Note: This article includes home games in the writer’s area of coverage, which is as follows: from Fountain Hills west through Scottsdale, all of Phoenix (except for Ahwatukee), the southwest, northwest and northern sections of the metro area. Other locales include northern, northeast and northwest Arizona.

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Here is a look at some of the top football games in the area on Friday night (Oct. 25) . . .

Phoenix Horizon (7-1) at Phoenix Pinnacle (6-2) – The first word to come out of Horizon coach Kris Heavner’s mouth in last week’s postgame speech was “Pinnacle.’’ That tells you right there that the Huskies expect to come out focused against the team that is 6-0 against them. Horizon’s offense has been virtually unstoppable this season. Pinnacle has a strong defense, but . . .

Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (7-1) at Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (7-1) – This is the third straight game against a Division V contender for Bourgade. The Golden Eagles fell to Yuma Catholic last week and they will see if they can rebound against one of the division’s top offenses.

Show Low (6-2) at Snowflake (7-1) – There isn’t as much intensity for Show Low in this game as there is against neighboring Lakeside Blue Ridge, but it will be close, given the fact that Snowflake has climbed the ladder to Division IV contender status.

Goodyear Desert Edge (8-0) at Buckeye (6-2) – Buckeye always has prided itself on playing strong defense, but whether the Hawks can contain Desert Edge’s quick, powerful offense remains to be seen.

Gilbert Higley (5-3) at Scottsdale Saguaro (7-1) – Higley has been playing decent ball under coach Eddy Zubey, but Saguaro is moving along at an extremely high level. The Sabercats have racked up three shutouts in their last five games.

Peoria (8-0) at Peoria Sunrise Mountain (5-3) – Sunrise Mountain should offer the toughest matchup for Peoria since Week 4 (Phoenix Greenway). Peoria is showing signs of going back to the glory days of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

River Valley (7-1) at Parker (6-2) – Parker isn’t the easiest place to play, and River Valley knows that it must take care of business to remain in the conversation in regard to a possible Division IV title.

Cave Creek Cactus Shadows (5-3) at Scottsdale Chaparral (7-1) – Is Cactus Shadows capable of an upset? Perhaps. Will it happen? Very unlikely against a team that was good to start the season and seems to be getting better every week.

Phoenix Alhambra (6-2) at Phoenix Thunderbird (5-3) – This is Alhambra’s best season in quite some time. A win here will put the Lions in a position to claim a Division III playoff spot. Thunderbird appears to have found its footing after dropping three of its first four.