PHOENIX — It finally feels like football season outside, which is good news as the first playoff games of the 35th season of Friday Night Fever, Arizona's No. 1 and longest-running high school football show, are next week!
This week marks the final week of the regular season in 1A and the final 1A rankings will be released by the Arizona Interscholastic Association on Saturday. Those rankings will determine the 12 teams that make the playoffs. The 12-team bracket will conclude with the 1A State Championship Game on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Coronado High School in Scottsdale. The Hayden Lobos are the reigning 1A champions.
For every other conference, the regular season will continue and there were some huge matchups this week.
Now, let's take a look at the highlights from Week 8 of Friday Night Fever, starting with our Game of the Week!
Game of the Week: Red Mountain (7-0) prevails over ALA-QC (6-1), 16-14
Our Game of the Week was another incredibly close game, as Open Division No. 7/6A No. 5 Red Mountain kept their hopes of making the Open Division playoffs alive by beating Open No. 4/6A No. 2 ALA-QC. Watch the highlights below.
Be sure to tune into 12Sports Tonight on Sunday at 10:30 p.m. to see what three games will be nominated to become the Game of the Week for Week 9!
Horizon (6-1) upsets Desert Mountain (6-1), 21-10
Open Division No. 8/5A No. 3 Horizon scored a huge upset by defeating crosstown rival Open Division No. 2/5A No. 2 Desert Mountain. Watch the highlights below. Video courtesy of the Fiesta Bowl.
Saguaro (1-6) gets first win over season, beat rival Chaparral (3-4), 35-21
It's been a tough start to the season for 6A No. 29 Saguaro, but it got better on Friday when they beat 6A No. 22 Chaparral. Watch the highlights below. Video courtesy of YurView Arizona.
Chandler (5-2) opens region play with 42-21 victory over Casteel (4-3)
6A No. 14 Chandler dominated in their first 6A Premier region game of the season as they handily defeated 6A No. 15 Casteel. Watch the highlights below.
Queen Creek (6-1) defeats Centennial (2-5), 31-21
6A No. 7 Queen Creek defended their home turf against last year's Open Division runner-up, 6A No. 21 Centennial. Watch the highlights below.
Mountain Pointe (5-2) beats Corona del Sol (1-6) and Mountain View (6-1) beats Mesa (3-4)
6A No. 11 Mountain Pointe won the Battle of Knox Road over 6A No. 25 Corona del Sol, 42-37 and 6A No. 8 Mountain View beat crosstown rival 6A No. 18 Mesa 63-30. Watch the highlights from 12News journalist Troy Lynch below.
Cesar Chavez (5-2) gets 6A Fiesta region victory over Westwood (4-3), 28-8
6A No. 17 Cesar Chavez stayed undefeated in region play by defeating 6A No. 20 Westwood on Thursday night. Watch the highlights below. Video courtesy CW7 Arizona.
Cactus (5-2) moves to 2-0 in 5A Desert West region play with 50-41 victory over Verrado (5-2)
5A No. 8 Cactus got an important region victory by taking down 5A No. 10 Verrado on Thursday. Watch the highlights below.
Fever Flyover: Desert Edge (4-3) beats Sunrise Mountain (2-5) and Goldwater (5-2) beats Ironwood (4-3)
This week, Sky12 caught action from 5A No. 15 Desert Edge's 42-17 win over 5A No. 28 Sunrise Mountain and 5A No. 20 Goldwater's 44-21 homecoming victory over 5A No. 24 Ironwood. Watch the highlights below.
On the Road: Snowflake (7-0) stays undefeated with 24-10 victory over Marcos de Niza (2-5)
4A No. 1 Snowflake came down to the Valley and defeated 4A No. 32 Marcos de Niza. 12Sports journalist Lina Washington was On the Road with the Padres and has the highlights.
On the Road: Checking in with the Marcos de Niza Padres
After Marcos de Niza's loss to Snowflake, 12Sports journalist Lina Washington spoke to two of the Padres' top players, Jace Verdugo and Nikolasi Tonga'uiha. Watch the interview below.
On the Road: Interview with Marcos de Niza head coach Anthony Figueroa
After Marcos de Niza's loss to Snowflake, 12Sports journalist Lina Washington spoke to Padres head coach Anthony Figueroa. Watch the interview below.
Fever Spotlight: How you can help Superior High School win a new football field
1A No. 13 Superior beat 1A No. 12 Valley Union 46-16 on Friday night, boosting the Panthers' hopes to make the playoffs next week! The Panthers are also taking part in a nationwide competition with T-Mobile where they could win a new football field! Watch the story below to see how you can support them!
Week 8 Sweet Play of the Week nominees
And finally, we revealed the nominees for the Week 8 Sweet Plays of the Week!
As a reminder, each week three plays will be nominated to become the Sweet Play of the Week and will be voted on by you, the fans.
Each weekly winner will be eligible to become the Sweet Play of the Year, with the player in the winning play at the end of the season taking home a $5,000 scholarship, courtesy of Sweet James Accident Attorneys.
To see which play won the Week 7 poll, click here.
Watch the video below to see this week's Sweet Plays and then click here to vote for your favorite.
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