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

There is no doubt that Saguaro High’s main football rival is Scottsdale neighbor Chaparral.

But Saguaro also has developed a strong rivalry with west Valley school Glendale Cactus.

The schools have had some memorable regular season games and a handful in the playoffs. They were in different classes for awhile but now, with the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s new realignment, they again are in the same division – III. Cactus is in D III, Section II while Saguaro is in D III, Section III.

The latest chapter unfolds on Friday night (Sept. 23) when Saguaro (4-0) travels to Cactus (3-0).

Saguaro, which won the Class 4A Division I title in 2010, is led by D.J. Foster, a running back-receiver-defensive back who is considered by many to be the top all-around player in the state. Cactus is led by quarterback Michael Putko, who has thrown for five touchdowns and run for five.

Cactus has not allowed a point this season, while Saguaro has scored 215, an average of 53.7. Something has got to give.

Other games of note on Friday . . .

Goodyear Millennium at Glendale Deer Valley – Millennium (3-1) and Deer Valley (4-0) are looking like possibilities for playoff spots in Division II. Deer Valley is getting used to the system of second-year coach Joe Kersting. Combine that with speed and athleticism and the Skyhawks could be tough to beat.

Phoenix Camelback at Phoenix Arcadia – Camelback’s revival continues at 4-0. The Spartans want to earn a playoff spot, but don’t want to be one and done. Ben Gardner is the Spartans’ top man on offense with 439 yards rushing and three touchdowns and five catches for 59 yards.

Camelback will have to figure out how to stop big fullback Sosaia Maafu, who has rushed for 518 yards and 12 touchdowns for Arcadia (3-1).

St. Johns at Snowflake – Another big game of White Mountain football. St. Johns lost its opener, but has won three in a row since. Snowflake , also 3-1, is coming off a crucial 28-15 victory over Class 3A champion Show Low.

Peoria Liberty at Peoria Sunrise Mountain – The old guard (Peoria High) is being replaced by comparative newcomers Peoria Liberty and Peoria Sunrise Mountain, who both are at 3-1. Liberty defeated Peoria 28-21 last week.

Phoenix Pinnacle at Phoenix Horizon – Pinnacle, now in Division I, Section III, is in with the big boys and thus far has played like one at 4-0. Horizon has been up and down and is coming of a 42-24 setback to Glendale Deer Valley.

Phoenix Greenway at Phoenix Thunderbird – Greenway is coming off a shutout at the hands of Cactus, while Thunderbird is trying to put a tough 40-39 loss to Phoenix Paradise Valley in overtime behind it.

Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep at Scottsdale Desert Mountain – It has been an emotional week for Notre Dame. The Saints won their first game last week over Phoenix Barry Goldwater, then found out that head coach Scot Bemis was stepping down temporarily as he deals with a tumor in his elbow. Desert Mountain was shellacked by Chaparral 56-13 but still is an improved team over last year.

Phoenix Carl Hayden at Phoenix North – Can Carl Hayden win three in a row? It certainly is a possibility.

Prescott at Cave Creek Cactus Shadows – Cactus Shadows desperately wants to give new coach Greg Davis his first win after losing four straight, but this one is not automatic. Prescott has a new coach, too (Steve Moran), and is 2-2 after defeating Phoenix Moon Valley 33-7 last week.

Phoenix Brophy Prep at Phoenix North Canyon – At 4-0, Brophy is back to contending status in new Division I, and the Broncos appear to be more balanced between offense and defense this season. New North Canyon coach Conrad Hamilton will see how his team responds to a bit of adversity for the first time after a 41-20 loss to Pinnacle.

Glendale Mountain Ridge at Surprise Valley Vista – Pardon the pun, but Valley Vista has been one of the surprises in Division I in the early season at 4-0. The team will try to make it 5-0 against a Mountain Ridge team that is struggling at 0-3.