Salpointe is the No. 2 seed in the 6A state playoffs with the bracket announced Saturday, benefitting from seven 6A teams playing in the Open Division state tournament.
The Lancers (8-2) would have been the ninth seed and playing on the road in the first round of the 6A playoffs if the Open Division did not exist.
Instead, Eric Rogers’ team will host No. 15 Corona del Sol (3-7) on Thursday.
One of the Aztecs’ seven losses was to Salpointe on Oct. 6, a 29-20 final played at Ed Doherty Stadium.
Corona del Sol is coached by former Casa Grande coach Jake Barro.
His team is in the playoffs because its schedule included playing top-flight 6A teams including Salpointe, Brophy, Centennial, Pinnacle and Chandler.
The Lancers, led by high-profile defensive ends Keona Wilhite and Elijah Rushing, are in position to be a host all the way through the semifinal round. That’s potentially three more home games until playing in the 6A state championship game Dec. 2 at ASU’s Mountain America Stadium.
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