By Don Ketchum

Mark the date on your calendars. Friday (July 1) is the day that the Arizona Interscholastic Association is due to release sports schedules for the 2011-12 school year.

For the purposes of this item on AIA365.com, we will focus on football.

As the result of the most recent AIA realignment, the state will be divided into divisions, and then sections within those divisions.

But those alignments might not look the same for basketball and other sports as they do for football. Schools had to assess whether they were stronger in certain sports than others and were allowed to petition up or down to allow them to play a schedule where they feel they are more evenly matched.

So here is quick look at the new divisions/sections and which teams might be considered as the football favorites . . .

Division I/Section I – Phoenix Alhambra, Phoenix Carl Hayden, Phoenix Central, Yuma Cibola, Yuma Kofa, Phoenix Maryvale, Phoenix North, Phoenix St. Mary’s, San Luis, Tolleson, Phoenix Trevor Browne, Surprise Valley Vista, Avondale Westview, Yuma.

Football favorite(s) – A power in the old Class 5A Division II, Westview rates the nod here. A number of former 5A Metro Region schools from the Phoenix Union District make up this section. Keep an eye on the possible re-emergence of St. Mary’s, led by new coach Todd Williamson. Central, his former school, also could make some noise.

Division I/Section II – Chandler Basha, Sierra Vista Buena, Chandler, Tempe Corona del Sol, Mesa Desert Ridge, Mesa Dobson, Gilbert, Chandler Hamilton, Gilbert Highland, Gilbert Mesquite, Mesa Skyline, Tucson Sunnyside, Tucson.

Football favorite(s) – No surprise here – Hamilton is head and shoulders above the rest in this section and Division I overall, just as it was in the old Class 5A Division I. 5A-I runner-up Desert Ridge, Basha and Chandler also figure to be in the mix.

Division I/Section III – Anthem Boulder Creek, Phoenix Brophy Prep, Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Phoenix Desert Vista, Mesa, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, Glendale Mountain Ridge, Mesa Mountain View, Phoenix North Canyon, Phoenix Pinnacle, Mesa Red Mountain, Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor, Mesa Westwood.

Football favorite(s) – This could be the most competitive of the division’s three sections. Brophy, Desert Vista and Mountain Pointe will be formidable. Watch out for two programs with new coaches – Mountain View (Chad DeGrenier) and North Canyon (Conrad Hamilton).

Division II/Section I – Glendale Apollo, Laveen Betty H. Fairfax, Phoenix Camelback, Peoria Centennial, Laveen Cesar Chavez, Glendale Deer Valley, Yuma Gila Ridge, Glendale Independence, Glendale Ironwood, Avondale La Joya, Lake Havasu, Goodyear Millennium, Glendale Raymond S. Kellis, Phoenix South Mountain, Surprise Willow Canyon.

Football favorite(s) – Centennial, once a perennial 5A-II power and the state runner-up in 2010, should be well-stocked again. Laveen neighbors Cesar Chavez and Betty Fairfax should challenge, along with Apollo.

Division II/Section II – Tucson Canyon del Oro, Tucson Catalina Foothills, Tucson Cholla, Vail Cienega, Tucson Desert View, Tucson Flowing Wells, Tucson Ironwood Ridge, Marana, Marana Mountain View, Tucson Pueblo, Tucson Rincon, Tucson Sahuaro, Tucson Salpointe Catholic, Tucson Santa Rita.

Football favorite(s) -- Canyon del Oro, the runner-up in Class 4A Division I last season, should have plenty of talent returning. Cienega has developed into a consistent program, along with Ironwood Ridge. Salpointe also should be a factor.

Division II/Section III – Phoenix Barry Goldwater, Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain, Cave Creek Cactus Shadows, Scottsdale Chaparral, Phoenix Horizon, Kingman, Tempe Marcos de Niza, Tempe McClintock, Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep, Gilbert Perry, Prescott, Phoenix Shadow Mountain, Phoenix Sunnyslope.

Football favorite(s) – Two-time 5A-II champ Chaparral isn’t quite as good as Hamilton in Division I, but it is pretty close. There isn’t really anyone in Division II capable of playing with the Firebirds. Marcos de Niza and Perry have more than enough talent to reach the playoffs.

Division III/Section I – Tucson Amphitheater, Gilbert Campo Verde, Casa Grande, Tucson Catalina, Douglas, Gilbert Higley, Maricopa, Nogales, Tucson Palo Verde, Florence Poston Butte, Queen Creek, Tucson Sabino, Sahuarita, Casa Grande Vista Grande, Gilbert Williams Field.

Football favorite(s) – Williams Field came within an eyelash of winning the 4A Division II crown last season, and should challenge again. Sabino has a solid program with Jay Campos at the helm. The rest of the teams will scramble for a playoff spot, and it will be fun to watch.

