Week 7 HS football rankings

WEEK 7 – Grammer's So. Ariz. Football Top 10

Rank. Team (record, this week's opponent)

1. Salpointe (5-0, at Ironwood Ridge)
2. Santa Rita (5-0, host Amphi)
3. Ironwood Ridge (4-1, host Salpointe)
   
4. Canyon del Oro (5-1, at Catalina Foothills)
   
5. Cienega (3-2, at Desert View)
6. Palo Verde (5-1, at Sahuarita)
7. Sunnyside (3-2, at Sierra Vista Buena)
8. Sabino (4-1, host Flowing Wells)
9. Sahuarita (4-1, host Palo Verde)
10. Nogales (4-1, at Sahuaro)

Others knocking on the door: Amphi (3-2), Catalina Foothills (3-2).
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Last week's rankings (link)
1. Salpointe
2. Santa Rita
3. Ironwood Ridge
4. Sabino
5. Canyon del Oro
6. Cienega
7. Sunnyside
8. Palo Verde
9. Sahuarita
10. Nogales

As for why the teams are where they are this week, here's my best attempt at an explanation: 1. Salpointe – They've performed the best, against the best.

2. Santa Rita – The Eagles haven't really been tested, but don't fault them for that. They've taken care of business and made every game a blowout. With the exception of the first half of their season opener at Pueblo, Santa Rita has looked every bit as good as any of the bigger schools in southern Arizona every time they've stepped on the field.

3. Ironwood Ridge – Why don't more people around the state, or even here in southern Arizona, believe in the Nighthawks? They might have the state's best defense and the 179 points they've put up should quiet those who say they have no offense. They have an opportunity Friday night to force their way into the conversation of the state's elite programs if they pull off what Basha, Gilbert, Brophy, Sunnyside and Mountain View could not and beat the Lancers.

4. Canyon del Oro – Never mind the one loss, the Dorados may still have the best shot out there at beating Scottsdale Saguaro. Sophomore Ka'Deem Carey is in the midst of taking that next step in his young football career and he couldn't ask for a better backfield teammate than Griffin Ronstadt to be graciously passing the torch while still proving he's one of the state's best high school running backs himself - blocking, running, catching, you name it.

5. Cienega – Two losses to two teams likely to find their way to the 4A-I final four. Cienega doesn't match up well with CDO, but ended up making a game of it. I'm not sure who else on the Bobcats schedule beats them this year, especially not if Seth Mejias-Brean is on his game.

6. Palo Verde, No. 7 Sunnyside, No. 8 Sabino - Put these three in any order you want. Each have given their fans reason to argue for them being ranked higher. Each have given some reasons to argue against them.

At the end of the day, I think Palo Verde has been so good in its wins that I put them at 6. I also give them credit for having the best player on the field every week, regardless of who they play.

Sunnyside, meanwhile, kept it close in two losses against two good opponents, but I had a harder time giving them credit for quality losses since I don't imagine coach Richard Sanchez is preaching anything to the Blue Devils about accepting moral victories.

As for Sabino, they haven't looked like a great team in a few weeks and maybe more of us should have seen the Amphi upset coming.

9. Sahuarita – They've looked great in their wins, but came up very short in their one big test. I keep them here at No. 9 for the week with every intention of giving them their due if they can beat Palo Verde this week. Mustangs fans, tune in next week.

10. Nogales – Texas Tech? New Orleans Saints? Phoenix Suns? Nogales is all offense, but can they stop anybody? They allowed 17 points last week to Cholla, a team that had scoring totals in its first four weeks of 3, 0, 3 and 0. Only two 4A-I teams – Scottsdale Saguaro and Apache Junction – have scored more points than Nogales this year, but there also isn't a 4A-I team in the state with a winning record that has allowed more points than the Apaches 125. All that said, you can't win if you don't score, so Nogales stays in the Top 10 for another week.