Outlook: A 2-0 region mark would look good for Mountain Pointe coach Phil Abbadessa’s team.
Corona loves to run the ball, but the Pride surrendered 259 rushing yards last week against Marcos. Mountain Pointe holds a 95-21 third-quarter advantage this season.
Normally Marquese Wheaton gets opponents’ attention, but speedster Markus Wheaton earned the spotlight last week with four receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns for Mountain Pointe. The unsung hero was Spencer Thompson, who converted all five extra points, a field goal and had a 43-yard punt average.
“That’s why we talk about field position a lot,” Abbadessa said of his kicker, who missed the Basha game two weeks ago to visit the Naval Academy. “He’s helped us a lot this year to get us that field position.”
Corona needs this game in a big way to stay in the Central Region race after falling to Desert Vista last week. Coach Gary Venturo was unhappy with the play of both offensive and defensive lines, as the Aztecs struggled to run the ball. Expect a better performance from the Aztecs, who were pushed in practice this week.
Mountain Pointe at Corona del Sol
Address: 1001 E. Knox Road, Tempe
Records: Mountain Pointe 5-2, 1-1; Corona del Sol 4-3, 0-1
Last year’s meeting: Mountain Pointe 60, Corona del Sol 12
