Alyssa Raia is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Williams Field High School for AZPreps365.

As the regular season enters its final stretch, the Williams Field Black Hawks are preparing for a pivotal game against the Shadow Ridge Stallions on Thursday.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Shadow Ridge High School in Surprise.

Williams Field (4-2 overall, 3-2 in the 6A conference) enters the game on a two-game win streak, while Shadow Ridge (3-3 overall, 2-2) attempts to bounce back after two consecutive losses.

The Black Hawks are in line to make The Open as they were ranked No. 9 in the initial power rankings, which came out on AzPreps365 on Tueday.

It's Williams Field's first 6A Central Region game, while the Stallion are 0-1.

“We’re ready to show (the Stallions) what Williams Field football is about and come out with the ‘W,’” said junior wide receiver John “Buddha” Booker. “We’ve got high hopes for this one.”

Booker, who plays a versatile role in the Black Hawks’ run-heavy offense, said leadership doesn’t only show up in the stat sheet.

“Even if you’re not getting the ball, you’ve still got to give 100 percent,” he said. “That’s something we all take seriously now – doing your job no matter what.”

The running back also pointed out the team's evolving mindset this season. He said that regardless of mistakes that were made early in the season, it had led the team to focus more on lifting each other up and maintaining a positive attitude.

“We’ve been working on our collaboration and keeping a positive vibe, even when things don’t go our way,” said Booker.

Coach Steve Campbell reinforces this approach by encouraging his players to “wire in,” which allows the team to focus fully on each play rather than worrying about past mistakes or what comes next.

Junior wide receiver Trey Smith echoed Booker’s observations regarding the team’s growth and mindset. Smith, a key playmaker, said that the team is ready to compete and treat every game with the same level of intensity.

“We could’ve done better earlier in the season, but being 4-2 right now feels good,” said the wide receiver. “We’re locked in and ready for this game.”

Williams Field is coming off of a bye week and planned to ramp up practices leading into Thursday night’s game. The game could be decided by factors such as red zone efficiency, ball security and special teams performance, given how closely matched the two teams are.

Senior running back Courshawn Hill said that the team’s preparation has been the biggest key to their success in the first half of the season.

“It starts at practice 100%,” Hill said. “We have the speed, we have the strength, there’s nothing else. It’s just paying attention to the little things.”

It is this focus on the fundamentals that Williams Field hopes to set it apart in a pivotal region showdown.

With both teams closely matched in the standings, this game could be a defining moment in the 6A conference and region race. The Black Hawks hope to maintain their momentum and secure a key victory while on the road.