The Pride are lead by the Pola-Mao boys. Chandler has to tried to shut down Isaiah, who does his damage patrolling and making plays in the open field. On offense he will test Bryce Jackson and Imani Lee- if they take a play off, or if they get caught sleeping, EXPECT Isaiah to showcase his ability to make a big play. On defense he patrols the secondary, chasing down balls thrown over the top, and punishing receivers coming across the middle (think Troy Polamalu). Then there’s Matthew, the “little” brother, who does his damage the trenches, and will make it tough for Chandler to run up the middle.

This front is the foundation of what’s going to be talked about as one of the best defenses in AZ history! If it's not Michael Washington chasing, then it's Shomari Hayes disrupting. Even if Chandler’s line finds a way to neutralize those two, then Jacob Conover will still have to deal with Jacob Olsen, Xavier Cota, and Khalif Ravenell. This defense has not given up 100 yards to a single running back all season. This defense suffocates, and shuts things down. And Chandler knows that. First hand.

Chandler doesn’t have to play a guessing game as to who is going to be taking snaps to start the game. It will most likely be Noah Grover, but if “Super” Grover struggles, the Wolves better be ready for “Slick” Nick Wallerstedt, who offers a different dimension than Grover. Nick doesn’t appear to be as statistically efficient as Grover, but I think he was just settling into the position. If Nick is called into action the Pride won’t miss a beat, and that will require Chandler to adjust accordingly and quickly.

Going back to 2012, the Pride are 4-1 vs Chandler... and many would argue that the loss should come with an asterisk or be (Tyrek) "Crossed out”. There is no question NOBODY has had more success vs Chandler as of late than Mountain Pointe.

Offensively Chandler has overwhelmed every team they played this season with an their team speed. Except two. One being Corona Centennial, and the other being Mountain Pointe. I was there for both. Pola-Mao is joined by lockdown corner Alex Woodberry, and ball hawks Marshawn Gibson and Kenny Churchwell, forming what is arguably the states best secondary. They WILL give Johnny Johnson and company fits. Those four can chase down anybody from any angle.

So The Pride don’t necessarily care who doesn’t show them the love they deserve (me included), they instead just do what they are best at- and that’s play 3D. Dominate, Demoralize, and Destroy. They dominate their opponents physically for a half, and after realizing there isn’t much that you can do against them, you are usually left Demoralized, by the time you look back up at the scoreboard in the 4th Quarter you find that your team has been Destroyed. And I know that some are going to argue that Red Mountain took Mountain Pointe to the wire. I’ll address that in my next Pointe (see what I did there?)

Mountain Pointe has all the confidence in the world, and why shouldn’t they? This team has beaten every team that has been placed in front of them. They beat a talented Upland team IN California (I was there). They beat a few good QBs, Gobbling up Gilbert's Jack Plummer, harassing Pinnacle's 'Young Legend,' Spencer Rattler to a QB rating 30 points lower than his season average, and lets not forget what they did to 'Cool Jacob' Conover, who was held to a 9.3 rating- far from his mind boggling season average 143.9. Most teams would worry if they had to play a stretch of games with out their starting RB or QB but Mountain Pointe lost starting RB Gary Bragg for the season, and Rashie Hodge comes in and plays with unmatched intensity. Now getting to my previous point- Red Mountain played the Pride tough, but consider that maybe its possible The Pride were able to use them as a tune up game to get Grover back up to speed. Being able to do that and know you were never really in true danger? That's confidence.

The Pride's WR Jaydon Brooks and RB Delano Salgado have scored the quietest 16 touchdowns in the state. They could score 16 apiece if they were on other teams, and its usually because of them that games are broken wide open... because just when you think you have figured out how to shut down Pola-Mao, or slow down Hodge- BAM! Brooks or Salgado make a big play.