By Don Ketchum

Glendale Joy Christian was seeded No. 2 in last year’s Division VI eight-man football playoffs, but it did not translate into a championship. The Eagles finished as state runner-up after falling to fourth-seeded Joseph City 38-6.

Now it is a new year and the two are set to meet again, this time in the quarterfinals on Friday night (Oct. 26) at Joy Christian.

Coached by Brian Cole, Joy is 8-0 and seeded fourth. Joseph City, aiming for its fourth straight title under coach John Bryant, is 8-1 and seeded fifth.

The winner will move on to the semifinals on Nov. 3 against either top-seeded Scottsdale Prep or No. 8 Phoenix Valley Lutheran at Phoenix Sunnyslope. Scottsdale Prep faces Valley Lutheran on Friday night at Gilbert Christian.

In the other two Division VI quarterfinals, No. 11 Salome travels to face No. 3 Pima, and No. 7 Bagdad is on the road against No. 2 Heber Mogollon. These two quarterfinal winners will meet in the second semifinal at Sunnyslope on Nov. 3.

This also marks the final week of the regular season for the state’s bigger schools.

Here is a look at some of the top games for teams in Scottsdale, Phoenix, the southwest, northwest and north Valley, and northern Arizona . . .

Phoenix Pinnacle (8-1, Division I, Section III) vs. Phoenix Brophy Prep (8-2, DI, SIII) at Phoenix College – Pinnacle always has a strong defense, and this year’s group will be tested by a Brophy offense that began as a passing team but also has developed a strong running game along the way.

Glendale Cactus (7-2, DIII, SII) at Peoria Liberty (8-1, DIII, SII) – Cactus appears to be setting itself up for another run deep into the playoffs. Liberty, a comparative newcomer to the proceedings, got back on track nicely last week with a win over Glendale Raymond S. Kellis after being shut out the week before by Goodyear Desert Edge.

Phoenix Horizon (7-2, DII, SIII) vs. Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep (5-4, DII, SIII) at Scottsdale Community College – Horizon has had a strong season with coach Doug Shaffer’s return to the sideline after a 10-year absence, but needs this one to have a good playoff seeding. The Huskies are No. 12 this week. Notre Dame is much better than its record indicates, and this is even more of a must-win game for the Saints, who are the 15^th seed this week.

Surprise Valley Vista (8-1, DI, SI) at Avondale Westview (7-2, DI, SI) – No pun intended, Valley Vista has been a surprise this season. The Monsoon hope for a good playoff spot, and this will have a playoff-type atmosphere against a team that has played a tougher schedule (losses to Mesa Red Mountain and Phoenix Brophy Prep).

Mesa Desert Ridge (8-1, DI, SII) at Anthem Boulder Creek (6-3, DI, SIII) – Desert Ridge is perched on the No. 2 seed, and certainly won’t look past a Boulder Creek team that is on the bubble at No. 17 and likely needs an upset to get in.

Winslow (6-3, DIV, SI) at Lakeside Blue Ridge (9-0, DIV, SI) – With rival Show Low out of the way after a 24-14 win last week, Blue Ridge has one last order of business before shifting to the next gear and defending its state title.

Playoff tickets

Purchase all tournament passes for the division of your choice, which gives you tickets to each round of that division’s playoffs, including the championship game.  Adult, student, military and senior passes available with savings of up to $15.00 over the course of the tournament.

Family passes also are available, which gives two adults and two students high school age and younger, four passes to each round of the division they choose. It is a savings of up to $70 of game-by-game tickets.

To purchase tournament passes and for additional information, go to www.aia365.com/tickets.