Other articles by Casey Crowe:

Feet don't fail her now Alta Vista to play AIA schedule Teen rider leaps into US picture Coaches highlight newest class Toros fall again in late innings Adams hits two homers, but mistakes cost Toros Former Mets minor-leaguer eager for second Toros start Pusch Ridge shows no mercy, pounds San Manuel for title CDO overpowers Cactus CDO makes final after another win in last at-bat

Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor

PHOENIX — There was no trash talk, no bad-mouthing, no verbal jabs at all.

At Tuesday's 4A-I/4A-II state championship football media day at the Arizona Interscholastic Association office, Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep wanted no part of spouting off bulletin- board material for use by Santa Rita — the Saints' opponent in Saturday's title contest.

Notre Dame Prep brought a contingent of seven standout players, along with head coach Scot Bemis, to the news conference, all outfitted in long-sleeved, white dress shirts, khaki trousers and purple-and-gold neckties — the school colors.

And not a one of the Saints made the mistake of heaping anything but praise on the Eagles.

Here is what several of the defending state champion Saints had to say about Santa Rita:

"Santa Rita isn't just fast. They're super fast," said Andrew Stutz, a running back and safety.

"That team is as athletic as anyone we've seen on film. That speed is not easy to deal with. We'll see if we can match that," added Patrick Foley, a running back and defensive back.

And from Bemis, on Santa Rita coach Jeff Scurran:

"Coach Scurran is a legend down there for a reason. (Santa Rita) will be the stiffest test all year. And that's the way it should be."

What else but kind words could have been expected from a Notre Dame crew that reluctantly skipped morning Mass to attend?

"Missing church today, missing classes, that's not something that normally happens. It's not supposed to," said Stutz. "The spiritual aspect is huge at Notre Dame. It's part of the experience."

Santa Rita, meanwhile, opted against making the four-hour-plus roundtrip in favor of maintaining normality in crunch time.

Besides having AIMS standards — not the actual exam, but the practice version — Santa Rita would've lost precious practice time.

Scurran never considered going anyway. At 4 p.m., the Eagles were on the practice field at Pima College East — and not on the highway.

Regarding the game Saturday and Notre Dame's attributes, Scurran made his comments from the turf rather than the podium.

"They're really big, mistake-free, well-coached. And did I mention that they're big?" Scurran said. "That is the thing that stands out right away. Their size causes issues, but we've faced that problem before."

Kickoff for the 4A-II state championship is scheduled for 11:07 a.m. at Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium.