The final weekend of October has a lot to offer, including the football matchup Southern Arizona has been waiting for all season.
Unbeaten Ironwood Ridge travels to Salpointe Catholic on Friday night to close out the regular season - a game that could be labeled as Tucson's city championship.
Friday is also the first day of the girls golf state championships, and Saturday is the state-qualifying sectional meets for cross country teams. What to watch this week:
Friday
• Football: The top two teams in the Arizona Daily Star's power rankings will face off at Salpointe at 7 p.m.
I-Ridge (9-0) could lock up the No. 1 spot in the Division II playoffs with another big win but it won't be easy.
Salpointe (9-1) has won nine straight since losing its opener, and it beat the Nighthawks on the road 27-13 to close out last year. The game will feature two of the top players in the state with I-Ridge senior quarterback Tyler Williams and Salpointe junior receiver Cameron Denson.
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This might not be the last time these teams see each other this year; the two could meet in the state playoffs.
Friday-Saturday
• Girls golf: Division II competition will be at Silverbell Golf Complex starting at 10:45 a.m. Friday. Play will start at 7:15 a.m. Saturday, the final day.
Salpointe junior Krystal Quihuis is the defending state champion and has a chance to lead the Lancers to their second straight title. Also watch for Canyon del Oro's Morgan Messick, who placed second last year.
Amy Smith of Sierra Vista Buena is among the golfers in the Division I tourney at Laveen's Aguila Golf Course.
Saturday
• Cross country: Most Southern Arizona teams will be running at the Marana High course in the qualifying meets for Section II of Division II, Section II of Division III and Section III of Division IV starting at 8:15 a.m.
Salpointe's Andy Trouard and Ironwood Ridge's Melanie Zibrat won the Rattler Co-ed Invitational there earlier this month and are individual favorites in Division II, Section II meet. Rio Rico has a chance to sweep the Division III, Section II races, while Pusch Ridge Christian's Sarah Macdonald, last year's Division IV champion, is a favorite in her race.
Division I schools such as Rincon/University and Sierra Vista Buena will travel to Crossroads Park in Gilbert. Rincon senior Ryan Silva is an individual favorite there.