Does anyone have ideas on how the first round of the playoffs may look for 4AII?  I realize there is a week to go, but some of you are statistical wizards.  What do you think?

If the playoffs started today this is the first round pairings:

16. Catalina vs.     1. Mingus

15. Mohave vs.       2. Santa Rita

14. Greenway vs.   3. Williams Field

13. Amphi vs.         4. Cactus

12. Coronado vs.   5. Palo Verde

11. Douglas vs.      6. Liberty

10. Paradise Valley vs. 7. Arcadia

9. Notre Dame Prep vs. 8. Buckeye

This will change based on Friday Nights Games:

Mingus vs. Mohave

Santa Rita vs. Palo Verde

Williams Field vs. Arcadia

Cactus vs. Cortez

Liberty vs. Desert Edge

Buckeye vs. Youngker

Notre Dame Prep vs. Coronado

PV vs. Thunderbird

Douglas vs. Cholla

Amphi vs. Catalina

Greenway vs. Washington

I am not sure how it will turn out, but there may not be any "easy" 2nd round games this year because it looks like there might be 8-9 teams who could win it all.  Normally, the top two seeds have it easy in the Quarters, but not this year.  Mike Vick would be proud because it's gonna be a good ole' fashion dogfight!

Top to bottom, I believe 4A2 is the most competitive division this year amongst the big schools.  Expect some upsets by the lower seeds.  5A1 and 5A2 is so top heavy, so those divisions will get interesting in the latter rounds.  4A1 seems to be the same way with maybe 6 or 7 solid teams.  If you want more bang for your buck, I would definitely get out to a 4A2 playoff game during the first round.

Possessed wrote:

Top to bottom, I believe 4A2 is the most competitive division this year amongst the big schools.  Expect some upsets by the lower seeds.  5A1 and 5A2 is so top heavy, so those divisions will get interesting in the latter rounds.  4A1 seems to be the same way with maybe 6 or 7 solid teams.  If you want more bang for your buck, I would definitely get out to a 4A2 playoff game during the first round.

This is real competitive, Desert Edge has four wins against teams that have won a combined 3 games and the fifth was against a charter school.  They are sitting at 17 praying Liberty will lokk past them so they can get in.  Catalina barely beat Desert Edge and they are 16th, real competitive.  This is a four school race.

Ironeagle, who are the top four in your view?

gatesoffire wrote:

Ironeagle, who are the top four in your view?

Mingus, Santa Rita, Williams Field and Cactus.  I know there are probably 2-3 more schools that can make a run at the title, but that's how it is in every conference. 

ironeagle99 wrote:

 

Possessed wrote:

Top to bottom, I believe 4A2 is the most competitive division this year amongst the big schools.  Expect some upsets by the lower seeds.  5A1 and 5A2 is so top heavy, so those divisions will get interesting in the latter rounds.  4A1 seems to be the same way with maybe 6 or 7 solid teams.  If you want more bang for your buck, I would definitely get out to a 4A2 playoff game during the first round.

This is real competitive, Desert Edge has four wins against teams that have won a combined 3 games and the fifth was against a charter school.  They are sitting at 17 praying Liberty will lokk past them so they can get in.  Catalina barely beat Desert Edge and they are 16th, real competitive.  This is a four school race.

Iron Eagle, you make a good point with your argument regarding Desert Edge.  I was merely stating that there will be an upset from the lower half of the seedings.  Are you saying Greenway cannot make any noise after playing Cactus, Cactus Shadows and Apache Junction (4A-1 upper seed) very close?  Or how about Coronado who played undefeated Williams Field tough?  Or how about Paradise Valley who will scare anybody when they are at full strength?  Right now, Notre Dame is teetering on possibly being a 9 seed.  What, you don't think the defending champs couldn't upset a higher seed? 

4A-2 is not a four horse race.  Any of the top 9 teams right now could make a run at the championship and PV and Greenway could make a run as well.  You are right though, Desert Edge and Catalina do not stand much of a chance.

4A-II is a TWO horse race.....Mingus and Santa Rita.  No one else is even close!  Williams Field will get beat prior to playing either of these two and Cactus just doesn't have the defense to beat either of these two and make it to the finals.  There will definitely be some VERY competitive early round gmaes in 4A-II but ultimately Mingus and Santa Rita will play for the title.

