Jim Dean highlights AIA high school football championships
Associate Executive Director Jim Dean highlights the final championship matchups during the AIA high school football championships media day.
The 6A state football championship game is filled with intriguing story lines between two teams that few thought would make it this far.
Peoria Centennial, in preseason, seemed destined for the Open Division playoffs not the 6A bracket. But an 0-4 start while waiting for transfer players to become eligible at midseason derailed those plans. Mesa Mountain View has long been forgotten as a championship contender since winning the last of its eight state titles in 2002.
But, the Coyotes and Toros prevailed and made it to the 6A championship game. Here’s a closer look at Saturday’s 1 p.m., final at ASU’s Mountain America Stadium in Tempe:
6A championship
No. 14 Centennial (6-7) vs. No. 4 Mountain View (12-1)
Mountain View will be facing a highly motivated football team on a mission in the playoffs after going 3-7 in the regular season with the 45-17 loss to rival Peoria Liberty the final wake-up call. The Coyotes still made the 6A playoffs as the No. 14 seed, helped in part by four top 6A teams moving into the Open playoffs, which allowed other teams to move up and into the 16-team 6A playoff bracket.
Centennial has flipped the script in the playoffs and now, they’re trying to make history as the first seven-loss team to win an AIA state football championship at any level.
It starts on defense, because, if the Coyotes don’t get to Mountain View junior quarterback Brady Goodman, they’ll get picked apart in the secondary. Goodman is still hobbled by an ankle sprain suffered in the final quarter of the Salpointe Catholic quarterfinal game. He’s been in a walking boot since then, only taking it off for limited practice time and last week’s semifinal game.
Once that boot comes off, and if he keeps getting clean pockets, watch out. Goodman is as good as any quarterback in the state dissecting defenses with a big, accurate arm and quick release. Especially with his playmakers. Mikey Sumko leads the team in receptions, but junior Talan Arnett now holds the single-season 6A state record for most TD receptions with 23. He caught two TD passes in the second half of last week’s stunning 28-27 win over top-seeded Brophy Prep.
Goodman’s ankle has responded well to therapy this week, so there may be more mobility. But this is a balanced offense with a big, strong line that can control the clock. Tailback Reese Bodily is very good, and outside linebacker and California-signee Beckham Barney can get rolling downhill out of the wildcat QB spot.
Both teams’ seasons were jump-started after Liberty losses. Mountain View’s only loss was humbling 49-20 setback to Liberty on Sept. 13. Since then, the Toros have won 10 in a row.
“We got on a roll and I think we all started to believe,” Barney said.
The Toros’ defense is tenacious, and they don’t just tackle, they make statement tackles, burying backs into the turf.
Centennial will try to get tailback Owen Reynoso going between the tackles, but the Coyotes might need a lot of help from bullish sophomore back Derrion Bartholomew (5-foot-11, 225 pounds), who went for nearly 200 yards rushing two weeks ago in the 37-14 quarterfinal win over Casteel, while Reynoso was nursing an injury.
Quarterback Kainan Manna got used to two freshmen among his receiving corps the first half of the season, while waiting for dynamos Nikko Boncore and Shamar Berryhill to become eligible. Both of those seniors are in midseason form now, capable of changing the game on a dime with big plays after catches.
“Our thought process (after Liberty) was forget everything that’s gone on before this,” Boncore said. “We’re 0-0. Our motto is to go 1-0 every game. We’ll see what happens.”
This could be the best of the four big-school state championship games Friday and Saturday at ASU. Fasten your seatbelts, this is going to be a thrill ride.
Prediction: Centennial 33, Mountain View 31
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
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Publish date : 2024-12-05 01:44:00
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