At the 3A level, No. 9 Thatcher travels to No. 12 Pusch Ridge in yet another ranked clash for both teams. The Eagles and Lions have met eight times since 2020, including two playoff battles in 2021 and 2022. The contest has major 3A playoff implications and potential rankings jostling.

In 5A play, No. 17 Buena looks to rebound after falling in overtime to No. 18 Tucson, hosting No. 15 Marana in yet another closely-ranked battle.

No. 22 Ironwood Ridge visits Canyon del Oro for the latest installment in the Oro Valley rivalry, seeking its second straight win over the Dorados.

FRIDAY

2A

Avondale St. John Paul II (2-3) at Catalina (2-3)

Location: 3645 E. Pima St.

Notable: Both teams are 2A Independent, meaning they are not members of a region, nor is either program eligible for the postseason. It’s just the second meeting all-time between the two schools. The Lions won 28-0 in 2025.

Santa Rita (1-4) at No. 13 Tanque Verde (2-3)

Location: 4201 N. Melpomene Way

Notable: Tanque Verde’s three leading rushers - Mason Sandoski, Beau Duke and Gaines Gooch - are all Top 50 in rushing yards in the 2A Conference with 230 or more. The Hawks have accumulated 1,248 rushing yards and 16 of their 20 touchdowns on the ground.

Palo Verde (3-2) at Tombstone (1-4)

Location: 1211 N Yellow Jacket Way, Tombstone

Notable: Palo Verde and Tombstone have played just three times in both schools’ lengthy histories, with Yellowjackets leading the season series 2-1. Tombstone running back Xavier Lopez is 18th in 2A rushing yards with 403 and four touchdowns.

Desert Christian (1-4) at Madison Highland Prep (0-5)

Location: 1431 E. Campbell Ave, Phoenix

Notable: Desert Christian got in the win column for the first time this season on Friday, beating San Carlos 31-22. The win is also a first for new head coach Zach Davila, who played for Cienega and the University of Utah. Sophomores James McKinney and Aaron Rountree connected six times, with Rountree scoring on five of his six catches for a total of 168 yards.

3A

No. 9 Thatcher (3-1) at No. 13 Pusch Ridge (4-1)

Location: 9500 N. Oracle Road

Notable: Two of 3A’s top teams and rivals meet for yet another ranked clash. The Eagles and Lions have met eight times since 2020, including two playoff battles in 2021 and 2022. Thatcher has won five of the eight games across the decade, including both playoff games and last year’s Week 6 meeting, 28-14.

3A/4A

Sahuaro (1-3) at 3A No. 7 Sabino (2-2)

Location: 5000 N. Bowes Road

Notable: Sabino junior quarterback Bodhi Sanford is sixth in passing yards in the 3A Conference, completing 57 of his 106 attempts for 741 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions. Sabino and Sahuaro first played in 1974 and have met at least once every year except for 1989 and 1990.

4A

Amphitheater (1-3) at Cholla (2-2)

Location: 2001 W. Starr Pass Blvd

Notable: Cholla and Amphi played nearly every year from 1974 to 1986, then took a lengthy hiatus from meetings until 2009. Amphi won via forfeit last season.

No. 18 Pueblo (3-1) at Catalina Foothills (0-4)

Location: 4300 E. Sunrise Dr

Notable: Pueblo senior quarterback Roman Otero is 4A’s leading passer, completing 47 of 106 attempts for 999 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s number 11 in passing statewide and has thrown over 200 yards in three of the Warriors’ four games, capped off by a season and career-high 350 yards against Douglas in Week 3.

No. 2 Mica Mountain (4-0) at Sahuarita (3-1)

Location: 350 W. Sahuarita Road, Sahuarita

Notable: Mica and Sahuarita played for the first time last season, a 31-0 beating by a frustrated Thunderbolts team that had suffered back-to-back losses in weeks prior, snapping a 12-game winning streak. Mica’s current 14-game winning streak began with that win over the Mustangs.

Douglas (3-1) at Rincon/University (0-4)

Location: 421 N. Arcadia Ave

Notable: The Rangers are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, the longest since a 10-game losing streak between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Somerton got its first-ever varsity win against a Rincon team that has scored just one touchdown this season, all the way back in Week 1 at Yuma Cibola.

4A/5A

Flowing Wells (2-2) at Phoenix Carl Hayden (0-3)

Location: 3333 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix

Notable: Flowing Wells and Carl Hayden played for the first time ever in 2025, a 63-0 win for the Cabs. The Falcons are currently ranked at the bottom of the 4A Conference in 56th of 58 teams. Flowing Wells is 34th in 5A out of 49 teams.

5A

No. 15 Marana (2-2) at No. 17 Sierra Vista Buena (2-2)

Location: 5225 E. Buena School Blvd, Sierra Vista

Notable: Two 5A playoff teams from 2025, Buena and Marana, meet for the ninth time on Friday in Sierra Vista. The Tigers have won the last four meetings and look to be trending in the right direction after wins over No. 14 Yuma Catholic and Canyon del Oro. Buena has lost two straight to No. 2 ALA - Gilbert North (4-0) and No. 18 Tucson (3-1).

No. 22 Ironwood Ridge (3-1) at Canyon del Oro (2-2)

Location: 25 W. Calle Concordia

Notable: A rivalry game between two Oro Valley schools, the Dorados and Nighthawks have met 15 times dating back to 2005. The Nighthawks won the 2025 meeting and looked poised for the 2026 game. Ironwood Ridge quarterback Maximus Harder is eighth in passing in 5A, completing 49 of 84 passes for 848 yards, 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Zarin Robbins is Harder’s top weapon, catching 21 passes for 447 yards and eight touchdowns. Robbins is third in receiving yards and leads all of 5A in receiving touchdowns.

Mountain View (1-3) at No. 25 Cienega (1-3)

Location: 12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way

Notable: Mountain View and Cienega played seven times between 2011 and 2017, including a first-round playoff game, but have not met since. Both teams boast just one win this season. Mountain View running back Drake Davis will be sure to make an impact after struggling the past two weeks against No. 1 Desert Mountain and No. 12 Desert View

No. 12 Desert View (4-0) at No. 24 Maricopa (3-1)

Location: 45012 W. Honeycutt Ave, Maricopa

Notable: One of Desert View’s biggest remaining challenges on its relatively light 2026 schedule lies in Maricopa, a team with a solid rushing attack and three wins despite struggling through the air. The Jags have been incredibly dominant and balanced on offense, throwing for 815 yards and rushing for 854, as well as 17 of 26 touchdowns coming by way of the run game.

Casa Grande Vista Grande (2-1) at No. 18 Tucson High (3-1)

Location: 400 N. 2nd Ave

Notable: Tucson High junior Ezra Spivey continued his case to be Arizona’s best multi-use ironman football player on Friday, serving in five different roles for the Badgers. Spivey played his normal roles of receiver and safety, while also serving as Tucson’s punter, holder and returner.

Nogales (2-2) at Sunnyside (1-3)

Location: 1725 E. Bilby Road

Notable: Sunnyside and Nogales first met in 1958 and have played 27 times since then. The Apaches have not beaten the Blue Devils in a decade, dating back to a 19-18 win in 2016.

6A

No. 20 Gilbert Highland (1-3) at No. 16 Salpointe Catholic (2-2)

Location: 1545 E. Copper St.

Notable: Salpointe looks to get back in the win column after two consecutive losses to ranked opponents in 6A competition, after beating two 5A teams to start the year. Both teams are evenly matched and have struggled against superior 6A teams.