I believe that Mingus is WAY overrated this year.  To me, they are suspect in a couple of areas on both sides of the ball.  Their offense struggled versus better teams this year, and they don't have a reliable kicker.  Their defense has played well, but they haven't played any good, healthy (PV was missing Brown when they played) offenses all season.  On top of that, their starters have been shining the bench with their butts for half of the past five games.  That will come back to haunt them.

I predict that Mingus will hold the #1 Seed and LOSE at home in the 2nd round to the 8 or 9 Seed. 

Cactus defense held Greenway to 14 pts before that game Greenway avg 41 pts per game.also low scoring by Peoria,coronado,paridise valley.Seems that Cactus D is capable in any game!!!!!!

williams65 wrote:

Cactus defense held Greenway to 14 pts before that game Greenway avg 41 pts per game.also low scoring by Peoria,coronado,paridise valley.Seems that Cactus D is capable in any game!!!!!!

I agree. For those who say Cactus' defense isnt very good, go check the numbers. How many key Int's or Forced fumbles have they came up with in clutch moments. A lot. People who talk about their Defense obviously hasnt seen them play in person. The great thing about Cactus is their running game. They arguably have the best O-line in 4a and they have the best back in 4a hands down. Against Pv they held the ball the whole 4th quater. Ball control is the big key in the playoffs. Offense grinds down the opp defense and then the defense is fresh. Lots of teams go both ways also, so the other team will be tired. Sleep on the Cobras if you want but their game will speak for itself.

Actually the Greenway RB dropped the ball unhit while crossing the goal line in the 2nd half to turn it over.  Should have been 14-14 with Greenway playing for lead to open 2nd half.

The Greenway offense moved the ball at will first half, but for some reason their coach had very questionable play calling in the 2nd half.  The first drive they went 3 and out after the coach called 2 out of 3 plays "wildcat"???  Including a pass by the RB that skipped off of the ground.  This, when he has one of the state's most accurate passers...fans were going nuts...

Cactus is good, but they can be beat.  Their running game is good but not great.  The Greenway stopped them on 2 4th downs including 4th and goal.  The Greenway D has been the achilles heel all year and they played Cactus very solid in a 21-14 loss.

correction.... mean to say "crossing the goal line in the 2nd quarter"...  my bad

azgamer wrote:

Actually the Greenway RB dropped the ball unhit while crossing the goal line in the 2nd half to turn it over.  Should have been 14-14 with Greenway playing for lead to open 2nd half.

 

The Greenway offense moved the ball at will first half, but for some reason their coach had very questionable play calling in the 2nd half.  The first drive they went 3 and out after the coach called 2 out of 3 plays "wildcat"???  Including a pass by the RB that skipped off of the ground.  This, when he has one of the state's most accurate passers...fans were going nuts...

 

Cactus is good, but they can be beat.  Their running game is good but not great.  The Greenway stopped them on 2 4th downs including 4th and goal.  The Greenway D has been the achilles heel all year and they played Cactus very solid in a 21-14 loss.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. It's real easy to point the blame on the playcalling but it is what it is. Dropping the ball or not it was a stop. Remember Cactus also had 2 int's. one was on the goaline also. This is team that held Pv and Greenway (contenders) way under their scoring averages. So I think you have to give Cactus' defense some credit.

Sorry but their running game is the best in 4a Period! They have the states leading rusher. 2,007 yrds rushing in 9 games? Come on now. Even Steven Wonder can see that's welll above good. Yeah they got stopped. No one is unstoppable. NO ONE. Any team can be beat at any time. Give credit where credit is due.

 

Sorry but their running game is the best in 4a Period! They have the states leading rusher. 2,007 yrds rushing in 9 games? Come on now. Even Steven Wonder can see that's welll above good. Yeah they got stopped. No one is unstoppable. NO ONE. Any team can be beat at any time. Give credit where credit is due.

I think that CDO might have something to say about that.  By the way, who is "Steven Wonder"?  I can only assume that you were attempting to reference Stevie Wonder.  Close, personal friend of your family, is he?

CDO might have somethig to say,but i doubt it will do any good seeing CDO is 4a1 not4a2

Nice one Williams...Arkansas Dave...wake up!