Down to a precious two weeks of action and competition gets more intense as many teams battle for position and the less fortunate cling to hopes of just qualifying for postseason. The menu of games begins Thursday Oct. 23 with a good one in Scottsdale. Here's a look at this week's selections:

THURSDAY OCT. 23

Pinnacle (7-1) at Horizon (7-1): Last year's meeting -- Pinnacle 49, Horizon 39 --This D-I section battle brings No. 5 (Pinnacle) and No. 8 (Horizon) in the power-rankings for an anticipated shootout. Horizon is riding high after knocking Boulder Creek from the ranks of the unbeaten last week. Pinnacle has a question mark with its top-notch quarterback Brian Lewerke nursing a broken finger on his passing hand. Lewerke sat out last week with that malady. Horizon's offense hasn't slowed this season (niether has Pinnacle's for that matter) behind QB Dalton Sneed. Expect at least 70 points combined in this one. Note last year's result. Section title likely goes to winner and will for sure if Horizon prevails.

FRIDAY OCT. 24

Tempe High (8-0) at Moon Valley (8-0): Last year's meeting -- Tempe 70, Moon Valley 28 -- These are two of four unbeaten teams in D-III (Saguaro and Peoria are the others). Moon Valley's currently No. 4 in power rankngs and Tempe is No. 6. Moon Valley  took care of unbeaten Alhambra last week in a big way (40-8) while Tempe rolled on with a another lopsided win ver Phoenix Christian. Moon Valley wins the section title if it prevails and Tempe takes the inside track if it wins. Tempe is led by big-arm QB Emanuel Gant. Gant passed for 304 yards and three TDs last week. His season totals are 2,120 yards, 25 TDs and 6 picks. Running back Davonte Williams Dorsey produced a season-best 193 yards rushing in the win over Phoenix Christian. Moon Valley is led by QB Shannon Burton and RB Colby Buckholz, coming off a three-TD game vs. Alhambra.   

Ironwood Ridge (7-1) at Salpointe (7-1): Last year's meeting -- Salpointe 48, Ironwood Ridge 9 -- These schools have claimed the last two D-II titles (Ironwood Ridge in 2012 and Salpointe in 2013). Salpointe could use a win in this one to boost its power-ranking status. The Lancers are currently No. 10 despite a 7-1 record. Ironwood Ridge is a loftier No. 3 with its only loss to No. 1 Liberty in the season opener. Salpointe has won the last five meetings between the teams and is 6-1 overall vs. the Nighthawks. Ironwood Ridge is on a roll and looking a lot like the 2012 title team. Salpointe hasn't been as dominatiing as last year's unbeaten squad, but is a solid contender and likely better than a couple teams in front of it in the power rankings. Neither team excels at or wants to throw much so it's a battle decided in the trenches. Ironwood Ridge RB Cole McLafferty has a pair of 100-yard rushing games in his last two outings with 842 yards and 11 TDs for the year. QB Mike Franzese has 615 yards rushing and 10 TDs. Salpointe relies on senior RB-LB Taylor Powell, junior RB Dominic Salaz and freshman QB Jamarye Joiner to move the chains.

Thatcher vs. Joy Christian at North Canyon HS: Last year's meeting -- Joy Christian 35, Thatcher 26 -- Division V isn't without a top-flight matchup with Thatcher (No. 6 in power rankings) and Joy Christian (No. 7). Thatcher's only loss is to No. 1 Yuma Catholic and it barely lost that one. Joy Christian endured a tough loss to Arizona Lutheran a few weeks back. Two players who figured prominently in last year's game are back and leading again. Thatcher quarterback Heath Motes has rushed for 1,628 yards and 24 TDs. Joy Christian's Tonka Watson is a force wtih 812 yards and eight TDs. Watson rushed for 217 yards in keying last year's victory that saw Joy jump out to a 28-7 lead after the first quarter. Both teams have a receiving threat -- Thatcher's Jeff Shumway and Joy's Isaiah Goodspeed.    

Snowflake (7-1) at Show Low (4-4): Last year's meeting -- Show Low 40, Snowflake 26 -- This looks like Snowflake's year to prevail in this matchup. The Lobos are No. 4 in the D-IV power rankings with Show Low sitting at No. 11. Snowflake's only loss is to No. 1 Seton. Show Low has lost games to Williams Field and Queen Creek, two of the top teams in D-III and to Tempe Prep, No. 2 in D-V. Those losses are helping Show Low hold a solid position in the power rankings. Show Low has won four of the last five meetings with Snowflake's last win in 2011. Show Low has produced a balanced attack led by running back Willie Wyatt and quarterback  Rhett Ricedorff. Ricedorff passed for 257 yards last week in a win over Fountain Hills. Snowflake is fueled mainly by the run with Trevor McCray (783 yards rushing) and Drew Schneider (547 yards) leading the way. McCray rushed for 100 yards in the loss to Seton.

Mountain View (3-5) at Red Mountain (2-6): Last year's meeting -- Red Mountain 44, Mountain View 20 -- This week's D-I power rankings suggest one of these two teams makes the playoffs. If one does it's likely going to be the winner.  Mountain View checks in at No. 16 and Red Mountain is No. 17. Both finish the season with a top-10 foe in the power rankings next week -- Mountain View at Desert Ridge and Red Mountain hosting Skyline. Red Mountain's strength of schedule has kept it afloat to this point, but the section as a whole is down as only two or perhaps three teams from the section will qualify for postseason rather than five. Red Mountain has made this a more competitive rivalry in recent years winning three of the last five meetings dating back to 2008. Overall Mountain View leads the series by a substantial 18-5 margin.

Payson (5-3) at Blue Ridge (4-4): Last year's meeting -- Blue Ridge 63, Payson 6 --Blue Ridge has battled back from an 0-3 start to a .500 record and sits at No. 14 in the D-IV power rankings. Can Blue Ridge hang on to a playoff spot? Maybe. They should be able to compete with No. 10 Payson and No. 18 Fountain Hills next week. Payson is in better shape at No. 10 this week, but facing Blue Ridge and Show Low its final two games is a tough way to close out the season. Payson likely locks up a playoff berth with a win while Blue Ridge may need to win out. Blue Ridge nabbed a critical win over its top rival, Show Low, two weeks ago. It's the best win Blue Ridge has of its four (Chinle, Alchesay and Globe the others). Neither could give Snowflake a game when they matched up with the Lobos earlier.

Sunnyside (5-3) at Sahuaro (8-0): Last year's meeting -- Sahuaro 37, Sunnyside 10 -- These aren't the top football schools in Tucson any longer, but they've had their moments. Sunnyside has won three state two state titles and a runner-up in the last 15 years; Sahuaro has one co-championship and four runners-up in the 1980s and 1990s. Sunnyside resides at No. 16 in the D-II power rankings and can cash in in the power rankings by pulling the upset. Sahuaro (No. 7) is one of two unbeaten teams in D-II (Sunnyslope the other). Sunnyside has played substantially better this year. The Blue Devils face a Sahuaro offense that can pick and choose how to attack. Quarterback Stephen Miller has thrown for 1,527 yards, 18 TDs with only three interceptions. Senior running back Derik Hall is the go-to player with 1,037 yards rushing, 17 TDs. Hall piled up 204 yards and five TDs last week vs. Buena. Sunnyside leans on running-back-by-committee with six backs rushing for between 484 yards and 107 yards. Receiver Mike Grijalva is a playmaker for the passing game with 34 receptions.