Football matchups for Week 6 (Friday Sept. 22) involving East Valley/Northeast Valley schools. It's the halfway mark for most schools, a game beyond for some others. Ten highlighted:

6A

Highland (5-0) at Perry (5-0): Not many coaches make their head coaching debut with five consecutive wins, but that's what Highland's Brock Farrel and the Hawks have done. The victories are over Corona del Sol, Skyline, Cesar Chavez, Brophy Prep and Westview. The latter four were playoff teams last year. Defense is Highland's primary asset (allowing 11 points a game) and the Hawks will have to be at their very best to slow high-octane Perry (averaging 60 points a game). Perry coached by Preston Jones who cut his head-coaching teeth at Highland a decade ago, outscored Highland, 59-49, last year. Quarterback Brock Purdy passed for 370 yards and 6 TDs in that game and is lighting up the scoreboard again in '17 with 1,500 yards and 21 TDs.

Desert Mountain (3-1) at Desert Ridge (3-1): Desert Ridge bounced back from its only loss to Hamilton last week. sandwiching wins over Brophy Prep, Tucson and Mesa around that defeat. The Jaguars faced run-oriented Mesa High last week and shift to defending Desert Mountain and its passing prowess. Desert Mountain has wins over Chaparral, Mesa and Basha and a loss to unbeaten Notre Dame Prep. Desert Mountain QB Kedon Slovis has thrown for 1,106 yards, 11 TDs and no picks thus far. Desert Ridge has four players with more than 100 yards rushing. Last week's top back was sophomore Deonce Elliott with 78 yards. Last week three backs and quarterback Cooper Schmidt shared 29 carries about equally. 

Red Mountain (2-2) at Gilbert (3-1): Both teams are riding two-game winning streaks with Gilbert already with two wins more than it had all last season. Senior quarterback Jack Plummer has been a model of consistency throwing for 15 TDs (no interceptions) and 250 yards per game. Gilbert's loss is to unbeaten Campo Verde. Red Mountain wins the last two weeks have come against Basha and  Boulder Creek after losses to Chandler and Hamilton. Sophomore running back Ty Mcelroy has posted almost all his rushing yardage the last two game (292 yards, both 100-yard-plus games. Red Mountain humbled Gilbert, 48-0, last year. However, the Tigers have already avenged two losses from last season and playing with confidence.

Pinnacle (3-2) at Mountain Pointe (3-1): Pinnacle plays its final non-region game with losses to Chandler and Centennial and wins over Brophy, Basha and Mesa Mtn. View. Brophy and Basha are struggling for wins thus far. Not Mountain Pointe, which dominated Mountain View and outlasted Chandler the last two weeks. Teams that defeat Mountain Pointe are those who can contain the Pride's running game. Only Chaminade, Calif. has done that so far. Chaminade held Mountain Pointe to 170 yards on the ground. Mountain Pointe has averaged 305 yards rushing in its other three games (all wins). Pinnacle surrendered 400 yards rushing to Centennial last week (334 of it to the state's best back, Zidane Thomas). Mountain Pointe relies on a trio of ball carriers in Jakim McKinney, Gary Bragg and quarterback Nick Wallerstedt. They've combined for 850 yards and 11 of the Pride's 12 rushing TDs. Mountain Ridge (2-2) at Chandler (3-2)

Hamilton (4-1) at Skyline (3-2): Skyline tries to piece together its first winning streak of the season against the Huskies. It's a tall order. Hamilton is gaining traction with Chandler and Perry after last year's 7-5 season. Hamilton has won its last three games (Red Mountain, Desert Ridge and Cesar Chavez) by an average score of 54-18. Hamilton's season-low for points is 28, that coming against unbeaten Queen Creek. Hamilton's offense is potent in all aspects while Skyline has struggled for points and yardage in its losses to unbeaten Highland and once-beaten Desert Vista.

Mountain Ridge (2-2) at Chandler (3-2)

Desert Vista (3-1) at Dobson (3-1)

Boulder Creek (0-4) at Corona del Sol (1-4)

North (3-1) at Horizon (3-1)

Basha (1-4) at Mesa (1-4)

Brophy Prep (1-4) at Mesa Mtn. View (2-2)

Westwood (2-3) at Tolleson (2-2)

5A

Queen Creek (5-0) at Ironwood Ridge (4-0): This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Ironwood Ridge, but the Nighthawks have surprised with steady performances with only five starters back. Queen Creek, however, is the best team IRWR has faced by far. Ironwood Ridge has won two close games (a TD or less) and its opponents to date are a collective .500. Queen Creek has wins over 6A schools Hamilton, Cesar Chavez and Boulder Creek and a pair of dominating triumphs over Sahuaro and Deer Valley. Ironwood Ridge prides itself on a solid run game at its led by Nick Brahler, who has 674 yards and 9 TDs. Quarterback Heath Beemiller has been efficient completin two-thirds of his passes for 562 yards and seven scores. Queen Creek has a different hero every week, the way the Bulldogs like it. Quarterback Devin Larsen missed one game and was spelled admirably by Cal Hedrick. Queen Creek QB's have yet to throw an interception this season. The ground game is led by Dylan Borja (473 yards). The effort last week vs. Deer Valley was by committee in a 38-0 romp led by the defense. 

