10/30/2009 10:56:00 AM Prep Football: Week 10 Previews Chino Valley on hunt for home tourney game
By David Hirigoyen Courtesy of The Prescott Daily Courier
Each of the past two seasons, the Chino Valley football team has fallen in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament on Eagar Round Valley's field
If the Cougars (4-4) beat visiting Holbrook (6-3) in tonight's regular-season finale, CVHS coach Bob David feels his team can avoid opening the state tourney on the road when it starts on Nov. 7.
"I believe if we win, we'll host a game," he said. "If we lose, we'll be traveling."
Entering tonight, Holbrook sits eighth in the 3A power points, while and Chino Valley's ninth.
The top eight teams are home for the first round.
A win for the Cougars could move them as high as seventh, setting up a possible rematch with Holbrook.
A loss means Chino Valley could fall back to 11th, or lower, with a trip to face a very highly seeded team next week.
"It'd be huge for us," David said of playing at home. "It'd be a good plus for the whole school.
"I don't know that Chino's ever got to host one before."
These two teams have met to open the season the past two years, with the Cougars winning 32-0 and 29-7, respctively.
David said Holbrook looks better on film this season, thanks in part to a 15-6 loss to a 7-2 Snowflake team.
Working in Chino Valley's favor is its defense, which has been stout even against stellar teams like Wickenburg and Goodyear Estrella Foothills.
It will look to slow the Roadrunners' running game tonight.
Holbrook has 30 rushing touchdowns as a team. Adrian Perkins and Ilacian Johnson have 16 of those and a combined 1,255 yards. Chino's Ryan Middleton has 774 yards rushing and five scores.
The way the 3A power points have worked this season has benefited the Cougars in a big way. Only the final seven games on a team's schedule count, meaning two of Chino's three straight losses to start the season are irrelevant.
"They're a young team, they're improving, they're working hard," David said. "I don't want to read too much into it. We're getting better. We're a lot better than we were Aug. 28. We'll see after Friday and each week after that."
No. 17 Prescott (4-4) at No. 16 McClintock (3-5)
Simply put, the loser of this game probably will wrap up its season next week. The winner still has a shot at the playoffs.
Prescott has lost two straight, both taking it out of contention for the Western Sky Region title and on the bubble for the postseason. Four of McClintock's five losses have been by 10 or fewer points. Two of those were by one or two points.
If the Badgers win, a win at home next week over No. 24 Shadow Mountain should leapfrog them into the top-16 (they are currently tied at 17 with Independence). They would have to go on the road and play a powerhouse opponent, but better to be an underdog than a non-participant.
Brian Scates passed 1,000 yards rushing last week for PHS in the loss to Independence. As the team's second-leading receiver, he has accounted for 48 percent of the team's total yardage. He also has 16 of the Badgers' 28 touchdowns. Trying to slow him down will be Chargers star linebacker Hayden Tippett.
No. 13 Bradshaw Mtn. (4-4) at No. 20 Dysart (3-5)
The task for the Bears is to not slip up and find themselves on the outside looking in. Secondly, they need to improve their standing as much as possible to avoid a major heavyweight in the first round at state.
And it would be nice to miss a trip to Tucson as well.
Bradshaw's loss at Peoria last week knocked them from region title contention and a potential first-round home game. But a playoff game after moving up to 4A-I would be just fine.
The Bear offense will try to rev back up after Peoria slowed it somewhat a week ago. A struggling Dysart team could allow it to do so.
Class 1A State Tourney
(W2) Orme School (8-1) at (E1) Duncan (6-1)
After last week's romp over Gila Bend, Orme coach Ricardo Oliveras said the biggest challenge this week would be preparing for the five- or six-hour bus ride.
Both teams have won six games in a row and each team only lost to a team that is still playing.
The one common opponent between the two is Cibecue. Orme beat Cibicue 59-0 and Duncan won 49-6.
If the Warrior offense keeps rolling as it has, it's hard to imagine anybody slowing it...until next week maybe. Because tonight's winner will likely travel next week to Joseph City, the prohibitive favorite in 1A.
(E2) Ft. Thomas (7-2) at (W1) Bagdad (6-2)
Both teams lost two games, only teams playing in tonight's quarterfinals. But Bagdad has the most impressive win, beating Orme 49-12.
The two share one common opponent: Superior. Bagdad won its matchup 57-16 and Fort Thomas won 44-14.
Bagdad last played two weeks ago in a 28-22 win over Valley Lutheran. Fort Thomas beat Mayer 22-18 last week in the first round.
