About half the state plays with a day less on the practice field this week. Most of those on Thursday (Oct. 6) in deference to Yom Kippur. The other half tees it up Friday (Oct. 7) with unbeaten squads squaring off against one another in Division I and Division V.

Topping the schedule is a D-I battle matching Hamilton (6-0) at Desert Vista (6-0). Both have been exceptional in fashioning their unbeaten marks. Hamilton is a bit more tested to this point having faced Mountain Pointe, Desert Ridge, Mesquite and Chandler -- all teams with postseason hopes still intact. Desert Vista topped Mountain Pointe and last week utilized a huge second-half rally to beat Division III's best team, Saguaro.

Emotionally the teams may have to dig deep this week to be in top form. Hamilton also rallied from behind (a 21-13 deficit) to beat Chandler, 28-21, and keep its winning streak alive at 46. Desert Vista, playing from behind for the first time all year, overcame a 28-6 halftime deficit to blank Saguaro after intermission and win, 31-28, on the final play.

Hamilton is the more balanced team offensively with a solid running game and passing game that takes what the defense gives. Desert Vista has been most productive on the ground and that's its preference. Hamilton will try to make the Thunder throw more. Senior quarterback Hunter Rodriguez has shown the ability to do that if need be. The Thunder can't spot Hamilton a lead as they did Saguaro last week as the two-platooning Huskies won't wear down.

The matchup of the week among smaller schools takes place in southernn Arizona where Thatcher (6-0) visits rival Willcox (6-0). The teams met twice last year with Willcox notching a 21-20 win late in the regular season. Thatcher returned the favor in the first round of the playoffs with a 42-28 victory.

Thatcher has had little trouble in reeling off its six wins. Willcox is young and battling a host of injuries that saw a half-dozen starters sit out last week's win over San Carlos. Running back Anthoy Torres leads Willcox. The Cowboys have eeked out a couple of wins on their schedule while Thatcher hasn't been tested.

Other interesting games this week in the East Valley and southern Arizona:

Basha (6-0) at Desert Rdge (4-2) -- Basha continues to roll and is now 15-1 under Bernie Busken in regular-season games since he took over the Bears last season. Desert Ridge ran into a fired-up Red Mountain last week and dropped its second game. This is Basha's best test since Chandler, a game the Bears won in a shootout in mid-September. Basha is led by one of the most consistent quarterbacks around in Kyle Duran (1,727 yards passing and 13 touchdowns) and a much improved running game. Desert Ridge should have Parker Rasmussen back after a one-week suspension. That makes the Jaguars more viable via the pass with its ground attack of Jordan Becerra and Joey Counts. Marana Mountain View (3-3) at Ironwood Ridge (5-1) -- Ironwood Ridge dropped a smash-mouth encounter with unbeaten Centennial last week. This week it's about rebounding and getting on track for the stretch run for the Nighthawks. Marana Mountain View opened the season 3-0, but has lost its last three in a row. The Mountain Lions haven't had an easy schedule with its losses coming to Salpointe, Cienega and Tucson (D-I). A win over CDO in week 2 was a marquee triumph, but the loss to Tucson last week by a field goal could make a trip to the postseason tough. Corona del Sol (4-2) at Mountain Pointe (2-4) -- Is Corona del Sol ready for a breakthrough against a talened opponent? Answer comes in this one. The Aztecs plowed through Cibola on the road last week. They face the Pride, which is wobbly after facing as tough an early-season schedule as anyone in Division I. Mountain Pointe is going to have to run the table to keep its playoff-qualifying streak alive under Norris Vaughan. Red Mountain (4-2) at Mesa Mountain View (3-3) -- Red Mountain can taste an 8-2 finish if it takes care of business in this one. This is the first meeting since 2008 of Mesa rivals on Brown Road and the first for the coaches in the series, Ron Wisniewski (Red Mountain) and Chad DeGrenier (Mountain View). The  Toros have been streaky -- dropping their first two, winning three straight for momentum and then dropping with a thud in a loss at Pinnacle. The Toros likely won't finish better than .500 if they don't find a way to pull off an upset against their rivals to the east. Perry (4-2) at Poston Butte (6-0) -- Perry has enjoyed the luxury of computer scheduling, which has matched them more with schools in Division III than in its own Division II. This is another in that vein, albeit against the unbeaten Broncos, who view this as their toughest game to date. Pima (6-0) at Mogollon  (5-1)--  Pima moved down a class (division) this year to D-Vi and as its record shows is enjoying the ride. Traveling to Heber on Friday will be the litmus test for the Roughriders as Mogollon has been one of the elite in 1A (D-VI) iwith back-to-back runner-up finishes to Joseph City. Pima was the last southern Arizona 1A school to play for a a 1A title. Pima fell to Mogollon in the 2008 championship game. Mogollon's only loss this year was to Joseph City. Pima and Mogollon have a common opponent in Ray. Both prevailed by 38 points or more in their matchups with the Bearcats.