Preview: Phoenix (Az.) North Canyon @ Glendale Mountain Ridge
Notes: Cox Channel 7 Thursday Game of the Week.
Last week: North Canyon (2-0) beat O'Connor (0-2) 29-7. Mt. Ridge (0-2) lost to Basha (2-0) 55-28.
Players to Watch: North Canyon- senior CB Jamar Allah, senior RB Kai Russell, junior QB Tre Grant, senior WR Stokeley Session, senior LB Austin Sargent
Mt. Ridge- senior LB Spencer Hammitt, junior QB Avery Ayers
Keys to a North Canyon victory: The Rattlers are playing well right now. They have two quality wins over O'Connor and Horizon. They are scoring points, 29 and 20 in two games, and allowing just 11 per game. The defense is has been outstanding, limiting big plays, and a solid effort again will help their efforts tonight. New HC Conrad Hamilton was a DB in the NFL and a successful DC at Chaparral, it looks like the D is his focus here and he has one of the state's best DBs in Jamar Allah.
Keys to a Mt. Ridge victory: No doubt about, Mt. Ridge has struggled thus far. To their credit, they have played two very good teams in Brophy and Basha but they need to get things rolling. Offense is averging just over 200 yards per game and the D has given up two near 300 yard performances passing. Establishing a run game and playing better defense is crucial tonight. They have one of the state's better LBs in Spencer Hammitt, getting a big play or two out of him could spark the Mt. Lions.