This is a big week for Arizona high school football teams trying to climb in the MaxPreps rankings.
Among top games is Phoenix Thunderbird (4-2) against Phoenix St. Mary's (5-1) at Phoenix Washington in 4A.
The Knights will have their hands full trying to slow down dynamic quarterback Daryl Little II. The biggest small-school game involves a battle of 3A unbeatens — Eagar Round Valley (6-0) and Show Low (6-0).
Here is the schedule for games on Oct. 8-9, with The Arizona Republic's picks in capital letters. All games are 7 p.m. MST, unless indicated.
6A Conference
Friday, Oct. 9
HAMILTON at Valley Vista
Westwood at BASHA
MOUNTAIN RIDGE at Boulder Creek
Desert Vista at CASTEEL
RED MOUNTAIN at Desert Ridge
Cactus Canyon at SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR
5A Conference
Thursday, Oct. 8
Mountain Pointe at CAMPO VERDE
South Mountain at CENTRAL
NOTRE DAME at Chaparral
Cactus Shadows at HORIZON
Tolleson at MILLENNIUM
Dobson at SUNNYSLOPE
Friday, Oct. 9
North at BETTY H. FAIRFAX
TUCSON at Canyon del Oro
Raymond S. Kellis at CANYON VIEW
MARANA at Casa Grande
Ironwood Ridge at DESERT MOUNTAIN
MARANA MOUNTAIN VIEW at Flowing Wells
ALA GILBERT NORTH at Gilbert
Paradise Valley at IRONWOOD
Barry Goldwater at MCCLINTOCK
MARICOPA at Mingus
DESERT VIEW at Nogales
ARIZONA COLLEGE PREP at Skyline
CIENEGA at Sunnyside
Willow Canyon at SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
CAMELBACK at Trevor Browne
DESERT EDGE at Verrado
BUENA at Vista Grande
APOLLO at West Point
CACTUS at Yuma Catholic
4A Conference
Thursday, Oct. 8
Lee Williams at BRADSHAW MOUNTAIN
Deer Valley at LAKE HAVASU
SOMERTON at Southwest (California)
Friday, Oct. 9
Mesquite at ARCADIA
YOUNGKER at Buckeye
Alhambra at CARL HAYDEN
SAHUARO at Catalina Foothills
SNOWFLAKE at Combs
SIERRA LINDA at Desert Sunrise
AMPHITHEATER at Douglas
Poston Butte at EASTMARK
Rio Rico at EMPIRE
Cibola at ESTRELLA FOOTHILLS
GLENDALE at Greenway
MARCOS DE NIZA at Independence
GILA RIDGE at Kofa
Copper Canyon at MARYVALE
Walden Grove at MICA MOUNTAIN
FLAGSTAFF at Mohave
TEMPE at Moon Valley
Washington at NORTH CANYON
ALA West Foothills at NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN
PEORIA at Paradise Honors
Coconino at PRESCOTT
CHOLLA at Pueblo
SAHUARITA at Rincon University
Thunderbird vs. ST. MARY'S, at Washington
La Joya Community at WESTVIEW
AGUA FRIA at Yuma
3A Conference
Thursday, Oct. 8
HERITAGE ACADEMY MARICOPA at Greyhills Academy
Winslow at SAFFORD
San Tan Foothills at THATCHER
Friday, Oct. 9
BLUE RIDGE at Apache Junction
PUSCH RIDGE at Coolidge
ALA Ironwood at CRISMON
Shadow Mountain at FLORENCE
HIGHLAND PREP WEST at Kingman
Monument Valley at PAGE
Odyssey Institute at SABINO
ROUND VALLEY at Show Low
GANADO at Window Rock
2A Conference
Thursday, Oct. 8
Santa Rita at PALO VERDE
Antelope at SAN PASQUAL
BOURGADE at St. John Paul II
Friday, Oct. 9
PARKER at ALA Sierra Vista
San Carlos at ALCHESAY
ALA Anthem South at CHANDLER PREP
CAMP VERDE at Chino Valley
CATALINA at Coronado
Fountain Hills at CORTEZ
BENSON at Desert Christian
VERITAS PREP at Desert Star
Arete Prep at GLOBE
TANQUE VERDE at Highland Prep
Red Mesa at HOLBROOK
SAN TAN CHARTER at Lincoln Prep
HERITAGE ACADEMY MESA at Madison Highland
PIMA at Morenci
SCOTTSDALE CHRISTIAN at Phoenix Christian
ARIZONA LUTHERAN at Scottsdale Prep
Miami at ST. JOHNS
Bisbee at TOMBSTONE
Mountainside at TRIVIUM PREP
Hopi at TUBA CITY
Santa Cruz at WILLCOX
1A Conference
Thursday, Oct. 8
Maryvale Prep at SALOME
Friday, Oct. 9
HAYDEN at Cicero Prep/North Phoenix Prep
Baboquivari at DESERT HEIGHTS
SAN MANUEL at Duncan
Sedona Red Rock at JOSEPH CITY
Bagdad at MAYER
Fort Thomas at ST. DAVID
RAY at Superior
Mogollon at WILLIAMS
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: Arizona Republic's high school football picks, Oct. 8-9, 2026
