This week's slate of Arizona high school football games may not have the same sizzle as last week, but there still are some intriguing matchups. A couple of big-school teams had to scramble to find new opponents after the teams they were originally scheduled to play were forced to cancel.
A big out-of-state opponent comes to the Valley, and No. 1 Chandler Basha (Republic's 6A rankings) heads to California for a big game after impressing on national television in its37-26 season-opening winover No. 3 Chandler.
Here are The Republic's picks for the 10 most-intriguing high school football matchups in Week 3 (Sept. 3-4). All games are 7 p.m., unless noted. Readers can vote in our poll below for the game they think is the best matchup. Print readers
can find the poll with this story online at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools. The poll will close at 6 p.m. on Sept. 3.
Top 10 intriguing HS football games
1. Tempe (1-0) at Scottsdale Chaparral (1-0), Sept. 4
Tempe, a 4A team, has stepped in to face the 5A Firebirds after Saguaro had to cancelagainst its biggest rival due to a depleted roster and safety concerns. Phoenix Carl Hayden canceled its game with Tempe for a similar reason, Tempe coach Sean Freeman said. Chaparral quarterback Ryan Trocki and Tempe QB Jaleel West are both coming off impressive openers.
2. Draper (Utah) Corner Canyon (3-0) at Peoria Liberty (1-0), Sept. 4
The Utah power has already played three games, outscoring those opponents 140-21. Mesa figured to be a challenge for Liberty last week butthe Lions rolled to a 58-18 win. This will be a major test for Liberty, which last year lost its only regular-season game at Corner Canyon 45-14 in Utah, with turnovers cashed in. Liberty looks as good as it has ever been, even with many new faces, particularly sophomore quarterback Jason Haines. Liberty coach Colin Thomas has done a great job keeping QB Kenny Raymond involved in the offense.
3. Glendale Cactus (1-0) at Goodyear Millennium (1-0), Sept. 4
This game should serve as extra motivation for Cactus, which saw four of its players transfer to Millennium since the end of last season. The Cobras will need to be aware of talented running back D'Mari Bryant, who ran for 133 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries in Millennium's season-opening 42-0 win over Laveen Betty Fairfax last week. Cactus is reloaded with talented youth, led by sophomore quarterback Jacob Martin, who completed 19 of 27 passes for 255 yards and two TDs with no interceptions in last week's win over Glendale Mountain Ridge.
4. Basha (1-0) at Orange Lutheran (1-1), Sept. 4
Orange Lutheran is one of the tougher teams in Southern California. Basha beat the Lancers last year. This is part of a home-and-home series between the schools. Basha was impressive in the win over Chandler, with wide receiver Makai Nelson and linebacker Marc Duerson III having big games. Despite the win, Basha dropped three spots in the USA TODAY Super 25 national rankings to No. 14.
5. Chandler Arizona College Prep (1-0) at Scottsdale Desert Mountain (1-0), Sept. 4
Desert Mountain rolled 62-0 last week against undermanned Saguaro, but ACP, a Chandler Unified School District team, should pose a tougher test against the defending 5A champions. The Wolves will have to watch for running back J.J. Horne, who ran for 309 yards and three TDs on 20 carries in ACP's 49-14 win over Willow Canyon.
6. Mesa Mountain View (1-0) at Phoenix Pinnacle (1-0), Sept. 4.
QB Grayson Bull came up big in the Pioneers' dramatic 32-28 win in California over Edison, a game in which Bull passed for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Mountain View won't have an easy time, as it did in last week's 63-0 rout of Las Vegas High. This should be a competitive game all the way through.
7. Tucson Cholla (1-0) at Phoenix Maryvale (1-0), Sept. 3
This Thursday night game features explosive offenses. Maryvale is led by quarterback Marcus Escobedo Jr., who threw three TD passes in a 42-0 win over Yuma Kofa. The Panthers will have to try to contain speedy wide receiver Emilio Desantis, who caught three TD passes in the first half of a 30-0 win over Yuma.
8. Phoenix Sunnyslope (1-0) at Scottsdale Notre Dame (1-0), Sept. 4
Sunnyslope won its first game under coach Tony Cotton, beating Phoenix Central 45-0. Notre Dame is on a mission after two of its top players transferred to other schools in the offseason. The Saints are coming off a 34-17 win at Yuma Catholic.
9. Peoria Centennial (1-0) at Anaheim (Calif.) Servite (1-1), Sept. 4
Servite lost its opener to Corona (California) Centennial 41-21, before bouncing back with a 42-10 win over Murrieta Valley. It was former Chandler coach Rick Garretson's first win leading his alma mater. Garretson knows this Centennial team well, having battled the Coyotes over the years while leading Chandler. This Centennial team is absolutely loaded with the Hill twins, quarterback Titus and tight end Torrin, leading the offense.
10. Queen Creek Crismon (2-0) at Tucson Pusch Ridge (2-0), Sept. 4
This is a great 3A game between two teams that have a chance to play for the gold ball in the end. Pusch Ridge has allowed a total of 12 points in the first two games. Crismon is coming off a 41-28 win over Mesa Eastmark with tight end Cameron Pope catching five passes for 129 yards and two TDs.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vote. Republic's top 10 Arizona HS football games, Sept. 3-4.
