There are some great big-school matchups, especially in 6A, this week, as several teams come off byes. The postseason is getting closer and teams are jockeying for playoff position. For many teams, it already feels like the playoffs.
Here are The Republic's picks for the 10 most intriguing games for Oct. 15-16. All games are 7 p.m., unless noted.
Vote in our poll below for the best matchup on this list. Print readers can find the poll, which closes at 7 p.m. Oct. 15, online with this story at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.
Top 10 HS football games of week
1. Peoria Centennial (6-0) at Chandler (5-1), Friday, Oct. 16
This is the game of the week with both teams well rested. Chandler will have gone 22 days without a game, having a bye, and Laveen Cactus Canyon is forfeiting its
game against the Wolves. Centennial had last week off. This pits one of the best offenses in Chandler and quarterback Will Mencl against one of the state's top defenses with edge rusher/outside linebacker Luke Franklin.
2. Mesa Mountain View (4-2) at Mesa Red Mountain (4-2), Friday, Oct. 16
This is always a classic rivalry game, often going down to the wire. Expect the same this time around, as they battle for a strong playoff position in 6A. Red Mountain ranked 15th in 6A/Open by MaxPreps. Mountain View is No. 8.
3. Phoenix Brophy Prep (4-2) at Gilbert Williams Field (4-2)
They've had a strong recent history of thrillers between them. This is a big 6A Central Region game. They're both 1-0 in region play. Brophy is led by running back Ryder Noche. But he's facing a pretty good run defense with the Black Hawks possessing the speed and skill to cut off lanes.
4. Chandler Basha (4-2) at Mesa (3-3), Friday, Oct. 16
This is a 6A Southern Region game with both teams 1-0 in the region. Mesa, led by two-way star Kingston Anetema, played Basha tough last season. Can they keep up with the Bears, who have been banged up since the second game of the season?
5. ALA Gilbert North (7-0) at Chandler Arizona College Prep (6-1)
Arizona College Prep, under first-year coach Jacob Rutter, has won three straight since a 37-32 loss to Peoria Sunrise Mountain. The offense has been consistently strong all year. But now the Knights face one of the top defense in 5A with ALA Gilbert North posting three straight shutouts.
6. Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain (6-1) at Buckeye (5-2), Friday, Oct. 16
This will have a 4A playoff vibe with both teams possessing strong run games. Bradshaw Mountain just held off Kingman Lee Williams 30-27 with tailback Jon'te Jones rushing for 212 yards and three touchdowns. Buckeye will try to control the clock to keep the ball out of Jones' hands.
7. Phoenix Horizon (6-1) at Gilbert Highland (3-3), Friday, Oct. 16
This is 5A (Horizon) vs. 6A (Highland). Horizon can find out if there's much of a gap between the two conferences, as Highland, ranked 16th in 6A, has a decent, well-coached team. Horizon bounced back from the 24-3 loss to Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep with a 34-21 win over Cave Creek Cactus Shadows, as sophomore Dylan Brush ran for three TDs, last week.
8. Phoenix Northwest Christian (6-1) vs. Phoenix St. Mary's (5-2), at Washington, Thursday, Oct. 15
This is a pivotal 4A football game between two of the top Skyline Region teams. St. Mary's, led by quarterback Luke Horn, lost its last two Skyline games to Peoria and Thunderbird by a total of five points. Northwest Christian is coming off an impressive 30-14 win over ALA West Foothills, but quarterback Luke Pearson suffered an injury.
9. Willcox (8-0) at Benson (7-1), Friday, Oct. 16
This is a big 2A game between teams ranked in the top seven by MaxPreps. Willcox has scored at least 47 points in its last four games with the 47-0 win over Eloy Santa Cruz last week being its most impressive. Benson lost to Santa Cruz, 38-28, two weeks ago.
10. Scottsdale Christian (7-0) at Camp Verde (6-1), Friday, Oct. 16
Another 2A game. Can Camp Verde make a statement against the three-time defending 2A champion? Nobody has so far. SCA, led by two-way star Caleb Murphy, has shut out four opponents, including its last two. Nobody has scored more than a touchdown against the Eagles. Camp Verde, meanwhile, has scored at least 70 points in its last two games. This is the final regular-season game for the teams.
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 for No. 1. Top 10 Arizona high school football games, Oct. 15-16
