Friday night's high school football matchups, predictions and score updates

Prediction: Mountain View (4-5) at FLOWING WELLS (8-1)

Where: 3725 N. Flowing Wells Road

Matchup: With a win Friday, Flowing Wells will post its best regular-season record in three years. The 8-1 Cabs still remain undefeated in the state of Arizona, with their only loss coming to Palm Desert (Calif.), but they’re catching Mountain View at the worst time. The Mountain Lions won four consecutive games, all of them in region play. Friday’s winner takes home the region title, which would mean Mountain View ending its season on a high note. The last time Flowing Wells was the Star’s game of the week, the Cabs proved us wrong. We won’t make that mistake again. Flowing Wells wins in nail-biting fashion, 33-31.

Prediction: SAHUARO (7-2) at Catalina Foothills (4-5)

Where: 4300 E. Sunrise Drive

Matchup: Friday marks Jeff Scurran’s final game as a head coach. Scurran has 251 wins and eight state championship appearances as a high school coach; only the late Vern Friedli (279) has more. Would it be a surprise if the Falcons won one for the Gipper? No. But Sahuaro is playing tough right now, and has the playoffs in sight. Call it 24-21 Sahuaro.

Prediction: Ironwood Ridge (5-4) at CIENEGA (8-1)

Where: 12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Vail

Matchup: Cienega-Ironwood Ridge is always a thrilling matchup. Last season’s game went into overtime, with Cienega winning 56-55. I-Ridge is 3-1 in the 5A Southern Region, and can take the title with a win over the Bobcats. It’ll be tough considering Cienega appears to have hit fifth gear at the right time. Star Terrell Hayward is averaging 20.6 yards per catch and has 1,273 all-purpose yards this season. If he catches fire early, it could be a long night for Ironwood Ridge. Ironwood Ridge can counter Cienega’s attack by establishing the running game. If Nighthawks running back Nathan Grijalva averages four or five yards per carry and rushes for 180-plus yards, they’ll have a chance. Forced to choose, we’ll take the home team. Call it 31-21 Cienega.

Prediction: PUSCH RIDGE CHRISTIAN (4-5) at Catalina (3-6)

Where: 3645 E. Pima Street

Matchup: A year ago, we were talking about Pusch Ridge being a state contender, but that’s not the case this year. Back-to-back losses to Sabino and Safford put the Lions on the 3A playoff bubble. Win Friday, and they’re in. To do that, Pusch Ridge will have to contain Catalina running back Leon Hayes, who rushed for 246 yards and five touchdowns on just eight carries last week against Tanque Verde. Hayes makes Catalina competitive, but it’ll be tough against a Pusch Ridge team hungry for playoffs. The Lions will win 28-14.

Prediction: Casa Grande (5-4) at CANYON DEL ORO (6-3)

Where: 25 W. Calle Concordia, Oro Valley

Matchup: CDO bounced back from a loss to Salpointe Catholic with a 33-point win over Casa Grande Vista Grande last week. Sophomore Stevie Rocker rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, and senior Jose Cruz caught two passes for 127 yards, both resulting in touchdowns. The Dorados missed the playoffs last season, but they’re right in the mix this year. The question is, will CDO host a playoff game? Dorados win 42-27.

Prediction: SALPOINTE CATHOLIC (9-0) at Casa Grande Vista Grande (2-7)

Where: 1556 N. Arizola Road, Casa Grande

Matchup: Salpointe Catholic can finish the regular season undefeated for the first time since 2013, which bodes well considering the Lancers won a state title that year. And if Salpointe appears in the state title game this season, it will be played at Arizona Stadium, the same as in 2013. This year’s Lancers are stacked: Sophomore offensive tackle Jonah Miller received his first Division I scholarship offer from Arizona State earlier this week, while junior running back Bijan Robinson added an offer from UCLA and defensive back Lathan Ransom got one from Notre Dame. With Mario Padilla also raking in college offers, Salpointe has too much talent. Lancers roll, 56-0.

Prediction: SABINO (7-2) at Safford (6-3)

Where: 1400 W. 11th Street, Safford

Matchup: Both teams enter Friday’s game with 4-0 region records, meaning the winner Friday will take home the 3A Southern Region title. Safford pulled off a 35-34 win over Pusch Ridge Christian last week. But the Sabercats have enough momentum to power through for a win on Friday, 30-20.

