This time of the year injuries can make all of the difference.
Everyone is nicked up to a certain extent. Coaches might let up in practice a tad in order to make sure everyone is fresh heading into Week 9.
In making the rounds at practice this week, Mountain Pointe has lost a big target in tight end/wide receiver Thair Blakes with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is out for the year.
Pride coach Norris Vaughan told Blakes the story of Garrison Hearst, a former Georgia running back who tore his ACL and didn't even know it.
He went on to have a productive NFL career (after he left the Cardinals, who drafted him No. 3 overall, of course) and twice won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
Blakes hopes to find a place at one of the area junior colleges to continue his playing days.
Desert Vista will be without senior linemen Zack Tamburo, who has an Achilles' heel injury that was originally diagnosed as a high ankle sprain.
I get the feeling if the postseason started this week, he'd tape it up as tight as possible and go as long as he could.
Instead he will take his second straight game off when the Thunder host Dobson since getting hurt in the first quarter against Hamilton and it is the right decision.
Contact writer: (480) 898-7915 or JSkoda@ahwatukee.com. Follow him on Twitter @JSkodaAFN.
