Highland’s football program is ready to take things to the next level.

The Hawks are coming off back-to-back 6A state titles and three consecutive 6A championship game appearances. The Open Division bracket has eluded Highland, but along the way, the Hawks have gone head to head with the likes of Chandler, Basha and Hamilton, losing competitive games to all three.

Tonight they get another shot to prove they belong against Arizona's top-ranked football team and defending Open state champions.

It’s only Week 2 for the big schools, and it’s only one game. But make no mistake, a victory tonight over Basha could go a long way for Highland in 2023 and as a program.

“To be the best you’ve got to beat the best,” senior linebacker Kash Cullimore said earlier this week.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play in both of our last two state championship games in which we were able to come out on top, and it’s been amazing, but getting to the Open and winning would be the next step to greatness.”

The closest Highland has come to winning the highest existing classification was in 2018, when the Hawks took heavily favored Chandler into overtime in a thrilling semifinal contest before falling 36-35. Cullimore’s older brother, Kohner, was a two-way standout on that Highland squad, scoring three touchdowns in that game.

It was the last season before the Open playoff bracket was implemented, and Chandler was in pursuit of its fourth 6A title in five seasons. Coincidentally, that contest was played at Basha High.

“A win over Basha would be very significant,” Cullimore added.

“It’d be one step closer to getting to that Open Division.”

Kash Cullimore, along with fellow senior and cousin Kody Cullimore, lead Highland’s senior class, while junior quarterback Kalen Fisher has developed into an effective leader.

Fisher rescued Highland’s dormant passing game halfway through the ’22 season and looked sharp in a Week 1victory at Glendale Mountain Ridge, throwing for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Highland won 45-14.

Tonight’s opponent should provide the ultimate challenge. Coming off its first state championship in school history, future Arizona quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is back for his fourth varsity season with plenty of talent around him.

Basha cruised to an easy victory over Westwood last week by a score of 66-7. Williams Jr. was efficient and dangerous, completing 12-of-13 passes for 340 yards and four touchdowns through the air, along with 92 yards on the ground with two more scores.

Williams also eclipsed the 7,000 yard passing mark for his high school career.

Showdown near Old Town

After a 40-20 opening week road victory at Queen Creek, Mountain View coach Joe Germaine will take his Toro squad up to Scottsdale to face Saguaro, a powerhouse who narrowly lost to Basha in last December’s championship game.

Saguaro is also the location where Germaine saw his first varsity action with Mountain View as a sophomore in 1991. Things have changed since.

One thing seems certain for the Toros: a healthy Jack Germaine at quarterback gives Mountain View’s offense an identity and production. The senior has endured three knee surgeries since junior high and missed the last half of 2022 with another.

In the 11 career games Germaine has started and finished since his sophomore season, the Toros have averaged 35 points a game. That includes last week’s contest in which Germaine carved up Queen Creek for 344 yards and four touchdowns while engineering all 40 points over the last three quarters.

“He’s a tough kid,” Germaine says of son Jack.

“Saguaro is obviously a great team and they’ve been an outstanding program. We’re going to need a Herculean effort from everyone.”

Mountain View’s defense will have its hands full. Saguaro took down ALA Queen Creek last week by a score of 49-35. Senior quarterback Mason Bray had a spectacular performance of his own, throwing for 309 yards and five touchdowns.

Mesa Mountain View quarterback Jack Germaine (Photo courtesy of Kristi Raban)

Hamilton Rebound?

It wasn’t terribly shocking that Hamilton fell to Liberty on the road in last week’s opener in Peoria.

It was shocking to see a final score of 56-20. Liberty overwhelmed Hamilton from the outset, scoring 49 points by halftime. Surprisingly, the 56 points weren’t the most ever allowed by Hamilton in its illustrious 25 year history.

It wasn’t even the first time the Huskies had allowed 49 points in one half. That also happened in a 2017 quarterfinal playoff game against Perry High. Brock Purdy—then a senior—led Perry to 72 points, 49 of which came in the first half.

The current 49er quarterback passed for 512 yards and rushed for another 86, while accounting for eight touchdowns.

Hamilton will try and rebound tonight at Desert Ridge in East Mesa. The Jaguars are coming off a 49-8 victory over Vail Cienega, and they expect an angry Hamilton team.

“We’re gonna have our hands full and we know (Hamilton) will be ready to play,” Desert Ridge quarterback Major Wootan said.

California Bound

Four Valley schools hit the road to California for weekend matchups. Higley arrived in Concord for a match-up tonight against Clayton Valley Charter tonight at 7pm.

Brophy Prep is participating in the Honor Bowl held in San Diego area schools. Brophy squares off tonight against Cathedral Catholic, and Red Mountain will play Saturday afternoon at Helix High.

Ben Stapley has covered East Valley high school sports for more than 20 years. His Stapley Drive column will appear regularly on azpreps365.com. If you have a story idea, please send Stapley an email (bstapley@azpreps365.com).