Preview: Rams crack Top 10, prepare for Apache Junction

After starting the season with three straight out-of-conference wins, the Maricopa High School football team will travel to Apache Junction High School Friday night to open up section play against the Prospectors.

After an impressive start to the season, both Maxpreps.com and The Arizona Republic have ranked the Rams as the 10th best team in Arizona Interscholastic Association’s Division III football. Maricopa has been able to find success by imposing their will on defense and spreading the field with their powerful offense. Injuries to key players have been an issue, but it hasn’t slowed down the team’s progress.

Apache Junction, on the other hand, has struggled to start the year. Historically, the Prospectors have been a competitive team with great size. In recent years, the team has struggled, but they still seem to be just a few pieces away from being a contender. Injuries have hurt Apache Junction in non-section play, but a powerful running game and large offensive and defensive lines make them a tough matchup for the Rams.

Despite Maricopa’s early success and Apache Junction’s early struggles, MHS football Head Coach Chris McDonald knows it can all change in an instant once section play starts.

“They pose a lot of threats,” McDonald said. “I know they’re [winless], but they really aren’t that bad of a team. They’re very physical and they’ve had some injuries that have hurt them at some pretty important positions. But it’s the first section game, so it’s kind of a renewed life for any team that’s struggled in the offseason. Really everything hinges on section play, so I’m sure they’re going to hit the reset button and give us their best shot.”

For the Rams defense, which has only allowed 14 points over the last two games, the key will be to shut down the Prospectors running game. Maricopa will have to use their speed to infiltrate the gaps against a much larger Apache Junction team.

The Prospectors have two running backs that are 6-foot-2 and weigh over 180 pounds, and they are protected by a front line with each member being larger than 6 feet tall and weighing over 250 pounds. Maricopa will look to hit the running backs in the backfield before they can build up momentum and use their size as an advantage.

“They have certain individuals that are bigger than us,” McDonald said. “They have two platoons so they have kids that don’t go both ways and they’ll be rested. They’re big kids and they’re scrappy. They’re going to play hard and they’ll hit. They’re very physical.”

In the early part of the season, the Rams have struggled a bit containing talented running backs. In week one, Agua Fria High School senior running back Chris Cofield had over 200 rushing yards. The last two weeks have seen drastic improvements, but Maricopa’s defense has still shown vulnerability to big plays.

Last week against Rincon High School, the Rams shut out the Rangers, but senior running back Dahrian Harris-Mesh still broke through for nearly 100 rushing yards. McDonald and the coaching staff will look to address their vulnerability to the running game heading into Friday night.

“We have to stop the run,” McDonald said. “If we can stop the run we’ll be OK. We need to make them one-dimensional, so we want to get our safeties involved in the run support and fill in the allies. Hopefully we’ll be able to do that.”

On offense, the Rams should receive a boost with team captain and senior center Nikolai White returning from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for the last two weeks. White’s return will provide the offensive line a bit more consistency than they’ve had over the last two games.

The offense will also see a return of senior quarterback Aaron Owens. Though it is still unknown why Owens missed last week’s game against Rincon, the “team issue” has been resolved and he is expected to start behind center Friday night.

However, after throwing for 336 yards and four touchdowns against Rincon, senior quarterback Isaiah Pedro is also expected to play behind center in various offensive packages throughout the night.

“They’ll both be rotating,” McDonald said. “They both do some good things, so we’ll have some certain packages we’ll run with Pedro in there and go from there.”

Maricopa will look to maintain the balanced offensive attack they have developed throughout the year. Apache Junction’s defense has been vulnerable to big plays and rushing yards early on.

The Prospectors have allowed a 100 yard rusher from each team they’ve played so far, and have given up 122 points over their first three games. However, Maricopa’s leading rusher, sophomore Cameron Sanders, is nursing a high ankle sprain, so the Rams will look to exploit Apache Junction’s defense wherever they can.

“As a coach, I like to keep it balanced,” McDonald said. “My job as an offensive coach is to move the chains, so I’m going to do whatever works. I’m going to take what they’re giving us and not run it into their teeth just to be balanced.”

The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. at Apache Junction High School. The stadium is located on campus at 2525 S. Ironwood Drive in Apache Junction.