Here are The Arizona Republic's top 20 high school football player performances for games played Oct. 1-2, 2026. Coaches nominated players.
Vote in our poll below for the player you think has the best overall week. The poll will remain open until noon on Oct. Friday, Oct. 9. Print readers can find the poll with this story online at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.
Top 20 high school football performers of the week
1. Anthony Palka, Higley, QB, Sr.
In a 45-42 win over Perry, he completed 13 of 17 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns. He ran 13 times for 122 yards and two TDs, including what proved to be the winning score.
2. Kelton Rogers, Sunnyslope, RB, Sr.
In a 50-15 win over Ironwood, he ran for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. He also caught a 10-yard scoring pass and sprung a kick
returner loose for a kickoff return TD with a big block.
3. Jaylee Abraham, Centennial, RB, Jr.
In a 36-12 win over Sandra Day O'Connor, he caught a 42-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 15-yard score in the Coyotes' first two touchdowns. It was his first game after sitting out the first half of the season for his transfer from Tucson Desert View.
4. Jaylen Singleton, Perry, WR, Sr.
He caught three touchdown passes in the 45-42 loss to Higley.
5. Kael Snyder, Perry, QB, Sr.
He threw four touchdown passes and ran for another in the Perry game.
6. Luke Farrell, Corona del Sol, QB, Sr.
He broke Connor Ackerley's career school touchdown passes record with his 47th in a 35-28 win over ALA Queen Creek. He has thrown 17 touchdown passes this season.
7. Kenny Raymond, Liberty, QB/WR, Sr.
In a 64-0 rout of Mountain Ridge, he threw a touchdown pass, ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass.
8. Jaleel West, Tempe, QB, Sr.
In a 42-14 4A win over Greenway, he completed 13 of 19 passes for 326 yards and five touchdowns and completed three 2-point-conversion passes.
9. Scout Reese, Yuma Catholic, QB, Sr.
In a 45-31 win over Sunrise Mountain, he completed 19 of 32 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He also rushed for a TD and caught a halfback pass for a TD.
10. Nate Jones, Desert Edge, LB/RB, Sr.
In a 21-17 win over previously unbeaten Canyon View, he ran 11 times for 111 yards and two TDs and had 12 tackles, 5½ for losses, including three sacks.
11. Gunnar Schmidt, Arizona College Prep, QB, Sr.
In a win over Mountain Pointe, he completed 25 of 48 passes for 300 yards and four TDs.
12. Tate Callan, Willow Canyon, QB, Sr.
He accounte for 36 of his team's 44 points a shutout win over West Point. He passed for three TDs, completing 12 of 16 for 165 yards. He ran for two TDs. And he converted three 2-point conversions on the ground.
13. Ryan Henderson, Peoria, WR, Jr.
In a 46-43 win over St. Mary's, he caught seven passes for 167 yards and two TDs, including the game-winner on fourth down.
14. Lachlan Geier, Queen Creek, DL, Sr.
In a 36-15 loss to Mesa Mountain View, he had nine solo tackles, 11 total tackles, seven tackles for losses and two sacks.
15. Weston Powell, ALA Gilbert North, RB, Sr.
In a 57-0 win over Skyline, he ran five times for 115 yards and two TDs.
16. Asher Ward, Willcox, Athlete, Jr.
In a 61-0 rout of Desert Christian, he ran for 80 yards and a TD on 10 carries and caught three passes for 98 yards and two TDs. On defense, he recorded a safety and returned a 21-yard interception for a touchdown. He totaled 249 all-purpose yards and four TDs.
17. Aidan Bailey, Veritas Prep, Athlete, Sr.
In a win over Trivium Prep, he scored four touchdowns on runs of 65, 35, 20 and 25 yards. He also intercepted a pass.
18. Tufden Taylor, Thatcher, Athlete, Sr.
In a win over rival Safford, he ran nine times for 180 yards and four TDs, had an 18-yard reception and posted four tackles.
19. Ben Wolfley, Trivium Prep, RB, Sr.
In the 2A game against Veritas Prep, he ran 33 times for 263 yards and two TDs.
20. Miles Woods, Maryvale, Athlete, Sr.
In a 49-13 win over North Canyon that improved the Panthers to 5-1, he had four catches for 61 yards and a TD, intercepted two passes, returned a punt for a touchdown and had five tackles and a sack.
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. Arizona Republic's top high school football players, Oct. 1-2
