Region champs earn automatic postseason berths. Most will be high enough in their respective conference power rankings (top 16) they won't need to rely on that crutch. But for some that's their only ticket and would allow them to bump non-region champs from postseason who are ranked higher.

Here's how each region-title chase in the 6A through 2A conferences stacks up with two weeks left in the regular season. Teams' region records are noted:

6A

Metro Region: #12 Cesar Chavez (3-0) is the leader and clear favorite. Has wins over the next two best teams in region.

Desert Valley Region: Looks like a showdown coming on Oct. 27 between #8 Pinnacle (3-0) and #9 Horizon (3-0)

Southwest Region: With its win over Valley Vista last week, it's #25 Westview's (3-0) region to lose. If Westview takes the region, it likely won't be in the top 16 and would bump a non-region champ from postseason.

East Valley Region: This region gets decided this Oct. 20 with #11 Skyline (3-0) visiting #7 Red Mountain (3-0). Both are headed to postseason regardless.

Southern Region: #30 Cibola (1-0) will face #14 Tucson for the region title on Oct. 27 in the strangest of regions in 6A (a Yuma division and a Tucson division). Tucson is currenty No. 14 and Cibola is No. 30. If Cibola emerges as region champ the Raiders would bump a non-region champ in the top 16. Tucson is currently No. 14 and likely would remain in top-16 winning its final two games.

Central Region: #2 Desert Ridge (3-0) has the advantage after its win last week over # 3 Mountain Pointe (2-1). The Jaguars face #10 Desert Vista and #6 Highland (2-1) to finish up. Desert Ridge clinches the region by beating Highland. At least a split of those games gives Desert Ridge the title with tiebreakers factored in. Regardless of who wins the region, all are headed to the playoffs with current top-7 power  rankings.

Premier Region: #4 Chandler (2-0) and #1 Hamilton (2-0) are the lone region unbeatens and #5 Perry is lurking at (1-1). It becomes a three-team chase if Perry defeats Hamilton on Oct. 20, with Chandler and Hamilton facing off in their finale on Oct. 27. All three are top-6 in the latest power-rankings so they qualify without region supremacy.

Last year Cesar Chavez ended up at (No. 19) and was the only 6A region champ not to finish among the top-16 in the power rankings and bumped Highland (No. 16) from postseason.

5A

Southern Region: #3 Cienega (2-0) and #6 Marana Mountain View (2-0) are the main contenders. Cienega hosts Marana Mountain View on Oct. 27 in what likely will be the region title. #8 Ironwood Ridge (1-1) still may have a say. All three are going to qualify for the playoffs no matter what.

Sonoran Region: #9 Marana (3-0) has wrapped up the title and finish in the top-16. 

Union Region: #23 Betty Fairfax (3-0) and #34 Independence (3-0) are at the top. Glendale is still in the hunt.. Fairfax and Independence play Oct. 20 with a Fairfax win nailing down the region. Fairfax might crack the top-16 come season's end, but more likely not

Northeast Valley Region: #4 Notre Dame Prep (3-0) has a stranglehold on the title. Once their probation is lifted prior to postseason, the Saints will be in and officially a top-8 team in the power rankings.

San Tan Region: As happened last year the region champ will be the #2 Queen Creek (2-0)-#13 Williams Field (2-0) winner on Oct. 27 barring upsets this week to Vista Grande and Mesquite, respectively. 

Metro Region: #5 Apollo (3-0) and Sunnyslope (3-0) likely to decide the title on Oct. 27. McClintock (2-1) still has a pulse in region race. The teams are over the power rankings with Apollo No. 5, McClintock No. 15 and Sunnyslope No. 18. Slight chance region champ bumps a non-region champ from postseason.

Desert West Region: It's a Verrado (3-0) and Desert Edge (3-0) fight to the finish. Teams meet Oct. 27. Verrado is No. 14 and Desert Edge No. 109at present. Deer Valley (2-1) would need a win over Desert Edge Oct. 20 to be viable in the chase. Deer Valley is currently No. 20.

Northwest Region: #1 Centennial (1-0) and #7 Liberty (2-0) battling again in the finale. Both are top-8 in the power rankings so the region champ won't matter in terms of bumping a non-region champ. Centennial will have one less region game because of the Sierra Linda cancellation, but wins over Willow Canyon and Liberty would make that a moot point.

Last year Chaparral and Betty Fairfax finished #18 and #19 in the 5A power rankings and bumped No. 15 Sunnyslope and No. 16 Camp Verde from postseason. Notre Dame Prep was on probation and excluded from the rankings. On the field the Saints would have been Northeast Valley Region champs and Chaparral would not have qualified as a region champ.

