Who will be the unlucky couple of schools that qualify for the bottom portion of the Open Division state playoffs?

There are three weeks to go. Two or three games left per team. Whoever the three teams end up being, their postseason stay will be short. They can wave a homemade banner declaring "Open Division Qualifier".  No trophy to go with that, but a sense of pride at least. Press most anyone, however, on a final accomplishment and a championship wins out over 'thanks for playing' every time.

Anyway....The sure things for the OD are these five - Chandler (1), Salpointe (2), Centennial (3), Saguaro (4) and Pinnacle (5). Chandler and Salpointe are unbeaten and won't lose the rest of the regular season. Centennial, Saguaro and Pinnacle sport one loss -- all of the quality variety to out-of-state teams. That leaves Campo Verde (6), Canyon del Oro (7), Hamilton (8), Notre Dame Prep (9), Horizon (10), Brophy (11), Red Mountain (12), Queen Creek (13), Millennium (14), Higley (15) and Chaparral (16) vying for what's left. 

Campo Verde (7-0) has a shot at maintaining its spot in the Open Division. The rub is the Coyotes final three games are vs. Higley, Williams Field and Casteel. Those are a trio of rough and tumble games and the toughest road of any current Open Division qualifier. Winning all three is iffy. Two of three maybe. 

The most surprising team is Canyon del Oro (7-0). The 4A Dorados won't be unbeaten after Friday after playing Salpointe, but could finish 9-1 wrapping up with the Grandes - Casa and Vista. No disrespect, but they are not the caliber of Salpointe and Saguaro. Hamilton (7-1) has a bye and then two road games to finish - at Perry and Chandler. Best finish for the 6A Huskies is 8-2. Notre Dame Prep (7-1) closes with North Canyon and Paradise Valley - good enough for a 9-1 finish. Horizon (6-1) possesses a viable path to winning out. The 5A Huskies have Cactus Shadows, Paradise Valley and Desert Mountain left to play. Don't see them stumbling in any of those. Brophy (7-1) has Perry and Basha remaining the next two weeks and has its bye the last week while most everyone else plays. Interesting to see if the Broncos bounce back from their first loss this week vs. Perry.  

Red Mountain (6-1) has the best chance of remaining 6A teams to win out, but would that be good enough to raise it from the second tier to at least No. 8? Doubtful. The Mountain Lions' strength of schedule the final three weeks won't rise much if at all. Their last three games are vs. Mountain View, Mesa and Westwood.

Queen Creek (6-1) plays in a more competitive region (6A Central) where there are few gimmes. The Bulldogs will be tested their last three outings by Desert Ridge, Highland and Desert Vista. If they prevail that's a 9-1 finish and a perhaps a shot at the OD. Two loss teams are up against it qualifying for OD. Millennium (5-2) has emerged, but with its two losses can't seem the Tigers breaking through even winning out. Ditto Higley and Chaparral.

So with a third week of Open Division rankings in the books, we saw two top 8s drop out - Notre Dame Prep (4 to 9) and Brophy Prep (8 to 11). Moving in were CDO from 10 to 7 and Hamilton 9 to 8. The only two-loss teams within shouting distance are Millennium, Higley and Chaparral (14-16).

GAMES OF THE WEEK LOCALLY: There are two of note led by a 3A charter-school battle between the only unbeaten teams left in the conference - American Leadership Queen Creek and Benjamin Franklin at Benjamin Franklin. Campo Verde is the last team with an unblemished record in 5A and the Coyotes host Higley, riding a a five-game winning streak after opening 0-2. 

Thursday Oct. 17

1A

Arete Prep (4-3) at Lincoln Prep (1-4) - Last year teams did not play

Friday Oct. 18

6A

Chandler (7-0) at Basha (4-3) - Last year Chandler won 62-14

Desert Vista (5-2) at Boulder Creek (3-4) - Last year  Desert Vista won 66-23

Perry (4-3) at Brophy Prep (7-1) - Last year Perry won 31-3

Skyline (1-6) at Dobson (2-5) - Last year Skyline won 51-7 

Corona del Sol (3-4) at Highland (5-2) - Last year Highland won 38-24

Pinnacle (6-1) at Liberty (5-2) - Last year  Pinnacle won 34-33

Chaparral (5-2) at Mountain Pointe (1-6) - Last year Mountain Pointe won 42-24

Desert Ridge (3-4) at Queen Creek (6-1) - Last year Queen Creek won 39-14

Mesa Mtn. View (3-4) at Red Mountain (6-1) - Last year Red Mountain won 42-21

Mesa (4-3) at Westwood (1-6) - Last year Westwood won 34-26

5A

Higley (5-2) at Campo Verde (7-0) - Last year Higley won 45-28

Casteel (4-3) at Gilbert (3-4) - Last year Casteel won 41-10

Cactus Shadows (4-3) at Horizon (6-1) - Last year Horizon won 50-0 

Williams Field (5-2) at Maricopa (3-4) - Last year Williams Field won 34-21

Paradise Valley (5-2) at McClintock (4-3) - Last year  Paradise Valley won 32-8

North Canyon (1-7) at Notre Dame Prep (7-1) - Last year Notre Dame Prep won 42-0

4A

Apache Junction (5-2) at Cortez (0-7) - Last year Apache Junction won 63-0

Combs (4-3) at Glendale (5-2) - Last year Glendale won 49-14

Saguaro (6-1) at Marcos de Niza (5-2) - Last year Saguaro won 42-7

Mesquite (5-2) at Poston Butte (3-4) - Last year Mesquite won 49-15

Tempe (5-2) at Thunderbird (2-5) - Last year Tempe won 66-49

Seton Catholic (5-2) at Flagstaff (4-3) Last year Seton Catholic won 56-26

3A

Yuma Catholic (4-3) at American Leadership-Gilbert North (3-4) - Last year Yuma Catholic won 72-34

American Leadership-Queen Creek (7-0) at Benjamin Franklin (7-0) - Last year ALA-Queen Creek won 33-14

Gilber Christian (4-3) at Coronado (0-7) - Last year  Gilbert Christian won 44-28

Arizona College Prep (6-1) at Fountain Hills (3-4)-  Last year Fountain Hills won 31-16

Valley Christian (5-2) at Paradise Honors (2-5) - Last year Valley Christian won 35-13

Florence (1-6) at San Tan Foothills (2-5) - Last year Florence won 35-14

2A

Scottsdale Christian (2-5) at Santa Cruz Valley (6-2) - Last year Scottsdale Christian won 43-40 

Antelope (4-3) at Scottsdale Prep (4-2) - Last year Antelope won 34-7 

San Carlos (0-6) at Tempe Prep (0-7) - Last year  Tempe Prep won 29-18