Halfway through and ready for more in the Arizona high school football season

Somehow, some way, the football season has reached the midway point.

In just five more weeks all but the top 16 teams in each division will be turning in their shoulder pads and helmets. By then things will become clearer as to who will be continuing on to the postseason and who deserves all-state recognition.

Until then, however, here is a glimpse at some of the top moments, games and turnarounds through the first month and half of the season.

Best game
Mountain Pointe (Phoenix) 45, Chandler 42
The Pride rushed for a school-record 541 yards, including 408 in the first half, with Paul Lucas going for 285 yards and Brandyn Leonard chipping in 241. And yet Chandler stayed in the game that at the time pitted the No. 1 Wolves versus No. 2 Mountain Pointe. Chandler trailed 42-21 at halftime, but the defense did enough to keep the Pride out of the end zone while the Wolves scored on their first two possessions to close within the final score, 45-42.

Surprises
Boulder Creek (Anthem) in Division I, Westwood (Mesa) in Division II and Sunrise Mountain (Peoria) in Division III have combined to go 14-1 after the three programs went 14-12 a year ago. Boulder Creek has been impressive in Brandon Willard's first season as the Jaguars look to be in line to head toward the best season in school history, when it went 9-4 and made the Division II semifinals. The schedule toughens starting with Thursday's game against O'Connor (Phoenix), but the team is fully on board with Willard and what he has brought to the table.

"It was different but it is working out great," said senior safety Ryan Parenteau, who Willard called the best leader he has ever been around. "He is a great player's coach. After the first win (at Mountain View) everyone bought in. "I had a brother who played at BC and they never did anything like that. We are going to go 10-0."

Player of the Year
Saguaro's Christian Kirk has been even better than anticipated if that is possible. The senior wide receiver has been special, averaging 17.9 yards a carry (269 on 15), and if that wasn't enough he is also averaging 21 yards a catch (568 on 27). He entered the weekend leading the state with 10 touchdown receptions, which gives him the career 4A state record (45). He has returned four punts for 154 yards and a touchdown. The 5-foot-9, 160-pounder hasn't decided on his college destination, but announced his final six schools are Arizona State, Auburn, UCLA, Southern California, Texas A&M and Ohio State.

Also considered – Josh Chadwick of Highland (Gilbert), Brian Lewerk of Pinnacle (Phoenix), Emanuel Gant of Tempe.

Coach of the Year
It's hard to overlook Willard or Westwood (Mesa) coach Spencer Stowers after starting undefeated, but resurrecting a dormant program like Dobson (Mesa) is pretty impressive. George De La Torre has the Mustangs at 3-2 at the halfway mark with a .500 season in the offing. Not bad for a Division I program that has been on hard times for the last decade, posting only two winning seasons (7-5 in 2007, and 6-4 in 2006) since 2004. The Mustangs won only three games in De La Torre's first two seasons, but the discipline he brought with him has instilled confidence and accountability in the program.

Also considered — Johnny Rodriguez (Sandra Day O'Connor), Willard and Stowers.

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee Foothill News staff writer, is a 19-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.