Grand Canyon Times

Across Arizona, high school gridiron action will be fierce, as teams have moved to different conferences, and will face familiar and new foes. It looks to be an exciting year between the goal posts.

6-A Division

Competition will be strong in new-look 6A Division this year

The 6A Division has seven sections and 35 teams, and switching conferences is standard operating procedure as few sections are similar to what they were last year. The competition was fierce, and this year it should be even more ferocious.

Premier 

In the Premier League, three teams won 11 games and perennial leader Chandler, the No. 8-ranked team in the nation, fell to Hamilton, which was 4-0 (11-1 overall). Chandler was 3-1 in conference and 11-2 overall, losing in the state final to Saguaro. Look for top recruit QB Dylan Raiola, WR Justice Spamm and OL Nicolas Martin to have big seasons. Chandler saw its five-season championship run end last season, and is looking to get back to the top. Eleven-win Highland has left and Basha moves in from the Central, coming off a 10-0 regular season, led by No. 9 CB in the nation, Cole Martin.

Central

Basha won last year's Central crown at 4-0 and now moves to the Premier Conference. Mountain View was second at 3-1 in conference play last year, followed by Desert Vista at 2-2. Desert Ridge comes from the Fiesta Conference and Corona Del Sol also moves in. Mountain Pointe and Cesar Chavez are toughening up this year for stronger runs against the competition. Mountain View junior QB Jack Germaine threw for a section-leading 22 touchdowns and was second in yardage at 2341 (212.8 yards per game). Mountain Pointe's senior RB Kay'Len Rushing was third last season with 688 yards and looks to lead this year.

Northeast Valley

Highland enters the fray after an 11-win season and third place in Premier and this season they must face Saguaro (12-1), which is ranked No. 12 in the nation having defeated Highland's old foe, Chandler, in the state final. Saguaro is led by QB Devon Dampier, WR Deric English and OLB/TE Joseph Clark IV. Last season, Brophy Prep (3-1 conference), Chaparral (3-2 conference) and Pinnacle (1-4) were in the Desert Valley Conference, with Centennial coming in at 0-4 and conference leader Liberty going 4-0 in conference before departing.

Fiesta

The revamped Fiesta Conference now has Dobson, Mesa and Westwood from East Valley, while Trevor G. Browne and North come from Southwest. Dobson went 2-3 in conference, while Mesa was 3-2. Westwood was the conference leader at 4-1. North and Browne both sat at 3-2 in their old section. Last season, Queen Creek, Red Mountain and Williams Field sat atop the section at 3-2.

East Valley

East Valley has lost Dobson, Mesa and Westwood and is stocked this year with Mountain View, Queen Creek, Red Mountain, Sapointe Catholic and Williams Field. Mountain View was 3-1 in Central and 8-3 overall. Queen Creek, Red Mountain and Williams Field were all 3-1 in Fiesta play last year. Sapointe Catholic may be the strongest team in the field, coming off an 11-3 mark and going 4-0 in 5A Southern.

West Valley

Most of the teams in West Valley came from Desert Southwest, as this is a newly configured conference. Cibola was 3-2 in Desert Southwest, Valley Vista was 2-3, and Westview and Shadow Ridge both were 1-4 in the same conference. Valley Vista was 2-3 in-conference in the Southwest section. Tolleson Union looks like the team to beat, coming off a 7-3 mark and 5-0 in the Desert Southwest conference, finishing the year on a seven-game winning streak.

Desert Valley

Desert Valley is a newly configured section this year with five teams coming together from elsewhere, and with history together. Three teams join from the Southwest Conference and two from NE Valley. Sandra Day O'Connor was 5-0 in the Southwest Conference and 6-5 overall, and Boulder Creek also had difficulty outside the conference, going 4-1 and 5-6 overall. Mountain Ridge found success outside the conference, going 3-2 in SW and 8-4 overall. Centennial joins from NE Valley, going 0-4 and 3-8, but the team to watch is Liberty, which went 4-0 in NE Valley and 9-3 overall.

5-A Division

Realignments give reigning champs new homes

The 2022-2024 realignments have given Class 5A a different look. Some reigning champions find new homes to continue their success while programs that ended 2021 on the wrong foot are given clean slates.

Desert West

The newly configured section not only has one team seeking to defend its crown but two.

Aside from sophomore-to-be Hezekiah “Buddha” Millender, reigning Desert West king Goodyear Desert Edge has the challenge of fending off newcomer Glendale Cactus.

Cactus was elevated from Class 4A where it finished 2021 as West Valley champions.

Northwest

It’ll basically be a battle between the Canyons – reigning champion Waddell Canyon View and Surprise Willow Canyon – for section supremacy in 2022.

Canyon was perfect throughout its Northwest campaign while Willow Canyon fielded the highest-scoring offense in the section.

