On one side of the field Friday night (Nov. 10) at Maricopa High School will be Williams High. The Vikings are back to settle unfinished business from last year's runner-up finish in the 1A championship game.

On the other side will be senior-less Superior, a surprise entry to many in this year's final. The Panthers have never won an AIA-sanctioned football title (AIA-sanctioned titles began in 1959). The schools, separated by 238 miles, figure to put on a show as they collide to decide the state's eight-man title. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

Williams (8-2), which has won a championship (1993) and shared another (1989) in its history, bowed to Bagdad, 60-6, last year. The Vikings only losses this year are to Bagdad (28-24) and Mogollon (34-29). They avenged the loss to Mogollon in the semifinals (64-52). Last year Williams had to rally late and beat Superior in overtime in the semifinals, 42-40.

"This is a tight-knit group of kids who have worked hard all season long to get to this point:, Wiiliams coach Jeff Brownlee, in his ninth year with nary a losing record in any season, said. "Last year many of these kids played in the championship game, and they wanted to get back badly."

The ground game is what makes Williams go. It's led by sophomore running back Chance Pearson. Pearson has amassed 1,261 yards and 20 touchdowns. Daniel Lopez, Kolby Payne, quarterback Diego Pedraza and Dorian Ayala have accounted for most of the other 1,900-plus yards. The Vikings can throw as Pedraza has completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,614 yards and 21 TDs. Zack Perkins, Lopez, Pearson and David Lozano are his main targets. Perkins leads with 25 catches for 580 yards and 8 TDs.

Superior (9-1), despite precious little depth even for a 1A school, is in the final with no seniors and six juniors on a 17-player squad. It's strength is team speed. The Panthers are winning a lot nowadays under coach Ryan Palmer, who is completing his 10th season at the helm. Superior has just two losing seasons in Palmer's tenure and are 27-3 the past three seasons.

"Last year we graduated seven starters on offense and seven starters on defense," Palmer said.  "The challenges we faced were youth and inexperience. I think the toughness and grit of this group allowed us to overcome those challenges......

"We are a tough group that keeps fighting. Gritty. Won't back down."

Superior reached the final topping the team that's been Williams' thorn and many others in recent years -- Bagdad. The Panthers bested Bagdad, 44-34. It was Bagdad's only loss this season. 

Superior is led by junior quarterback Steven Ybarra, the "workhorse on offense and leader on defense" according to Palmer. Ybarra has accounted for 3,139 yards of offense -- 2,061 passing (28 TDs) and 1,078 rushing (17 TDs). Adam Navarrette, Cedric Mendoza and Jared Moreno share the receiving load equally.