Zach Alvira: Column: It's time to hand over the football crown

Nov. 30—The Arizona high school football landscape has changed drastically over the course of the last decade.

The East Valley population exploded, leading to expansion of schools and growing numbers at traditional powers. That also led to a string of dominant runs on the gridiron int he state's top conference, led mostly by Chandler and Hamilton, but trickled into Scottsdale with Saguaro and now Basha in south Chandler.

We can look at other sports and say things haven't changed much. Hamilton is still dominant in baseball and Casteel broke through for its first title at the 5A level last spring.

Desert Vista won the inaugural girls' Open Division basketball championship while Perry dominated the boys. The Pumas are once again favorites and nationally ranked, but Sunnyslope and Millennium in Goodyear are making pushes. The boys' 6A and 5A titles were also won by East Valley teams in Highland and Campo Verde.

Volleyball this year was dominated by Sandra Day O'Connor. But traditionally, an East Valley team has come out on top.

There's more parity in other sports, as there should be. But football was the one you could always look at entering the season and identify at least four different championship scenarios all involving some combination of East Valley teams competing for the state title.

While that's still the case for the 6A Conference with Red Mountain and Saguaro matching up Saturday, and Higley playing Desert Edge in 5A on Friday, the top tournament in the state no longer features one of the frequent flyers we've become accustomed to seeing.

When Liberty and Centennial line up Saturday at Mountain America Stadium, it'll be the first time since 1995 an East Valley program wasn't playing for the championship in the top conference or division. It'll be the first time since 2015 a West Valley school will be crowned champion. That year Centennial beat Desert Ridge for the title. The Coyotes chanted "west side" following the game, according to the game story written by our good friend Richard Smith.

There was emotion behind that chant. Pride for the West Valley. Thousands attended the game held at State Farm Stadium and a potential record-breaking crowd is expected at Mountain America Stadium this weekend to see two Peoria teams battle for the trophy.

Meanwhile, East Valley teams can only watch and wish they were in that position. Maybe it would've taken one touchdown, one stop or one last-second field goal. But the reality is, there's a shift in power happening right before our eyes.

And when the clock hits zero Saturday night and Liberty or Centennial begin their celebration, the shift will be complete. Gone are the days the East Valley is the odds on favorite to take the football championship at the highest level. It's time to hand that crown over to the west side.

And given the success of Liberty and Centennial's lower level programs — along with the rise in level of play elsewhere in the West Valley — it could be years before it's given back.

Have an interesting story? Contact Zach Alvira at (480)898-5630 or zalvira@timespublications.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.