Prediction: MARANA (6-3) at Nogales (2-7)

Where: 1950 Apache Blvd., Nogales

Matchup: Marana quarterback Trenton Bourguet has 82 career passing touchdowns; if he throws five against Nogales, he will tie the 5A all-time record. That could very well happen. In fact, we predict Bourguet will break the record as the Tigers roll 49-6.

Prediction: Desert View (3-6) at EMPIRE (4-5)

Where: 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Vail

Matchup: Empire senior Wyatt Jeffries broke the program’s all-time rushing record two weeks ago, and has since raised his mark to 3,680 yards. The Ravens will miss the playoffs, meaning Friday will be their last game of the season. Expect Jeffries, who has offers from UTEP, Arizona Christian, Arkansas Baptist College and Whittier College, to run wild on senior night. Empire wins, 27-7.

Prediction: Palo Verde (2-7) at WALDEN GROVE (7-2)

Where: 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, Sahuarita

Matchup: Walden Grove has already clinched the 4A Gila Region title, the first in program history. Junior linebacker Ricky Avelar recorded a career-high 20 tackles last week against Amphi, and has 54 total over the last three weeks. With twins Alex and Jordan Lopez leading the offense and Avelar dominating on ‘D,’ Walden Grove is a team to watch in the playoffs. Red Wolves cruise to a 52-8 win.

Prediction: Phoenix Trevor Browne (3-7) at TUCSON HIGH (4-5)

Where: 400 N. 2nd Ave.

Matchup: Tucson High was thrown in the grinder over the last four weeks with losses to Salpointe Catholic, Phoenix Cesar Chavez, Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor and Chandler. The Badgers have been outscored 99-0 over the last two weeks. Tucson High can end its season on a high note with a win over a struggling Trevor Browne team. Expect the Badgers to do just that, winning 35-23.

Prediction: Rio Rico (1-8) at DOUGLAS (1-8)

Where: 1500 15th Street, Douglas

Matchup: So much for Arizona’s best feel-good story. Douglas has been forced to forfeit six games for using ineligible players. As a result, the Bulldogs are 1-8 with no chance of making the playoffs. Douglas can end its season on a positive note, and it will with a 49-7 win over Rio Rico.

Prediction: SIERRA VISTA BUENA (5-4) at Sunnyside (4-5)

Where: 1725 E. Bilby Road

Matchup: Buena is the No. 22 team in 5A according to MaxPreps.com, which means that even with a win Friday, the team will likely be on the outside looking in for the playoffs. Expect Buena quarterback Jovoni Borbon to put on a show in the likely final game of his junior season. He currently has 1,536 yards and 11 touchdowns, and will play one more game with his top target, Mandrell Garrick. Those two will be too much to handle for Sunnyside. Call it 35-7.

Prediction: Tanque Verde (3-6) at SAHUARITA (5-4)

Where: 350 W. Sahuarita Road, Sahuarita

Matchup: MaxPreps.com lists Sahuarita at No. 16 in the 3A state rankings, so the Mustangs likely need to win Friday to make the playoffs. Don Watt’s Mustangs should fare well this week. Sahuarita wins, 49-13.

Prediction: Amphitheater (4-5) at PUEBLO (4-5)

Where: 3500 S. 12th Ave.

Matchup: The Panthers and Warriors will play Friday for the right to finish the season .500. Expect it to be Pueblo. Riding seniors Omar Ibanez, Ruben Rivera IV and Julio Carino, all of whom were listed in the Star’s preseason players to watch list, the Warriors win 45-20.

Prediction: Santa Rita (0-9) at THATCHER (9-0)

Where: 601 N. 3rd Ave., Thatcher

Matchup: Undefeated Thatcher has the No. 1 seed for the Class 2A playoff bracket locked up, and likely won’t let up against the winless eagles. Thatcher wins 56-7, and Richard Sanchez’s first season at Santa Rita ends without a victory.

Prediction: Cholla (0-9) at RINCON/UNIVERSITY (1-8)

Where: 421 N. Arcadia Blvd.

Matchup: This should be a competitive game, especially on senior night. Expect Rincon to prevail at home, 16-7.