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What we learned in Week 10 of Arizona high school football season: Breakthroughs, statements

richard obert, arizona republic
·8 min read

It was one of the most dramatic Fridays of the season, filled with clutch plays, breakthrough performances, and statements heard across Arizona. Let's rewind Week 10 of the high school football season.

What we learned

The Open Division is going to be incredible the way these final weeks are playing out, filled with Open-like games. And nobody, especially not a computer, can tell me that Chandler isn't a top four Open Division team after Friday's instant classic at Basha. But we'll see Tuesday. Basha needed senior quarterback Demond Williams Jr., to keep delivering in a 47-42 win, because Chandler senior QB Blake Heffron was relentless with a Player of the Week-like performance, throwing for six touchdowns, completing 24 of 33 for 330 yards. It was Heffron's coming of age game, a breakthrough performance that shows the Wolves' offense can click when this guy gets loose. He's smart, has incredible instincts, can escape pressure, throw on the run, and is accurate. Chandler (6-2) has now lost 29-28 to top-rated (Open by AIA) Peoria Centennial, a game in which the Wolves trailed 26-0 late in the first half. And now this. If Chandler slips out of the eight, like Hamilton (6-2) did two weeks ago after losing a 45-44 double-overtime thriller to Basha, then the computer that ranks Open teams needs to be junked.

And, for Basha, this 7-1 team has been on a mission since the last-seconds 22-21 loss to Gilbert Highland early in the year. What coach Chris McDonald has built since 2020 has been nothing short of amazing. The defending Open state champions have a 7-0 record in the last two years against the blue bloods of Arizona high school football — Scottsdale Saguaro, Chandler and Hamilton. Just shows how special this senior class, led by Williams, is.

Despite the two first-half fumbles, Williams answered every time Heffron and Chandler cut it to three in a crazy second half when the teams were trading touchdowns. He had three rushing TDs and a 72-yard deep ball scoring pass to Mason Ahrin.

"He's a winner, he's always been a winner," McDonald said. "He's a winner."

Fans watch the game in excitement in Phoenix on Sept. 15, 2023.
Fans watch the game in excitement in Phoenix on Sept. 15, 2023.

Biggest celebration

Phoenix Central freshman quarterback Cam Allen has thrown 24 TD passes in his first year of high school, leading the Bobcats to a 7-1 record that will have them not only in the 5A playoffs but in position to win their first state playoff game in 49 years. And on Friday, he celebrated breaking Central's single-game record with six TD passes by wearing No. 42, the number worn by CorVel Simmons, the former Central player who died two years ago. Saturday (Oct. 21) would have been Simmons' 20th birthday. It wasn't the school record or winning a game (62-14) at Laveen Betty Fairfax for the first time in Central history that was celebrated. It was Simmons' life and the impact he had on the Central football community, especially the Allen family. Offensive coordinator Mat Allen, Cam's father, is an on-campus security guard who had a major influence in Simmons' life. For two years, Simmons lived with the Allen family, after his mother Misty moved back to Pittsburgh due to work. He was close to Cam's older brother Carter, who set Central receiving records two years ago.

"He and Carter were great friends, so it was easy for everyone since he was always kind and positive person," Mat said. "The bond he and Cam had was special. He helped Cam through the very tough times of COVID and being someone Cam could talk to and confide in. Cam wanted to honor CorVel since his birthday was the day after the Fairfax game. He said. 'Dad, I have to wear his jersey.' " It was framed and hanging in the Allens' living room. "We asked CorVel's mom Misty what she thought and she loved the idea and told Cam to go out and 'Go big.' "

Oct 20, 2023; Peoria, AZ, USA; Navi Bruzon, No. 7, escapes a tackle from Saguaro at Liberty High School football field. Sam Ballesteros/The Republic
Oct 20, 2023; Peoria, AZ, USA; Navi Bruzon, No. 7, escapes a tackle from Saguaro at Liberty High School football field. Sam Ballesteros/The Republic

Taking the lead

Peoria Liberty QB Navi Bruzon had another monster game: 15 of 19 passing for 254 yards and two TDs; 17 carries for 137 yards and a TD in a 31-3 win over Saguaro. But for the first time against seven Arizona opponents, Liberty didn't have the running clock with at least at 35-point margin.

Liberty is at one level in Arizona. Then, there is Peoria Centennial (8-0), Basha, Chandler, Highland, Hamilton with American Leadership Queen Creek among those chasing Liberty for that Open trophy.

