Tempe quarterback Emanuel Gant, threw for five touchdowns and ran for another Friday to help the Buffaloes defeat visiting Arcadia, 49-39 in a Division III football shootout.

Tempe quarterback Emanuel Gant has a good weekly game of pitch-and-catch going on.

Many Tempe players took their lumps as young players, but they also gained experience and grew hungry for a win.

Matt Haggerty has been like a caged animal on defense recently.

Any hope of a playoff berth for Tempe appear to have fallen apart after the Buffaloes’ 34-17 loss to Maricopa on Friday night.

Campo Verde stuck to the defensive game plan on Friday and beat Tempe, 26-14. The Coyotes (5-2) brought pressure early and often on the Buffaloes dynamic offense, led by quarterback Emanuel Gant.

A collections of the top individual performances from Week 5 in the East Valley:

One week after an injury-filled forfeit loss to Saguaro, Tempe rebounded with a dominating win over visiting Coronado.

Tom Saltzstein has been named the new boys basketball coach at Tempe, he said Friday.

Only 22 minutes of football was played between Tempe and Saguaro Friday, but that was more than enough for the Buffaloes on this night.

With two running backs sidelined by injuries, and an unfettered dedication to smashmouth football, Campo Verde needed to tap the “next man up.”

Basha at Hamilton

The setup to this week’s Perry vs. Basha clash looks eerily similar to last year.

The Campo Verde football team’s defense is only allowing 11 points per game, which is fifth-best in Division III. Tempe, meanwhile averages 37.8 points per contest behind the superb play of quarterback Emanuel Gant (93-of-128 for 1,521 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT).

A collection of the top individual performances from Week 6 in the East Valley:

Cactus Shadows signal-caller Bryce Kinsler set a state record by throwing for 639 yards in a 63-49 loss to Precott last Friday. Desert Mountain quarterback Kyle Allen and Red Mountain’s Mason Thorman tied a 5A record with six touchdown passes apiece. Tempe’s Emanuel Gant and Paradise Valley’s Ryan Finley each threw five touchdowns apiece. Several state records are in jeopardy if these signal-callers continue on this torrid pace.

Players to Watch

A mini-reunion of sorts will take place Friday night when Gilbert hosts Mesquite on Friday night. That’s because Gilbert coach Leland Rodgers was Mesquite’s defensive coordinator last year.

Here are some of the top storylines in week 2 of the high school football season:

Tempe stopped a fourth-quarter two-point attempt and a drive in the final minutes Friday night, holding on to defeat Division III opponent Poston Butte 28-27.

Let’s review what’s happened, shall we?