NOTE: This weekly football preview primarily covers the area from north Scottsdale west through Phoenix, the southwest and northwest Valley, northwest Arizona, northern Arizona and northeast Arizona, including Native American communities.

By Don Ketchum

Offense, anyone?

That’s what football fans are expected to get on Friday night (Sept. 16) when Heber Mogollon visits Joseph City in a rematch of the last two Class 1A eight-man championship games. Joseph City won both.

Now the teams are in the new Division VI, but it’s still the same exciting eight-man game.

Joseph City is averaging 70 points per game in wins over Rock Point, Cibecue and Ash Fork. Mogollon should provide the Wildcats with their toughest test to date. Mogollon is averaging 60 points per game in wins over Orme, Kearny Ray and Mayer.

Other games of note . . .

*Phoenix North Canyon at Phoenix Pinnacle – North Canyon’s trademark is defense under its new coach, former Scottsdale Chaparral defensive coordinator Conrad Hamilton. The Rattlers will be tested by a Pinnacle team that has scored 40, 49 and 42 points in wins over Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor, Cave Creek Cactus Shadows and Phoenix Central.

*Phoenix North at Phoenix Camelback – Camelback has a chance to go 4-0 for the first time in a long time under coach Brandon McNutt.

*Phoenix Maryvale at Phoenix Carl Hayden – There was a time when Carl Hayden was starving for a victory. Now the Falcons have a chance to win their second in a row. Who would have thought?

*Glendale Cactus at Phoenix Greenway – Another chapter in the Battle of Greenway Road. Cactus’ schedule was cut short due to resuming its weather-shortened game against Peoria High (Cactus won 31-0), but coach Larry Fetkenhier is sure to have the Cobras ready to go.

*Peoria at Peoria Liberty – If Peoria expects to be a factor in the race for the playoffs, it will need to rebound from its loss to Cactus and take care of business against Liberty, the newest kid on the block.

*Scottsdale Desert Mountain at Scottsdale Chaparral – Desert Mountain was a surprise the first few weeks of the season, but now people are realizing that the Wolves are for real. All that separates them from a 2-1 record and a 3-0 record is a one-point loss in overtime to Mesa Dobson.

After struggling in the early season, two-time Class 5A Division II champ Chaparral is back to being its steamrolling self. The addition of transfer defensive end Jarvis Lewis after being declared eligible by the Arizona Interscholastic Association just adds to opponents’ problems.

*Phoenix Thunderbird at Phoenix Paradise Valley – Both schools were manhandled by Class 4A Division I champ Scottsdale Saguaro, but it appears that Thunderbird has recovered better. The ground game continues to carry the Chiefs.

*Show Low at Snowflake – Snowflake attempted to short-circuit Class 3A runner-up Lakeside Blue Ridge but fell short last week, and now goes against Show Low, the team that defeated Blue Ridge for the title. Show Low appears to be back on track with three wins after a loss to Moapa Valley, Nev. in the Sollenberger Classic.

*Phoenix St. Mary’s at Anthem Boulder Creek – The season appears to be slipping away for St. Mary’s after giving up 65 points to Chandler Basha. Boulder Creek’s offense isn’t as potent as Basha’s, but it still poses a significant obstacle.

*Chinle at St. Johns – Chinle is 3-0 with wins over Kayenta Monument Valley, Ganado and Page. St. Johns should prove to be a tougher opponent after rebounding from an opening loss to Show Low with wins over Round Valley and Window Rock.

*Fredonia at Beaver Dam – The two loneliest outposts in Arizona, both along the Utah border, get together for an eight-man contest. Although neither team has a win, this game could prove to be entertaining.