One hundred and 92 minutes of scoreless football.

It seems extremely improbable for there not to have been at least one broken coverage or missed tackle that led to a score at some point. Seriously, that’s the equivalent of four full football games.

It also sounds boring.

Unless, of course, the mind leans toward the defensive side of football and then it’s pretty amazing. Ridiculous. And a point of pride.

Now, you know what it is like to walk on the field part of the defensive unit for Combs.

“It started in spring ball with the team leaders talking about having something to prove,” Combs coach Levi Hoagland said. “And they’ve gone out and done it.”

The Coyotes have not allowed a score on their way to a 4-0 start, which even included a 2-0 win last week against Paradise Honors. Four shutouts to the start the year is hard to do, but throw in the rare, and the oddity, of winning a game on the lone score of a safety and there’s something special going on there.

Even if they also won a game 2-0 last year as well. There is something different about this squad in San Tan.

How different will be known in coming weeks as Combs plays Maryvale this week and then take on two of the top teams in 4A on that road against Arcadia and Snowflake as Desert Sky Region begins.

“We play in a tough region and the schedule is pretty difficult as a lot of teams are going to play deep into the playoffs,” Hoagland said. “We talked to the players about how they are going to react once they do give up points, and how they need to refocus, and shake it off.

“And they come back with, ‘What if we don’t give up a score?’ That’s their mentality right now.”

Some of the standouts are senior middle linebacker and captain Levi Anglin, senior linebacker Van Merkley, and senior defensive end Sam Pearson.

“We have some really great leaders, and everyone is following their lead,” Hoagland said. “It’s been an incredible run, and they are going to do their best to extend it as long as possible.

And what about those 2-0 wins – this year against Paradise Honors and last year against Eastmark? The least common score in football happened two years in a row seems a little on the impossible side.

“I remember thinking last year, “Well, that’s pretty cool. We’ll never see something like that again,’ ” Hoagland said. “And then it happened. I don’t know what the odds are of that happening are, but it has to be pretty low.”

Both times the special teams were the difference as Eastmark snapped the ball out of the end zone last year, and then a punt block against Paradise Honors went out the back of the end zone.

National focus

Two major events are taking place in the East Valley this weekend.

The Nike Tournament of Champions is a girls volleyball tournament that brings in teams from around the country as the teams play Friday and Saturday with the championship matches happening around 5 p.m. on Saturday.

There are 80 teams spread among three brackets – national, premier, and elite. The event is held at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa and always attracts from in an out of the state.

The 19th annual Desert Twilight cross country meet hosts 270 schools including several powerhouse programs.

There are several races that include middle schools, the community and sweepstakes events that brings in some big names.

It is held Friday at Toka Sticks Golf Course in Mesa with the top race happening under the lights after 8 p.m.

Litmus test

Ty Detmer walked around the ALA-Gilbert North’s field prior to the Eagles’ game against No. 1 Desert Edge and made it clear it was going come down to how the offensive line did against the Scorpions’ disruptive front.

“They are big and athletic,” ALA-Gilbert North’s coach said. “If we can control the line of scrimmage we will OK.”

And just like that offensive went down the field on its opening drive – going 80 yards and picking up six first downs – for a 7-0 lead.

But that’s about where it stopped.

A turnover inside its own 30, led to Desert Ridge’s first score and the teams went into halftime the Eagles led 7-6.

After that, it was Desert Edge’s game as the defense took over – forced an intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety and strip sack led to a scoop and score – for the 29-7 win.

After the game, Detmer understood what needs to be done between now and November.

“They are a good team, and we competed hard,” Detmer said. “We tend to get better as the season goes on and we clearly need to if we are going to face them again.”

Impressive starts

The flag football season is well underway, and some teams have already shown signs of being a title contender.

Highland knocked off 5A title contender Campo Verde 21-0 to start the year and have posted three shutouts to start the year to outscore opponents 125-0, while 6A Fiesta Region companion Queen Creek entered Thursday 4-0 by outscoring opponents 174-6.

Red Mountain won its first four by a combined 141-7 and the 6A classification entered action Thursday with 11 teams undefeated with at least two games played.

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