Aggies-Panthers clash on Thursday key to strong season for both teams

Key football games often don’t come until the waning weeks of the season.

But one of the most anticipated games of this season will come before many teams have taken the field.

Arbor View, which moved up a spot this week to No. 3 in the area coaches poll, plays at No. 2 Palo Verde at 8 p.m. Thursday.

The winner of the battle of double-wing offenses figures to have an advantage in the Northwest League playoff race.

Last year, Palo Verde defeated the then-undefeated Aggies, 17-0 on the final night of the regular season to claim the league title.

For complete area rankings click here, or select “polls” under football in the red navigation bar.