The lone team from last year’s three-way .500 logjam still in the Northwest, Agua Fria hopes to live life after George Martinez's departure, who retired after 44 years of coaching.

This section includes teams seeking fresh starts following subpar seasons. Among these programs, Avondale La Joya Community is seeking to notch its first win of any kind since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Glendale Copper Canyon also didn’t win a game in its previous section but finished 2021 with two wins overall.

Northeast Valley

A three-way race for first place could emerge between Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Cave Creek Cactus Shadows and Phoenix Sunnyslope.

Desert Mountain proved formidable for its section foes last year, compiling an impressive 5-0 mark on the way to an overall 12-2 finish.

Newcomer Mesa Skyline hopes a change in classification may do it some good.

Metro

With Glendale Apollo out of the picture, Phoenix Camelback has an opportunity to become the new Metro champion after finishing 2021 with a 7-3 overall record.

Apollo’s departure is also music to Phoenix Central’s ears, as the program sees itself climbing from third to first.

Central ended last season with a win and hopes to start a new chain of victories in the fall.

San Tan

The reclassifications have caused the section’s top two teams, Scottsdale Saguaro and Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep, to depart thus giving third-place Phoenix Horizon a chance to emerge from the middle of the pack.

The other remaining school, Gilbert Campo Verde, also has a clean slate with its toughest section competition gone.

Sonoran

The newly shaped Sonoran gives its four remaining teams – Tucson Marana, Tucson Sunnyside, Nogales and Tucson Rincon/University – and newcomers Tucson Cholla and Tucson Flowing Wells room for fresh starts.

By virtue of its overall and section records, Marana has a shot to succeed departed champion Cienega, which moved over to Class 5A – Southern.

Southern

After leaving the Sonoran a winner, newcomer Cienega accepts the challenge presented by Tucson Desert View and for the Southern crown.

Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge also has a chance to dethrone its old section rival in their new digs.

4-A Division

27 schools moved from previous classification

Football in 4A will look a little different this year after the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Executive Board moved 27 schools from their previous classification. While some teams dropped in classification, others moved up and many of them can be found playing 4A football, which should make for an interesting dynamic this year.

Desert Sky

After realignment, the Desert Sky will be bringing in three new teams in the Arcadia Titans, the Arizona College Preparatory Knights and the Combs Coyotes.

Last year, the Knights finished third in the 3A Metro East region with a 5-5 overall record and a 2-2 in the division.

The team to watch is the Arcadia Knights, led by head coach Ray Brown. During Brown’s first year as coach, the Knights stumbled out the gate, but managed a four-game winning streak to secure a playoff berth.

The teams familiar with Desert Sky football also hope that realignment turns their gridiron fortunes around. The Marcos de Niza Padres finished the 2022 season at 4-6 overall and 1-3 in the division, and the Seton Catholic Sentinels were 2-9 overall and 1-3 in the division.

Cooper Sky

The team to watch in the Copper Sky are the Carl Hayden Community Falcons who finished second in the division last year with an overall record of 6-1 and 3-1 in the division.

While the Washington Rams returned to the division, they finished in last place with a 3-7 overall and 0-4 district record. The Alhambra Lions, Independence  Patriots, Kofa Kings and Maryvale Panthers come down from 5A football. Combined, the four teams had two wins total.

Southwest

The Southwest division will likely come down to the Sierra Linda Bulldogs who finished first in Copper Sky last year with a division record of 4-0 (overall record of 8-2) and the Estrella Foothills Wolves who finished first in the Southwest division 3-0 (4-4 overall) .

A team to look out for are the Thunderbird Titans who had an overall 5-6 record and 1-3 Skyline division record. The other teams in the division are the Moon Valley Rockets were 2-7 overall and 2-2 in Skyline play while the Youngker Roughriders were 2-8 overall and 103 in Southwest play.  

Kino

The teams to watch in the Kino division are the Vista Grande Spartans who were 5-4 overall and   2-2 in Copper Sky play, along with the Canyon del Oro Dorados who were 7-5 overall and 3-1 in Kino play.

Rounding out the division are the Douglas Bulldogs 2-6 overall and 1-3 in Gila play, the Empire Ravens 5-6 overall and 3-1 in Gila play and the Mica Mountain Thunderbolts who 3-3 overall and weren’t in a division last year and the Pueblo Warriors who were 4-5 overall and 1-2 in Kino play.

Gila

The Gila division will most likely come down to the Walden Grove Red Wolves who played an abbreviated season last year and went 3-1 overall and 1-0 and finished first in Kino play.

Fighting them for the top sport will be the Amphitheater Panthers who finished last year with an overall 5-4 record and a 2-2 record in Gila play and the Catalina Foothills Falcons who won Gila play with a 4-0 record and notched an overall record of 6-4.

