Football Preview: Eastern Arizona at AWC

Kickoff: 7 p.m. today, Veterans Memorial Stadium

Media: AWC TV; Radio - KBLU 560 AM; Internet - azwestern.edu/athletics

Last game: AWC shut out Pima 39-0 Saturday for its second road win of the season. The Gila Monsters beat New Mexico Military Institute 27-19

Records: AWC (5-4 overall, 4-3 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference); Eastern Arizona (7-3, 4-3 ACCAC)

Player to watch: Reigning WSFL Defensive Player of the Week Zach Holmes recorded 11 tackles last week for the Matadors. ... Gila Monster quarterback Tony Reid is the only player in the league with 1,000 yards rushing (1,170 total). The next closest player in the WSFL is his partner in the backfield, Mike Smith (948 yards).

AWC coach Tom Minnick's comments: "We got to make sure we control the ball because their offense can hold the ball for a long time."

The lowdown:  Win or lose today's regular season finale, the Matadors can already consider the 2007 season a big step in the right direction. A marquee win against a ranked opponent and an above .500 record would be a couple added feathers in Minnick's cap when he recruits for next year ... The Gila Monsters have won three of their last four games and came within a touchdown of beating No. 2 Snow College ... AWC and EAC met earlier in the year in a non-conference tilt, the Gila Monsters winning 19-10 with Brandon Gorsuch quarterbacking the Matadors and throwing four interceptions.