This is a pivotal week for many Arizona high school football teams, with big games among both the small- and large-school conferences on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 8-9.
The Arizona Republic breaks down 10 of the most intriguing games of the week. All games are 7 p.m. MST, unless noted.
Vote in our poll for the game you think is the best matchup. The poll will close at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8. Print readers can find the poll with this story online at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.
Top 10 high school football games of the week
1. St. Mary's (5-1) vs. Thunderbird (4-2), Oct. 9, at Washington
This is a home game for St. Mary's. Both teams are coming off close 4A Skyline Region losses —St. Mary's falling to Peoria 46-43, and Thunderbird losing to Northwest Christian 21-20. They both have game changers.
St. Mary's is led by quarterback Luke Horn, and Thunderbird's running quarterback Daryl Little II has been practically unstoppable.
2. Round Valley (6-0) at Show Low (6-0), Oct. 9
Monster 3A game with both teams getting two weeks to prepare for this. The winner likely has the inside track to get to the state final with 7-0 Benjamin Franklin likely waiting on the other side of the playoff bracket. Round Valley, the defending 3A champion, has shut out three of its last four opponents. Sophomore running back Jaxon Crick has come a long way since the season-opening 30-14 win over Seton Catholic.
3. Buckeye Youngker (4-1) at Buckeye (4-2), Oct. 9
This is a big Buckeye rivalry game with Youngker improving under coach Alonzo Highsmith. Buckeye is coming off a 33-26 quality win over Lake Havasu, as quarterback Mekhi Sharper ran for 218 yards and a TD and passed for 128 yards and two scores.
4. Notre Dame Prep (5-1) at Chaparral (4-2), Oct. 8
Notre Dame posted its most impressive win of the season last week, keeping talented tailback Dylan Brush out of the end zone in a 24-3 win over Horizon. Chaparral's two losses were to Arizona College Prep (28-27) and Canyon View (38-31) in back-to-back weeks. Quarterback Ryan Trocki and tailback Jayce Wilson have been a dynamic duo for the Firebirds.
5. Desert Vista (4-1) at Casteel (0-5), Oct. 9
Casteel played one of the toughest schedules in the half of the season, but the defending 6A champion Colts should be much better now with speedy wide receiver RJ Gory among seven transfers now eligible to play the rest of the season. Desert Vista will find out how legit its strong first half of the season has been.
6. Hayden (7-0) at Cicero Prep/North Phoenix Prep (6-1), Oct. 9
This is a major 1A battle that has a playoff vibe to it in the AIA 8-man football conference. Cicero Prep and North Phoenix Prep were able to combine their football teams and it's turned out to be successful. But will that combination be enough to beat a Hayden program that hasn't lost a game since 2022?
7. Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge (4-2) at Desert Mountain (5-1), Oct. 9
Desert Mountain's only loss came from a forfeit to Arizona College Prep. Otherwise, the Wolves have blown out every team they have faced. Will Ironwood Ridge be next? Desert Mountain has one of the best defenses in the state. The 16 points scored by Cactus Shadows last week in Desert Mountain's 42-16 win were the most a team has scored on the Wolves this year.
8. Phoenix Barry Goldwater (3-3) at Tempe McClintock (4-2), Oct. 9
This is a good 5A game with Goldwater looking impressive in a 41-34 win over Dobson and McClintock showing off the versatility Aiden Whitaker in a 58-14 rout of Paradise Valley. Whitaker threw a touchdown pass, ran for 75 yards on three carries and caught two passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. Goldwater likes to run the ball and will try to eat up clock to keep the dynamic Whitaker from touching the ball too many times.
9. Walden Grove (4-2) at Mica Mountain (6-0), Oct. 9
This is a crucial 4A game with Mica Mountain ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps conference ratings and Walden Grove sitting at No. 11. Since starting out 1-2, Walden Grove has turned its season around. Mica Mountain doesn't appear to have lost a step after claiming the last two 4A state championships.
10. Scottsdale Christian (6-0) at Phoenix Christian (5-2), Oct. 9
Three-time defending 2A champion SCA will only play eight regular-season games due to a couple of teams on the schedule canceling their seasons. Nobody has come close to stopping the Eagles, winner of three straight 2A championships. Phoenix Christian, ranked No. 8 in 2A by MaxPreps, figures to give them a game for a while.
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, Oct. 8-9
