It is the way the bracket has played out. It is the way it probably should be.

Tucson and the East Valley have been the strength this season in 4A-I and each area will send a representative to the Dec. 4 title game at Sun Devil Stadium.

But first things first. On Friday defending champion Canyon del Oro (12-0) takes on Cienega (11-1) at Tucson High while Saguaro (10-2) and Queen Creek (10-2) hook up at Paradise Valley High School. Game time for the contests is 7 p.m.

Let's start with the defending champs CDO and its matchup with Cienega. The teams met in the 2009  semis with CDO prevailing, 48-16. The Doroados picked off Cienega quarterback Jordan Mills four times in that game, returned one for a touchdown and returned a punt for a TD to blow open a tight game in the third quarter.

CDO had decent production in that game from standout back Ka'Deem Carey, who rushed for 122 yards and two TDs. An injury-plagued senior season is still hampering Carey heading into Friday's game. He pulled a hamstring last week in the 28-9 win over Apoilo and is questionable to play.  CDO coach Dustin Peace said Wednesday that Carey didn't run Monday or Tuesday and would try it Wednesday

"It wasn't a pop or anything like that," Peace said. "We'll just have to see how he is the rest of the week and see how he feels on Friday."

When Carey left last Friday's game he had rushed for 177 yards. CDO enters the game with a 26-game winning streak; Cienega has won 10 in a row.

CDO has performed well without Carey or with him hobbled often this season, but the games are tougher now. The Dorados hope to get more of the Jason McBrayer they've seen the bulk of this season. McBrayer had a tough night last week handling the ball. He's made a number of big plays in Carey's absence. Running back Eddie Smith and tight end Blake Martinez have picked up the slack when offense is needed from other sources. Smith rambled for a game-clinching score last week.

Cienega has a top-flight running back in Willie Willis, who has rushed for 1,694 yards and 18 touchdowns. Willis can take some pressure off Mills if the Bobcats get the rushing game untracked. Mills has thrown for 2,316 yards, 30 TDs and just four interceptions. He wants to avoid the four-pick game he had last year.

Cienega coach Nemer Hassey and his squad are looking forward to the rematch.

"It was really close in the third quarter and then before you could blink it was 21-3," Hassey said. "We want to avoid what happened last year with that big quarter. There's going to be around 10,000 people at the game so its exciting. Both teams are eager to play. You have to play your best football in November and December to get where you want to be."

The East Valley semifinal has Saguaro with tons of momentum going. The Sabercats have won their last seven game and their last loss came in early October to CDO. Saguaro is averaging 50 points a game and its lowest output in the current streak came against Queen Creek when the Bulldogs limited the Sabercats to 31 points in a 31-28 Saguaro victory.

Queen Creek's mission is simple and difficult. Slow the powerhouse offensive tandem of quarterback Teddy Ruben and running back D.J. Foster. No mystery. Ruben has rushed and passed for more than 2,000 yards each (2,172 rushing and 2,132 passing and 49 TDs - 29 rush/20 pass). Foster gets overlooked. He's added nearly 2,000 yards (1,159 rushing and 678 receiving and 22 TDs). The Sabercats want to cut down on penalties, which set it back to the tune of 130 yards in the first meeting.

Saguaro is one team that doesn't mind playing in a shootout. But Queen Creek has its own set of weapons led by running back Chim Nga, who missed the game three weeks ago with an injury. Nga has rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and will play in the rematch. Quarterback Adam Bzerczek has been steady and kept the offense balanced if need be passing for a littel better thatn 2.,000 yards. His favorite targets are Todd Kirchner and Jeff Black. Queen Creek suffered two turnovers (both interceptions) in the first meeting and needs to win the turnover battle if it hopes to reverse the outcome. Saguaro did not turn the ball over the first time the schools met.