Notre Dame Prep (4-0) at LA Salle, Calif. (2-2): Notre Dame coach George Prelock is just a win behind Highland's Brock Farrel in superb head coaching debuts. The Saints were idle last week and face a solid squad from Pasadena, Calif., in La Salle. Notre Dame has excelled on the ground led by the duo of Cole Fisher and Jake Smith (812 yards rushing and 11 TDs). The completion percentage of the passing game is nothing to write home about, but when it clicks it's worth big plays. Kylan Weisser is averaging 33 yards per completion. Most of those -- 7 of his 8 TDs - are to that guy above, Jake Smith. Notre Dame has three routs among its four wins. La Salle has played in competitive game every week. Its wins are by one and two points and its losses by 10 and 13. 

Campo Verde (5-0) at Williams Field (3-2): This is the San Tan Valley region opener for both schools with Williams Field in a downward spiral with a losing streak at a modest two. Williams Field has scored 13 points or fewer in three of its games. Campo Verde is off to the same start from last year with its marquee win thus far over 6A and improved Gilbert. The overall record of Campo Verde's opponents to date is 7-15, but the Coyotes have taken care of business in each one. They won a tight game with Gilbert and controlled wins in the others. Campo is averaging 285 yards rushing per game. Williams Field has been stingy vs. the run, Campo's forte, and has Campo's number. Campo is 0-5 vs. WF dating back to the first meeting in 2011. Campo has not scored more than 14 points in any of the meetings.

Apollo (3-1) at Arcadia (0-5)

Paradise Valley (2-3) at Liberty (3-1)

Goldwater (3-1) at McCllintock (2-2) 

Raymond Kellis (4-0) at Mesquite (2-3)

Marana Mtn. View (3-1) at Poston Butte (3-1)

Chaparral (2-2) at Sunnyslope (2-2)

4A

Sunrise Mountain (4-0) at Saguaro (3-2): Has Saguaro righted a listing ship with its last two wins and restored its 4A dominance? Likely. It's been back to 4A competition the last two games and for the rest of the year and that's where the Sabercats excel. Sunrise Mountain has surprised with a perfect retool thus far after a 10-2 2016 campaign. Its only losses last year were to 4A finalists Saguaro and Catalina Foothills. Sunrise Mountain graduated its standout quarterback and top rusher and receiver so many of the weapons are new. In wins over Buckeye, Casa Grande, Peoria rival Liberty (5A) and Thunderbird the Mustangs have had their way. Junior quarterback Keegan Freid and junior running back Drake Flores lead what has been a balanced attack. Saguaro quarterback Max Massingale has recorded a pair of stellar games the last two weeks passing for 479 yards, six TDs and no picks. He has two outstanding targets in seniors Zach Wilson and Logan Pettijohn, who have 27 receptions apiece and combined seven TDs.

Marcos de Niza (2-2) at Casa Grande (2-3)

Tempe (0-5) at Combs (1-3)

Apache Junction (1-3) at Higley (3-1)

Coronado (0-4) at Seton Catholic (4-1)

3A

Show Low (3-1) at Casteel (4-0): Casteel was able to bring Show Low on to its schedule in the middle of the two-year block. Casteel has proven to be better this year than last even with the same record to date. The school, without a senior class yet, has juniors with tons of varsity experience and is right in the thick of the 3A title chase with that experience and excess of numbers. Last week's win in California -- a rare close game in the young annuls of Casteel football -- is a springboard with this week's game and one with the Colts kryptonite -- Yuma Catholic -- coming up soon. Senior running back Westin Keime leads Show Low with 523 yards rushing and 10 TDs. Running back Mack Johnson didn't crack the 100-yard mark, but ran for 88 yards and scored 3 TDs. QB Gunner Cruz passed for 269 yards in helping the Colts notch the 28-21 overtime win over Monte Vista, Calif.

Fountain Hills (2-2) at Chino Valley (3-1)

Benjamin Franklin (4-1) at Coolidge (1-4)

Valley Christian (0-4) at Wickenburg (2-2)

Globe (2-3) at American Leadership Academy (4-1)

2A

Chandler Prep (3-1) at Antelope (1-2)

Glendale Prep (1-4) at Az College Prep (1-3)

Joy Christian (1-3) at Gilbert Christian (3-1)

Scottsdale Prep (0-4) at Miami (1-4)

Veritas (1-3) at San Tan Foothills (3-1)

Bisbee (2-2) Scottsdale Christian (5-0)

Bourgade (2-2) at Tempe Prep (2-2)