Zone Read: Cooling Down But Heating Up

September, we hardly knew ‘ya. 

We all knew this season would fly but considering some teams are nearly to the halfway point seems almost unfair. There’s already plenty of buzz about the Open Eight, who may get in and who could get left out, but for now let’s start with two schools separated by just five miles who simply don’t like each other.

‘Cats vs. ‘Birds…Saguaro makes the short trip up Scottsdale Road to #ChapTown this week. The Firebirds haven’t beaten the Sabercats since 2013 in one of the most spirited high school football rivalries in Arizona.

“The atmosphere is electric and you know everybody in Scottsdale is going to be there,” former Chaparral head coach Charlie Ragle told the “Zone Read.” “In those years when we played (Ragle was Chap’s head coach from 2007-2011) we were two of the top teams in the state. It was one of the top games in the state…the Chaparral-Saguaro game is one that makes high school football so special.”

What do I expect Friday night? Probably the unexpected, considering we’re still not sure if Jack Miller, Tommy Christakos and other CHS stars will be back from injury. I’m hopeful both teams will be at full strength but don’t expect it. ‘Tis the season for bumps and bruises.

Regardless, this a rivalry which needs to be played EVERY year despite the two-conference differential.

Kyle vs. Kyler 2.0?…Former Desert Mountain star Kyle Allen competed against Kyler Murray at Texas A&M before both got sick of Kevin Sumlin’s flip-flopping antics and transferred out. Allen went to Houston and we all know how Murray’s post Aggie-career went in Norman, Oklahoma.

Allen went undrafted in 2018 but signed with Carolina Panthers. He even started the Panthers’ season finale last year in New Orleans against the Saints.

“It’s wild the things that happened at A&M,” Allen said to the assembled media in Charlotte Wednesday. “We were together for seven months there. We both split and went different ways…totally different paths. I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a player.”

With Cam Newton nursing a foot injury, Allen is expected to be behind center Sunday at State Farm Stadium against his hometown team. 

“Going home, it’s exciting,” Allen explained. “I always had this game circled when we were coming into the season. It’s exciting to go back to Arizona and play in that stadium. I’ve never played in that stadium…I grew up going to all the bowl games there and the Cardinals’ games so it’s exciting.”

A message from Kyle Allen pic.twitter.com/YJJAX2Dxrx

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 18, 2019

Last week Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews, a high school teammate of Allen at Desert Mountain, torched the Cardinals with eight receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Tony Tabor had a first-hand view of both player’s rise to stardom as their head coach at DMHS.

“Those guys deserve the success that’s coming their way,” Tabor, now the defensive line and special teams coach at Mesa Mountain View said to the “Zone Read.” “Always humble, hard-working, good students in the classroom and the game. Great people.”

“They had the physical tools but most important, the mental tools.”

Another cool storyline in Glendale Sunday afternoon will be watching Allen on the opposite sideline of his best friend, Cards’ wide receiver Christian Kirk.

Three-D(iaz)…It probably isn’t too uncommon for two brothers to share the same varsity field but the Diaz brothers pulled the trifecta so-t0-speak last week when Brophy traveled to Glendale to take on Copper Canyon.

Older brother Michael, a standout senior linebacker who’s committed to play baseball at Santa Clara, played with sophomore twin little brothers Matthew and Anthony during the Broncos convincing 44-7 win over the Aztecs to improve to 4-0.

“It was an experience I will never forget,” Michael said to the “Zone Read.” “I am very fortunate this year to be able to play with my two younger brothers and be on the field playing with them at the same time.”

Michael is third on Jason Jewell’s defense with 20 tackles and has added an interception. 

BCP has allowed just 13 total points in four games. I’d expect the Broncos to get a bit of a test Friday against Mountain View but, as I mentioned after their Week Zero win over Liberty, look for Brophy to be 6-0 heading into their showdown at Hamilton early next month.

UniSwag…When Pinnacle hits the field against national power Eastside Catholic (WA) Friday night in the Pacific northwest they’ll most certainly be repping State Forty Eight after this hit my guy Chilly’s timeline recently.

@AZHSFB
? ? ? ? ?
Pinnacle bringin that fire to the PNW!!! They reppin the state some serious!!

These helmets are crazy with the state flag down the middle!!! #BeatEastside#AZvsEverybody pic.twitter.com/8l37f57wcL

— Chilluminati (@JUSTCHILLY) September 19, 2019

Two weeks ago in their home-opening win over rival Horizon, the ‘Neers hit another home run with this look on PHS’s Salute to the Military Night.

Don’t forget when you’re out at games this weekend and throughout the season, please use our hashtag #FridayNight360AZ on all your social media platforms.