Region races are important because everyone wants bragging rights as region champ. But to teams that got off to a slow start  or have almost exclusively region games the rest of the way they are the lifeline to extending the football season to at least Veteran's Day.

Gilbert High fits the above description. The Tigers, who dropped their first three games this season, have bounced back to win three of their last four. They had region foe Basha on the ropes in their loss during the past four-game stretch for a little better than a half before the wheels came off after intermission. The Tigers have been forced into playoff mode ever since.

"We still have a chance," Gilbert coach Dan Dunn said. "I think we match up pretty well with Mesquite. At this point we are playing better. They are leading the region so to win would keep us in the hunt."

There are a number of schools in  the same boat as Gilbert. And just as many with the lead in their region heading down the stretch. Here's a glance at the region races for schools in the east valley and southern Arizona as the final month winds down, beginning with 5A. (The 4A KIno, 4A Sonoran and 4A Desert Sky have five teams each and have played zero or one region games to date and are not included).:

5A Central

Where the region stands now:  Mesquite (3-0) and Basha (2-0) are on top . Mountain View and Gilbert are 2-1, but have losses to Mesquite and Basha, respectively. Gilbert visits Mesquite and Mountain View the next two weeks. Basha closes the season with Mesquite and Mountain View. It's a good bet what happens in those games decides the region winner.

5A East Valley

Where the region stands now: Perry (3-0) and Mountain Pointe (2-0) lead. Marcos de Niza and Desert Ridge are 2-1. Perry and Mountain Pointe meet on Oct. 22. Marcos de Niza lost to Perry last week and  closes the season with Mountain Pointe. Desert Ridge has lost to Marcos, visits Mountain Pointe Friday and has a date with Perry remaining.

5A Fiesta

Where the region stands now: Hamilton is 2-0 and Chandler is 2-1. Hamilton has beaten Chandler and Desert Vista. The Huskies host  Brophy on Oct. 22 and visit Red Mountain Oct. 29. Brophy, Red Mountain and Desert Vista are 1-1. Red Mountain or Brophy need to beat Hamilton to open up the race or else the Huskies will walk away with it. Hamilton has won 27 consecutive region games. The last time the Huskies lost a region game was in 2004.

5A Gila Valley

Where the region stands now: Gila Ridge is 4-0 and Cibola 2-0. The region title almost certainly will belong to the winner of Gila Ridge-Cibola on Nov. 5 at Gila Ridge.

5A Southern

Where the region stands now: Salpointe and Sunnyside lead with 2-0 records and ironwood at 2-1 makes it a three-team race. Sunnyside hosts Ironwood Ridge on Oct. 22 and visits Salpointe on Nov. 5. Ironwood Ridge's loss is to Salpointe. HIstory points to the Salpointe-Sunnyside meeting to decide the region champ.

4A Gila

Where the region stands now: Amphitheater and Douglas are 3-0; Cholla and Catalina are 2-1. It's Amphi's region to win. The Panthers have played the best week to week. They face Cholla (Oct. 22), Douglas (Oct. 29) and Catalina (Nov. 5). No disrespect to Cholla or Catalina, but Amphi's game at Douglas on Oct. 29 is likely the one that decides the region.

4A East Sky

Where the region stands now: Williams Field and Higley are 3-0 and Arcadia and Notre Dame are 2-1. The Notre Dame-Arcadia loser on Oct. 15 likely falls out of the region-title chase. Williams Field and Higley meet at Williams Field on Oct. 22. The winner of that matchup has the inside track to the region crown. Higley owns a win over Arcadia and Williams Field has beaten Notre Dame thus far in the battles of region contenders.

3A South

Where the region stands now: Florence is 4-0, Coolidge is 4-1 and Empire and Fountain Hills are 2-1. Florence has beaten Coolidge and Fountain Hills already. The Coolidge-Fountain Hills loser on oct. 15 falls out of the region chase. Florence need only get by Empire on Oct. 22 to wrap up the crown.

2A Central

Where the region stands now: Northwest Christian, Scottsdale Christian Academy and Tempe Prep are 2-1 and Valley Christian is 1-1. Know that Northwest has beaten Tempe Prep, Scottsdale Christian has defeated Valley Christian and Tempe Prep has knocked off SCA thus far. Northwest Christian closes the regular season with SCA. Valley Christian and Tempe Prep square off on Oct. 15. Those games are the keys to who wins the region title.

2A East

Where the region stands now: Willcox  and Thatcher are 3-0 and Bisbee is 3-1. Willcox hosts Bisbee on Oct. 15 and visitst Thatcher on Oct. 22. With Thatcher having already handled Bisbee, 27-0, the Willcox-Thatcher game should produce the region champ.

2A South

Where the region stands now: Pusch Ridge is 4-0 and Canyon State and Miami are 3-1. Pusch Ridge is in the driver's seat with touchdown wins over Miami and Canyon State earlier. The Lions would have to lose at least two of their final games with Hayden, San Carlos and Ray not to win the region. Canyon State visits Miami on Oct. 22 with that winner having  a shot  at the top should Pusch Ridge stumble twice or more.

2A West

Where the region stands now: Yuma Catholic is 4-0 and Arizona Lutheran 2-1. Yuma Catholic already defeated Arirzona Lutheran handily. Yuma Catholic can sew up the region with a win Oct. 22 against Phoenix Christian.