Perry's Kenny Fultz (6) and teammates take a knee this week with a bye as 6A's #1 team (Azpreps365 photo)

 

Week 7 is split down the middle between games taking place (Thursday Sept. 28 -- 15) and (Friday Sept. 29 -- 16) for the areas as some schools play a day early in deference to Jewish observances. Region play for conferences begins in earnest this week through the remainder of the season.

Here are the matchups each day with eight highlighted. Rankings are current AIA power rankings and show only for schools in the top 16 of their respective conferences:

THURSDAY SEPT. 28

6A

No. 3 Mountain Pointe (4-1) at No. 5 Desert Vista (4-1): Mountain Pointe is unbeaten against state opponents and has a marquee wins over Chandler and Pinnacle. Desert Vista has won four games in a row since a season-opening loss to Perry. One never knows what will happen in a rivalry game, however, in recent years Mountain Pointe has owned the Ahwatukee Bowl. The Pride was won the last five games and seven of eight. Nothing fancy about the Pride. They're averaging 315 yards rushing per game led by RB Jakim McKinney, RB Gary Bragg and QB Nick Wallerstedt.  They have 1,266 of the Pride's 1,550 rushing yards.

No. 6 Desert Ridge (4-1) at No. 12 Gilbert (3-2): Desert Ridge has retooled nicely with younger players stepping in with enough senior leadership to make the Jaguars dangerous. Gilbert is playing more than representative on the heels of last year's 1-9 mark. The Tigers' two losses are to Campo Verde and Red Mountain -- each essentially one-score defeats. Gilbert was blown out by the aforementioned foes last year. It's Desert Ridge's ground and pound vs. Gilbert's aerial show directed by Jack Plummer. Plummer has a pair of 350-yard passing games, including last week in the loss to Red Mountain. He has thrown 19 TDs and only two picks.

No. 15 Mountain View (3-2) at No. 11 Skyline (3-3): If one were to handicap the East Valley Region race at this point it appears to be a three-team chase among Mountain View, Skyline and Red Mountain. Skyline won the region a year ago with a perfect 5-0 mark and has been up and down thus far. Last week was an up for Coyotes despite losing to Hamilton in a tight game. Mountain View's losses are to Pinnacle and Mountain Pointe and the Toros looked solid last week in downing Brophy Prep. Skyline has won the last two in convincing fashion, but rarely have these schools played a close game. This one may end that streak. The closest game the schools have played since they first met in 2001 was a two-touchdown victory by Mountain View in 2011. Skyline junior running back Aaron Wood has three successive 100-yard rushing games, including a career-best 301 in last week's loss to Hamilton. Mountain View opts for more balance led by quarterback Brandon Nunez, running back Dean Yamada and wide outs Jacobby Dinwiddie and Tate Allen.

No. 7 Chandler (4-2) at Basha (1-5)

Brophy Prep (1-5) at No. 2 Hamilton (5-1)

No. 9 Horizon (4-1) at Mountain Ridge (2-3)

No. 8 Desert Mountain (3-2) at No. 13 Pinnacle (3-3)

Dobson (3-2) at No. 10 Red Mountain (3-2)

Mesa (2-4) at Westwood (3-3)

5A

No. 3 Notre Dame Prep (5-0) at No. 13 Chaparral (3-2): It's highly likely  -- no, guarantee -- the winner of this one will be Northeast Valley Region champs even if it is the first region game for both. Notre Dame has beaten a 6A school, two 5A schools, a 4A school and registered a rare win for big-school Arizona team over an out-of-state opponent, La Salle, from Pasadena, Calif., last week. Chaparral has bounced back from its out-of-state loss to notch wins over defending 5A champ Williams Field and Sunnyslope. The Firebirds defense has allowed just 10 points in those victories combined.  Chaparral will have its hands full trying to contain Notre Dame's running attack led by Cole Fisher. Chaparral quarterback Jack Miller is set for his fourth start and has thrown six TDs in his last two games.

