(Oro Valley, AZ) – Fernando Galvan
At the base of the mountain in Oro Valley lies two high schools facing each other across Oracle Rd.
Canyon Del Oro and Pusch Ridge High Schools will face each other for the first time in their history. Although they faced each other in scrimmages, never have they met in an official game.
In the shadow of each other’s campuses, the players know each other, live in the same neighborhoods and have played together on previous teams.
“The connection amongst our kids is strong, it’s a big game for them and without a doubt, a big game for our community,” CDO Head Coach Dustin Peace said. “I’ve been hyping this up as the Battle of the Mountain.”
CDO is coming off an impressive 55-26 win over Apache Junction. This has the coaches believing things are heading in the right direction.
We’ve learned about the team we have, and we can use that to build off of,” Peace added.
This could be the start of a new rivalry but both Head Coaches made it clear that they’re preparing as if it’s just another game.
Peace said, “We’ve had different rivalries over the years and people hype them up as such. We just need to worry about playing our best football and when that happens, things will work out like they need to.”
Pusch Ridge’s Head Coach Jerry Harris echoed those same sentiments heading into Friday’s game. “When the first kickoff happens, the extra stuff goes away. They’re trying to execute their game plan and we’re trying to execute ours.”
Unlike the Dorados, the Lions are looking to bounce back from a shut out loss to Walden Grove 21-0.
Harris added, “ We’re a young team this year and while you don’t look forward to a loss, frankly sometimes a loss is just what a team needs. It depends on how a team responds to it.”
Heading into the action Friday night, CDO will look to senior quarterback Zachary Eidenschink who tossed five touchdowns in last weeks win. Another weapon is sophomore running back Stevie Rocker who rushed for 225 yards and three scores.
The Lions will rely on captain and senior quarterback Johnathan Stanton and the home crowd.
Helping Stanton in the backfield is the tandem of running back in sophomore Evan Lovett and senior Ryan Garcia. Together they accounted for 253 yards on the ground and five touchdowns in their win over Rio Rico.
The 520 Sports Talk Spotlight Game of the Week includes the Frog & Firkin Pre-Game Show, The Jim Miller Halftime Report and the Tuller Trophy Wrap Up Show. Coverage will begin at 6:30 pm local time.
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