By Don Ketchum

Joseph City has breathed the rarified air of a state football championship game on many occasions. Glendale Joy Christian has not.

Will Joseph City remain in its comfort zone, or will Joy Christian cap its amazing season with a triumph when the two meet on Saturday (Nov. 12) at 4 p.m. in the Division VI eight-man title game at Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain High?

Both teams are unbeaten, Joy Christian at 10-0 and Joseph City at 9-0. Joseph City won the last two titles in old Class 1A and has six crowns overall. Wildcats coach John Bryant has won two eight-man titles at Joseph City (2009, 2010), Pima (2004, 2005) and St. David (2000, 2001).

Joseph City’s closest game of the season came in last week’s semifinals, when it defeated Pima 26-14. Running back Remington Baldwin rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown, and the team doesn’t figure to deviate from the style that got it here.

Joy Christian is led by first-year coach Brian Cole, who came over from Phoenix North Canyon. Cole led North Canyon to the Class 5A Division II title in 2005.

Cole’s team is a contrast from Joseph City. It likes to throw the ball, as evidenced by Nick Henderson’s 267-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 68-12 win over St. David in the semis. Three of those scoring tosses went to Trevor Deason. Joy Christian’s closest game came against Mayer on Sept. 2, a 36-14 win.