They can make a huge difference in where the opponent starts its drive.

Class 5A Divisions I and II are particularly wide open.

Teddy Ruben has amassed 4,611 yards rushing and passing this season and D.J. Foster almost 2,000 rushing and receiving. Between injuries, Ka\\\'Deem Carey has still managed 1,582 yards rushing and quarterback Jason McBrayer chimes in with a tad over 2,000 yards rushing and passing. There is little doubt offense will shine Saturday in the 4A-I football championship game at Sun Devil Stadium between Ruben\\\'s Saguaro Sabercats and Carey\\\'s Canyon del Oro Dorados. But talking to most people involved at Tuesday\\\'s 4A-I championship game press conference, defense was a hot topic and what many feel will be the deciding factor in their second meeting this season.

Casey Jahn rushes for 259 yards and a TD as Crusaders hold on to defeat Yuma Catholic, 30-27.

Chiefs, seeded 13th, outlast No. 8 seed Desert Edge in two overtimes in 4A-II semifinal game.

It was one of those games where the thinking was the team with the ball last would win. Almost. Williams Field stopped Notre Dame quarterback Jordan Gehrke short of the goal line on an attempt for two points with 19 second left Friday afternoon allowing the Black Hawks to hang on for an offensive 49-48 victory in a 4A-II semifinal game at Paradise Valley High School.

The power-point rankings were dead on in 4A-I. The No. 1,2 3 and 4 seeded teams are in the semis and should give fans Friday a healthy serving of quality playoff football.

Last year East Valley schools raised one championship trophy in boys basketball. Tucson managed one. They\\\'re back at it beginning Monday as invitationals for the most part and a smattering of power-point games kick off the 2010-2011 season. Here\\\'s a look at some teams and players to watch from the East Valley and southern Arizona for the coming campaign:

When Yuma Catholic had to make a play Saturday afternoon the Shamrocks came up aces in their bid to beat Thatcher and reach the 2A state championship football game. Special teams were as critical as any facet helping Yuma Catholic score two touchdowns in a 2 1/2 minute span of the third period and that propeled the Shamrocks to a harrowing 22-20 win over the Eages at North Canyon High School.

Zach Hoffpauir\\\\\\\'s 71-yard return out of the end zone keys 10-3 win over Marcos de Niza in Class 5A-II quarterfinal.

The battle of double-digit seeds in the 5A-I state football playoffs belonged to the team on a major roll -- the Desert Ridge Jaguars. Quarterback Jordan Becerra ran for three touchdowns and passsed for another and backfield mate Joey Counts added a pair touchdowns as the 10th-seeded Jaguars knocked off sister school and No. 15 seed Gilbert High, 49-22, in a quarterfinal game at Desert Ridge.

Are Blue Ridge and Show Low destined for a rematch in the 3A football title game? Or can either Florence or Snowflake pre-empt that program? The answer comes Saturday afternoon and evening when the 3A semifinals commence at Paradise Valley High School. The doubleheader kicks off at 4 p.m. with Florence meeting Blue Ridge followed at 7 by Show Low and Snowflake.