• Zach Davila, Sr., OT/DT, Cienega - In a decade dominated by stud linemen, Davila is now the torchbearer. Defenders will gain little success against him.

• Lucas Gregor, Sr., DE, Salpointe Catholic - Coach Dennis Bene thinks Gregor will be one of the most dominant defenders in the state this year. We agree.

• Jake Fischer, Jr., LB, Ironwood Ridge - Southern Arizona's most- prolific 4A tackler of 2006 has a tough task ahead of him in the run-heavy 5A Southern Region.

• Jake Muasau, Sr., DB/WR, Sierra Vista Buena - Listed by Rivals.com as one of America's top 100 athletes, his days as an under-the-radar phenom are over.

• Robert Rowe, Sr., QB, Marana - If you pay $5 to watch one player all year, the uber-athletic Rowe is your man; a solid passer with serious wheels.

• Jovan Stevenson, Sr., RB, Sunnyside - No tailback around has more big-game experience or a better chance at a state title. He's our early player of the year favorite.

• Jamal Womble, Sr., RB, Buena - He'll be the focus of the Colts' playoff pursuit — and the reason they'll get there. He could surpass the 2,000-yard mark.

• Salpointe Catholic vs. Phoenix Brophy at Phoenix College, Thursday

The two powerhouse rivals kick off the season with a game that will be broadcast on Cox Cable Channel 7. Salpointe topped the Broncos last year on their home field, but a repeat win may be too much to ask.

• Chandler Hamilton at Sierra Vista Buena, Friday

Buena is aching to finally join the big boys, and opportunity knocks in Week 1. Hamilton is 52-4 with three 5A-I state titles in four years, including last season. It will not get any more difficult for Buena.

• Sunnyside at Salpointe, Sept. 20

Schedule-makers goofed by not tabbing this surefire classic as the season finale. The game between the area's two best 5A teams decided the Southern Region title the past two years. It will this time, too — just near the midseason point.

• Canyon del Oro at Marana, Oct. 12

The 4A Sonoran is nowhere near as good as in previous years, but these two carry-overs will duel for the throne. CDO, anchored by its stalwart defense, has owned the teams' series, but Marana rarely has a team this good.

• Cienega at Sabino, Oct. 19

Their two previous meetings were epics. Sabino won in overtime in 2003, then won a 16-14 thriller a year later. But those were nonregion games. This one will decide the 4A Kino title.

• Palo Verde at Santa Rita, Oct. 26

One team (PV) is a perennial playoff squad, and the other went 0-10 in 2006. A blowout in the making? No chance. Santa Rita's rebirth makes this a crucial game on the 4A Gila slate.

• Amphitheater at Douglas, Nov. 2

On a fall night two hours southeast of Tucson, Amphi's Vern Friedli could very well hang up his whistle in an understated manner after an impeccable 40-year career. Never one to toot his own horn, it could be his ideal image of a send-off.