HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 2-A-DAYS

It's time for two-a-days, a continuing series, examining each region in Arizona for the 2019 high school football season.

4A Gila Region

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

The favorite: Walden Grove. Dynamic offense keeps ramping up under new coordinator.

The contender: Pueblo. QB Marcelino Vega led team to 4-1 record after becoming starter last season. He worked with former Oregon QB Akili Smith in California this summer.

The sleeper: Douglas. QB Trey Rose comes from a football legacy of quarterbacks.

The star(s): Walden Grove senior twins Alex and Jordan Lopez combined for 1,230 yards and 12 TDs during region title season as dynamic passing duo.

The date: Sept. 27, Walden Grove plays host to Glendale in a 4A game between top-10 4A teams.

4A Kino Region

The teams: Tucson Salpointe Catholic, Oro Valley Canyon del Oro, Casa Grande, Tucson Catalina Foothills, Tucson Sahuaro, Casa Grande Vista Grande. The favorite: Salpointe Catholic. This is an Open Division team.

The contender: Sahuaro. Three starters on the defensive front line return from 10-win team.

The sleeper: Canyon del Oro. RB Stevie Rocker is one of the state’s more electrifying players.

The star: Salpointe senior RB Bijan Robinson. Two-time All-Arizona player, Texas commit, could make this a record-breaking season.

The date: Sept. 6, Salpointe travels to Goodyear Desert Edge in what might be its toughest regular-season game.