Super seven: Final high school football power poll
The Star has ranked the top seven football teams in Southern Arizona each Friday. Here is the final power poll until the state playoffs wrap up, with last week's rankings in parentheses:
Super seven: I-Ridge tops final HS football power poll
Star's final picks for the top seven high school football teams in Southern Arizona.
Super seven: Final high school football power poll
1. Ironwood Ridge (1) 8-2
1. Ironwood Ridge (1) 8-2
The wounds from last year's upset against Sunnyside are still fresh so don't expect the Nighthawks to let it happen again. Also, I-Ridge needed to rally down the stretch to win at Mountain View last week so this group isn't taking anyone lightly in a win-or-go-home game.
2. Sabino (2) 8-1
2. Sabino (2) 8-1
The Sabercats held on for a wild 35-28 win at Marana last week to earn a first-round game in the Division III state playoffs but nothing will be easy about taking on a Laveen Chavez team that has won nine straight games since losing its season opener by four points.
3. Catalina Foothills (3) 8-2
3. Catalina Foothills (3) 8-2
They're in the postseason for the third straight year but can the Falcons shake off their woes and get to the quarterfinals for just the second time in program history? Yuma Cibola has won six in a row and has a strong passing attack behind senior quarterback Bailey Arvizo.
4. Pusch Ridge Christian (5) 9-1
4. Pusch Ridge Christian (5) 9-1
Everything seems to be clicking for the Lions, who are trying to reach the state quarterfinals for the third straight season. Pusch Ridge can also tie its single-season wins mark with a first-round victory against Payson on Saturday night.
5. Tucson High (not previously ranked) 7-3
5. Tucson High (not previously ranked) 7-3
Just when it looked like the Badgers were toast, they came back to life, upsetting Sunnyside last week in overtime and locking up a trip to the Division II state playoffs. Tucson will have to stop the run Friday night in order to live another week, as Avondale Westview has two running backs with more than 1,000 yards this season.
6. Sunnyside (4) 6-4
6. Sunnyside (4) 6-4
The Blue Devils missed out on a shot at hosting a postseason game but they don't have to travel too far on Friday night to play at Ironwood Ridge. Perhaps Sunnyside has a little magic left in the jar from last year's monumental 35-14 upset against the Nighthawks.
7. Flowing Wells (not previously ranked) 9-1
7. Flowing Wells (not previously ranked) 9-1
After the Caballeros rolled past Walden Grove for a big win to close out the regular season, it looked like they were a lock to host a playoff game on Saturday night. Instead, Flowing Wells has to travel as the No. 9 seed to play No. 8 Phoenix Northwest Christian.
Dropped out: Marana (6) 6-4
Dropped out: Marana (6) 6-4
Close losses to Pueblo, Nogales and Sabino are what kept the Tigers from qualifying for the state playoffs for the first time since 2007 but Marana still posted its first winning record since that season.
Dropped out: Mountain View (7) 6-4
Dropped out: Mountain View (7) 6-4
Back-to-back narrow losses against neighborhood rivals Canyon del Oro and Ironwood Ridge put an early end to the season for the Mountain Lions, who opened the season at No. 1 in the Star's rankings and were expected to challenge for the the Division II state championship.
This week's high school football playoff games, predictions
This week's high school football playoff games, predictions
Click the photo below to check out this week's high school football playoff matchups and predictions.
