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6A Conference Preseason Rankings
By Les Willsey
azpreps365.com
No. 1. Hamilton: Wow. Has it really been
2012 since the Huskies last won a championship?
That's a major drought for the
Huskies so expect the skies to open up and
rain down another title. Hamilton may be a
more run-oriented this year in part because
of their confidence in a seasoned, big quick
O-Line. Defensively they are strong up front
and overall its D on paper looks imposing.
That could spell curtains for all-comers
come Thanksgiving weekend.
2. Desert Ridge: Plenty of returning players
-- top-flight variety -- from runner-up finish.
Like Hamilton, defense is a strength and offense
should be up to the task. Not a particularly
imposing non-region schedule, but
section has some bite to it. No reason a final-four berth
isn't in the cards.
3. Mountain Pointe: The Pride aren't that much different
than Hamilton or Desert Ridge. Defense figures to be the
strong suit. The offensive question mark is at quarterback.
Two title games (one a win) and two semifinal berths make
for a good four-year run. A fifth is calling.
4. Chandler: The injury bug caught up with the Wolves
last year and they still managed to reach the semis. A
good chunk of firepower returns, sans a veteran quarterback.
How good the defense turns out to be will be the difference
in whether or not a deep title run is in the offing.
5. Pinnacle: The buzz surrounding quarterback Spencer
Rattler ups the ante for the Pioneers. Competing in a notso-heavyweight
region will help. How Pinnacle fares in its
six non-region games should tell a bunch. It plays as tough
a non-region slate as there is -- Brophy, Basha, Chandler,
Mountain View, Centennial and Mountain Pointe.
6. Brophy Prep: A lot of this year's top teams will employ
unproven varsity quarterbacks. The Broncos are another.
They'll need the handful of returnees with meaningful time
to lead and the rest to develop quickly. Season opener at
the Sollenberger Classic on Aug. 20 vs. Pinnacle is a good
test.
7. Skyline: Skyline is perceived -- and shown -- it's the
top Mesa high school in football the last couple years. The
The 2016 Mountain Pointe Pride should contend for 6A region and state
honors (photo by Mark Jones of maxpreps.com).
page 5
Coyotes have to prove it against Red Mountain and Mountain
View -- like they did in 2014. They played neither last
year. The offense returns its quarterback and a 1,000-yard
rusher. The defense must remain capable. Watch for results
vs. Desert Vista and Hamilton the first half of the season.
8. Basha: It's a broken record. Basha cranks out prolific
quarterbacks only to see defense more often than not give
up more than the offense can provide. Ryan Kelley is set
to finish up a solid three-year stint behind center. Can the
Bears' defense at least hold its own to make postseason
possible, and if so, more than one-and-done?
9. Desert Vista: The Thunder plan on running the opposition
into submission. They have the tools to do so with
nearly 3,000 yards of offense returning at quarterback,
running back and receiver. Desert Vista plans an up-tempo
offense, which generally doesn't take much time off the
clock even if successful. That can stress a defense, especially
considering the trouble the Thunder had in the red
zone last year.
10. Westview: Can't see the Knights being anything less
than a region champ. How far they advance beyond that
depends on their prowess against the elite teams. They
play a couple the first half of the season, including their
opener with Basha, then Brophy and a bit later
Centennial.