Friday night's high school football matchups, predictions and score updates

The high school football season is approaching the halfway mark, and several teams across Southern Arizona are gearing up for another exhilarating week.

This week's games are highlighted by defending Class 5A state champion Peoria Centennial's visit to Ironwood Ridge. It'll be Phoenix-area power versus Tucson power.

The Star’s Justin Spears breaks down each matchup on Friday and predicts how each game will shape up. Each contest will start at 7 p.m. and predicted winners will be in ALL CAPS.

Prediction: PEORIA CENTENNIAL (3-0) at Ironwood Ridge (1-2)

Where: 2475 W. Naranja Drive

Matchup: Ironwood Ridge struggled in back-to-back games against Phoenix opponents, and guess who it plays this week? You guessed it, another Phoenix team. Maybe the best Phoenix team. Centennial has won three state championships in the last four seasons, and the Coyotes show no sign of slowing anytime soon. Ironwood Ridge needs more production offensively if it hopes to pull the upset. Nighthawks quarterback Octavio Audry-Cobos completed just 4 of 8 passes for 54 yards in last week's 17-13 loss to Gilbert Campo Verde, though he also rushed for 119 of them. Expect I-Ridge to give the Coyotes a scare in the first half but fade late, and Centennial wins 49-23.

Prediction: Mountain View (0-3) at TUCSON HIGH (4-0)

Where: 400 N. 2nd Ave.

Matchup: Mountain View is off to its worst start in nine seasons, the rest of one of the most brutal schedules in Southern Arizona. Games against Ironwood Ridge, Gilbert Higley and Queen Creek Casteel are about as brutal as it gets. Things won't get any easier Friday, when the Mountain Lions take on Tucson High. While Jesus Montano and Gary Love have carried the Badgers' offense, it's their defense that's been the most impressive this season. Tucson High’s has allowed just 18 points in four games. Senior linebacker Marcus Latimer is averaging nine tackles per game. Expect Latimer to step up in what will be Tucson High’s biggest test of the season. The Badgers win 34-30. 

Prediction: Desert View (1-2) at SIERRA VISTA BUENA (2-1)

Where: 5225 Buena School Blvd., Sierra Vista

Matchup: Buena has strung together wins against Sahuaro and Empire since falling to Catalina Foothills. Quarterback Jovoni Borbon is averaging just over 171 passing yards per game, though he has just three touchdowns in that span. Desert View faced a gunslinger quarterback last week in Trenton Bourguet and it didn’t end well. Expect the same results this week. Colts roll 27-13.

Prediction: Rincon/University (0-3) at CIENEGA (2-1)

Where: 12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Vail

Matchup: Cienega suffered its first regular-season loss since 2015 last week against Peoria Centennial. Fortunately, the Bobcats return home to play a Rincon team that hasn't won yet this season. Expect the home team to roll 56-0. 

Prediction: Gilbert Williams Field (3-1) at MARANA (4-0)

Where: 12000 W. Emigh Road, Marana

Matchup: The last time Marana faced Williams Field, the Tigers were bounced 41-14 in the second round of the playoffs. The Tigers have Friday night's game circled on their calendars. Expect Marana to rely on senior quarterback Trenton Bourguet, who ranks seventh in the state with 1,031 passing yards and is on pace to set several program and division records. A win against Williams Field would make the Tigers a state title contender. Expect them to win 35-28.

Prediction: SUNNYSIDE (2-1) at Pueblo (1-2)

Where: 3500 S. 12th Ave.

Matchup: The southside matchup is a tale of two teams. The Warriors got their first win last week against a struggling Cholla team. Sunnyside, meanwhile, has outscored its opponents 76-19 in the previous two weeks and are one victory away from matching last season's win total. Expect the Blue Devils to do it, topping Pueblo 14-7.

Prediction: Cholla (0-4) at SAHUARO (3-1)

Where: 545 N. Camino Seco

Matchup: The Cougars are legit, especially after handling Tempe Marcos de Niza 42-13 last week. The Chargers won't likely have an answer for Sahuaro running back Cameron Williams, who has scored eight touchdowns in four games. The Cougars will bounce the Chargers 42-0.

Prediction: SALPOINTE CATHOLIC (3-0) at Glendale Cactus (3-0)

Where: 6330 W. Greenway Road, Glendale

Matchup: Salpointe Catholic two-way standout Mario Padilla injured his groin last week, and didn't play in the second half of the Lancers’ win over El Paso Del Valle. Even if he’s limited Friday against Cactus, the Lancers should be OK. Bijan Robinson is still around: The running back rushed for 276 yards last week and is averaging 254.7 per game, which is the fourth-best total in Arizona. Can Cactus slow Robinson and Salpointe down? The chances are slim. Expect Salpointe Catholic to beats another Phoenix team, 49-28.

