GVR action set to kick off

A favorite line of any coach is that all teams start over at 0-0 when region play begins.

Thanks to Lake Havasu and Yuma High's quick jump on the league slate last week, that's not 100 percent true in this year's 5A Gila Valley Region, but the spirit of the slogan still rings true.

Gila Ridge, Cibola, San Luis and defending champ Kofa open play trailing the Criminals, who topped the Knights 48-31 last week. Those two clubs have combined for six wins this season, the other four teams have three combined wins.

The Raiders host the Kings in a rematch of last year's season finale, a 36-22 Kofa win that clinched the region for the Kings, who went on to lose 48-6 to Peoria-Centennial in the opening round of the playoffs.

Last year, the Kings entered region play on a four-game losing streak. This year they do the same, although they have played less games as the region has expanded from four to six teams with the addition of the Knights and Hawks.

Kofa hasn't won since an emotional 28-21 victory over 2A rival Yuma Catholic to start the season.

"It's a chance for us to start over," Kofa coach Kevin Moore said. "Those first five games - the opening win of the season was big - but it's these next five games that matter. They will determine what happens after Nov. 6. We can throw the rest of the season away and start fresh on Friday."

Cibola also enters on a four-game skid after winning its season opener. But where the Raiders have had problems scoring, averaging five points per game in the skid, the Kings have had problems keeping opponents out of the end zone, surrendering 47.5 points per game.

"I'm sure they're approaching it from the same way we are - that it's a chance to start over," Moore said. "We all know we're going to experience some bumps along the way when we play the Phoenix schools. Now that's behind us, it's behind them as well. I think they're excited now to be going up against us. They probably see some things they can do offensively against us and from a defensive standpoint our kids are pretty confident about the gameplan we put in there."

The Hawks and Criminals battle in a game of strength versus strength, with two high-octane offenses going against one another. Each team has scored 34 or more points three times this season, and each team has given up 49 or more three times.

The teams met last year, with the first-year Hawks giving the Criminals a scare before Yuma High took control late at home for a 40-26 win in coach Tom Fox's first game.

"With region, every week you're all-in for the region title," Fox said. "If you lose, you're going to be dependent on somebody else to help you out. We're in the lead right now because we're the only one's who have played, but everybody else now has the same chance. We have to keep our foot on the gas and keep scoring points. What we're going to have to do is outscore people."

Playing in a playoff-eligible region for the first time, first-year coach Jay Denton said his Hawks are ready.

"They understand and know that what the whole season is about is winning region," Denton said. "Like any other team we're trying win our first region game and looking forward to playing one that counts."

San Luis opens against Havasu, having been shut out in four-of-five games.

"Like I told the kids, most of the teams here in this region only have one, two wins at most," San Luis coach Fernando Solano said. "Everybody is going back to 0-0. I've told them not to focus on the past but look to the future. I'm very optimistic about these next five games."