Coaches are a narrowly focused bunch. Rarely does one acknowledge looking backward or forward. It’s how they try to keep their teenage players from doing the same.

Today, however, the Tribune will defy conventional wisdom. We spent the past week remembering the previous nine, while trying to pluck a few of our favorite moments and performances from another sweltering season inside the lines.

ILLUSTRATION BY GABRIEL UTASI, TRIBUNE

Playoffs berths will either be decided tonight or the games are under way, so before the predictions, power-point posturing, passion and pouting burst forth, let’s play relive history once more, and re-chronicle the cream of this football season’s crop.

Presenting our version of the best ’ball we’ve seen this fall:

Best comeback

Chandler vs. Gilbert: Chandler scored 14 points in the final three minutes of regulation to erase a 35-21 deficit against Gilbert last week. A couple of turnovers, a missed Tigers field goal and Kyle Yount’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Chase Rice allowed the Wolves hope, and the second of Kresean Reed’s two interceptions sealed a 42-35 overtime win.

Yount finished with 258 yards and four touchdowns for Chandler, which has a chance to win the region title tonight against Chandler Hamilton.

Honorable mention

Desert Vista vs. Corona Del Sol: On the road before a TV audience, the Thunder used a 17-point fourth quarter against one of the best defenses in 5A-I to improve to 2-0 within the region and take control of the Central Region race.

Desert Vista vs. Basha: Trailing 13-0 at halftime, the Thunder used a pair of six-plus-minute drives in the second half and a couple of missed Basha field goals to steal a 14-13 win.

Best coaching job

B.J. Pasquel (Coronado): With only 26 players on the varsity roster, the top two offensive weapons from last season graduated, and the projected starting quarterback ruled ineligible over the summer, 2008 began as one of the most challenging seasons in Pasquel’s tenure. The ninth-year coach knew he would have a solid defense, but his offense was full of holes and question marks. The goal was simply a top-eight seed for postseason, which to outsiders seemed lofty. Preaching discipline, conditioning and a team-first attitude, Pasquel has taken the program to heights it hadn’t seen since 1989 (an 8-0 start), and a win tonight will give the Dons a top-two seed for the 4A-II playoffs.

Honorable mention

Jeremy Hathcock (Desert Ridge): His no-huddle, multiple-receiver sets give opposing defenses nightmares.

John Sanders (Saguaro): Undefeated this season and 23-0 since taking over as head coach at the start of 2007.

Best season

Saguaro running back Beau Burton: The senior has 151 carries for 1,697 yards and 21 touchdowns through nine games, playing the biggest role in keeping alive the Sabercats’ 28-game winning streak. Burton has 135 yards or more on the ground and at least one score in each game this season, including a season-high 244 yards against Prescott in the season opener.

Honorable Mention

Kaylin Ashley, RB, Coronado, 122 carries, 1,322 yards, 18 TDs; Jesse Brantley, WR, Gilbert, 33 receptions, 873 yards, 11 TDs; Chris Heldore, RB, Desert Ridge, 81 carries, 659 yards, 8 TDs and 39 receptions, 729 yards, 10 TDs; Jacob Storrer, QB, Scottsdale Christian, 146 carries, 1,141 yards, 18 TD and 45-of-76 passing, 691 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs

Best region

4A Desert Sky: Heading into the final week of the season, the Desert Sky has the top three teams in the 4A-I power rankings and five of the top 11. Scottsdale Saguaro, the top seed, has won back-to-back state championships and is undefeated. Scottsdale Chaparral is No. 2, with its only loss to Saguaro, and Paradise Valley is No. 3, only losing to Saguaro and Chaparral. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see two of these three teams in the title game.

Honorable mention

4A East Sky: At least five of the six region teams will qualify for the postseason.

5A Central: Two title contenders in Phoenix Desert Vista and Tempe Corona del Sol, and a team no one wants to play in the first round in Chandler Basha.

Clutch play

Tempe Prep’s Manny Sandoval and Rocky Brittain: With less than a minute remaining in a tie game on the road and the Knights facing a fourth-and-13 at midfield, offensive coordinator Darren Ingram reached into his bag of trick plays and pulled out a beauty to extend the season. The reverse-wide-receiver-pass call was at first vetoed by coach Tommy Brittain. Ingram, though, insisted, and Sandoval and quarterback Brittain executed the play to perfection, connecting for the game-winning touchdown. The 37-30 playoff victory sent Tempe Prep to the 1A state semifinals for the first time in school history and ended defending state champ Elfrida Valley Union’s 18-game winning streak. It was also Valley Union’s first loss at home since 2005. To view the play, click here.

Honorable mention

Scottsdale Notre Dame: Kept its undefeated season alive thanks to a tipped pass completion from quarterback Shane Wolfe to receiver Taylor Malenfant on fourth down against Marin Catholic (Calif.). The fourth-quarter play set up a 25-yard field goal by Andy Wilder, which gave the Saints a 15-13 victory.

Best individual performance

Chris Heldore vs. Skyline: Mesa Desert Ridge’s do-everything running back did exactly that on Oct. 10 against the Coyotes. Heldore ran the ball 10 times for 56 yards and two touchdowns, caught nine balls for 100 yards and three scores and returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown. His six touchdowns fell one short of tying the 5A record.

Honorable mention

Kevin Pantastico vs. Red Mountain: The Desert Ridge quarterback threw for a state-record 595 yards and six touchdowns against the Mountain Lions, but the Jaguars still lost.

Kaylin Ashley vs. Tempe: The engine in Coronado’s running game went wild against the Buffaloes, running for 264 yards and three touchdowns.

Best defense

Chandler Hamilton: Tough call here with the likes of Phoenix Brophy and Scottsdale Saguaro possibly as good, but outside of the Peoria Centennial game, the Huskies have allowed 64 points in eight games. They’re fast, deep and experienced, with 38 sacks and 24 forced turnovers.

Honorable mention

Phoenix Brophy: Has been through a gauntlet of injuries and forced to use inexperienced players in key spots. Held Hamilton to a season-low 10 points and has allowed one touchdown the past four games.

Notre Dame: Only 50 points allowed to Arizona teams in eight games, 29 sacks, nine interceptions.

Saguaro:  The Sabercats are holding opponents to less than a touchdown a game and have four shutouts this year.

Biggest surprise

Coronado: The Dons won two games in 2005, four in ’06 and six in ’07. The odds of winning at least eight this year — and continuing that trend — were low at best (for reasons, see Best Coaching Job). No one told Coronado, though, and at 8-1 so far, it is having its best season in 19 years. The Dons are in contention to share the East Sky Region title and are a legitimate state title threat. Oh, and their one loss, that came in double overtime on the road.

Honorable mention

Tempe Prep: The Knights are 9-1 and in the 1A state semifinals, both firsts in school history.

Corona del Sol: The Aztecs had enough returning players to be good, but few figured they’d be two plays away from an undefeated regular season.