BONUS HSFB GIF! @SCLancerFB's Bijan Robinson untouched 77 yards to the house against Del Villa. pic.twitter.com/iECGWAnBRc

— Kelly Presnell (@KellyPresnell) September 12, 2018

Prediction: Rio Rico (1-3) at CASA GRANDE (3-1)

Where: 2730 N. Trekell Road, Casa Grande

Matchup: Rio Rico is fresh off a blowout loss to Nogales and against a Casa Grande team that had a disappointing finish at Walden Grove, this should be over by the end of the third quarter. Casa Grande wins 31-7.

Prediction: SNOWFLAKE (3-1) at Pusch Ridge Christian (1-2)

Where: 9500 N. Oracle Road

Matchup: Pusch Ridge Christian is 0-2 at home this season, and we wouldn't be surprised if the Lions bounced back after losing to CDO 33-7 last week. Snowflake’s only loss this season came to Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin. Expect Snowflake to escape with a 21-13 win.

Prediction: Paradise Valley (3-0) at FLOWING WELLS (3-1)

Where: 3725 N. Flowing Wells Road

Matchup: Flowing Wells got its season back on track with last week's 40-12 win over Amphi. Now, the Caballeros will now face an undefeated Paradise Valley squad led by quarterback Ben Finley, who has thrown for 719 yards in three games. Flowing Wells running back Raashad Henderson has been one of the breakout backs in Southern Arizona. Last week, he exploded for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Flowing Wells will be in another close matchup, but we learned in the first week to not pick against the Caballeros in close games. Henderson hauls the Cabs to a 27-20 win.

Prediction: SABINO (1-2) at  Lakeside Blue Ridge (2-2)

Where: 1200 W. White Mountain Blvd., Lakeside

Matchup: No team in Southern Arizona wanted to forget about its first two games of the season more than Sabino. The Sabercats finally picked up their first win last week against Catalina Foothills. The Sabercats utilized yet another quarterback in sophomore AJ Skaggs, who completed 12 of 14 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. If Skaggs repeats last week’s performance, Sabino should win 27-13.

Prediction: Nogales (2-1) at WALDEN GROVE (2-1)

Where: 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, Sahuarita

Matchup: Walden Grove had a statement victory over undefeated Casa Grande last week. In the previous week, the Red Wolves beat Class 3A powerhouse Pusch Ridge Christian for the first time in school history. Coach  Corey Noble is gaining some traction with this Walden Grove team, and expect another win this week. Let’s call it 35-23.

Prediction: Amphitheater (1-3) at CANYON DEL ORO (2-1)

Where: 25 W. Calle Concordia, Oro Valley

Matchup: The Dorados are going to win for one reason: Stevie Rocker. The sophomore rushed for 213 yards on 15 carries last week against Pusch Ridge Christian, and is averaging 203.7 yards per game. We wouldn't be surprised if he ran for 300 yards this week. Expect CDO to roll 56-14.

Prediction: Empire (0-3) at PALO VERDE (1-2)

Where: 1302 S. Avenida Vega

Matchup: The Ravens are itching for a win, but don’t expect that to happen this week. Palo Verde wins on a last-minute field goal, 13-11.

Prediction: Catalina (1-2) at PAYSON (1-2)

Where: 301 S. McLane Road, Payson

Matchup: Expect the Trojans to try to run past Payson as they hit the road for a far-flung nonconference game. Leon Hayes is averaging exactly 100 rushing yards per game, and he’s scored three touchdowns so far this season. Payson’s defense has allowed 19 total points over the last two weeks combined. Expect the home team to prevail in a low-scoring contest. Call it 17-13.

Prediction: MIAMI (1-2) at Santa Rita (0-3)

Where: 3951 S. Pantano Road

Matchup: Richard Sanchez and Santa Rita have been outscored by their opponents 138-6. The Eagles won’t get shut out Friday. Miami wins 21-7.

Prediction: WINSLOW (2-2) at Tanque Verde (1-2)

Where: 4201 N. Melpomene Way

Matchup: Tanque Verde won last week for the first time in 11-plus months. They'll play Winslow tough on Friday, but expect the out-of-town visitors to win 21-20.