NOTE: This weekly football preview primarily covers the area from north Scottsdale west through Phoenix, the southwest and northwest Valley, northwest Arizona, northern Arizona and northeast Arizona, including Native American communities.

By Don Ketchum

Two nights, twice the fun.

This week’s high school football schedule is split into Thursday night (Oct. 6) and Friday night (Oct. 7).

Most of the larger schools will play on Thursday.

Heading the list is Avondale Westview (5-1) vs. Phoenix Brophy Prep (6-0) at Brophy’s Phoenix College home.

Westview has traditionally been a running team, although the Knights opened things up a bit with the pass in a 61-35 win over Phoenix St. Mary’s last week.

Brophy has developed a playoff-type balance, as evidenced by a 31-14 victory over Phoenix Mountain Pointe. The Broncos also have a solid defense.

Other key games . . .

Peoria Centennial (6-0) at Glendale Deer Valley (6-0) – Something has to give in this game.

Deer Valley has been one of the big surprises of the season. The Skyhawks feature one of the fastest backs in the state in Trae Armstrong.

Centennial also is more of a running team, and its defense continues to be strong.

Phoenix Pinnacle (6-0) at Glendale Mountain Ridge (3-3) – Having Pinnacle keep its unbeaten string intact might not be as much of a sure thing as many first thought. After dropping its first three games, Mountain Ridge has battled back to win three in a row.

Phoenix North Canyon (4-2) at Anthem Boulder Creek (4-2) – North Canyon lost two in a row before coming back to defeat Scottsdale Desert Mountain Last week. Boulder Creek’s prolific offense was shut down in a 10-7 loss to Mountain Ridge last week.

Phoenix North (3-3) at Peoria Sunrise Mountain (4-2) – Sunrise Mountain, which won its first four but then struggled with two losses, will be facing an emotional North team that is reeling from the sudden death of defensive coordinator Jeff Pankeier.

Laveen Betty H. Fairfax (5-1) at Glendale Raymond S. Kellis (3-3) – Betty Fairfax continues to roll with its focus on a playoff spot. If Kellis can win this one, it will begin to have playoff thoughts.

Phoenix Northwest Christian  (6-0) at Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (5-1) on Friday – Northwest Christian’s Casey Jahn needs 190 yards to set a new state career rushing record (currently 6,506, by Tombstone’s Dwayne Thomas).