Highland (5-2) at Mesa Mountain View (5-2)
Two teams that I have had on my radar on all season as teams with talent that are poised for some playoff upsets. However these teams have been bursting my bubble as the way they are playing, they could be a high seeded team rather than a playoff cinderella. Highland coming off the upset of the then undefeated Desert Mountain Wolves. The Hawks are dealing with injuries but still have playmaker Bill Johnson who is always tough to handle. After Hamilton, the Toros might be the hottest team in division I. Coming off wins over Pinnacle and Red Mountain in consecutive weeks have them ranked in the top 10 in the state. Should be a great matchup.
Boulder Creek (5-2) at Pinnacle (6-1)
Driving up north is a matchup between two teams trying to gain momentum heading into the playoffs. Boulder Creek was rolling in 2012 but hit a speed bump two weeks ago with a tough loss to Mountain Ridge. Got back on the winning side with a win over winless North Canyon and are looking to build off that. The Jags defense led by DB Ryan McKinley will be important against a strong Pinnacle offense. The Pioneers rebounded last week coming off a loss a week before as well. Important week for Pinnacle as they stand with one loss on the season and have matchups with Desert Mountain and Brophy to close out the season. So staying at one loss before those big games will be key.
Fairfax (6-1) at Chavez (7-0)
The undefeated Champions sure are playing like champions. They have not been tested once all season with their smallest margin of victory being a 22-7 win at Canyon del Oro in Tucson back on week 3. Quarterback Arturo Macias has been special for Chavez this season with a completion percentage over 62%, over 1600 yards through the air and 23 touchdowns to just two interceptions. But the next matchup for the Champions is a team that would love to hand them their first loss. The Betty Fairfax Stampede who are having a fantastic season themselves. They have one six straight and are riding a dynamic rushing attack led by junior Brandon Sellars who is averaging over five yards per carry. Should be a lot of fireworks out west.
Desert Edge (7-0) at Liberty (7-0)
Probably the matchup of the week in high school football. Two teams that have been untouchable this season and two teams that are tying to reach levels their programs have not yet achieved. Liberty as always lives and dies by the arm of senior Tyler Rogers. And the way Rogers has played this season the Lions sure have been living. But the Desert Edge defense has been dynamic this season. The most points they have given up in a game just happened to be last week against Shadow Ridge which was 17. However those points came after the game was well out of reach. Could be a state championship preview unless also undefeated Sabino and reigning state champion Saguaro have anything to say about it.
Scottsdale Christian (5-1) at Phoenix Christian (6-1)
Giving some love to two very good Division V teams. Both with only have one loss which is to the same team, undefeated Northwest Christian. And both are looking to make up some extra ground in the power rankings in the late stages of the regular season. The Phoenix Christian Cougars are very balanced offensively running and throwing the football. It’s an offense that will have a big test from a Scottsdale Christian defense that has only given up 59 points all season.
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Jared Cohen
A born and bred Arizonan, Jared has had great passion for the hometown teams all his life. He now channel's that passion into covering the pro, college and high school teams around the state as a Multimedia Reporter for Sports360AZ.