The West Valley Misfits are indeed aptly named, as they have surprised many by moving into 1st place in Arizona’s HS league.

Now, admittedly, it should be a shot time there, as Red Mountain, the favorite to win the state title, is undefeated and just didn’t play a league game this weekend. But, still, at 5-1 after a 34-29 defeat of Phoenix, West Valley is enjoying a nice season.

“We have gotten a pretty good start,” said Coach Stacy Huntington. “We know we’ve got Red Mountain ahead of us, and they’re always really good, but we’ve got a good veteran team, and we know also we can do better.”

Leading the way for West Valley is Connor Bey, a state all-star at scrumhalf and the team captain.

He was all kinds of trouble for Phoenix, scoring tries, and keeping the team together. Bey is in his 7th year of playing rugby in the area, and his experience shows.

“We worked on a bunch of new things all week and the guys did zero of them,” lamented Huntington. “But they kept working and kept at it and got the win.”

Utility player Tyreese Bell, who is comfortable playing center or No. 8 or almost anywhere in between, was superb for the Misfits, scoring four tries.

Also this weekend in Arizona, Tempe won a forfeit over El Mirage, Scottsdale won 51-29 over Northern Arizona, North Valley and Old Pueblo tied 34-34, and Desert Vista won in a close one over Chandler United.

Freshman blindside flanker Kyle Ostendorp scored a try and kicked four conversions, and Kyle Bohlen and Malachi Knox both scored Vista improved to 4-2.

So it’s starting to clear up Arizona, with Red Mountain, an improving Desert Vista squad, Tempe, and the Blackbirds all right near the top. But at the top this week, are the Misfits.