Breaking down the 5A Arizona high school football semifinals

The Republic | azcentral.com

Centennial takes the field before its game against Sunnyslope on Friday night at Sunnyslope High School on Oct. 5, 2018

The two biggest 6A, 5A and 4A football games of the season are here. And, while it may look like a foregone conclusion that Chandler will sail through 6A, Peoria Centennial through 5A, and Scottsdale Saguaro through 4A, these are still 16-, 17-, 18-year-old kids and the ball bounces funny.

Upsets can happen, even if Arizona is becoming a state where the haves appear to be separating themselves even more. If one of those Big Three falls, it becomes one of the biggest Arizona high school football stories of the year.

Let's break down the semifinals for the 5A conference:

No. 5 Gilbert Higley (9-3) vs. No. 1 Peoria Centennial (12-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., at Surprise Willow Canyon High School

Higley is feeling really good right now, after pulling out a 34-27 win over Queen Creek Casteel with a 73-yard touchdown pass from senior Spencer Brasch to recently promoted sophomore receiver Truitt Robinson.

Little Robinson was in the shadow of his big brother Ty, one of the nation's top defensive lineman recruits. But coach Eddy Zubey brought Truitt up from junior varsity for his playoff moment.

It couldn't have been any bigger.

Unless the Knights can crack through Centennial's air-tight defense.

Brasch (3,381 yards, 44 TDs passing) and senior receiver Coleman Owen (88 catches, 1,372 yards, 21 TDs) have had remarkable seasons. But this will be even a tougher defense than what they saw the final week of the regular season in a 51-14 loss to Gilbert Williams Field. Brasch (8 of 25, 97 yards, 2 TDs, 2 interceptions) and Owen (2 catches, 31 yards, no TDs) had their worst games.

Centennial, led by safety Jaylin Young, has only allowed 65 points, most of those coming late in games against backups. That pressure starts up front. The Coyotes have had 58 sacks, 17 by Connor Knudsen and 10 by Leandre Harris. The defense has been so good, it has overshadowed a tremendous offense that has rushed for nearly 3,000 yards and passed for nearly 2,000. Higley will find out soon enough why Centennial is the best team, regardless of conference, in Arizona.

Prediction: Centennial 48, Higley 7

No. 3 Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep (12-0) vs. No. 2 Gilbert Williams Field (11-1)

Friday, 7 p.m., at Gilbert Campo Verde High School

This should be a great matchup between a Notre Dame offense that was challenged for the first time last week by Goodyear Millennium. If Millennium can hold Notre Dame to 14 points and keep Jake Smith out of the end zone, then what can Williams Field do?

Williams Field might have the second-best defense in Arizona, next to Centennial. Safety/cornerback Noa Pola-Gates might be a game-time decision after sustaining an injury that knocked him out of last week's quarterfinals. His MRI results came back negative this week, so that's good news for the Black Hawks. There are athletes who can cover, but Pola-Gates also brings dimensions on offense and returning kicks.

For the Saints, who are coming off a shutout win, Smith will probably see more time in the secondary than any time this season with senior QB Zack Shepherd especially good in big games for WF. Shepherd was the winning quarterback of the 5A state championship game against Centennial two years ago as a sophomore.

Williams Field's pressure should be too much even for the speed of Smith and for senior QB Jake Farrell to escape.

Prediction: Williams Field 21, Notre Dame 14

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert

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