NOTE: This weekly football preview primarily covers the area from north Scottsdale west through Phoenix, the southwest and northwest Valley, northwest Arizona, northern Arizona and northeast Arizona, including Native American communities.

By Don Ketchum

Can Peoria Centennial keep its unbeaten football streak intact?

It won’t be easy, with an Ironwood Ridge coming up Interstate 10 from Tucson with an unbeaten string of its own for a game on Friday night (Sept. 30).

How good is Ironwood Ridge (5-0)? It has wins over two pretty good teams – Tucson Canyon del Oro to begin the season 28-7, and Tempe Marcos de Niza 34-20 last week.

Centennial (5-0) is averaging 42 points per game. The Coyotes are led by quarterback Justin Sanchez and running back Jalen Ortiz on offense and hard-hitting safety Zach Hoffpauir on defense. Hoffpauir recently committed to play football and baseball at the University of California-Berkeley.

A quick look at some of the other top games . . .

Glendale Deer Valley (5-0) at Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain (4-1) – The tough part of the schedule is just beginning for Deer Valley. The Skyhawks have done a great job so far, but they can’t give in to the temptation of thinking about Centennial next week and forget about Bradshaw Mountain, which has won four in a row after an opening loss to Prescott.

Deer Valley also must face the adjustment to a fairly lengthy road trip, something the Skyhawks rarely have to do.

Bradshaw Mountain has not faced a team as fast or as versatile as Deer Valley.

Lakeside Blue Ridge (5-0) at St. Johns (3-2) – St. Johns already has fallen to two of the White Mountains’ top teams (Show Low and Snowflake), and it will have to scratch for every inch of ground to survive this one.

Phoenix Christian (4-1) at Phoenix Northwest Christian (5-0) – Northwest Christian’s Casey Jahn needs a little less than 300 to set a career rushing yardage record, but it’s doubtful he will get it here. Some might think that he is the Crusaders’ lone weapon, but that is not the case.

Goodyear Desert Edge (4-1) at Avondale Agua Fria (4-1) – Desert Edge is proving that last year’s run to the playoffs was no fluke, that it is developing into a consistent program. Agua Fria’s schedule has not been as strong, so we will see if the Owls can respond here under new coach Craig Holland.

Glendale Cactus (3-1) at Phoenix Thunderbird (3-2) – Both teams have been roughed up by Class 4A Division I champ Scottsdale Saguaro, with Cactus the most recent victim. Thunderbird rebounded from a tough overtime loss to Phoenix Paradise Valley two weeks ago and defeated Phoenix Greenway 39-20 last week.

Parker (3-2) at Tonopah Valley (5-0) – Despite a loss to River Valley last week, Parker is probably the toughest team that Tonopah Valley has faced all season.

Chinle (3-2) at Fort Defiance Window Rock (3-2) – Chinle is looking to get back on track after winning its first three games and then dropping two in a row by substantial margins.  Window Rock is coming off a big three-point win over Ganado.

Peoria Sunrise Mountain (4-1) at Peoria (2-3) – If Peoria can’t come up with a win here, it could feel its playoff possibilities start to slip away. Sunrise Mountain is trying to catch its breath after a 64-29 loss to Peoria Liberty last week.

Keams Canyon Hopi (3-2) at Tuba City Greyhills (2-2) – This should be a good one between two teams trying to remain in the playoff race from Division V, Section I.

Tolleson (2-3) at Phoenix Carl Hayden (2-3) – Carl Hayden tried to win its third game in a row last week but couldn’t quite do it. Still, three out of four wouldn’t be bad if the Falcons can get this one.