ASU football: Kicker Brandon Ruiz

5 stars

Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas (3-0) at Peoria Centennial (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

This is Arizona's last chance to show that it belongs in the conversation among top football states in the country. Chandler lost to IMG Academy of Florida, Phoenix Mountain Pointe lost to California's Chaminade and Scottsdale Saguaro lost in successive weeks to top Nevada (Liberty) and Utah (Salt Lake City East) teams. Hurricane Irma kept St. Thomas Aquinas from playing a game for 23 days, so the No. 3 nationally ranked team (USA Today Sports) will be playing its second game in five days when it visits Peoria on Friday.

Phoenix Mountain Pointe (4-1) at Phoenix Desert Vista (4-1), Thursday, 7 p.m.

This is for more power points and Ahwatukee neighborhood claims. Mountain Pointe wants to show it still is king of the football community behind maybe the best defense in the state.

4 stars

Scottsdale Notre Dame (5-0) at Scottsdale Chaparral (3-2), Thursday, 7 p.m.

Chaparral sophomore quarterback Jack Miller can show how far he's come in three weeks since becoming eligible and now he has help with three key transfers also now eligible. But this is the ultimate test against a 5A power that is riding a 10game winning streak.

Peoria (5-0) at Glendale Cactus (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

This is going to feel like the '80s all over again with these West side rivals both undefeated midway through the season. If that doesn't draw a buzz and huge outpour of support from the community, I don't know what would.

Yuma Catholic (4-1) at Queen Creek Casteel (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

This is by far the biggest game in top-ranked Casteel's short history. Its only two losses in its varsity football history were to Yuma Catholic, twice last year, the last one knocking it out of the 3A state playoffs.

3 stars

Queen Creek American Leadership (5-1) at Florence (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

This time, Florence is hoping to get it right against the defending 3A champions who last year lost its only two games to American Leadership, 29-22 in the regular season and 38-21 in the playoffs. Salome (2-3) at Bagdad (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

Defending 1A champion Bagdad will see if senior QB Israel Loveall can enter the national record book with five touchdown passes. That would give him the most career high school TD passes ever for 8-man football.