The Salpointe Catholic Lancers are on track to punching another ticket to the Open Division state championship bracket.Β
The midseason rankings, which features the top eight high school football programs in Arizona regardless of division, was announced by the Arizona Interscholastic Association Tuesday morning.
Salpointe Catholic (4-0) checked in at No. 4, just behind last season's Open Division champion Chandler (5-0), Goodyear Desert Edge (6-0) and Chandler Hamilton (5-0). The back half of the first Open Division ranking includes Peoria Sunrise Mountain, Peoria Liberty, Casa Grande and Phoenix Sunnyslope.Β
Salpointe Catholic handed Casa Grande its first and only loss of the season in the season opener on Oct. 2. Since then, the Cougars have won four consecutive games.Β
The Lancers have wins over Casa Grande, Sierra Vista Buena, Gilbert Campo Verde and Glendale Mountain Ridge in Eric Rogers' first year as head coach. Salpointe Catholic was the lone Southern Arizona representative in last year's Open Division playoffs, and fell to top-seeded Chandler in the semifinals.Β
Here's a complete look at the Open Division rankings:Β
1. Chandler (5-0)
2. Desert Edge (6-0)
3. Hamilton (6-0)
4. Salpointe Catholic (4-0)
5. Sunrise Mountain (4-2)
6. Liberty (4-2)
7. Casa Grande (4-1)
8. Sunnyslope (4-0)