Division III/Section II – Glendale Cactus, Flagstaff Coconino, Glendale Copper Canyon, El Mirage Dysart, Flagstaff, Glendale, Phoenix Greenway, Peoria Liberty, Bullhead City Mohave, Peoria, Surprise Shadow Ridge, Peoria Sunrise Mountain, Buckeye Verrado.

Football favorite(s) -- Cactus and Peoria should duke it out for the top spot. Liberty has made great strides the last few seasons and should be in the thick of the race again.

Division III/Section III – Avondale Agua Fria, Apache Junction, Phoenix Arcadia, Goodyear Desert Edge, Phoenix Moon Valley, Phoenix Paradise Valley, Scottsdale Saguaro, Phoenix Sierra Linda, Tempe, Phoenix Thunderbird, Phoenix Washington, Buckeye Youngker.

Football favorite(s) – With the 4A-I (Saguaro) and 4A-II (Thunderbird) champs in this section, there isn’t a whole lot of room for anyone else.

Division IV/Section I – Whiteriver Alchesay, Lakeside Blue Ridge, Chinle, Ganado, Holbrook, Kayenta Monument Valley, Page, Show Low, Snowflake, Tuba City, Fort Defiance Window Rock, Winslow.

Football favorite(s) – The tough 3A East Region has been dismantled, and two of the survivors played each other for the state title (Show Low and runner-up Blue Ridge). Another 3A East-er, Snowflake, could surprise, along with Winslow and Page, which had struggled in 4A-II.

Division IV/Section II – San Tan Valley Combs, Coolidge, Scottsdale Coronado, Tucson Empire, Florence, Globe, Rio Rico, Safford, Chandler Seton Catholic, Phoenix South Pointe.

Football favorite(s) – Coolidge and neighboring Florence will wage a fierce battle, while Coronado and Seton should provide tough competition.

Division IV/Section III – Buckeye, Chino Valley, Phoenix Cortez, Goodyear Estrella Foothills, Fountain Hills, Cottonwood Mingus, Parker, Payson, River Valley, Wickenburg.

Football favorite(s) – Mingus was strong in 4A-II, so there’s no reason why the Marauders can’t be successful here. Payson, Wickenburg and Buckeye could contend.

Division V/Section I – Camp Verde, Tuba City Greyhills, Keams Canyon Hopi, Many Farms, Pinon, Red Mesa, Rough Rock, Round Valley, Sedona Red Rock, St. Johns, Sanders Valley, Williams.

Football favorite(s) – Round Valley, St. Johns and Camp Verde are the most likely to step up.

Division V/Section II – Wellton Antelope, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran, Phoenix Bourgade Catholic, Queen Creek Canyon State Academy, Phoenix Northwest Christian, Phoenix Christian, San Tan Foothills, Phoenix Scottsdale Christian, Tempe Prep, Tonopah Valley, Chandler Valley Christian, Phoenix Westwind Prep, Yuma Catholic.

Football favorite(s) – Class 2A champion Northwest Christian has quite a few players returning and would appear to have the upper hand here. Runner-up Yuma Catholic should be a factor along with the other Christian schools.

Division V/Section III – Sells Baboquivari, Benson, Bisbee, Miami, Morenci, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian, San Carlos, San Manuel, Eloy Santa Cruz, Tucson Tanque Verde, Thatcher, Tombstone, Willcox.

Football favorite(s) – Thatcher, Willcox and Pusch Ridge lead the way.

Division VI/Section I (eight-man) – Ash Fork, Beaver Dam, Fredonia, Joseph City, Mayer, Heber Mogollon, Rock Pointe Orme.

Football favorite(s) – Of all the realignments, these former Class 1A schools most closely resemble their former existence. Mogollon, Joseph City and Mayer should battle for the top spot.

Division VI/Section II (eight-man) – Tucson Arizona School for Deaf and Blind, Cibecue, Duncan, Fort Thomas, Winkelman Hayden, Patagonia, Kearny Ray, St. David, Superior, Elfrida Valley Union.

Football favorite(s) – St. David, Superior and Valley Union make this a strong section, but the addition of two former 2A schools – Hayden and Ray – could make it even stronger.

Division VI/Section III – Ajo, Bagdad, Gila Bend, Gilbert Christian, Glendale Joy Christian, Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, Glendale Rancho Solano Prep, Salome, Scottsdale Salt River, San Pasqual (Winterhaven, Calif.), Phoenix Valley Lutheran.

Football favorite(s) – Valley Lutheran and Bagdad look to be the strongest here, and watch out for Joy Christian, led by former Phoenix North Canyon coach Brian Cole.