Laveen Cesar Chavez is off to its best start in school history, but the road gets tough this week for the Champions for the first time this season. Chavez (5-0) heads to Goodyear to battle the Millennium Tigers (4-1) Friday night in a Division II, Section I showdown. It's homecoming for the Tigers.

The Champions are currently seeded fifth in the latest aia365.com seedings, while the Tigers moved up to sixth. They sit 2-3 behind top-seeded Centennial in Section I.

Chavez has outscored its first five opponents 241-25, but those teams have a combined record of just 2-and-23 [[ La Joya (0-5), McClintock (1-4), Canyon Del Oro (1-4), South Mountain (0-5) and Independence (0-5) ]]. The Champions' next three opponents have winning records and four of their final five games of the season are against programs above .500. Their biggest test is at the end of the year against Tempe Marcos de Niza, but the Champions should not overlook the Tigers.

Chavez has a balanced offensive attack, averaging 206.4 passing yards and 220.6 rushing yards per game. The Champions are led by quarterback Arturo Macias, who has 17 total touchdowns. The senior has thrown for 1,032 yards with 14 TD's and just one interception and also has 142 yards rushing and three scores. Macias tossed for a season-high 258 yards and four touchdowns in last week's 54-0 rout of Independence.

Millennium is off to its best start since opening 5-1 in 2008. The Tigers' only loss of the season so far was to nationally ranked Centennial in Peoria in Week Two. Millennium has outscored its opponents in its four wins 147-36, beating Betty Fairfax, Verrado, La Joya and most recently Deer Valley. The Tigers edged the Skyhawks at home last week, 20-19.

Chavez knocked off Millennium, 37-30, last year in Laveen to improve to 1-and-2 all-time against the Tigers. Kickoff Friday is at 7pm.

By Thomas Jenkins