The matchups for the first week of October with East Valley and Northeast Valley schools in action on Thursday Oct. 5 and Friday Oct. 6. Eight are highlighted with teams in the top 20 in the power-rankings of their respective conferences showing their current ranking:

THURSDAY OCT. 5

3A

#17 Safford (3-4) at #5 Benjamin Franklin (6-1): Ben Franklin has quietly reeled off six wins in a row since a season-opening loss to American Leadership Academy. The Chargers thrive on running the football as does Safford. Ben Franklin relies on the two-pronged attack of running backs Zach Jefferies and Chandler Miles. Jefferies has rushed for 936 yards and 13 TDs and Miles 821 yards and 11 TDs. Benjamin Franklin was a respectable 7-3 last year and was 16th in the 3A power rankings. It missed the playoffs since a region champ below it nabbed the 16th spot. It doesn't appear that will happen again this year. Safford quarterback Manuel Aparicio is the top rushing threat and has a knack of making big plays through the air with receiver Cameron Abril, who is averaging 23 yards per catch.

Joy Christian (1-5) at #2 American Leadership Academy (6-1)

FRIDAY OCT. 6 

6A

#1 Perry (6-0) at #6 Chandler (5-2): Perry is the lone unbeaten in 6A this season and its last loss was in last year's semis to Chandler. Perry has never beaten Chandler with the Pumas two losses last year against Chandler. Chandler is 5-0 alltime vs. Perry. Perry's offense has arguably been the best in the conference and its improved defense gets its stiffest test going against Chandler's capable and then-some offense. If Perry prevails that outcome likely rests on how well its defense performs. Quarterback Brock Purdy and receivers Colby Dickie and D'Shayne James have been unstoppable. Chandler has gone with backup Billy Bolger most of the the last five games while starter Jacob Conover recovers from a shoulder injury. Conover is questionable for Friday's game. Bolger has started the last five games and appeared in all seven, passing for 960 yards and 10 TDs. He threw four TD passes and connected with eight different receivers, -- none of them named Gunner Romney or Jarick Caldwell, who have been hobbled by injury the last several weeks. Drake Anderson and Decarlos Brooks have combined for 1,500 yards rushing and 19 TDs. 

#5 Highland (5-1) at #3 Mountain Pointe (5-1): Highland was effective earlier in the season in shutting down run-minded Skyline, blanking the Coyotes, 21-0. Mountain Pointe runs as often, but may be the best run team in the conference week-in and week-out. The Pride put up more than 300 yards rushing last week against Desert Vista and surprisingly ended up with just 21 points. Highland had a bye last week so the Hawks have focused on Mountain Pointe more than the usual foe. Highland needs a huge effort on the road in this one on the heels of its loss to Perry. That's two opponents in a row not many would want to face. Highland is dependent on its defense and kicking game more often than not and that goes again this week. Highland plays top 10 teams three of its last four games with Desert Vista and Desert Ridge later this month.

#8 Red Mountain (4-2) at #15 Mountain View (3-3): Operating under the assumption the East Valley Region is a three-team chase among Red Mountain, Mountain View and Skyline, this is one of the three games in region play that's huge. Not to mention the Brown Road rivalry between the two. Mountain View tries to bounce back from its tough loss to Skyline last week. The Toros must have this one to entertain hope of taking the region crown and automatic playoff berth. Red Mountain has won four in a row since dropping games to Chandler and Hamilton.  Mountain View built a huge lead last year and hung on to beat Red Mountain on the Mountain Lions'  turf.

Brophy Prep (1-6) at Basha (1-6)

#9 Pinnacle (4-3) at Boulder Creek (2-4)

Mountain Ridge (2-4) at #12 Desert Mountain (3-3)

Corona del Sol (1-5) at #4 Desert Ridge (5-1)

#14 Gilbert (3-3) at #7 Desert Vista (4-2)

Westwood (3-4) at #19 Dobson (3-3)

#11 Skyline (4-3) at Mesa (3-4)

#10 Horizon (5-1) at Sandra Day O'Connor (2-4)

