Blue Ridge's fall soccer seasons for boys and girls tend to finish with a bus ride home with state championship trophies in tow.

The girls have won back-to-back state championships and are seeded No. 1 in this year's Division IV state tournament. But the state championship run for the Blue Ridge boys was derailed in 2013 by Chino Valley, which snapped Blue Ridge's 4-year title run with a 3-1 victory in last year's state title game.

And Chino Valley doesn't appear ready give up its state championship seat this year either. The boys squad grabbed the No. 1 state seed this season, earning a first round bye in the process.

But the championship hardware won't be handed out until Nov. 8 at Camp Verde High School. So there's still some time remaining for other teams not named Blue Ridge and Chino Valley to knock off the title contenders.

Below is a primer for the Division IV state tournaments for boys and girls, which start Thursday (Oct. 30).

Boys

Chino Valley (11-1 power ranking record): The team's point leaders are Geovani Vedolla (29 goals, 18 assists), Arturo Gomez (25 goals), and Oscar Montes (18 goals, 15 assists). The team has scored 81 goals and allowed only 11. "The team has a solid defense, an exceptional goalie in Spencer Coffin, dynamic scoring with precise passing throughout and a strong team identity," coach Jim Clark said.

Desert Christian (11-1): The team has about five players who have each scored about 8-10 goals. Sophomores Ethan Malis and Mikey Lord have worked "well" in creating scoring opportunities. "I believe that a lot of our team's success this season has come from our team chemistry and senior leadership," coach Steve Lord said. The team's captains, Tommy McGuire and Kit Thompson, tend to control the pace of the game from their defensive midfield spots. Goalkeeper Nick Tucker's work in the offseason has paid off tremendously this season. The consistency of the coaching staff, which has been together for eight seasons, is a huge asset, Lord said.   

Northland Prep (5-7-1): The team reached the postseason despite losing some key seniors off of last year's team and replacing its coach just after this season started. The players have responded well to the new coaching staff's positive and constructive approach, new coach Nick Irvine said. "They gave their hearts during our mid and late season games and found their rhythm through the passing game," Irvine said. Goalkeeper Morgan Barta has kept his team in games with his "lights out performances." The team's parents also deserve a huge assist for their contributions this season, Irvine said. 

Payson (11-2): "We credit everyone for the goals we score," head coach Chris Avakian said. "We don't have a leading scorer. Every player contributes. There is not just one player. We owe our success to hard work and heart."

Phoenix Country Day (6-6): Matthew Rosenthal has scored nine goals and has one assist. Senior Nihaal Reddy has posted three shutouts. Phoenix Country Day was undefeated after its first six games of the season but struggled after suffering a couple of key injuries. The monsoon rains also destroyed the team's soccer field this season, resulting in a lot of road games for the team in September.

Show Low (10-1-2): Seniors Joel Aguilar and Dustin Gaskill are the team's scoring leaders. "A lot of our scoring success really centers around our midfielders, Jarrent Judkins, Melvin Cahueque, Nat Saladana, and Ray Lopez, who work hard every game and are great creators," first-year coach Chris Ellis said. The team has had 14 different players score goals this year and posted nine shutouts in 11 non-tournament games. "If you would have told me before the season that would happen, I would have balked," said Ellis about the shutouts. The team suffered some "devastating" injuries to captain Parker Jayne and Kodie Batemen.

Snowflake (5-7): Bryan Garcia (9 goals, 2 assists) and Wacey Wood (7 goals, 3 assists) are the team's points leaders. Wood scored a goal from 48-yards out this year. Speed, endurance and a defense that plays the offsides well are the keys to this year's team's success, head coach Brian Weir said. Snowflake beat Blue Ridge this season for the first time since 2005. "Our team has a lot of heart but is very young and inexperienced," Weir said. "We hung with the best teams even though we didn't always win."

The Gregory School (7-5): Andrew Zlacket has performed "well" after playing every position except goalkeeper this season. Skylar Decker is "fearless for a small dude and is huge in the air." Marcos Castillo and Danny Benson are "great" team leaders, and Andrew Tinley is a "solid force" in goal. "Better than any other team I've coached, these players have great game management skills," coach Jeff Clashman said. "In close games, I don't think we've ever given up two goals in a second half, and we've had many clean second halve sheets."

Willcox (9-1): The team's goal scoring leader is Sergio Pacheco, and Geraldo Rivers has tallied the most assists. "The team has learned to play unselfish soccer and trust our defense," head coach Patrick MaCumber said. "Every offensive player has scored this year, providing a more balanced attack."

Girls

Blue Ridge (11-0-1 power ranking record): Eleven of the team's 16 varsity players have each scored at least one goal, with Camie Edington and Hannah Flodin the leaders in that category. The defense has recorded 11 shutouts and given up only eight goals. Keeper Nicole Bratsch and Grace Knox and Mikayla Schimmel are the team's defensive leaders. Blue Ridge received the No. 1 seed in the Division IV tournament despite graduating 11 seniors off of last year's team. "The team works incredibly hard during each and every day in practice," coach Rhonda Rydberg said. "Every girl on the roster knows that they are important to the success of the team."

Camp Verde (5-7): "Our team's success this year stems from a team effort," coach Pat Allen said. "We have been blessed with a group of 18 athletes who each contribute to our success."

Chino Valley (5-7-1): Katie Farnsworth is just a sophomore, but she has scored 15 goals. Junior captain Elizabeth Estrada has helped control the midfield with her high work rate. Chino Valley got off to a fast start, winning the Show Low Invitational, but cooled off after suffering some injuries. But the return of senior goalkeeper Wesley Light helped the team make a late playoff run. Coach Allen Foster took over three years ago to help a program that had won only two games prior to his arrival. Foster used to coach the Chino Valley boys program.  

Northland Prep (6-3-3): Allison Budwig is the team's goal scoring leader, but several players are contributing when the team attacks. The young squad only carries two seniors, but one of those seniors, Rani Bloom, has helped "stabilize" the young team. The play of Karen Hupenthal helped solidify the goalkeeper spot this season. The soccer program is in its fourth season.

River Valley (8-2-2): The top scorer is Sara Anbardan, a "skillful, smart and exceptional player." Despite its lack of experience at goalkeeper, the team has a solid defense. Assistant coach Jeff Wright and Matt Camacho and trainer Randy Kind deserve a lot of credit for the team's success, head coach Susan King said. The team suffered season ending injuries to four key players. "Our team has so much heart," Susan said. "They crave to play tough competition, so they are ready to give it their all."

Snowflake (7-3-1): Rebecca Neff (19 goals, 6 assists), Macie Rawlins (16 goals, 15 assists), Briley Peterson (7 assists), and Reagan Thornley (4 assists) are the team's offensive leaders. "The team is successful because of unselfish play and a lot of hustle," coach Darwin Rawlins said. "The team has good chemistry. The defense has jelled and has only been scored on once in the last eight games."

St. Johns (5-6-1): Rebecca Brown and Haley Ellsworth have combined for 17 goals and eight assists. The girls soccer program is comprised of mostly freshmen and sophomores, including several varsity starters. "Because of injury and inexperience, our season has been up and down, but the Lady Redskins were very competitive against other programs in our division," coach J. Brown said. "We have beaten or tied some of the top ranked teams this season. The players have worked and improved all year and are looking forward to the state tourney."