Higley picked up its sixth win a row last week and it was enough to make the top 8 of the Open Division with two weeks left in the regular season.

Higley jumped from No. 15 to No. 8 and is the only team in the Open Division top 8 with two losses. Higley defeated previously unbeaten Campo Verde last week. Horizon also popped into the Open Division top 8 moving from #10 to #6. Creeping every closer is Red Mountain, which climbed from #12 to #9.

Higley coach Eddy Zubey said after last week's victory the Knights goal this season was qualifying for the Open Division. If they ended up facing Chandler, so be it. That would be Higley's opponent to open the playoffs if they began today.

Here are the top eight in the Open Division and the 9-16 teams in  the latest rankings released today (Oct. 22): 1. Chander (8-0). 2. Salpointe (7-0). 3. Centennial (8-0). 4. Pinnacle (7-1). 5. Saguaro (7-1). 6. Horizon (7-1). 7. Hamilton (7-1) 8. Higley (6-2). 9-16 teams - 9. Red Mountain (7-1). 10. Canyon del Oro (7-1). 11. Notre Dame Prep (8-1). 12. Campo Verde (7-1). 13. Millennium (6-2). 14. Perry (5-3). 15. Chaparral (6-2). 16. Brophy Prep (7-2). 

Teams rising along with Higley, Horizon and Red Mountain this week -- Hamilton #8 to #7 and Pinnacle #5 to #4. Teams falling from the top 8 were Campo Verde #6 to #12 and Canyon del Oro #7  to #10.

The #1 teams in 6A, 5A and 4A minus would-be Open Division qualifiers - Red Mountain replacing Brophy in 6A, Notre Dame staying in the top spot in 5A and Canyon del Oro replacing Sahuaro in 4A. American Leadership-Queen Creek took over first in 3A from Benjamin Franklin after beating Ben Franklin. Trivium Prep remains the front runner in 2A.