This week’s playoff matchups
Division I semifinals
No. 4 Phoenix Brophy Prep (11-2) vs. No. 1 Phoenix Mountain Pointe (11-1), 7 Friday night at Tempe McClintock
How many times has Mountain Pointe coach Norris Vaughan shown his team film of the second half of his team’s late-September meltdown against Brophy? Or maybe he burned that film.
No. 3 Chandler Hamilton(10-2) vs. No. 2 Mesa Desert Ridge (11-1), 7 Friday night at Gilbert Highland
Desert Ridge coach Jeremy Hathcock says his team knows how to “smoke and mirror” and it knows how to “pound it.” Might take magical mirrors in this one with a beat-up Desert Ridge team.
Division II semifinals
No. 4 Peoria Centennial (11-1) vs. No. 1 Tucson Salpointe Catholic (12-1), 7 Friday night at Tucson Amphitheater
Centennial will not bring a false sense of security this time as it travels south.
No. 3 Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge (11-1) vs. No. 2 Tempe Marcos de Niza (11-1), 7 Friday night at Gilbert Campo Verde
This is a transformed Marcos de Niza team that is riding the big plays of senior RB Mauriece Lee.
Division III semifinals
No.5 Gilbert Williams Field (11-1) vs. No.1 Goodyear Desert Edge (12-0), 7 p.m. Saturday at Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor
Desert Edge’s great defense will have another huge task trying to slow down a very good offense.
No. 14 Nogales (10-2) vs. No. 2 Queen Creek (12-0), 7 p.m. Saturday at Gilbert Campo Verde
Queen Creek, led by RB Matt Guida, will try to derail Nogales’ Cinderella run. To do that, it will have to slow down big-play back Brian McCarty.
Division IV semifinals
No. 3 Chandler Seton Catholic (11-1) vs. No. 2 Show Low (11-1), 3 p.m. Saturday at Phoenix Washington
Seton QB Ryan Bresnahan got a second chance last week in what had been a frustrating senior season. He seized it. Now comes the ultimate challenge.
No. 4 Snowflake (10-2) vs. No. 1 Lakeside Blue Ridge (13-0), 7 p.m. Saturday at Phoenix Washington
This time, Blue Ridge has dual-threat QB Chase Walden to deal with to try to extend its 27-game winning streak.
Division V semifinals
No. 3 Tempe Prep (10-2) vs. No. 2 Morenci (12-0), 3 p.m. Saturday at Phoenix Arcadia
No style points here. Tempe Prep and Morenci rely on gritty defenses and strong offensive lines to get it done.
No. 5 Yuma Catholic (11-1) vs. No. 1 Phoenix Northwest Christian (11-1), 7 p.m. Saturday at Phoenix Arcadia
Northwest has won four of the past five meetings with Yuma Catholic, but neither team has won by more than a touchdown. In fact, a total of 18 points separated these teams in their past five meetings.