While most of the attention has been on Bruzon, last year's Gatorade Arizona high school Football Player of the Year, and the Liberty offense, that defense has been stellar. It was led by linebacker Keaton Stam, who had maybe his best game in a Lions uniform against Saguaro with 17 tackles, 10 solo, and 1.5 sacks.

Highland Hawks running back Kody Cullimore (2) runs the ball against the Basha Bears at Basha High School football stadium in Chandler on Sept. 1, 2023.
Highland Hawks running back Kody Cullimore (2) runs the ball against the Basha Bears at Basha High School football stadium in Chandler on Sept. 1, 2023.

Biggest statement

If it wasn't enough beating Basha early or nearly beating Chandler (a 22-20 loss) or taking down Red Mountain and Williams Field, Highland (6-2) has to have found its first Open ticket after beating American Leadership Queen Creek 21-11 on Friday behind the brilliant all-around play of safety and offensive specialist Kody Cullimore. ALA QC, in its first 6A season, was the AIA computer's favorite team, being ranked this week at No. 6 in the Open. Highland was at No. 9, one spot outside of the Open.

Around the state

  • Tucson Salpointe Catholic (7-1) bounced back from the 49-0 loss at Liberty with a 35-26 home win against Phoenix Mountain Pointe (5-3), as Luis Cordova sparked the Lancers early by blocking a field-goal try that Thomas Regina picked up and ran 95 yards for a score.

  • Juju Stubblefield, who had nine catches for 123 yards and two TDs, scored the winning points on a sweep in the third overtime in Glendale Cactus' 48-45 5A win over Peoria Sunrise Mountain. Nikko Boncore had 10 catches for 179 yards and two TDs for the Cobras (5-3), who play 7-1 Desert Edge next week.

  • In a back-and-forth game, Gilbert Perry held on to beat Williams Field 31-30 after a fourth-down sack that ended the game. Perry is 7-1 for the first time in five years and gets Chandler next.

  • Top-ranked 2A Pima (9-0), after a 67-0 rout of San Carlos, finished region play by outscoring its opponents 345-0. In nine games, it has outscored its opponents 421-61.

  • Wide receiver David Simmons scored three TDs in the third quarter, helping Lakeside Blue Ridge (8-1) to a 30-0 win over rival Show Low. It's been a bounce-back year in 3A for the Yellow Jackets, who were decimated by injuries last year and went 5-6.

  • With quarterback Beckham Pellant out with an injury, backup Rich Lucero Jr., led Hamilton to a 37-17 road win over Casteel. Lucero, a junior, was 14 of 28 for 173 yards and two TDs. Running back Breylon Blount ran for 200 yards on 12 carries and had two TDs.

  • Glendale Apollo senior Adam Mohammed had an impact in every phase of the game in a 49-7 win over Willow Canyon. He had 116 yards and four TDs on five carries, caught a 49-yard TD pass and returned an interception for a score, giving him a total of six TDs.

  • Morenci shocked Tucson Sabino 31-28. Sabino came into the season ranked No.1 in 3A. But for the second time in three weeks the Sabercats fell. They lost to Thatcher 27-20 two weeks ago.

  • Camp Verde (7-2) clinched its first 2A region title (Agua Fria Region) since 2011 with a 68-26 win over Highland Prep, as QB Tyson Buckley passed for 299 yards and four TDs and added a 21-yard scoring run. Christian Sanabria had three TD catches, facing double coverage, and Jordan Williams had six catches for 176 yards. Buckley has 2,504 yards passing with 37 TD passes on the season.

  • Tonopah Valley sophomore Malachi Wilt threw for 381 yards and four TDs in a 52-15 win over Antelope, giving him 5,372 yards and 64 TDs passing in just 12 varsity starts.

  • It was another typical Friday for Paradise Honors senior QB Gage Baker, who, in just three quarter of work in a 3A rout of Yuma, had 359 yards and six TDs on 26 of 30 passing. Josh Morales had 10 catches for 186 yards and three TDs and Isaiah Thomas had seven catches for 107 yards and two TDs and returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score. Baker leads the nation with 50 TD passes.

Game of the Week

Phoenix Thunderbird (6-2) at Phoenix Northwest Christian (8-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

This is a 4A showdown that could be a preview of a future 4A playoff matchup. Both teams are rolling. Northwest Christian has been relying on a great defense and the arm of quarterback Evan Tarasenko. Thunderbird likes to run, behind Elijah Little and Tyler Woods, who combined for 350 rushing yards in a 49-28 win over Buckeye.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What we learned in Week 10 of Arizona high school football season