THIS WEEK IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEPTEMBER 15 RESULTS

The scores are in.  South lost their first game of the season and Brophy lost number 5 on the season.  Here's the rest of the scores.

North 35, Carl Hayden 6
Central 33, South 19
Desert Vista 17, Brophy 14
Fairfax 41, Maryvale 0
Hamilton 59, Chavez 12
Camelback 33, Alhambra 27

THIS WEEK IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: September15

It was a tough week for me last week.  I went 1-6 with my picks.  Here is this weeks schedule.  My picks in caps.

DESERT VISTA @ Brophy (at Phoenix College)
Cesar Chavez @ HAMILTON
ALHAMBRA @ Camelback
SOUTH @ Central
BETTY FAIRFAX @ Maryvale
NORTH @ Carl Hayden

PREVIEWING THE 2017 CARDINALS SEASON

Football is finally here in the NFL.  Every team has high expectation for this season.  The Arizona Cardinals are one of those teams.

The Cardinals have lowered their expectations due to last seasons disappointment.  The team is loaded with experience and plans to make a playoff run but how realistic is that goal?

The Cardinals key to a playoff season is simple. The offensive line must protect Carson Palmer.  They have a lot of players that you can say needs to have a good season buy bottom line is the Cardinals go the way Palmer plays.

If the Cardinals stay healthy I can see them winning 10 games.  I can also see them only winning 7 or 8 games if they don't get off to a good start early in the season.

To me the key is week 1 in Detroit.  On paper a winnable game but you are playing the highest paid QB in the league who has something to prove.  The defense looks lost at times especially without Carlos Dansby on the field.

I think the Cardinals will contend for the playoffs but they are nowhere near the 13 win team from a few years ago.

THIS WEEK IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEPTEMBER 8 RESULTS

It was another exciting night for high school football in the Phoenix area.  Here are the results.

North 27, Betty Fairfax 26
Cesar Chavez 34, Corona Del Sol 21
Westwood 35, Maryvale 0
Highland 14, Brophy 6
South Mountain 41, Alhambra12
Trevor Browne 29, Camelback 27
Central 40, Carl Hayden 21

THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: JACORI MURPHY

This week's edition of The High School Highlight takes us to The Mountain, South Mountain.

The Jaguars are having their best start to a season since the 90's.  They are 3-0 going in to tonight's game against the Alhambra Lions.

South has always relied on speed. This year is no different with senior wide receiver Jacori Murphy, who runs a 4.6 40 yard dash.  He has used that speed to help him catch 14 passes for 177 yards through 3 games thus far.

Murphy does more then just lead the team in receiving.  He also plays basketball and runs track. But what is most impressive is his 3.04 GPA.

Murphy says he is motivated and focused on the field and that has been the reason for the fast turnaround at South Mountain.

Murphy wants to be a professional athlete.  He also wants to get a scholarship and go to college.

One thing people don't know about Murphy is that he lost his father and godfather and dedicates every TD and long jump in track to their memory.

THIS WEEK IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL September 8

Introducing a new segment I call This Week In High School Football.  The segment will run every Thursday and it previews some of Friday's games and gives my predictions.

In case you didn't know I played high school football at Carl Hayden.  I also coached at Cesar Chavez.  So it shouldn't be a surprise that I have a soft spot for the Phoenix Union High School District.

Each week I will tell you who each team is playing and who I think will win in the Phoenix Union.  I will also include a team that I have featured in The High School Highlight.

Here is this weeks schedule.  My predictions are in caps.  Enjoy.

CARL HAYDEN (0-2) at Central (0-3)
Cesar Chavez (0-2) at CORONA DEL SOL (1-2)
WESTWOOD (1-2) at Maryvale (0-2)
BETTY FAIRFAX (2-1) at North (1-1)
ALHAMBRA (1-1) at South Mountain (3-0)
Camelback (1-2) at TREVOR BROWNE (1-2)
BROPHY (1-2) at Highland (3-0)

THE WEEKEND REPORT: September 4

The weekend report is back.  Each week I will recap the weekend in Arizona sports.  I will also recap any major games including any upsets.

The weekend started early for ASU football as they hosted the New Mexico State Aggies.  The Aggies kept it close for a half, but ASU was too much.  The final score was 37-31 and it showed how likely the Sun Devils will struggle this year.

The Arizona Wildcats also opened their season at home this weekend.  The hosted in state foe Northern Arizona and had a much easier time.  They won impressively 62-24.

The Arizona Cardinals also played on Thursday in Denver, their last preseason game.  They lost 30-2 but not a big deal seeing as how most who played won't play much during the regular season,  if they are even on an NFL roster.

Now lets switch gears to baseball!

The last team to talk about is the Arizona Diamondbacks.  It's now September and the Diamondbacks find themselves in the middle of a wild card fight.  A fight they are winning.  They swept the Colorado Rockies this weekend.  Even more impressive, that comes after handing the Los Angeles Dodgers their first series sweep of the season.

THE HIGHSCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: ROSS REITER

High school football is back in the Valley of the Sun and so is The High School Highlight.  We start this season at Brophy Prep with long snapper and defensive lineman Ross Reiter.

Reiter is a 17 year old senior with a 3.43 GPA. He also runs track and is a member of the National Honors Society. He has been on the varsity team for 3 years.

Reiter will play football at Colorado State University next season. His goal is to graduate college and then play in the NFL. He also has goals for this season which include a state championship and ending his high school career with a 3.5 GPA.

Reiter says " I have had a love for the game as long as I can remember."

His love for the game shows on the field. He is a five-star recruit and is ranked second in the nation among the long snappers.

He does not take all the credit for his accomplishments. He says the scout team are the real MVPs.

He is excellent athlete with a bright future ahead of him.

Ross Reiter's highlights