be a real banger in the southeast Valley.
Meat & Greet
The job isn’t done but Jose Lucero is certainly enjoying the ride.
“I’m loving it,” the St. Mary’s now fifth-year head coach said to the “Zone Read.” “It’s been great. I love being back. I love the community. I love the family atmosphere. I work there. My wife works there. Our son is in eighth grade, he’ll be there next year. It’s been great.”
On the field, Lucero feels the Knights are “flying under the radar” with a young team that has varsity experience. SM, 1-1 heading into their game this week against North, started a number of freshmen and sophomores last season, finishing 3-7, including 0-5 in the 4A West Valley Region.
This team, at least on paper, is bigger, stronger, and has more depth than any of his previous four at his alma mater. Additionally, St. Mary’s enrollment has grown to over 500 and the Knights large freshmen class adds even more young players in the program moving forward.
Off the field, Lucero has been cooking, as well.
More specifically, grilling.
“Years ago, I started grilling and doing stuff,” he explained. “God Bless my wife, she allows me to keep buying grills and testing things out. So, I just enjoy doing it.
— Coach Lucero (@Coach__Lucero) August 24, 2024
“I think, for me, I just like the process. Tending the fire, cooking the meat. It takes all day. I like cooking a brisket just because it takes a long time. It’s just peaceful. You have time. You can think.”
Much like developing a game plan in preparation for an upcoming opponent, Lucero takes a similar approach to his future main courses.
“The process is,” Lucero noted. “I trim it the night before. Get it all ready to go. I inject it with some beef broth and seasoning. Then, it’s going to be a good 12-hour cook. It’s just tending a fire. Keeping it around 250-275 [degrees] and let it do its thing.”
“Zone Read” is still waiting for our first invite to feast, Coach Lucero.
You know where to find me (and my appetite).
