By Don Ketchum

Gentlemen, start your engines!!

The first full weekend of the 2012 football season is finally here, and here is a look at some of the area’s top games for Scottsdale, Phoenix and all points west and north on Friday night (Aug. 24) . . . most games are at 7 p.m., including Saturday’s (Aug. 25) big one between Santa Margarita, Calif., and Phoenix Brophy Prep at Phoenix College.

Tempe Marcos de Niza (Division II, Section III) vs. Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep (DII, SIII) at Scottsdale Community College – Marcos appears to have one of its most versatile teams in years and wants to carry a win into next week’s game at three-time defending D-II champ Scottsdale Chaparral. Notre Dame also would like to pack a “W’ in its luggage for its trip to a game in Ireland next week.

Tucson Salpointe Catholic (0-1, DII, SII) at Scottsdale Chaparral (DII, SIII) – Salpointe suffered a tough opening loss at home (35-20) to Crespi, Calif., last week, and rebounding against a team such as Chaparral won’t be easy. The Firebirds, led by new coach Dave Huffine, will see if they can have a new group of offensive skill players step up and be productive after the departure of quarterback Connor Brewer and all-everything Davonte Neal.

Phoenix Thunderbird (DIII, SIII) at Goodyear Desert Edge (DIII, SII) – These two staged one of the more memorable playoff games a few years back, and this one figures to have some of that flavor. Thunderbird is young, but has one of the division’s top runners in senior Kani Benoit (1,400 yards, 19 touchdowns in 2011) to help balance things out.

Lakeside Blue Ridge (1-0, DIV, SI) at Cottonwood Mingus (DIV, SIII) – Blue Ridge must avoid a letdown after a 23-14 season-opening win over Moapa Valley, Nev., in last weekend’s Sollenberger Classic. If Mingus wants to prove it is capable of being a title contender, there is no better way of doing it than by defeating the defending state champion.

Show Low (DIV, SI) at St. Johns (DV, SI) – With the quality of its program, St. Johns could compete one division higher and always plays its White Mountains neighbors tough. Show Low has another strong group of all-around athletes, and coach Randy Ricedorff said the defense could be the best he’s had.

Phoenix Greenway (DIII, SII) at Peoria Sunrise Mountain (DIII, SII) – Greenway coach K.J. Anthony looks to have another competitive team, and Sunrise Mountain could emerge from sleeper status to become one of the division’s playoff challengers.

Anthem Boulder Creek (DI, SIII) at Cave Creek Cactus Shadows (DII, SIII) – Boulder Creek can’t afford to look past the Falcons toward its home game against powerful Phoenix Brophy Prep next week. Cactus Shadows has a top passing combination in three-year quarterback Bryce Kinsler  and wide receiver Kyle Gladstone.

Phoenix South Mountain (DII, SI) at Phoenix Camelback (DII, SI) – The Phoenix Union District has struggled for quite some time, but this season could mark a bit of a rebirth with these two teams right in the middle of it. South coach Daryl Phillips will have to find a way to defeat the team he formerly coached (also his alma mater).

Phoenix North Canyon (DI, SIII) at Phoenix Horizon (DII, SIII) – It’s back to the future for the host Huskies, who have coach Doug Shaffer back on the sideline nearly 20 years since he led the team to the state title in 1994. He has been coaching at the younger levels at Horizon in recent years, so he knows most of these players – the transition shouldn’t be as difficult as if a new man were brought in. After the Conrad Hamilton “era’’ (one year), North Canyon turns to Valley coaching veteran Mike Brown, who was at Tolleson for two years and Greenway before that.

Peoria (DIII, SII) at Glendale Apollo (DII, SI) – Former Peoria quarterback Will Babb takes over for former longtime coach Doug Clapp and has the program’s usual group of versatile skill players. Apollo must find a way to replace graduated quarterback Jon Brown, who was the MVP of the Arizona-Southern California All-Star Game this summer.

Phoenix Christian (DV, SII) at Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (DV, SII) – The winner of this usually competitive contest should be able to put itself in the challenger’s role against state title participants Phoenix Northwest Christian and Yuma Catholic.

Scottsdale Saguaro (DIII, SIII) at Phoenix Paradise Valley (DIII, SIII) – Saguaro begins defense of its state title without versatile D.J. Foster (now at Arizona State) and a new coach, Jay Mohns. Junior Luke Rebenzer is developing into a solid quarterback. PV is led by quarterback Ryan Finley, a Boise State commit, and offensive lineman Patrick Johnson.

Saturday

Santa Margarita, Calif. vs. Phoenix Brophy Prep (DI, SIII) at Phoenix College – In this game that will be televised by ESPN2, Brophy faces one of the top teams in the country. The Broncos have only a few days to prepare after a 37-14 victory over Glendale Mountain Ridge on Wednesday night (Aug. 22). Curt Bruggman hooked up with Devon Allen for a pair of scoring passes, but Brophy must see if its defense can keep from deflating against a much bigger team.