Only 16 teams remain in each division of 2015 Arizona high school football playoffs now

Video: Sophomore year highlights
See Tempe's My-King Johnson in action last season.

Everything is heightened. Every possession means that much more. Coaches make different decisions in situations in the playoffs compared with the regular season.

Everyone is more aware of the consequences. It paralyzes some and brings out the best in others.

The 2015 football playoffs begin for 11-man football on Friday. It's go time.

"We feel like this our time of the year and we are better in the playoffs than any other time of the year," Mountain Pointe coach Norris Vaughan said. "We feel like we are more focused and more alive because you are risking the season and ending the dream and the hope."

Here's a closer look at each division. See the MaxPreps Arizona football playoff brackets:

Division I
Favorite: Chandler
Contender(s): Hamilton (Chandler) and Mountain Pointe (Phoenix)
Dark horse: Brophy College Prep (Phoenix)
Upset alert: No. 13 Liberty (Peoria) at No. 4 Desert Ridge (Mesa). Liberty might be the hottest team in D-I and nearly beat the Jaguars with a fourth-quarter comeback before losing on the game's final play, 48-45, in August.
This and that: Half of the teams in the 16-team field have a head coach who has led a program to a state title. … Three of Brophy's four defeats were by a combined six points. Only Chandler handled Brophy in a 28-6 loss. … Hamilton has made the finals seven straight years, winning four times, with the last one coming 2012.

Division II
Favorite: Skyline (Mesa)
Contender: Williams Field (Gilbert)
Dark horse: Mesa
Upset alert: No. 14 Higley (Gilbert) at No. 3 Williams Field. The Knights had Williams Field beat, but an ill-advised play call led to an interception in the final two minutes. It was enough of a window for the Black Hawks to get a game-winning touchdown with three seconds left.
This and that: Mesa lost by a score to No. 1 Skyline and led Williams Field 35-34 before a 51-yard field goal and pick-6 led to a nine-point defeat. … Four of the teams in the 16-team field were in D-I last year and four were in D-III. … Saguaro (Scottsdale) has won seven titles in lower divisions since 2006. A win in D-II would be the Sabercats' first title in the top two divisions.

Division III
Favorite: Sunrise Mountain (Peoria)
Contender(s): Paradise Valley (Phoenix) and Desert Edge (Goodyear)
Dark horse: Cesar Chavez (Laveen)
Upset alert: No. 16 Tempe vs. No. 1 Paradise Valley. A top seed rarely falls in the first round, but if there is a candidate to pull that kind of win off this year it is Tempe. The Buffaloes struggled early on against a tough schedule but have closed the gap on top-tier teams in recent weeks.
This and that: Chavez was in D-I last year and went 4-6. Dropping two divisions led to a 9-1 season and the Champions could make a deep run. … Desert Edge went 7-0 while averaging 56.9 points with Tehran Thomas as the quarterback. Without him the Scorpions went 1-2 (against the two toughest teams) and averaged 34.7 points. … Tempe junior defensive end My-King Johnson has 21 sacks and 19 quarterback hurries on the season.

Division IV
Favorite: Yuma Catholic
Contender: Show Low
Dark horse: Northwest Christian (Phoenix)
Upset alert: No. 11 Blue Ridge (Lakeside) vs. No. 6 River Valley (Mohave Valley). River Valley hasn't been challenged much while playing a light schedule, while Blue Ridge plays a tough White Mountain opponent weekly.
This and that: This division had two undefeated squads and seven others that went 9-1. … Top-seeded Yuma Catholic and No. 8 Northwest Christian look to have a second-round meeting. The two teams combined to win the last five Division V/Class 2A titles while facing off three times.

Division V
Favorite: Benson
Contender: Joy Christian (Glendale)
Dark horse: American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek)
Upset alert: No. 11 Tempe Prep vs. No. 6 Scottsdale Christian Academy (Phoenix). Tempe Prep made its first state title game a year ago, and a lot of the players know what it takes to navigate the four-week gauntlet.
This and that: Fifth-seeded Monument Valley (Kayenta) went undefeated but played an easier schedule compared with others and will have a battle in the first round against Santa Cruz Valley (Eloy). … Second-seeded Joy Christian and No. 3 Round Valley (Eagar) met in the second week of the season, with JC winning 40-29.

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic sports writer and current Prep Sports Director for 1013 Communications, is a 20-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com.