5A

#2 Queen Creek (7-0) at #12 Campo Verde (6-1): Campo Verde didn't come through with a marquee win needed last year (Williams Field, Queen Creek, Mesquite) to secure a playoff berth even with a 7-3 record. Taking down Queen Creek this week would qualify and likely guarantee a visit to postseason provided the Coyotes take care of business their final two contests. Queen Creek has performed at a steady rate most weeks and defeated playoff caliber teams in 6A (Hamiilton/Cesar Chavez) and 5A (Ironwood Ridge). Campo pits its backfield prowess led by junior Matt Leazier, who passed the 1,000-yard mark last week in the win over Vista Grande. Leazier has rushed for 100 yards or more in every game this season. Quarterback EJ Galvez and running back Jett Brown along with Leazier move the chains. Ball control is a big part of each team's game so it could be a quick contest. Dylan Borja has 793 yards rushing and five 100-yard-plus games. The passing-game edge belongs to Queen Creek. The Bulldogs have a nice pitch-and-catch duo in quarterback Devin Larsen and wide out Garrett Duke. Duke has caught six of Larsen's nine TD passes.

Apollo (5-1) at #7 Maricopa (5-1): Apollo and Maricopa have one opponent in common and can be cut some slack for bowing to 5A Conference title favorite Centennial. This Metro Region battle appears wide open with defending region champ Raymond Kellis upended last week by Sunnyslope. Apollo, Maricopa and Sunnyslope share the region lead at 1-0 after the first week of region play.  Last year Apollo dominated Maricopa, 40-16. The edge apears to lean toward Apollo. The Hawks have won five in a row and allowed just 34 points in those wins after giving up 41 to Centennial. Maricopa is led by dual-threat running back Kemo Akins (719 yards rushing, 12 TDs) and wide out Jacob Cowing (30 catches, 754 yards, 8 TDs)

North Canyon (2-4) at Arcadia (0-7)

#8 Liberty (5-1) at #13 Chaparral (3-3)

#4 Notre Dame Prep (6-0) at #20 Paradise Valley (3-4)

Flowing Wells (1-5) at Poston Butte (3-3)

#18 McClintock (3-3) at #17 Raymond Kellis (5-1)

#14 Williams Field (5-2) at Vista Grande (0-6)

4A

#11 Marcos de Niza (3-3) at #9 Cactus Shadows (4-2): It's not a region game for either school, but not much separates them in the upper mid-range of the current power rankings. Marcos' losses are of the quality variety having fallen to unbeaten Cactus, Peoria and Saguaro. Cactus Shadows most notable win was its season opener over Seton Catholic. The Sentinels only loss to date. Marcos de Niza has struggled for the most part on offense. Defense has carried it to wins over Prescott and Bradshaw Mountain and made its loss to Cactus a tight one (13-6). Cactus Shadows also played Prescott and Cactus and both its losses were in those games. The Falcons have displayed more offense the past two weeks in wins over Moon Valley (35-2) and Shadow Mountain (51-70. The former is among the teams battling for 4A playoff spots.

Dysart (1-5) at Apache Junction (2-4)

Cortez (0-6) at Combs (1-5)

Casa Grande (3-4) at #10 Higley (5-1)

Tempe (1-6) at #8 Seton Catholic (5-1)

#2 Saguaro (5-2) at Thunderbird (3-3)

Coronado (1-5) at Washington (0-6)

3A

#3 Casteel (6-0) at #13 Fountain Hills (4-2)

North Pointe Prep (1-5) at Valley Christian (2-4)

2A

#20 Kingman Academy (4-2) at #7 Chandler Prep (5-1): This is the final non-region game of the season for these schools. Both are leading their respective regions -- Kingman Academy the Central and Chandler Prep the Metro East. They have no common opponents thus far and are lacking in quality wins. None of their conquests is among the top 20 teams in 2A at present. That said if they continue to lead and win their regions they qualify for the playoffs regardless. Kingman Academy dominated the matchup last year with a 46-20 victory. Kingman Academy is led by quarterback Kekoa Makaiwi-Stroup, who has thrown for 1,360 yards and 17 TDs and freshman receiver Gabe Imus (42 catches for 589 yards and 10 TDs). Chandler Prep relies on quarterback Alex Brandt and running back Alex Bell. 

#5 Scottsdale Christian (7-0) at #16 Arizona Lutheran (4-2)

Bourgade (2-4) at #4 Gilbert Christian (5-1)

#13 Tempe Prep (3-3) at #2 Phoenix Christian (6-0)

Arizona College Prep (1-5) at #10 San Tan Foothills (4-2)

Scottsdale Prep (0-6) at Veritas Prep (1-5)