2-a-days: High school previews

This is a daily look at the region previews for the 2018 Arizona high school football season.

The season kicks off Aug. 17 with

Zero Week.

4A Gila

The teams: Tucson Amphitheater, Douglas, Tucson Palo Verde, Tucson Pueblo, Rio Rico, Sahuarita Walden Grove.

The favorite: Pueblo. Coach Brandon Sanders, former member of the UA’s famed Desert Swarm, features a strong run game and veteran leadership from eight-win team.

Watch out: Walden Grove. Routed Pueblo 40-8 last year when it won seven games.

The star: Pueblo RB Ruben Rivera IV, RB, senior, 6-1, 180. Rivera ran for 1,133 yards and 10 TDs last year.

Key game: Aug. 24 – Pueblo opens against 6A Tucson.

4A Grand Canyon

The teams: Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain, Flagstaff Coconino, Flagstaff, Kingman Lee Williams, Cottonwood Mingus, Bullhead City Mohave, Prescott.

The favorite: Bradshaw Mountain. The offensive line is starting its third season together. Watch for senior QB Austin Gonzales to break out after throwing for nearly 2,000 yards, including a school-record 433 in a game, as a part-time starter.

Watch out: Prescott. Failed to make playoffs at 7-3 but non-region games against Goodyear Desert Edge and Oro Valley Canyon del Oro should give it that playoff boost.

The star: QB Austin Gonzales, 6-1, 165, senior. Gonzales should produce even greater numbers in Gary Cook’s offense.

Key game: Oct. 5 – Prescott plays at Bradshaw Mountain in a big rivalry game that should provide big numbers in the power rankings.