Here is a list of The Arizona Republic's top 20 high school football players from games played on Oct. 8-9, 2026. High school coaches nominated players.
Vote in our poll below for the top overall performance. The poll will remain open until noon on Friday, Oct. 16. Print readers can find the poll with this story online at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.
Top 20 Arizona HS football players of the week
1. Vedder Wolfley, Horizon, DE, Jr.
He had 10 tackles, five sacks, a caused fumble, three quarterback hurries and a pass breakup in a 34-21 win over Cactus Shadows.
2. Jaleel West, Tempe, QB, Sr.
In a 50-14 win over Moon Valley, he completed 12 of 18 passes for 215 yards and five touchdowns with an interception. He also ran 12 times for 185 yards and two TDs, threw two 2-point conversion passes and added
a 57-yard punt that landed inside the 20-yard line.
3. Ryan Garner, Hayden, RB, Sr.
In a 1A win over Cicero Prep/North Phoenix Prep, he ran 17 times for 393 yards and seven TDs, had two catches for 30 yards and returned two kickoffs for 135 yards and a touchdown.
4. Daryl Little II, Thunderbird, QB, Jr.
In a 36-34 win over St. Mary's, he completed 11 of 17 passes for 111 yards and ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. He scored the Titans' last two touchdowns to rally them from a 34-22 deficit in the final quarter.
5. Nate Gastellum, Catalina Magnet, WR/LB, Jr.
In a 30-22 win over Coronado, he caught two touchdown passes for 108 yards and had a 40-yard fumble recovery for a score. He also broke up four passes.
6. Larry Moore Jr., Youngker, WR, Sr.
In a 49-38 loss to Buckeye, he caught 10 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns.
7. Xylin Yancy, Buckeye, RB, Sr.
In the win over Youngker, he ran nine times for 173 yards and two TDs.
8. Branson Brown, St. Mary's, RB, Sr.
In his first game back after missing four games due to an injury, he had touchdown runs of 26 and 33 yards that gave the Knights a 28-22 lead in the third quarter against Thunderbird.
9. Jaxon Crick, Round Valley, RB, So.
He ran for three touchdowns, including a 72-yarder, and caught a 24-yard scoring pass in the Elks' 48-21 3A win over Show Low.
10. Caleb Muphy, Scottsdale Christian, WR, Sr.
He had three catches for 130 yards and three TDs, all in the first half, in a 48-0 2A win over Phoenix Christian. He has scored his 12 touchdowns this year, all in the first half.
11. Tee Smith, Casteel, QB, Sr.
In a 52-3 rout of Desert Vista, he completed 17 of 21 passes for 229 yards and three TDs. He ran 10 times for 78 yards and two scores.
12. Kody Dodson, Chandler Prep, QB, Sr.
In a 57-7 win over ALA Anthem South, he was 10 of 15 passing for 284 yards and five TDs and ran for 95 yards.
13. Brenner Green, Snowflake, RB, Sr.
In a rout of Combs, he had five carries for 136 yards and three TDs.
14. Jonah Lubno, Campo Verde, QB, Sr.
In a win over Mountain Pointe, he completed 21 of 26 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He also ran for 57 yards and a score on six carries.
15. Marcus Escobedo, Maryvale, QB, Fr.
In a 49-0 win over Copper Canyon, he completed 15 of 22 passes for 221 yards and three TDs.
16. Royce Vanacore, Sunnyslope, QB, Sr.
In a 49-12 win over Dobson, he was 13 of 15 passing for 223 yards and two TDs, ran for 99 yards and a score on five carries and caught an 11-yard scoring pass.
17. Jon'te Jones, Bradshaw Mountain, RB, Sr.
In a 30-27 4A win over Lee Williams, he ran 34 times for 212 yards and three TDs.
18. Lucas Leist, Lee Williams, RB, Sr.
Against Bradshaw Mountain, he ran for 288 yards and three TDs on 28 carries.
19. Decker Haskins-Smith, Notre Dame, RB, Sr.
In a 34-14 win over Chaparral, he ran for 221 yards and three TDs on 19 carries.
20. Blake Roskopf, Desert Edge, QB, Sr.
Playing just one half in a rout of Verrado, he was 10 of 16 passing for 278 yards and five 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 for No. 1. Top Arizona high school football players, Oct. 8-9
