You never know.

The 2010 prep football season has been viewed since mid-to-late September and perhaps earlier as open and shut on several fronts. Hamilton a lock to three-peat in 5A-I. Chaparral to repeat in 5A-II. Canyon del Oro the choice to repeat in 4A-I. Blue Ridge a back-to-back champ in 3A.

But there are stumbles one never sees coming. Cibola beating Basha. How often does a Yuma school beat a playoff-caliber East Valley school of any kind? Very rarely. This season few if any thought Perry would beat Marcos de Niza earlier this month after Chaparral blizted Perry the week before. Desert Ridge, one of the preseason favorites to contend in the 5A East Valley, was blown out by Marcos de Niza and sat at 2-3. The Jaguars have won three in a row and rebounded two weeks ago to stun Mountain Pointe and are back in the hunt for the region title. Last week it was Red Mountain heading over to hallowed ground at Centennial and dealing the Coyotes their first loss of the year.

Surprises come in the postseason, too. Brophy upsetting Hamilton in the 2007 semis to stymie a then-three-peat attempt by the Huskies. Or last year Marcos de Niza surprising Centennial in the 5A-II semifinals.

Not saying those aforementioned locks won't still happen. But there is history that shows -- you never know.