4A

Desert Sky Region: #4 Higley (2-0) or #6 Seton Catholic (2-0) are most likely to win region. They meet Oct. 27. #11 Marcos de Niza (1-1) needs an upset of Higley on Oct. 20 to stay alive in region.

West Valley Region: #2 Sunrise Mountain (3-0) needs one win in final two games to wrap up region. 

Southwest Region: Youngker (3-0) and Buckeye (2-0) decide the champion Oct. 20 at Youngker. Currently 15 and 17, respectively, in power rankiings.

Skyline Region: #1 Saguaro (2-0) and #9 Cactus Shadows (2-0) meet Oct. 27 for region title. History points to Saguaro prevailing.

Grand Canyon Region: #19 Mingus (4-1) wins the region if it beats last-place Coconino and Bradshaw Mountain (3-1) loses to either Flagstaff (3-1) or Prescott (3-1). Mingus is at No. 22 at present and could bump non-region champ.

Black Canyon Region: #25 Apache Junction (3-0) has inside track on title. One Combs loss or AJ win in next two weeks clinches for AJ. AJ would bump a non-region champ, top-16 team.

Gila Region: Likely either Pueblo (2-0) or Amphi (2-0) and teams play Oct .27 Edge goes to Pueblo based on power-ranking slot. Teams meet Oct. 27. Pueblo No. 13 in power rankings; Amphi No. 37.

Kino Region: Likely either #3 Salpointe (2-0) or #7 Catalina Foothills. Teams meet Oct. 20. Both in top-8 of power rankings.

Last year Amphitheater was the only region champ in the conference not in the top-16 (finished No. 17). The Panthers knocked out non-region champ No.16 Casa Grande.

 

3A (top 2 teams in each region earn automatic playoff berths)

North Region: Page (4-0) and Chinle (2-1) are 1-2 at present.

South Region: Pusch Ridge (4-1) and Sabino 3-1) are 1-2 at present.

East Region: Snowflake (3-0) and Blue Ridge (3-0) are 1-2 at present.

West Region: Northwest Christian (3-0), Odyssey Institute (2-1) and Wickenburg (2-1) are leaders at present. NWC needs one win to wrap up region title and has beaten Odyssey and Wickenburg. Wickenburg and Odyssety meet Oct. 20 likely for second place.

Central Region: American Leadership (3-0), Benjamin Franklin (2-1) and Florence (2-1) competing for top two spots. ALA has defeated both and needs one win to clinch. Ben Franklin and Odyssey play Oct. 20 likely for second in the region.

Metro Region: Casteel (3-0) will win the region. Fountain HIlls (2-1), Valley Christian (2-1) and Yuma Catholic (2-1) playing for second. Yuma Catholic controls its destiny playing both the next two games -- VC on Oct. 20 and Fountain Hills (Oct. 27).

Last year Page as a runner-up in its region and No. 17 in the power rankings ended up bumping No. 16 Benjamin Franklin from postseason. Benjamin Franklin was third in its region last year behind ALA and Florence.

2A

North Region: Alchesay (5-0) wins the region if it defeats Many Farms (3-1) on Oct. 27. Alchesay has a key win over Red Mesa (3-1).the other contender.  Alchesay is among the top 16 in the power rankings at No. 11.

East Region: #1 Round Valley (5-0) wrapped up the region title with its 20-6 win over Thatcher last week. Any tiebreakers with Thatcher and St. Johns, should they occur, would go Round Valley's way.

South Region: #4 Santa Cruz Valley (3-0) can do no worse than a tie for the region title and would own tiebreaker over Willcox (2-1) and San Manuel (2-1) should that take place.

Central Region: Kingman Academy (3-1), Tonopah Valley (2-1) and Paradise Honors (2-1) are battling for top spot. Tonopah beat Kingman Academy last week. Paradise Honors closes with Kingman Academy and Tonopah the final two weeks. Kingman Academy is #19, Tonapah #16 and Paradise Honors #25 in latest power rankings.

Metro West Region: #2 Phoenix Christian (4-0) and #6 Scottsdale Christian (3-1) decide the region title on Oct. 20. 

Metro East Region: #8 San Tan Foothills (4-0) has no worse than a tie for the region title and the tiebreakers are on the Sabercats' side. They have wins over the next two teams in the region -- Chandler Prep and Antelope.

Last year the 2A Conference was the only conference of 6A through 2A that had all of its automatic qualifiers rank in the top-16. No non-region champs in the top-16 were bumped. The top 16 teams qualified in order.