Tucson Sabino (2-0) at Queen Creek American Leadership (1-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

rating after two games. American Leadership broke new ground last year when it beat Sabino for the 3A title, becoming the state’s first charter school to capture an AIA state football championship. There have been some big parts that ALA had to replace this year and that showed up in last week’s loss to Tucson Pusch Ridge Academy. Sabino still has loads of athletes as new coach Ryan McBrayer, a former Sabino player, keeps the program humming.

3 stars

top California 8-man team’s 31-game winning streak. Williams still remembers last year’s 1A final, losing to Bagdad 60-6 with Loveall throwing for 400 yards and five TDs. Chandler Hamilton (1-1) at Mesa Red Mountain (0-1), Friday, 7 p.m. All-Arizona all-purpose player Lance Lawson missed Red Mountain’s opener two weeks ago against Chandler with an ankle sprain. Healed up, Lawson may not leave the field against a Hamilton team that has shown vulnerability against the run. Lawson will line up at tailback, slot back, wide receiver and should make his presence felt on defense at safety. Safford (2-0) at Thatcher (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m. This game could take less than two hours to play the way both teams like to run. Both play great defense. Safford, a 3A team, has yet to allow a point and will ride the blocks of 6-foot-3, 315pound senior tackle Ralph Frias. Thatcher, the defending 2A champ, keeps it simple and dares defenses to stop it. Wickenburg (1-0) at Parker (0-1), Friday, 7 p.m. This is the battle for The Axe, one of the state’s best rivalries. Even though Parker is in 2A and Wickenburg in 3A now, this game brings out the best in the players and the community. Big crowds show up. Wickenburg will try to control the clock with a devastating ground attack led by Alejandro Carrasco and Kegan Lindsay, who both ran for more than 150 yards last week against Holbrook.