The Division IV Arizona State Football Finals feature two teams that don’t need an introduction to one another.
Show Low and Blue Ridge go way back.
The two northern Arizona powers will meet once again Saturday afternoon at the Walkup Sky Dome on the campus of NAU to crown a 2011 champion.
Blue Ridge (13-0), who defeated Show Low 10-9 on October 21st, feature a well-balanced attack under junior quarterback Skyler Hill who passed for 16 touchdowns and rushed for four more. The Yellow Jackets can also get it done on the ground behind tailback Danny Groebner who has just under 1200 yards and 19 scores. The senior multi-sport star is averaging nearly 10 yards per attempt.
Defending champion Show Low (11-3) has taken a more unconventional route to the title game. BYU-signee Josh Weeks will be catching passes for the Cougars next fall in Provo, but this season he’s found himself throwing them, as well. The skilled 6’4 senior threat has amassed 2000 total yards and has the big-play ability to get it done with his arm or his legs (16 total touchdowns).
Weeks said he took upon himself to switch positions, proposing the idea to Randy Ricedorff.
“Two early-season losses wasn’t sitting well with me. I knew for us to succeed I was going to have to do that,” Weeks told Pros2Preps.com Wednesday morning. “In the end, we’re here in the state championship, but we’re not satisfied. We have to repeat.”
He also sees Saturday’s game as another low-scoring, defensive struggle.
“They’re a good team. We know they have weapons on offense and defense, but so do we,” Weeks explained. “We know it’s going to be a defensive game. What we do on defense is going to win the game. That’s what happened last year and that’s what’s going to happen on Saturday.”
Kickoff from Flagstaff is set for 3:30.