A couple weeks into the season, I respectfully submit eight teams are solidly in the mix for the battle for the 5A Division I football title. I don’t expect any others although a few may have an outside shot at entering the fray.
Chandler Hamilton, Phoenix Brophy, Tempe Corona del Sol, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa Mountain View, Phoenix Desert Vista and Tucson Salpointe would be those eight. The battle tested of the bunch thus far – Hamilton, Brophy, Gilbert, Desert Vista and Salpointe.
The real qualifying tests for most of the rest and a team or two more not in that group takes place this week or next. Chandler at Desert Vista Friday, Mountain View at Brophy Sept. 26. Mesa Red Mountain is on the outside looking in. Red Mountain’s game Sept. 26 at home vs. Hamilton will be a tell-tale game for the Lions. Gilbert Highland will have to wait until Oct. 10 when it faces Chandler. Corona del Sol, while not playing a rugged schedule thus far, has dismantled all its foes from start to finish.
Barring a huge effort from this week’s opponent, Gilbert Mesquite, the Aztecs are going to be 6-0 when they battle Chandler on Oct. 17. Mesa High also will know where it stands by Oct. 3 after it faces Avondale Westview and Brophy in successive weeks.
