Arizona high school football team stat leaders in important postseason categories

Video: Recap: Scottsdale Christian Academy vs. Phoenix Christian 2016
See the state's top passing offense in action this season.

There are many routes to winning a state football championship.

Many coaches believe the true and tried one is all about a running game and stout defense. Add in winning the turnover battle and that pretty much locks up a championship run in most coaches' eyes.

"Running the ball can be viewed as conservative, but if that's what is working why risk anything else?" Mountain Pointe coach Norris Vaughan said. "If they can't stop you then you keep running it."

With today's popularity of spread offenses, some teams can be pass-happy throughout the year, but then turn to the running game once November hits. It doesn't always mesh well, as the teams go away from their comfort level in order to eat clock and shorten the game, while those teams that have the running game in their DNA love this time of the year.

So who is best equipped to put it all together in Arizona? Stats don't tell the whole story, but they give an indication of a team's personality.

Here is a look at some of top statistical teams with two weeks remaining in the regular season (numbers are current as of Thursday).

Rushing yards per game
1. Wickenburg 406.0
2. Alhambra (Phoenix) 360.90
3. Cesar Chavez (Laveen) 349.0
4. Westview (Avondale) 346.4
5. Mountain Pointe (Phoenix) 345.0

Passing yards per game
1. Scottsdale Christian Academy (Phoenix) 329.6
2. Desert Mountain (Scottsdale) 323.3
3. Marcos de Niza (Tempe) 316.5
4. Basha (Chandler) 309.4
5. San Tan Foothills (Queen Creek) 306.9

Total yards
1. Higley (Gilbert) 534.5
2. Scottsdale Christian 521.4
3. Mountain Pointe 498.5
4. Chandler 497.1
5. Basha 495.3

Interceptions
1. Bisbee 20
2. Benson 18
3. Cienega (Vail) 16
4 (tie). Yuma Catholic, Snowflake, Chandler Prep 15

Sacks
1. Scottsdale Christian 58.5
2. Cesar Chavez 57.0
3. Florence 46.0
4. Tempe 44.5
5. Miami 44.0

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic sports writer and current Prep Sports Director for Times Publications, is a 20-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com.