The Mountain Region playoffs begin Friday, and none of the higher seeds expect an easy quarterfinal matchup — not even the league champions who are facing No. 4 seeds.
Desert Pines
Liberty, Gorman look to keep rolling in the Desert Region semifinals, while the Mountain Region playoffs begin with intriguing quarterfinal matchups.
Canyon Springs got off to an 0-6 start against a difficult schedule, but the Pioneers enter the Mountain Region playoffs with confidence after three straight wins.
Daniel Britt threw four touchdown passes and ran for one as the Patriots rolled to the Desert Region semis. Bishop Gorman domainated Coronado 52-7.
The top-seeded Crusaders put in three goals in the first four minutes of their Moutain Region quarterfinal. Coronado, the No. 1 seed in the Desert Region, also moved on.
Centennial needs a win over a Cimarron-Memorial team that is out of the playoff race to claim its first league title since 2002 and the No. 1 seed in the Northwest League.
Jovante Barnes rushed for 204 yards and four touchdowns and Rjay Tagataese threw for 309 yards and one score as the Jaguars clinched the Northeast League title.
The Northeast League title is on the line when Desert Pines travels to meet Las Vegas, and the regular season will wrap up in the Southweast and Southeast leagues.
The Chargers have earned all of their three league wins in dramatic fashion by a total of 15 points, but their 49-48 win over Desert Oasis clinched a playoff berth.
Garrett Castro threw a 6-yard touchdown pass, and Hector Barrios-Baez knocked home the game-winning extra point for Green Valley in a 24-23 win over Foothill.
Jovantae Barnes rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns, and Desert Pines stayed undefeated with a 21-14 homecoming win over Legacy on Thursday.
Palo Verde looks to maintain its unbeaten record in Mountain League play against Centennial in the headliner of this week’s games in the valley.
All of the valley’s football games will be played Thursday this week, which has coaches and players squeezing all they can out of every minute to get ready.
The Aggies scored a late touchdown to defeat Faith Lutheran on Friday night, and Centennial needed a late score to keep pace with a win over Shadow Ridge.
The NIAA announced punishments Tuesday for the Desert Oasis-Durango game that ended after an altercation Friday night.
