Week two of the 2020 Arizona high school football season is in the books and if we’ve learned one thing about this season is the Chandler Wolves may be more for real than we’ve seen in the past…and that’s saying something.
Better Than Advertised
It could be many, many, many years before we see the Pinnacle Pioneers take the merciless beating they experienced Friday night at Chandler High’s Austin Field.
64-0.
A running clock…in the first half.
Chandler ran too much power to their own scoreboard tonite!!! 64-? Chandler wins… pic.twitter.com/0qIymvkyL8
— @JustChilly (@JUSTCHILLY) October 10, 2020
Sure, the ‘Neers are young at the skill positions and lost a number of key defensive standouts but Rick Garretson’s team was next-level special and put every other power program in the state on notice.
For Chandler, the stars starred. Running Eli Sanders was simply spectacular rushing for 200 yards and four touchdowns in the first half, Mikey Keene efficiently spread the ball around with a variety of precision throws, University of Arizona commit Kyion Grayes reeled in a pair of touchdowns and the Wolves’ defensive front completely dominated – harassing sophomore quarterback Devon Dampier all game.
Oh, did we mention standout receiver Jalen Richmond missed the game with a Week One shoulder injury against Liberty?
Even last December before the Open Division playoffs Garretson was bullish on the youth and talent of the 2019 version.
Now we have a better understanding of what he was talking about.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
As of 11:30 Friday morning Arizona College Prep was gearing up for their tilt against Gilbert Christian until word came down that COVID situation arose at GC and the game was canceled.
ACP head coach Myron Blueford was aware ALA Ironwood had an opening so he went to work trying to coordinate how the two could play one another at Perry High School with each team having, essentially, a few hours to prepare.
“We exchanged film about three hours before kickoff which is just crazy,” Blueford said to Sports360AZ.com after the Knights 54-0 win. “But I’m glad that all of our boys got to play. Major shoutout to ours, ALA Ironwood’s administration and the AIA for making this work so fast.”
Crazy morning! Unfortunately Gilbert Christian had to cancel. Thanks to ALA Ironwood for working with us and making a game happen for both programs! Excited to still have a game tonight! #DESTINY
— ACP Knight Football (@ACPFootball17) October 9, 2020
It was a morning Blueford and staff won’t soon forget.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster for sure,’ he explained. “[We] went from trying to figure out how we were going to break it to the team, to having hope we may have a game and then the wait to get it approved.”
Like the trend we’ve seen at other schools hosting games early in the season, the Knights even celebrated “Senior Knight” as they call it before kickoff.
Take that 2020.
Three and Out
Here are three scores which caught my eye from Week Two.
1. Queen Creek dismantles Williams Field 37-6.
Final. @QC_football ends 5-game losing streak to @WFFootballTeam, wins 37-6. #TeamAZV
— Andrew Luberda (@Andrew_Luberda) October 10, 2020
Let’s be honest, when was the last time we saw the Black Hawks picked apart like we saw from QC? If not for a late CJ Tiller touchdown pass, WF would have been shutout against a team they’ve had their way with in the past.
2. Highland rolls past Desert Vista 42-10.
Max Davis finds the end zone for the first time tonight. This run from 9 yards out.
35-0 Hawks | 3:20 2Q #VXLive #TeamAZV pic.twitter.com/YmYxr6w706
— Zach Alvira (@ZachAlvira) October 10, 2020
Ok, for real, what’s going on with the young Thunder? They’ve scored 10 points in two games, both blowout road losses.
I know star junior running back Devin Grubbs didn’t play against the Hawks but DV’s next four games are at Basha, before three-straight home contests against 2-0 Mountain View, Hamilton and the before mentioned Wolves.
3. Desert Mountain improves to 2-0 with a 24-10 win over McClintock.
Final score @DMWolvesFB 24 McClintock 10
Wolves are 2-0— Josh Miller ? (@JoshMillerVoice) October 10, 2020
After consecutive 3-7 seasons it’s good to see Conrad Hamilton has his Wolves headed in the right direction.
The region certainly appears winnable, especially if the Desert Mountain offense keeps clicking behind quarterback Aiden Cerullo and fellow senior, wide receiver Rogan Freeburg.
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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.