Playoff-caliber matchups dot final week of prep FB schedule

October 25, 2011 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


It doesn't matter the division. The last week of the prep football regular season for Division's I through V is chock full of games fans might see again in a couple weeks when the playoffs kick into high gear.

Top matchups in Division I  on the Friday slate features Brophy Prep (second in the latest power rankings) at Pinnacle (No. 4) and Desert Vista (No. 3) at home against Chandler (No. 5).Division II features Salpoiinte (No. 3) at Ironwood Ridge (No. 5) and Ironwood (No. 9) at Centennial (No. 4).

Division III tops out with Liberty (No. 1) at Cactus (No. 5) and Queen Creek (No. 4) at Williams Field (No. 6). There's even a cross division battle between longtime Scottsdale rivals Saguaro and Chaparral. Saguaro (No. 2 in D-III) visits Chaparral (No. 1 in D-II). Game of note in D-IV is Blue Ridge (No. 1) at Winslow (No. 5) and in D-V its Tempe Prep (No. 6) at Northwest Christian (No. 1).

Here's a quick glance at each contest:

Brophy (9-0) at Pinnacle (8-1) -- Brophy hasn't been tested in a few weeks so it's a good game to have prior to the opening round of the playoffs. Pinnacle was one of the final three unbeaten teams in D-I until last week when Desert Mountain snapped a five-game skid and upset the Pioneers. Pinnacle would love to upend the Broncos, but a loss leaves the Pioneers a bit low on the confidence meter. Chandler (7-2) at Desert Vista (8-1) -- Teams have traded seven-point victories in meetings the last two years.Both have a loss to Hamilton and Chandler played the Huskies tougher. Chandler is a little more balanced, but if Desert Vista gets running game going it score and chew up clock. Salpointe (8-1) at Ironwood Ridge (8-1) -- Salpointe has won all four previous meetings, including a 24-21 win last year. The losses each team possesses this season are to the 5A-II title combatants from last year, Chaparral and Centennial, respectively. Neither team has been challenged in a game since Sept. 30. - Salpointe by CDO and Ironwood Ridge in its loss to Centennial. Ironwood (7-2) at Centennial (8-1) -- Hard to predict this one. Ironwood has been routed by two teams Centennial handled easily -- Apollo and Willow Canyon. Then Ironwood knocks Deer Valley from the ranks of the unbeaten last week by a basketball score of 69-68. The same Deer Valley team that beat Centennial a couple weeks before, 14-7. If recent history matters, Centennial owns Ironwood. Centennial has won each of the last six years they played by at least 32 points. Liberty (9-0) at Cactus (7-1) -- Liberty is the only D-III school that is unbeaten, but has survived fouir games decided by a touchdown or less to protect its perfect mark. Cactus has used a killer instintct in winning seven games, including five shutouts. It's only loss was to Saguaro, which devoured the Cobras. This is the first meeting ever betwen the schools. Queen Creek (8-1) at Williams Field (8-1) -- Both teams have played a similar schedule with five common opponents. They also suffered their only losses to D-II schools in Tucson. Queen Creek lost to Catalina Foothills and Williams Field to Canyon del Oro. First time the schools have met. Saguaro (8-1) at Chaparral (9-1) -- This is the second time Saguaro has stepped up a division or two for a game. The Sabercats narrowly missed beating D-I Desert Vista. Could be an offensive showcase with Saguaro featuring DJ Foster and Chaparral Connor Brewer and Devonte Neal. Chaparral has won nine games in a row after opeining the season with a loss to Bishop Gorman. Blue Ridge (9-0) at Winslow (7-2) -- Blue Ridge is a defensive juggernaut this season, allowing just 29 points in nine games. It did surrender a season-high nine points last week in edging nemesis and rival Show Low, 10-9. Winslow's losses are to Snowflake and Show Low, the No. 2 and No. 4 teams in the current D-IV power rankings. Last time the teams met was in the playoffs in 2005 where Winslow prevailed, 19-14. Tempe Prep (6-3) at Northwest Christian (9-0) -- Tempe Prep is used to tight games with eight of its nine this year decided by two touchdowns or less. Northwest Christian, the defending 2A (D-V) champs, are riding a 16-game winning streak and led by the state's all-time leading rusher in Casey Jahn. Jahn is averaging just less than 200 yards rushing per game. He carried 30 times for 231 yards and four TDs in the Crusaders 28-14 win over Tempe Prep last year.