This is a pivotal week for several Arizona high school football teams. Whose stock is rising? Whose is tumbling? How much parity is taking shape across the state, especially in 6A?
The Republic takes a look at the 10 most intriguing games of the week, Sept. 17-19, 2026. All games are at 7 p.m. Vote in our poll below for the game you think is the best matchup. The poll closes at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18.
Top 10 high school football games of the week
1. Peoria Liberty (3-0) at Chandler Basha (1-2), Friday, Sept. 18
It's not the end-all for Basha, but the Bears want to get back on track after losing consecutive games for the first time since 2020. They haven't lost three games in a row since 2019, when they lost their final seven games. No. 2-ranked Liberty, led by sophomore quarterback Jason
Haines, might be as good as its back-to-back Open state championship teams in 2023 and '24. Last year, Liberty gave Basha its toughest Open state playoff game in a 19-16 Basha semifinal win. Basha can make a statement that it still is the team to beat this year, after losing at Orange Lutheran and to Phoenix Pinnacle.
2. Peoria (2-1) at Glendale Cactus (1-2), Friday, Sept. 18
Peoria's season-opening win over Glendale Deer Valley was taken away and now shows as a forfeit due to Peoria playing an ineligible player, which wasn't discovered until after the game. It was self-reported to the Arizona Interscholastic Association. The Panthers will be fired up for this west side rivalry. Even though Cactus is in 5A and Peoria is in 4A, it's still one of the most intense high school football rivalries in the state.
3. ALA Gilbert North (3-0) at Goodyear Desert Edge (3-0), Friday, Sept. 18
This should be Desert Edge's greatest challenge to date. ALA Gilbert North is well-coached by Ty Detmer, who has the Eagles rolling. They've yet to be held to fewer than 44 points in a game. However, this will be the toughest defense they see in the 5A regular season, against arguably the best secondary in the state.
4. Mesa (2-1) at Peoria Centennial (3-0), Friday, Sept. 18
The last time these teams met, it was a 6A quarterfinal classic with Centennial pulling out a 41-39 victory behind the clutch playmaking of quarterback Titus Hill and his twin brother, tight end Torrin. They connected on a 50-yard pass play on fourth-and-26 with time running out. That led to the winning field goal. They're both back. Can they create magic again? Mesa has a new coach, Ryan Felker, whose team pulled out a last-second win over Sandra Day O'Connor, 31-28, on a walk-off field goal two weeks ago.
5. Phoenix Brophy Prep (2-1) at Mesa Mountain View (2-1), Friday, Sept. 18
This is a big 6A game between top-10 teams. Mountain View is coming off a 27-3 loss to Centennial, in which it committed eight turnovers. Brophy has won two in a row since losing its season opener to Chandler Hamilton, 25-6. Athlete Rider Noche, moving to running back, ran for more than 100 yards in Brophy's 49-7 rout of Queen Creek last week. Mountain View's offense needs a restart after last week's game, in which its only points came on a field goal after a muffed punt.
6. Glendale Mountain Ridge (2-1) at Scottsdale Saguaro (0-2), Friday, Sept. 18
The intrigue here is Saguaro finally playing a game since the 62-0 season-opening loss to Scottsdale Desert Mountain that led to cancellations against Scottsdale Chaparral and ALA Queen Creek due to a depleted roster and injuries. The ALA QC game counted as a forfeit loss for Saguaro. Mountain Ridge head coach Andrew Johnson was once a top assistant coach at Saguaro during its dynasty run.
7. Scottsdale Chaparral (2-1) at Waddell Canyon View (3-0), Thursday, Sept. 17
This is a big Thursday night 5A game with Chaparral hoping to right itself after the 28-27 loss last Thursday to Chandler Arizona College Prep. In that game, sophomore quarterback Ryan Trocki passed for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns. He'll be facing maybe a tougher defense with Canyon View featuring a strong front line, led by Tiki Teeples, who has seven tackles for losses, six of those sacks.
8. Pima (1-3) at St. Johns (2-2), Saturday, Sept. 19
Both of these teams could meet up in the 2A playoffs. They've played a brutal schedule so far with both losing to the highly rated 3A team Round Valley. Pima opened with a loss against three-time defending 2A champion Scottsdale Christian, 32-7, and lost last week to Willcox, 34-21.
9. Chandler Valley Christian (3-1) at Queen Creek Crismon (4-0), Friday, Sept. 18
A great 3A game with Valley Christian's only loss coming by a point to unbeaten Show Low. Crismon has been cruising with a potent offense, led by Walker Higbee (589 yards and 12 TDs rushing on 59 carries) and Cameron Pope (15 catches for 337 yards and five TDs). Valley Christian can't afford to look ahead to next week's game against top-ranked (3A) Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin.
10. Gilbert San Tan Charter at Chandler Prep (3-0), Friday, Sept. 18
Chandler Prep can prove it belongs in an elite 2A company with a good showing against a team that could very well end up playing for the state championship against Scottsdale Christian. San Tan Charter might not see a better passing offense, with QB Kody Dodson needing to throw only six passes, completing five, for 246 yards and four TDs in a 69-14 rout of Wellton Antelope.
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. Top 10 Arizona high school football games, Sept. 17-19
