Campo Verde and Verrado are on opposite ends of the Valley -- Gilbert and Buckeye, respectively --  but they do have something in common. As very young schools (Verrado opened in 2006 and Campo Verde came online in 2009) neither has grasped a team state championship trophy. They've competed at the varsity level in team sports for five years or less. That could change in a few days and one of them for certain will be playing for a state title come Friday (February 8).

Campo Verde's girls soccer team has reached the Division III semifinals where the No. 4 Lady Coyotes match up Tuesday (February 5) against  No. 1 seed Verrado in a 7 p.m. start at Arcadia High School. The winner moves on to Friday's final  at  -- Campo Verde High. Should  Campo Verde (21-2-1) reach the title game it would have the rare opportunity to win a state title game at home. Most title games end up at large, non-high school venues or neutral high school sites. By coincidence, the Lady Coyotes have  the chance literally to win in their own back yard. Verrado (17-2) could spoil that Tuesday and reside in the spotlight on Friday on Campo Verde's home turf.  Both schools have competed at the varsity level in team sports for five and four years, respectively.

Verrado has played for a state title. Its boys soccer team finished as runner-up to Notre Dame Prep for the then 4A-II crown in 2011. Campo Verde, a bit younger than Verrado, has yet to play in a state title game in any sport. Campo Verde's two losses this season were to Division I schools (Mesa Mountain View and Basha and its tie to Sunrise Mountain). Verrado's losses have come against Division I MIllennium and Division II Glendale. Also looking for initial team state athletic titles in school history are San Luis (D-I boys soccer) and Williams Field (D-III boys soccer). Both schools are playing in this week's semifinals with San Luis battling Desert Vista and Williams Field taking on Coronado. San Luis opened in 2001 and Williams Field in 2007.

QUEEN CREEK BOYS ON THE PROWL: Queen Creek's boys soccer team (18-4) is trying to make some school history after taking down top-seed South Mountain, 5-1, in last weekend's Division II quarterfinals. Queen Creek has pushed across nine goals in its two state tournament matches. The Bulldogs have a scoring machine in forward Jacob Dominguez (40+ goals and a pair of long-distance specialists in John Poirier and  Mason Krause. Standing in the way of Queen Creek's first boys soccer title-game appearance is a huge obstacle -- defending champion Salpointe. The Lancers, under legendary coach Wolfgang Weber, have dominated Mohave and Verrado in 6-1 and 6-0 wins.

The Lancers (24-2), with plenty of tradition and might,  are high-powered as well with five players with 10 goals or more this season. Thomas Hope (27 goals) is the top scorer followed by Colin O'Brien (17), Arturo Vega and Gavino Carranza (14) and Luis Castro (13). Salpointe, which has won or shared six state titles in boys soccer, has lost only to Brophy and Catalina Foothills this season.