By Don Ketchum

The match-up pretty much everyone in the state expected will be in the spotlight on Saturday night (Nov. 13) when Joseph City faces Heber Mogollon for the Class 1A eight-man football championship at Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain High. Kickoff is at 7.

The two have built a strong rivalry the last few years in the North Region and met for the title last season. Joseph City earned a 34-14 victory to finish 11-0.

Joseph City (10-1) hosted Mogollon (10-0) on Oct. 15 and Mogollon came away with a 40-28 victory. It was the closest a team has come to Mogollon all season.

Joseph City is led by running back Remington Baldwin, who scored all four of the Wildcats’ touchdowns and rushed for 228 yards in a 28-17 victory over Bagdad in last week’s semifinals.

Mogollon also is tough on the ground. Boone Baker and Betten Stephens combined for 334 yards in a 54-22 semifinal victory over Phoenix Valley Lutheran.

Joseph City is coached by John Bryant, who also won 1A titles at Pima and St. David. Mogollon’s coach is Tim Slade, in his first season after serving as a long-time assistant to Ron Tenney (now at Class 3A Snowflake).