No. 7 Maricopa (4-1) at Ironwood (2-3)

Arcadia (0-6) at Paradise Valley (2-4)

4A

No. 4 Saguaro (4-2) at No. 13 Marcos de Niza (3-2)

No. 10 Higley (4-1) at Tempe (1-5)

Cortez (0-5) at Coronado (0-5)

FRIDAY SEPT. 28

5A 

McClintock (3-2) at No. 8 Apollo (4-1): McClintock is giving Chargers ' fans hope thus far. New coach Corbin Smith and his staff seemingly have McClintock headed in the right direction. Apollo has won four games in a row after an opening with a loss to Centennial. McClintock has equalled its win total of last season, but the test is how well they fare in the next five -- all region clashes and all against teams it failed to beat last year. McClintock has been led by running back Tyrese Green, who has amassed 968 yards rushing and receiving and 14 TDs in five contests. Apollo has won four games in a row after opening with a loss to Centennial. The region boasts four of its six teams with winning records thus far -- defending region champ Raymond Kellis, Maricopa, Apollo and McClintock.

Vista Grande (0-5) at No. 14 Campo Verde (5-1)

Mesquite (2-4) at No. 1 Queen Creek (6-0)

Poston Butte (3-2) at No. 15 Williams Field (4-2)

4A

Washington (0-5) at Apache Junction (1-4)

Dysart (0-5) at Combs (1-4)

3A

No. 10 Yuma Catholic (4-1) at No. 4 Casteel (5-0): Casteel continues to roll and its wins the last two weeks over a solid out-of-state foe and Show Low last week set up the Colts chance to avenge the only football losses in school history. Yuma Catholic thumped Casteel twice last year and knocked the Colts from the playoffs. Casteel is better than last year with all its experience and more players to draw from as it heads to a full four-year class by next fall. Yuma Catholic appears down a notch or so. Yuma Catholic has a pair of wins the last two weeks over River Valley and Northwest Christian, both 3A contenders year-in-and-year out. River Valley, however, is having its worst season since 2009 with a coaching change taking place after the first week of the 2017 season. 

No. 2 American Leadership (5-1) at No. 5 Florence (5-0): These Central Region foes have the same records they did last year at this time. Well, almost. Florence was 6-0 last year at this stage. They played a barn-burner last year that turned out to decide the region title as ALA prevailed, 29-22.  ALA had to rally for two fourth-quarter TDs to win that game. ALA also knocked Florence out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals with a competitive triumph. Senior quarterback Matthew Nevill has used his varsity experience last year to ably guide the Patriots so far, passing for 13 TDs and less than a pick per game. Senior receivers Bujon Boyd and Kade Lunt are the primary targetscombing for 870 yards and 7 TDs through the air. Florence is averaging 540 yards of offense per game led by senior quarterback Jared Wood (13 TD passes) and running back Nolan Susel (1,047 yards rushing, 14 TDs). 

No. 14 Fountain Hills (3-2) at North Pointe Prep (1-4)

No. 6 Ben Franklin (5-1) at No. 7 (2A) San Tan Foothills (4-1)

ASU Prep Academy (0-4) at Valley Christian (1-4)

2A

No. 5 Gilbert Christian (4-1) at No. 12 Tempe Prep (3-2):  The Metro West is quite the region with four top-notch schools among the six. Gilbert Christian and Tempe Prep each have a loss (1-1) in region play. The winner stays in the hunt for the region title; the loser will have to find a way to stay hungry. Both teams secured routs last week over Joy Christian and Bourgade Catholic, respectively. The top two teams in the region are unbeaten Scottsdale Christian and Phoenix Christian. Tempe Prep's loss in region was to Scottsdale Christian two weeks ago (24-14). Gilbert Christian bowed to Phoenix Christian two weeks ago in blowout fashion. 

Antelope (1-3) at Arizona College Prep (1-4)

No. 4 Scottsdale Christian (6-0) at Bourgade (2-3)

Veritas Prep (1-4) at No. 8 Chandler Prep (4-1)

Scottsdale Prep (0-5) at Glendale Prep (2-4)