Mesa High and Dobson would love to follow in sister-school Westwood's footsteps this season. Another sister-school, Skyline, has an opportunity for a third consecutive .500 or better campaign. As for Red Mountain and Mountain View, they'll have their hands full continuing in D-I. None of their journeys will be easy, even those leaving the rigors of Division I for Division II.

"Right now being in Division II is a good placement for Westwood," Westwood's new coach, Jim Ewan said. "It's brought confidence back to the program. But I think the superintendency and Dr. (Steve) Hogen would like to have all our schools in Division I and in the same region sooner rather than late. Get   back to the old rivalries. Even though we're still in D-II and Dobson, Mesa and Skyline are there too, it won't be a cakewalk by any stretch. D-II has been upgraded with some really strong programs moving up."

Those are wise words from a coach who has been at nearly every size and level of football in the state in almost 40 years of coaching (Gilbert, Santa Cruz, Mesa Community College, Mountain Ridge, Chandler in D-I while Westwood and Skyline have pulled themselves out of the doldrums. 

Hogen, Mesa Public Schools district athletic director, believes the placement of his six schools this season is where they should be. That includes Red Mountain and Mountain View as part of the 17-teams in D-I .

""I think our schools are comfortable with their placement," Hogen said. "Did Mesa High want to stay in D-I? I'd say yes. But (D-II) is a good place for them and Dobson. And I believe for Skyline with a couple good years in D-I."

The outlook heading to 2015 for Westwood, Skyline, Dobson, Mesa High (D-II) and Red Mountain and Mountain View (D-I) breaks down as follows: 

Westwood's insistence on dropping from Division I to Division II following the 2012 season paid off the last two years with back-to-back winning seasons (6-4 in 2013 and 9-2 in 2014). That's the first time that's happened at Westwood since 2004-2005. Of the Warriors 15 wins in that span, however, 10 were against teams mostly under .500 and none qualified for the playoffs. Every one of those opponents (Maryvale, La Joya, Betty Fairfax, Gila Ridge and North) are competing in D-III now rather than D-II.

Skyline followed up a 5-5 mark in 2013 with a 10-2 record last year in D-I. The Coyotes beat Mountain View, Red Mountain and Mesa High among its D-I triumphs and gave Hamilton all it could handle in a quarterfinal-playoff loss. Seems Skyline is ready for what D-II offers although much tougher games replace those against non-section foes, Cibola, St. Mary's and Maryvale from the past two years.

Dobson's .500 record (5-5) last year was its best since 2007. The wins over Corona, Gilbert, Maryvale, Raymond Kellis and Apollo weren't eye-popping. One could argue with validity this year may be more of a challenge with Perry, Mtn. View, Saguaro, Mesquite and Gilbert the non-region slate and Higley, Williams Field, Mesa, Westwood and Skyline on the section slate.

Mesa High finished 3-7 under first-year coach Scott Hare last season. Its schedule was arguably the toughest last year compared to Westwood, Dobson and Skyline with no Phoenix Union schools or Yuma opponent that pretty much served as a win. This year the Jackrabbits open with two D-I opponents -- Red Mountain and Highland and a solid corps of section games (see Dobson above).

Red Mountain earned a D-I playoff berth last year, but took a beating in doing so. Still, they are used to rugged schedules in D-I and should be no worse if not better for the wear this year. The Mountain Lions non-section slate is Mesa High, Westlake High (Calif), Brophy, Hamilton and Chaparral. Their section is similar in strength to last year with Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista replacing Desert Mountain and Skyline.

Mountain View missed the playoffs for the second time in the last four years with the fewest wins ever in a season in school history (three). The schedule is rather friendly in non-section play with the Toros slated to face Horizon, Dobson, Perry, Pinnacle and Chandler. The first four are at least toss-ups. The section games feature Mountain Pointe, Desert Vista, Desert Ridge, Highland and Red Mountain.

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