Even though No. 3 River Valley and No. 4 Snowflake are 315 miles apart, they are familiar with one another. That's because last year River Valley earned its berth to the Division IV title game by stopping Snowflake in a tightly-contested quarterfinal, 28-14. Their matchup Saturday (Nov. 29) at North Canyon High School is for the 2014 title with unfinished business on both teams dockets.

River Valley knocked on the door of its first-ever football championship last season under then-head coach Terry Staggs. Staggs resigned in the offseason and River Valley promoted assistants Paul Duchaineau and Mark Ruckle as co-coaches late in the spring. The Dust Devils haven't missed a beat. Blue Ridge got in the way in the 2013  final and turned the Dust Devils away, 17-7. Snowflake has reached the top of the mountain before, but it's been 21 years since the Lobos last title. Beating the team that derailed it last year in this year's final would be about as sweet as it gets for the Lobos.

River Valley (12-1) has survived a few close calls this season, including last week's 36-33 semifinal triumph over previously unbeaten and No. 2 seed Sahuarita. They played a tight game with Estrella Foothills and their only regular-season loss each of the last two years was to D-V power Yuma Catholic. The Dust Devils have more than half of last year's starters back.The two leaders on offense clicked in a big way last week -- prolific running back Brandon Long and quarterback Brady Viles.

Viles accounted for four touchdowns -- two rushing and two passing. Long tallied the final two TDs with a rushing and receiving score. Long is a solid game shy of 3,000 yards rushing and receiving for the year. He has 2,302 yards rushing and 523 yards receiving in 13 games with 38 TDs. Viles, who added the quarterback role this season to go along with his duties in the secondary, kicking and punting, has passed for 1,770 yards and 18 TDs. Viles is second on the team in rushing with 662 yards and 10 TDs.

Snowflake has seven football titles to its credit, the last one captured in 1993. That was the third of three in a row. The last two decades has been difficult for the Lobos to navigate with the likes of nearby Blue Ridge and Show Low and central Arizona's Coolidge dominating the D-III/3A landscape. Coach Ron Tenney is no stranger to championship games, having piloted Mogollon to two titles and three runners-up in D-VI/1A over a decade span ending in 2009. Tenney took over at Snowlfake in 2010 and the Lobos are an impressive 50-12 during his tenure.

Snowflake (12-1) avenged its only loss last week by besting top-seed Seton Catholic in the semis, 33-20. The Lobos defense was outstanding in limiting Seton to a season-low 20 points. Snowflake thrives with a relentless rushing attack and a stout, quick defense. They have a pair of 1,000-yard rushers led by Trevor McCray and the ever-emerging Drew Schneider. Schneider has kicked into a another gear over the last 10 games taking heat off McCray. Schneider tallied three TDs last week and many of his scoring jaunts have come from beyond the red zone.

In Snowflake's loss to River Valley in last year's quarterfinal, the Dust Devils won the battlle in the trenches. Snowflake wasn't able to slow Long, who rushed for 212 yards and three TDs. This year quarterback Tyler Claridge has enjoyed enough success to make the passing game viable if need be. Claridge has thrown for 1,671 yards and 18 TDs. His main target is wide out Travis Flake, who has nine TD receptions.