Sabino first-year coach Ryan McBrayer (Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

 

 

Friday, Oct. 6

 

6A CONFERENCE

 

TUCSON (2-4, 0-0) at Sunnyside (1-5, 0-0) Region

This game is technically a playoff game due to the 6A Southern Region playoff structure. The winner will control the Tucson Sub-Region while the loser will be pulling for Rincon/UHS down the stretch. No matter what the result, only one team from the 6A Southern Region will make the playoffs due to the low ranking of each member.

 

RINCON/UNIVERSITY (2-4, 0-0) at 3A Santa Rita (0-5, 0-3)

Look for the Rangers to go 3-4 for the second year in a row but this is a non-region game. Three difficult games remain.

 

5A CONFERENCE

 

CIENEGA (6-0, 0-0) at Sahuaro (3-3, 1-0) Region

At 2-3, the Cougars are ranked No. 18 in the 5A Conference. It’s a difficult road ahead for Sahuaro but the Cougars need this win to stay alive with Mountain View and Ironwood Ridge coming up. This is the first region game of the year for Cienega. The Bobcats are still the best team in Southern Arizona but they will have to continue to prove it.

 

Buena (4-2, 0-1) at IRONWOOD RIDGE (4-2, 0-1) Region

The Nighthawks dropped a huge region game to Mountain View last week but the squad hasn’t dropped two games in a row since the end of the 2013 season.

 

MARANA (4-2, 1-0) at Cholla (3-3, 1-0) Region

Billed as Trenton Bourguet vs. Jordan Porter but the bigger picture should be a 2-0 mark in the 5A Sonoran Region.

 

Flowing Wells (1-5, 0-1) at POSTON BUTTE (3-3, 0-0) Region

The winner here still has an outside shot at the region but the odds are long.

 

MOUNTAIN VIEW (5-1, 1-0) at Desert View (3-3, 0-1)

A non-region game but plenty of power point ramifications.

 

4A CONFERENCE

 

Walden Grove (5-1, 1-0) at SALPOINTE (5-1, 0-0) Region

The Red Wolves have won at least five games three times in the six years the school has been competing but even a 6-4 mark in 2014 left the program without a playoff spot. Beat Salpointe, and the ticket is practically punched. The Lancers should be at full strength with Bijan Robinson and Mario Padilla on the field.

 

CATALINA FOOTHILLS (5-2, 1-0) at Nogales (2-4, 0-1) Region

The Falcons are looking for their fifth winning season in a row, breaking the record of four winning seasons in a row set last year. The Apaches can be spoilers.

 

PALO VERDE (2-5, 1-0) at Rio Rico (1-6, 0-1) Region

The Titans haven’t won three games in a season since 2013. This could go either way.

 

Douglas (0-6, 0-1) at AMPHITHEATER (0-6, 0-0) Region

Look for the Panthers to win this one at home.

 

CANYON DEL ORO (3-3) at Pueblo (4-2)

The only non-region game in the conference. More at stake for the Dorados in terms of playoff contention while the Warriors look to win their region.

 

3A CONFERENCE

 

Sabino (5-1, 3-0) at Pusch Ridge (6-0, 2-0) Region

At 3-0 in region play, the Sabercats are technically leading the 3A South Region but this is as even a match as one will find. The top two teams in the region will get an automatic playoff berth but a region title will be huge. This is a "you pick 'em" game.

 

EMPIRE (3-3, 1-1) at Catalina (5-2, 2-1) Region

Both teams are trying to keep pace with Pusch Ridge and Sabino. A loss here will make things difficult for the loser.

 

Sahuarita (2-4, 0-2) at TANQUE VERDE (1-6, 1-2) Region

This could be one of the most competitive games of the night.  

 

2A CONFERENCE

 

SAN MANUEL (6-1, 2-0) at Willcox (3-3, 1-0) Region

The Miners are relevant again and that’s not good news for Cowboys. San Manuel went 7-1 in 2011 but finished that campaign 8-3. This could be the first 9-win year for the Miners since current Amphitheater head coach Jorge Mendivil led them to a 9-2 record in 2002.

 

SANTA CRUZ (5-0, 1-0) at Bisbee (2-4, 0-1) Region

The Dust Devils will stay undefeated.

 

BENSON (1-4, 0-1) at Tombstone (0-6, 0-2) Region

Benson has a 10-game win streak against Tombstone and a 35-11 record overall.

 

1A CONFERENCE

 

VALLEY UNION (4-2) at St. David (1-5) Region

Used to be a THE game. Down year for St. David.

 

DUNCAN (0-6) at Baboquivari (0-6) Region

Duncan wins first game.