6A

Perry (7-2) at Basha (6-3)

Pinnacle (8-1) at Boulder Creek (4-5)

Liberty (8-1) at Chaparral (5-4)

Queen Creek (7-2) at Desert Vista (8-1)

Chandler (8-1) at Hamilton (3-6)

Desert Ridge (3-6) at Highland (8-1)

Corona del Sol (1-8) at Mountain Pointe (5-4)

Dobson (2-7) at Mountain View (3-6)

Mesa (3-6) at Skyline (4-5)

Red Mountain (7-2) at Westwood (5-4)

Chandler, Red Mountain and Pinnacle have region titles -- Premier, East Valley, Desert Valley, respectively -- in the bag. Remember region titles in 6A and 5A are of no consequence in qualifying for the playoffs. Highland wins the Central Region if it defeats Desert Ridge as the Hawks have wins over Desert Vista and Queen Creek in case of a tie. The current power rankings haven't changed a whole lot in recent weeks in terms of which teams will qualify. This week is jockeying for position of the current top 16. There might be a battle for the 15th and 16th spot among Desert Ridge, Hamilton and Boulder Creek. But what you see in the Oct. 23 rankings is essentially what you'll get other than final-week jockeying. The other 6A region winners have been determined as well -- Cesar Chavez, Westview and Cibola. Chavez and most likely Westview will make the playoffs; Cibola will not.

 

5A

Campo Verde (6-3) at Casteel (7-2)

Desert Mountain (3-6) at Horizon (5-4)

Gilbert (4-5) at Maricopa (4-5)

Cactus Shadows (3-6) at McClintock (4-5)

Paradise Valley (6-3) at Horizon (5-4)

Higley (7-2) at Williams Field (8-1)

 

Regions titles clinched so far:  Betty Fairfax, Metro; Notre Dame Prep, Northeast Valley; Millennium, Desert West.  The winner in each of these matchups will be region champ - Cienega-Ironwood Ridge, Southern, Flowing Wells-Marana Mountain View, Sonoran and Centennial-Sunrise Mountain, Northwest. Williams Field-Higley in tandem with Casteel-Campo Verde decides the San Tan. Betty Fairfax  will not make the playoffs, too low in the power rankings. Notre Dame, Millennium and all the other teams mentioned above except Marana Mountain View will qualify. The region champ of the San Tan could be any of Williams Field, Higley or Casteel. If a three-way tie ensues (Higley beating WF and Casteel defeating Campo Verde), they would finish 4-1 in region. The tie-breaker would go to Williams Field with a better conference record. Like 6A, the current 5A power rankings aren't likely to change in terms of which teams qualify. The battle is for 15-16 likely among Buena, Maricopa, Paradise Valley and Ironwood Ridge.

4A

Combs (4-5) at Apache Junction (6-3)

Arcadia (6-3) at Marcos de Niza (2-7)

Saguaro (8-1) at Mesquite (5-4)

Seton Catholic (7-2) at Poston Butte (3-6)

Tempe (6-3) at Shadow Mountain (4-5)

Region champs known in 4A thus far: Desert Edge, West Valley; Estrella Foothills, Southwest; Greenway, Skyline; Apache Junction, Black Canyon; Walden Grove, Gila and Salpointe, Kino. The following games decide the remaining two region champs - Saguaro-Mesquite, Desert Sky and Prescott-Mingus, Grand Canyon. 4A, 3A and 2A allow automatic playoff berths to region champs regardless of ranking. That means Apache Junction and Estrella Foothills are highly likely to bump teams who would otherwise qualify. So in order to reach the playoffs other teams must be in the top 14 of the final rankings to qualify. Teams on the bubble are Arcadia, Mesquite, Gila Ridge and Coconino. Estrella Foothills is #19 and AJ #23 at present. Note: Glendale's loss to Apache Junction dropped Glendale from No. 3 to No. 13.

 

3A

San Tan Foothills (3-6) at Benjamin Franklin (5-4)

American Leadership QC (7-2) at Coolidge (7-2)

American Leadership Gilbert North (5-5) at Coronado (1-8)

American Leadership Ironwood (1-8) at Florence (2-7)

Arizona College Prep (1-8) at Gilbert  Christian (2-7)

Fountain Hills (5-4) at Valley Christian (6-3)

 

Region champs known in 3A thus far: Page, North; Snowflake, East; Northwest Christian, West; *Ben Franklin, Central; **Fountain Hills, Metro East; Valley Christian, Metro West. Up for grabs winner of Sabino-Safford takes South Region title. 3A has seven guaranteed berths (region champs) and nine at-large berths. All the region champs will finish in the top 16 so there will be no bumping of higher-ranked teams. The final three spots 14-16 are up for grabs among Pusch Ridge, Winslow, Show Low, Sahuarita and Florence.

* Ben Franklin is region champ due to American Leadership Queen Creeek probation.

**Fountain Hills is region champ due to American Leadership Gilbert North probation.

2A

Tempe Prep (3-7) at Chandler Prep (7-2)

Phoenix Christian (7-2) at Scottsdale Christian (7-2)

Scottsdale Prep (4-4) at Valley Lutheran (1-8)

 

Lots to be decided in 2A this week. Only two of seven region champs are known -- Thatcher, Black and Chandler Prep, Gila. Games to decide other regions -- Red Mesa-Alchesay, Little Colorado; Willcox-Benson, San Pedro; Trivium Prep-Tonopah Valley and Parker-Glendale Prep; Verde; Phoenix Christian-Scottsdale Christian, Agua Fria; North Pointe Prep-Veritas Prep and Antelope-Sedona Red Rock, Salt.  It is likely the teams who ultimately win the five remaining region titles will finish in the top 16 and there would be no bumping. The teams out of the playoff chase from games in bold above are Glendale Prep, Veritas Prep and Sedona Red Rock. The 14th-18th ranked teams (Oct. 23 rankings) are #14 Benson, #15 Parker, #16 Pima, #17 Tonopah Valley and #18 Santa Cruz. The loser of Red Mesa-Alchesay could tumble out of the top 16 and not qualify.  Red Mesa is #8 and and Alchesay #11 per the current rankings --(see 4A note on effect of Glendale loss to AJ last week).

1A playoff quarterfinals

#9 Joseph City (6-3) at #1 Williams (8-0)

#5 Hayden (6-3) at #4 Salome (7-1)

#6 Arete Prep (7-2) at #3 Mogollon (7-1)

#7 Bagdad (7-3) at #2 Superior (8-0)

 

Six of eight teams in the quarters advanced this far last season -- Mogollon, Hayden, Salome, Bagdad, Superior and Williams. Arete Prep and Joseph City are the newcomers. Williams won the title last year defeating Superior in the final. Mogollon, Superior and Williams are the most formidable teams of the eight. Hayden has faced four of the playoff teams going 1-3 -- a win over Arete Prep and losses to Williams, Superior and Mogollon. Arete Prep prevailed in the closest first round game, 46-42, over Duncan. The Chargers hung on after a second-half surge by Duncan. Quarterback Matthew McClelland passed for 287 yards and five TDs. Arete won despite allowing 508 yards rushing by Duncan and being outgained overall 603-371.