Reggie Wright is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Peoria High School for AZPreps365.com.

The Peoria Panthers (3-3) aim to regain their winning form Friday as they head to Phoenix to face off against section rivals, the Greenway Demons (3-2).

Despite a relatively strong start to the season marked by three wins in their opening four games, their momentum has waned with two losses in a row.

Peoria conceded over 100 points in its last two games, allowing 41 points in the Sept. 22 loss to bitter rival Cactus and 62 points in last Thursday's defeat against Youngker.

"This bye week came at an important point in our season," Panthers head coach Jason Golden said. "We're hitting the reset button, revisiting fundamentals and focusing on details."

During their bye week, the Panthers felt an urgency to up their intensity in the weight room and on the gridiron. Players have been working out at the gym, studying game film and participating in extra practice sessions.

"My seniors have never experienced what it's like to be in the playoffs before, and that just gives me extra drive and motivation," running back Javon Bell said. "When they slack off, we need to work harder. If I'm slacking off, it's the same thing."

Players continue to support each other, maintaining a positive attitude despite the challenges.

"Everyone is learning and doing their part to get better every day, and we just have to keep pushing," quarterback Dominic Kramer said. "We need to finish strong, make this a great year for us and set ourselves up for improvement next year."

Entering this matchup, Greenway has also encountered its own struggles on the field, suffering two consecutive losses after starting the season with a 3-0 record.

Under the guidance of head coach Ed Cook, the Demons had a strong start to their season, with victories against Flagstaff, Deer Valley and Dysart. During those games, they averaged 33.7 points per game.

However, a 44-6 defeat to Thunderbird and a narrow 21-20 loss to Independence leave Greenway entering this game also looking to recover.

The last time these two teams faced each other was in 2021, with Peoria securing a road victory,g 42-7. The Panthers have not lost in this matchup since 2017 when they were defeated at home by the Demons, 29-26.

Both teams have three more games remaining on their schedule, all of which are section games.

Peoria will host the Glendale Cardinals (4-2) on Oct. 20, while Greenway will travel to Moon Valley to take on the Rockets (2-4) the same night.