Legendary coaching counterparts Paul Moro and Vern Friedli have never crossed paths, but they might be in each other’s company — record-wise — soon.  

With one more win, Moro will tie Friedli for the state’s all-time lead in football coaching victories. Moro's first shot at win No. 331 arrives Friday night during homecoming for Marcos de Niza.

“I’m glad he (Moro) might do it,” said Friedli about the possibility of Moro breaking Friedli’s record. “Records were made to be broken." 

In 46 years of coaching high school football in Arizona, mostly at Amphitheater High School, Friedli capped a hall of fame career with a 331-159-6 mark.

During that span, Friedli never met or played against a Moro-led team. 

In 33 seasons, Moro has lost only 66 games in his high school coaching career in Arizona. If Moro’s Marcos de Niza Padres defeat a strong Casa Grande team Friday, Moro’s first opportunity to set a new Arizona coaching win mark will come Thursday in a rematch of a 2015 state championship game against Saguaro. 

If Marcos de Niza wins Friday, the azpreps365 Friday Night Wrap Up Show will attempt to interview Moro after the game. 98.7 FM will air the Wrap Up Show this week from 9:30-11:30 p.m. 

On Saturday, the azpreps365 morning show will interview Friedli at 9:30 a.m. on 98.7 FM. 

At halftime of the Marcos de Niza-Casa Grande game, Marcos de Niza grad Sam Dorman, a silver medalist at the Rio Olympic Games in diving, will lead Marcos de Niza’s homecoming court procession. 

—A couple of other football coaching legends are also on Friedli’s coaching record heels. Cesar Chavez’s Jim Rattay is at 326 wins.     

Cactus’ Larry Fetkenhier (317-89) and St. Johns’ Mike Morgan (307-74-2) also are currently chasing Friedli.