Topsy-turvy Arizona high school football season hitting stretch run

There is something in the air this season, and not just footballs as offenses get more pass-happy.

This is more about the oddity of the 2013 season.

Top programs are down, past doormats are winning like never before and injuries have kept many of the state's top players sidelined.

"I've been out here 18 years since I came over from Oklahoma," Desert Mountain (Scottsdale) coach Tony Tabor said. "Teams that were winning then aren't now. There's been shift to the suburban life, open enrollment and so many other factors."

The factor for the Desert Mountain team this season, which was supposed to be one of the best in the program's history, has been injuries.

The Wolves (3-4) have had 10 players miss games including Oklahoma wide receiver recruit Mark Andrews along with offensive linemen Christian Boettcher and Colman Martin, which has led to three different starting centers this season.

"I've never been part of a team that has had as many injuries as we've had," Tabor said. "It's not like I can pick up players on the waiver wire. We just have to suck it up and go."

They did that just last week and it might have saved Desert Mountain's postseason hopes as quarterback Kyle Allen, a Texas A&M commit, and company came back from a 21-6 deficit to beat Mountain View (Mesa) 48-31.

While the Wolves have had a frustrating season, Rio Rico has had an infuriating existence.

Until this year.

The program started in 1997 and never won more than four games in a season, but after last week's impressive 30-21 win over Palo Verde the Hawks have a 5-2 record in Division IV.

"Our motto the entire week — and if you walk into our locker room, you'll see it on our board—was 'MAKE HISTORY!'" Rio Rico coach Kevin Kuhm told the Nogales International. "Two words; that's all we talked about this week; making history, and it's pretty evident that they wanted to leave here (tonight) saying that they were part of the best team ever in the history of Rio Rico."

According to the Nogales International, Rio Rico has won more games (eight) under the guidance of Kevin Kuhm in two years than the previous 11 1/2 seasons when the Hawks went 7-99.

While schools like Horizon (Scottsdale) (6-1) and Skyline (Mesa) (5-2) weren't as bad off as Rio Rico, they are making an impression in Division I as Horizon is averaging 54.4 points a game and Skyline started the year with five wins after having six losing seasons since 2004, including five straight non-winning seasons since 2008.

Meanwhile, Division I powers like Brophy (Phoenix) (2-5) and Desert Vista (Phoenix) (3-4) are fighting through roster changeover and inexperience.

Another new challenger this year is 7-0 Bourgade Catholic (Phoenix), which knocked off Northwest Christian (Phoenix), coming off three state title berths and two titles, last week and face Yuma Catholic this week.

Bourgade had just 18 wins since 2007 but the Golden Eagles are playing at a very high level this season as they have outscored opponents 241-76.

While Bourgade is almost assuredly headed to Division V playoffs, Desert Mountain is going to have to earn every last point in the power rankings in order to make the postseason.

Not many would have seen it coming, but that's what 2013 has given us.

"You can tell how a team is going as a coach," Tabor said. "We've had a lot of fight in us lately. That's all you can ask for heading into any game. We've had a tough go but if we can get one or two guys back we can make a run at the end."

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee Foothills News staff writer, is a 19-year sports writing veteran. Follow on Twitter @JSkodaAFN and contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com.