6A

Chaparral (4-1) at Boulder Creek (2-3)

Hamilton (3-3) at Brophy Prep (5-1)

Desert Ridge (3-3) at Desert Vista (4-1)

Mesa (2-4) at Dobson (1-5)

Mountain Pointe (2-3) at Highland (6-0)

Chandler (4-1) at Perry (5-1)

Sandra Day O'Connor (2-3) at Pinnacle (4-1)

Corona del Sol (1-5) at Queen Creek (5-1)

Skyline (2-4) at Red Mountain (4-2)

Mountain View (2-4) at Westwood (3-3)

The Premier Region begins region play this week since each team has only four region games ( a region of five teams.) The openers are a rematch of last year's title game Chandler-Perry and teams in the title mix not long ago Hamilton-Brophy Prep. All five teams in the region have .500 records or better. Chandler-Perry figures to be a shootout as usual. Neither team has lost since opening night Aug. 17 so win streaks are intact. Perry is averaging 54 points a game; Chandler 41. The Wolves have played a more challenging schedule overall. Their defense may be the difference. Chandler's DeCarlos Brooks is averaging 105 yards rushing  per game and QB Jacob Conover isn't as prolific as last year, but steady with 14 TDs and only three picks. Perry Brophy, like Chandler and Perry. is ridiing high with a five-game win streak. The Broncos' loss is to one of the two unbeaten teams in 6A -- Liberty - 7-0 on Aug. 17. The Broncos have backfield by committee and balanced on offense with only a yard separating their rushing and passing totals. Hamilton has been up and down with its. 500 record. The Huskies have used a trio of QBs. The latest is Nick Arvay, a transfer from Casteel, who made his first start vs. Dobson last week. Arvay was a tidy 11 of 19 passing for 203 yards, 2 TDs passing and 2 TD rushing to go with 79 yards on the ground.

5A

Maricopa (4-2) at Campo Verde (5-1)

Williams Field (5-1) at Gilbert (4-2)

Casteel (4-2) at Higley (5-1)

Horizon (2-3) at North Canyon (2-4)

McClintock (3-3) at Notre Dame Prep (6-0)

Desert Mountain (1-5) at Paradise Valley (4-1)

Casteel-Higley is the main event in 5A this week. Casteel tries again for a marquee win in its new conference. The Colts didn't give in last week facing a larger fourth-quarter deficit at Williams Field, but fell short. This one will be a pass-happy affair with Higley's Spencer Brasch and Casteel's Gunner Cruz having thrown for 3,600 yards, 42 TDs and 5 picks combined to this point. Williams Field-Gilbert is interesting. Gilbert is quite the study having been blanked in a rout by Notre Dame Prep, losing a 74-57 shootout to Sunrise Mountain and following that with 34-3 win over previously unbeaten Campo Verde. Gilbert is all about the pass and there may be no better team in the state defending the pass than Williams Field. Notre Dame Prep ieads the seven-team Northeast Region at 2-0 and has unbeaten teams in region to play a bit later (Paradise Valley and Horizon). Notre Dame and Centennial (5-0), last year's 5A title participants, are the only unbeaten teams remaining in the conference at the midpoint.

4A

Washington (2-3) at Apache Junction (2-3)

Mesquite (3-3) at Arcadia (5-1)

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

Poston Butte (2-3) at Peoria (4-1)

Desert Edge (4-2) at Saguaro (5-1)

Marcos de Niza (1-4) at Seton Catholic (4-1)

St. Mary's (3-2) at Tempe (3-2)

Two teams unbeaten heading to play last week suffered their first losses and in a big way. Arcadia was blitzed by Saguaro (70-14) and Seton bowed to Mesquite (41-14). Mesquite is suddenly on a roll having won three games in a row. The Skyline Region opens region play this week and Tempe is the lone East Valley school in the region that also features Greenway, St. Mary's, Moon Valley, Thunderbird and Shadow Mountain. Greenway has the best overall record thus far at 4-1, Tempe and St. Mary's are 3-2 and Moon Valley, T-Bird and Shadow Mountain are 2-3. The winners of regions in 4A earn an automatic state tournament berth. This race could be interesting to watch. 

3A

Benjamin Franklin (3-3) at American Leadership-QC (4-2)

Gilbert Christian (1-4) at Bourgade Catholic (4-1)

Florence (0-5) at Coolidge (5-1)

Arizona College Prep (0-5) at Coronado (0-5)

American Leadership-Gilbert (2-4) at Fountain Hills (2-3)

American Leadership-Ironwood (1-5) at San Tan Foothills (2-3)

Valley Christian (2-3) at Yuma Catholic (4-1)

2A

San Manuel (1-4) at Chandler Prep (4-2)

Tempe Prep (2-4) at Miami (2-3)

Arizona Lutheran (5-0) at Scottsdale Christian (4-1)

Arizona Lutheran has picked up where it left off last season and then some. The Coyotes rushing attack leads the way along with a stout defense. Seniors Brandon Garcia and Jamie Heyn have combined for a little more than 1,000 yards rushing and 14 TDs. The defense is giving up 10 points a game. Scottsdale Christian's blemish is a loss to Valley Christian, one of two teams each has in common so far. SCA is led by quarterback Grant Schreyer and running back Shayne Pahnke. The Eagles defense is also stingy in the points allowed department -- 10 per game.