The number of unbeaten football teams in the state is 30 as the season hits the halfway point for roughly half the teams. The unblemished are spread fairly evenly across all six conferences -- 6A (5), 5A (7), 4A (4), 3A (7), 2A (4) and 1A (3). Eight are from the East Valley -- Mountain Pointe, Skyline, Perry, Dobson, Williams Field, Campo Verde, Marcos de Niza and Casteel. Of those eight, my crystal ball says five will head to Week 7 still untarnished -- Mountain Pointe, Perry, Williams Field, Marcos de Niza and Casteel.

The top matchups among East Valley schools this week involving undefeated teams (all caps) are SKYLINE-Hamilton, DOBSON-Desert Vista, WILLIAMS FIELD-CAMPO VERDE, IRONWOOD RIDGE-Queen Creek and Mesquite-RAYMOND KELLIS.  

WEEK 6 EAST VALLEY GAMES

Friday Sepember 23: 6A -- Mesa (2-3) at Basha (1-4), Corona del Sol (2-3) at Boulder Creek (1-3), Mesa Mtn. View (3-1) at Brophy Prep (5-0), Desert Ridge (3-1 at Desert Mountain (0-4), Dobson (4-0) at Desert Vista (1-3), Skyline (5-0) at Hamilton (4-1), Perry (5-0) at Highland (2-3), Chandler (3-2) at Mountain Ridge (2-2), Mountain Pointe (4-0) at Pinnacle (1-4), Gilbert 1-3) at Red Mountain (2-2), Tolleson (2-2) at Westwood (2-3). 5A -- McClintock (2-2) at Goldwater (1-3), Williams Field (5-0) at Campo Verde (5-0), Poston Butte (3-1) at Marana Mtn. View (3-1, Ironwood Ridge (4-0) at Queen Creek (4-1), Mesquite (4-1) at Raymond Kellis (4-0). 4A -- Higley (3-1) at Apache Junction (1-3), Seton Catholic (3-2) at Coronado (1-3), Casa Grande (2-2) at Marcos de Niza (4-0), Combs (0-4) at Tempe (2-3). 3A -- Kingman (0-4) at Casteel (4-0), Coolidge (1-4) at Benjamin Franklin (4-1), American Leadership (4-1) at Globe (4-1), Wickenburg (4-0) at Valley Christian (0-4). 2A -- Tempe Prep (3-1) at Bourgade (2-2), Antelope (0-5) at Chandler Prep (4-1), Gilbert Christian (2-2) at Joy Christian (0-3), San Tan Foothills (3-1) at Veritas Prep (2-2).

THIS AND THAT: The Williams Field-Campo Verde clash kicks off region play for both as well as leaving one of them with its first loss of the season. The schools have met four times in the past with Williams Field the winner each time. They have a common opponent (Ironwood) and fared equally well in triumph. Wiliams Field has an array of offensive standouts in senior receivers Max Fine and Justis Stokes, sophomore quarterback Zack Shepherd and junior running back Josh Alexander. Alexander scored four TDs last week in a win over Chaparral and has 10 for the season. Campo Verde relies a bit more on the running game led by Trevor Crowe (642 yards and 9 TDs) and Jacob Cabezudo, a rushing and receiving threat. Quarterback EJ Galvez has been efficient in his first season as the Coyotes starter.....Dobson is a win away from guaranteeing itself a .500 season and yearns for more. The Mustangs are entering the meaty portion of their schedule over the next six weeks, including all their region games beginning in Week 7. Desert Vista, despite a 1-3 record, will be the Mustangs' toughest opponent to date. Desert Vista's three losses are to three unbeaten teams -- Perry, Skyline and Brophy Prep. Desert Vista's opponents so far  have a combined record of 16-4; Dobson's are 6-11. Dobson is getting it done with a good running game led by senior Joseph Flores (7 TDs)....Skyline has won 17 of its last 18 games and 19 consecutive regular-season games dating back to 2014. It puts its unbeaten 2016 mark on the line at Hamilton. Hamilton has had its way with teams it should handle, but has scuffled in a win over Red Mountain and in an ugly loss to Desert Ridge. Skyline prevailed easily for a change last week. This will be the Coyotes marquee test thus far. Hamilton won a quarterfinal playoff game with a late rally the last time the teams met in November 2014....Mesa Mountain View faces its second consecutive game against an unbeaten opponent in Brophy. Brophy is not as explosive or dominating as Mountain Pointe, but the Broncos defense has been particularly stingy. The Broncos have earned every win and done so in convincing fashion.....Queen Creek gets to test itself with a qualify 5A foe in unbeaten Ironwood Ridge. Both schools have a won a state title in the last five years and Ironwood Ridge is bouncing back from a mediocre year for them last season. Queen Creek's only loss is to Hamilton. This game is to climb the pecking order in the pursuit of 5A's best teams -- Desert Edge and Centennial -- much like the Williams Field-Campo Verde matchup.....Mesquite's four-game winning streak was snapped by a top-ranked Desert Edge last week, but the Wildcats played the Scorpions tougher than many expected. Mesquite has a chip in the 5A title chase. The Wildcats head to the westside to test unbeaten Raymond Kellis. Kellis has some more proving to do despite its unbeaten record. The Cougars opponents so far are a combined 2-17.