For the first time in 25 years, a Gilbert district high school is going to play for a football championship. That school is eight-year-old Desert Ridge.

The sixth and final year of crowning a 4A-I football champion in the state is here. Two teams that have etched their names as champions four of five years previous get to finish out the era. Canyon del Oro, the defending champ, and Saguaro, which has won three of the five titles contested in the division since it was formed in 2005, meet Saturday afternoon at 3 at Sun Devil Stadium for the right to take home the final trophy.

Teams want to be playing their best football heading down the stretch. If winning streaks mean anything, that is exactly what Desert Ridge and Desert Vista high schools are doing at present. Desert Ridge (9-3), the No. 10 seed, takes on Desert Vista (10-2) Friday night at 7 at Mesquite High in one of the 5A-I semifinal games. The winner advances to face the Hamilton-Mountain Pointe winner on Dec. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

A lot of people wanted to see what Mountain Pointe could do against Hamilton last season. That matchup never materialized as the Pride fell to Mesa High in the semifinals. The teams are on the same side of the bracket this year and have won two games so fare in very different ways as they meet in the 5A-I semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. at Chandler High.

Last year Jason McBrayer was the backup quarterback for Canyon del Oro. A very good team. An undefeated 4A-I state title team. That was fine. Going along for a championship ride. But he ached for the chance to play more and contribute the best way he knew how -- by playing. He has received that opportunity this year and hasn\'t disappointed.

Last year was a lost season for Highland guard Alyssa Heeman. But if the start of the new campaign is an indication, it could be a huge find for her and her Hawk teammates. Heeman, a 5-foot-4 guard, missed about two-thirds of last season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. She suffered the injury near the end of summer, had surgery and returned to action in mid-January.

Teddy Ruben has amassed 4,611 yards rushing and passing this season and D.J. Foster almost 2,000 rushing and receiving. Between injuries, Ka\\\'Deem Carey has still managed 1,582 yards rushing and quarterback Jason McBrayer chimes in with a tad over 2,000 yards rushing and passing. There is little doubt offense will shine Saturday in the 4A-I football championship game at Sun Devil Stadium between Ruben\\\'s Saguaro Sabercats and Carey\\\'s Canyon del Oro Dorados. But talking to most people involved at Tuesday\\\'s 4A-I championship game press conference, defense was a hot topic and what many feel will be the deciding factor in their second meeting this season.

Normally if a team only has the ball for a 1 minute and 23 seconds in a quarter it was not very productive for that 12 minutes. Except if that school is Saguaro High. The Sabercats ran only nine plays in the second period Friday night, but scored 28 points in the stanza and that led the Sabercats to a 42-13 victory over Queen Creek in a 4A-I semifinal game at Paradise Valley High School.

It was one of those games where the thinking was the team with the ball last would win. Almost. Williams Field stopped Notre Dame quarterback Jordan Gehrke short of the goal line on an attempt for two points with 19 second left Friday afternoon allowing the Black Hawks to hang on for an offensive 49-48 victory in a 4A-II semifinal game at Paradise Valley High School.

The power-point rankings were dead on in 4A-I. The No. 1,2 3 and 4 seeded teams are in the semis and should give fans Friday a healthy serving of quality playoff football.

Last year East Valley schools raised one championship trophy in boys basketball. Tucson managed one. They\\\'re back at it beginning Monday as invitationals for the most part and a smattering of power-point games kick off the 2010-2011 season. Here\\\'s a look at some teams and players to watch from the East Valley and southern Arizona for the coming campaign:

The East Valley has dominated girls basketball in 5A-I for the past decade plus with Dobson claiming the crown last year. Will the only school to dent that domination in the new millennuium, St. Mary\'s, strike again?

When Yuma Catholic had to make a play Saturday afternoon the Shamrocks came up aces in their bid to beat Thatcher and reach the 2A state championship football game. Special teams were as critical as any facet helping Yuma Catholic score two touchdowns in a 2 1/2 minute span of the third period and that propeled the Shamrocks to a harrowing 22-20 win over the Eages at North Canyon High School.

The battle of double-digit seeds in the 5A-I state football playoffs belonged to the team on a major roll -- the Desert Ridge Jaguars. Quarterback Jordan Becerra ran for three touchdowns and passsed for another and backfield mate Joey Counts added a pair touchdowns as the 10th-seeded Jaguars knocked off sister school and No. 15 seed Gilbert High, 49-22, in a quarterfinal game at Desert Ridge.

Are Blue Ridge and Show Low destined for a rematch in the 3A football title game? Or can either Florence or Snowflake pre-empt that program? The answer comes Saturday afternoon and evening when the 3A semifinals commence at Paradise Valley High School. The doubleheader kicks off at 4 p.m. with Florence meeting Blue Ridge followed at 7 by Show Low and Snowflake.

Tucson has at least one team in every 5A and 4A quarterfinal football playoff bracket. The East Valley is seven strong in the final eight of the 5A-I bracket. Who do they match up with this week in the quarterfinals of 5A-I, 5A-II, 4A-I and 4A-II? Time for a quick look, starting with 5A-I:

When Gilbert High dropped its fourth game in five tries to finish September, there was little sense in thinking there was life left in the 2010 Tigers. Except, however, if you are a diehard. Count Gilbert coach Dan Dunn a diehard.

Mesa Mountain View decided Monday to take its football program in a new direction, removing Tom Joseph as its coach after nine successful seasons that included a state title, three title-game appearances and six region titles.