The Arizona high school football season continues this week as the MaxPreps/AIA rankings start to take shape. There are pivotal games on Sept. 24-25. The Arizona Republic breaks down 10 of the most intriguing matchups. All games are 7 p.m.
Vote in our poll below for the game you think is the best matchup of the week. Poll remains open until 7 p.m. on Sept. 24. Print readers can find the poll online with this story at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.
Top 10 Arizona HS football games of week
1. Chandler (3-1) vs. Brophy Prep (3-1), at Central, Sept. 24
This is huge for both teams as they position themselves in the 6A rankings/Open playoff seedings. Chandler beat Brophy 45-34 last year, led by Will Mencl's five touchdowns, three of them rushing. Mencl is back with his favorite receiver,
Jai Jones, as Brophy tries to slow down the Wolves. Brophy made a key move two weeks ago, moving Ryder Noche to running back, where he's had two straight 100-yard games.
2. Benjamin Franklin (5-0) at Valley Christian (4-1), Sept. 25
It will be interesting to see how equipped Valley Christian is against the state's most potent 3A team, after some players came off the sideline and onto the field during a late-game skirmish against Crismon last week. Players who do that have to serve one-game AIA suspensions. The Trojans made a big statement in the 43-14 rout of a really good Crismon. But this Benjamin Franklin team, led by quarterback Gavin Wyler (1,048 yards, 20 touchdowns, no interceptions), looks even stronger than last year's team, which lost its only game to Round Valley in the 3A final.
3. Mesa Mountain View (2-2) at Mesa (2-2), Sept. 25
This still is one of the best big-school football rivalries in the state. Both teams have common losses against Peoria Centennial. This appears evenly matched. Both play tough defense. They're both playing tough schedules that will get them ready for the playoffs. But will they be in the Open or the 6A bracket? Mesa still has to play Basha on Oct. 16.
4. Chandler Basha (2-2) at Mesa Red Mountain (3-1), Sept. 25
After back-to-back losses to Orange Lutheran and Pinnacle, Basha came out in a 30-22 win last week over Peoria Liberty. The Bears are trying to heal up after losing eight starters to injuries two weeks ago. Red Mountain responded after the 45-35 loss to Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor with a 31-28 win over Gilbert Williams Field.
5. Centennial (4-0) at Queen Creek Casteel (0-4), Sept. 25
Casteel has played a brutal first-half schedule, which shows in its No. 15 6A ranking by MaxPreps, even without a win. That puts them in playoff territory. But eventually, the Colts will have to win these close games. QB Tee Smith is a dynamic dual threat for Casteel. But Centennial's defense is one of the best in the state, led by defensive end Luke Franklin.
6. Eagar Round Valley (5-0) at Payson (4-1), Sept. 24
Payson's loss last week to ALA Mesa North was a surprise. But it's a resilient team that will try to give Round Valley a game in this big 3A contest on Thursday night. Having running back Brody Crick back makes Round Valley that much more explosive on offense. He's been eased back in the last two games after an injury kept him out the first three.
7. Phoenix St. Mary's (4-0) at Yuma Gila Ridge (3-1), Sept. 25
The Knights don't want a repeat of last year, when they started 4-0 before losing to Gila Ridge, 21-14. That started a downfall: they lost four of their last six regular-season games, then fell to Phoenix Arcadia in the first round of the 4A playoffs. Gila Ridge is coming off its first loss, falling to Phoenix Northwest Christian 40-21.
8. Tempe McClintock (3-1) at Horizon (4-0), Sept. 25
McClintock isn't panicking after a 27-21 loss to 6A Mesa Westwood. But this is a huge 5A game for the renewed Chargers, who seem to be turning the corner under second-year coach Nick Offenberger with a fired-up offense. Horizon has let sophomore running back Dylan Brush loose the first four games. He already has 17 rushing touchdowns, including six last week when he ran for 407 yards in a win over Phoenix Sunnyslope.
9. Tempe Marcos de Niza (3-1) at Snowflake (4-0), Sept. 25
Snowflake has a chance to run the 4A table with one of the best teams in school history. An injury earlier this year to dynamic quarterback Jacob LaDuke hasn't derailed the Lobos, who have gotten strong play from Maverick Greer filling in at QB. Marcos de Niza's only loss was to 5A McClintock, 42-9, on Sept. 11
10. Chandler Hamilton (4-0) at Williams Field (3-1), Sept. 25
Top-ranked (6A) Hamilton has withstood an injury to reigning Player of the Year Roye Oliver III, with his brother Roman coming through at wide receiver. Roman is coming off a huge performance in a win over Casteel with 10 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns. QB Jax Sculley had his best game this year last week, completing 29 of 40 passes for 358 yards and three TDs. Williams Field has played better than expected, despite coming off the three-point loss to tough Red Mountain.
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, Sept. 24-25
