Here are The Republic's picks for the top 20 Arizona high school football performances for games played Aug. 27-29, 2026. Vote in our poll below for the player you think had the best overall game. Print readers can find the poll online with this story at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools. The poll will close at 6 p.m., on Sept. 3.
- Makai Nelson, Basha, WR, Jr.
He set up Basha’s first touchdown with a 47-yard catch in the Bears’ 37-26 win over Chandler. He caught two TD passes in the first half, including a leaping one in the back of the end zone as time ran out. He also had a punt return for a touchdown that was called back by a penalty.
2. Kacey Allen Jr., Hamilton, DB, Jr.
In a 25-6 win over Brophy Prep, he intercepted a pass and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. He also
had five solo tackles and five assisted tackles, three tackles for losses, a sack and a forced fumble.
3. Christian Garcia, Marcos de Niza, RB, Sr.
In a 49-28 win over host Flagstaff, he ran 13 times for 405 yards and five touchdowns.
4. Jason Haines, Liberty, QB, So.
In a 58-18 win over Mesa, he passed for 415 yards and four touchdowns.
5. Blake Roskopf, Desert Edge, QB, Sr.
In a 20-0 win over Cactus Shadows, he completed 23 of 33 passes for 416 yards and three TDs.
6. Sawyer Hales, Queen Creek, QB, Jr.
In a 35-31 win over Higley, he completed 14 of 21 passes for 351 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions.
7. Kaeden Weaver, Red Mountain, WR, Jr.
He had three catches for 154 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown. He also completed a 79-yard touchdown pass in a 35-34 win over Casteel.
8. JJ Horne, Arizona College Prep, RB, Sr.
Carried the ball 20 times for 309 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-14 win over Willow Canyon.
9. Emilio DeSantis, Cholla, WR, Sr.
In a game that ended at halftime, he had 124 yards on four catches with three touchdowns.
10. Ryan Lavigne, Cactus, LB, Jr.
In a 37-0 win over Mountain Ridge, he had four tackles, a blocked punt and an interception that he returned for a 30-yard score.
11. Daryl Little II, Thunderbird, QB/Athlete, Jr.
In a 47-0 win over Moon Valley, he ran six times for 74 yards and a TD, completed 6 of 9 passes for 113 yards and a TD and had two receptions for 55 yards, including a long TD catch as the first half ended.
12. Ramsey Pyne, Ironwood, RB/WR, Sr.
In a 36-15 win over Apollo, he ran 13 times for 166 yards and two TDs and caught two passes for 73 yards and a score.
13. Marshawn Britt, Chandler Prep, RB, Jr.
In a 41-6 win over Trivium Prep, he ran for a school-record 252 yards on 18 carries and two TDs.
14. Marc Duerson III, Basha, LB, Sr.,
He had three forced fumbles and two recoveries. Another was returned for a TD by his teammate, Tre Kennard.
15. Branson Brown, St. Mary's, RB, Sr.
In a win over Mingus, he ran for 137 yards and two TDs on only eight carries and returned a punt 61 yards for a score.
16. Hamlet Good, Heritage Academy Mesa, RB, Jr.
In a 24-0 win over Heritage Academy Laveen, he ran for 129 yards and two TDs, averaging 9.5 yards a carry.
17. Micah Montijo, Highland Prep West, QB,
In a 56-16 win over Madison Highland Prep, in his first game ever playing quarterback, he passed for 263 yards and three TDs and ran six times for 52 yards and a score.
18. Cooper Yackley, Surprise Shadow Ridge, RB
In his team’s season-opening win, he ran 19 times for 187 yards and a TD with a long of 70 yards.
19. Dylan Brush, Horizon, RB, Jr.
Ran 26 times for 235 yards and four touchdowns, as the Huskies had more than 400 yards on the ground, in a 63-34 win over Verrado.
20. Chase Valdez, Verrado, QB, Jr.
In the loss to Horizon, he completed 31 of 51 passes for 396 yards and four TDs with two interceptions.
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. Top 20 Arizona high school football players, Aug. 27-29
