Let's be honest, alright? No one actually goes to a football game, whatever the level, in hopes of seeing a bunch of zeros on the scoreboard. Believe me, I've been there, having done my best to block out the memories of covering a 3-0 triple overtime game between Marana and Palo Verde in the late 1990s.

We all prefer a bunch of scoring, it's what makes for an exciting night out.

So, unless you just have an aversion to offense, the place to be tonight is Ironwood Ridge High School. The defending Division II champs are 3-1 on the season, winning games by an average score of 37-29, which isn't that explosive.

• Mark Levy• Herald/Review
• Buena defensive tackle Sidney Malauulu warms up at Wednesday’s Colts practice at the high school athletic field. For the 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior, this is his first chance to play high school football stateside.

But the Nighthawks are hosting Sierra Vista Buena (1-2), which so far this year is redefining the term shootout. The Colts are scoring almost 44 per game ... and giving up just under 63 a night. That includes a 78-57 loss last week at Tempe Marcos de Niza — which happens to be coming to Tucson next week to face Salpointe Catholic.

If this game has under 100 points I'll be shocked.

Southern Arizona's most explosive team, Salpointe, is off this week. But another high-scoring outfit, Tucson High, has scored 67 and 52 in back-to-back wins heading into a game at Sunnyside (2-1). A win for the Badgers would be their third straight over the Blue Devils.

The other top games this week are at the lowel levels, where upstart Catalina Foothills (2-1) hosts Sahuarita (3-1) and three Division IV squads: Palo Verde, Rio Rico and Santa Rita have chances to get off to unexpected 4-0 starts.

Palo Verde, with Todd Mayfield back at the helm, hosts Amphitheater (2-1) in a sectional game, while Rio Rico visits Safford (2-1) and Santa Rita hosts Phoenix's Arizona Lutheran Academy (3-0).