The scary Scottsdale duo of Saguaro and Chaparral still looms on the schedule, but it’s getting harder and harder not to take notice of the Apache Junction football team.

 SLIDESHOW: Friday night high school football

In three games, the Prospectors (3-0) have outscored their opponents 172-6 while holding those three teams to a combined 70 yards rushing.

In Friday’s 56-0, 4A-I nonregion win at Glendale Raymond Kellis (1-1), Apache Junction also served notice that if you’re going to key on ASU-bound tailback Shane McCullen, the Prospectors are going to make you pay with their new option attack.

Three backs rushed for more than 90 yards, led by McCullen’s nine carries for 181 yards and two scores. Overall, the Prospectors racked up 537 yards on the ground, making the one pass they threw seem a mere nod to balance.

“It’s really giving defenses fits,” Apache Junction coach Rich Milligan said of his new offense. “We had a play tonight where we put Shane in motion one way and we hit them with a big play going the other.

“Teams have been a little slow to realize that if they focus on Shane, we have guys who can hurt them.”

Milligan admitted surprise at the ease with which Apache Junction rolled for a third straight week.

“I don’t think we figured on scoring 20 points in the first quarter,” he said. “They looked really physical and aggressive on tape.”

Instead, it was AJ that did the bullying, holding Kellis to negative-39 yards rushing while its backs had a field day.

Terry Eytcheson had eight carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns while Nate Scola added 10 carries for 90 yards and another score. Justin Ferman, Mike Davalos and Garret Johnson also added scoring runs for Apache Junction, which steps up in competition the next two weeks with games against Queen Creek and Chaparral.