North-side rivals Mt. View, I-Ridge to collide

Mountain View and Ironwood Ridge are both hoping to play a little longer, though.

The two rivals will meet at Mountain View on Friday night at 7 in a crucial section game. The winner will be in the driver’s seat for an automatic berth to the Division II state playoffs.

It will also be a chance for I-Ridge to earn revenge for last season’s 14-7 home loss to the Mountain Lions after winning the first six meetings in the series.

Led by junior quarterback Justice Summerset, Mountain View (4-3) has won back-to-back games and is undefeated in section play, as are the Nighthawks, who have won six in a row since losing their season opener at Peoria Liberty.

Summerset averages nearly 300 yards passing per game, but Ironwood Ridge has held opposing quarterbacks to just 109.8 yards on average.

Here’s a look at what else to watch this week, including a televised Thursday night football game:

Tuesday

Boys golf: The Catalina Foothills boys golf team will try to inch closer to a state tournament berth on Tuesday against Catalina, Palo Verde and Salpointe Catholic at Randolph Park.

Sophomore Gavin Cohen and the Falcons, ranked fifth in Division II, are almost a sure bet to secure one of the 16 spots for next month’s state championship in Laveen.

Foothills can knock off third-ranked Canyon del Oro for the section championship over the next two weeks or earn an at-large bid through its high ranking.

Tuesday’s match, which begins at 3 p.m., will feature two of Southern Arizona’s top golfers in Cohen and Salpointe sophomore Trevor Werbylo, who is ranked third in the division.

Thursday

Football: Sabino, which has won four straight, hosts Cholla in a rare Thursday night game at 7 that will be televised live on Cox 7.

The Sabercats (4-3) have outscored their last four opponents 226-0 after starting the season with three straight losses.

Senior quarterback Emilio Araiza led the way Friday night as Sabino scored 42 points in the first quarter against Catalina on its way to a 56-0 win.

Cholla (0-7) is coming off a tough loss to Empire. Senior Esteban Vega passed for 157 yards and rushed for 100, but the Chargers surrendered 21 second-half points to lose 28-21.

Saturday

Cross country: Nearly 50 cross country teams from around the state are signed up for Saturday morning’s Valerie McGregor Rattler invitational at Marana High School.

The meet serves as a preview to the state-qualifying section meets for most local teams because that race, three weeks later, will be run on the same course.

The field will include several potential boys and girls state champions, including Rio Rico’s Carlos Villarreal, who has the top boys 5k time in the state at 14 minutes 50.1 seconds.

Races begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue through 11:10 a.m.