The Rio Rico Hawks, Sahuarita Mustangs and Sahuaro Cougars — who has a combined one win between them last year will all look to improve in 2022.  

East Sky

Realignment has left the East Sky as one of the most competitive divisions in football.

The Poston Butte Broncos had a 11-3 overall record and a 4-0 record as they won the Black Canyon division last year. The Snowflake Lobos notched a 13-1 overall record and won the 3A East going 5-0 in the division

The American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North Eagles had a 11-2 overall record and went 4-0 in 3A Metro East, finishing in first place.

The Apache Junction Prospectors could be a team to look out for as they had a 7-3 overall record last season and finished 2-1 in Black Canyon play.

Being a new school is tough and Desert Sunrise Golden Hawks, led by Jonathan Clark, will finally play varsity football this year without any seniors on the squad.

Grand Canyon

The Prescott Badgers won the Grand Canyon division last year by going 5-1 and 8-4 overall, however they will face competition in the Coconino Panthers who went 5-4 overall and 3-2 in district play.

The Bradshaw Mountain Bears will look to improve on last year’s 7-4record and 3-3 in district play.

Rounding out the division are the Flagstaff Eagles (4-6 overall; 1-4 district), Lee Williams Volunteers (8-4 overall; 3-2 in district) and the Mingus Marauders (2-8 overall;  0-5 district).

West Valley

While the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks moved up from 3A to 4A, they posted a 12-2 overall record and 5-0 record to win the West division last year and will have to fend off the Glendale Cardinals (11-2 overall, 4-0 in district) while winning the Skyline division.  

The Buckeye Hawks 8-3 overall and 3-1 in Southwest play are also a team to keep an eye out for while the Northwest Christian Crusaders (4-8 overall; 2-2 district) and the Peoria Panthers 4-6 overall and 3-1 in West Valley play round of the rest of the division.

3-A Division

Slugging it out for conference supremacy

The 40-team 3A Division will see a couple of new teams in the hunt this year, but the powerhouses from last year seem to be in line for repeat domination.

Northeast

Monument Valley is looking for an encore performance in its return to 3A Northeast play this season.

The Mustangs were a perfect 6-0 in section play last season, outscoring their six section opponents 269-38. And still bringing home the section crown wasn’t easy for Monument Valley, which finished just ahead of once-beaten Page (4-1).

With section newcomers Round Valley, Show Low, Winslow and Blue Ridge joining Window Rock (3-2 in 3A) and Ganado (2-4), the season is shaping up as another battle to the bitter end.

Metro East

In 3A Metro East play, Valley Christian (11-2, 3-1) reigns as the top-returning squad in a section where Arizona Lutheran and Tempe have moved on to 3A AIA play.

Fountain Hills is also back and looking to improve upon last season’s one section win. Payson and Phoenix Christian will round out the newly aligned six-team section.

South

In 3A South, Sabino and Pusch Ridge are back to slug it out again after both finished 8-3 overall and with three wins in-section last season.

Sabino took the head-to-head match between the two, knocking off their rivals at home 27-16 in early October. On the season, Sabino outscored its section opponents 175-82 and Pusch Ridge topped its rivals 189-87.

With Benson and Palo Verde having both moved to 3A, Safford and Thatcher will round out conference.

Central

In 3A Central, there’s been plenty of movement this offseason, and AL-Ironwood, Coolidge, Eastmark, Florence and San Tan Foothills are all set to battle to the end for league supremacy.

West

In 3A West play, seven teams are set to do battle in what figures to be one of the area’s most competitive conferences.

Chino Valley, Kingman, Mohave, Parker, River Valley, Wickernurg and Yuma all figure to have their chances.

Metro

In the 3A Metro West section, ALA-Foothills, Bourgade Catholic, Dysart, Oydssey Institute, Paradise Honors and Shadow Mountain all are poised for what’s shaping up to be a down-to-wire battle.

Independents

Finally, among 3A independents, ALA-Anthem South and Crismon are set to face off for top bragging rights.

2-A Division

Team musical chairs leaving conference dominance up for grabs

Realignment will be the buzzword for the 2A Division football season this year.

Most conferences have a different list of teams than in previous years as officials made adjustments for enrollment and such. With movement between conferences, the big question will be whether realignment will create more parity or lead to new rivalries being formed.

San Pedro

The San Pedro Conference is ripe for some team to step up into the top spot as last year’s top dogs, Benson (4-1 in section, 10-3 overall) and Morenci (4-1, 11-3), have moved divisions. Willcox stays put in San Pedro, and is coming off a 2-2, 8-3 record. Bisbee (1-4, 4-6) and Tombstone (0-5, 3-7) are also back. Those three schools will be joined by Catalina, Santa Rita and Tanque Verde.

Salt

The Salt Conference welcomes Morenci (4-1 in San Pedro last year, 11-3 overall) as its newcomer. The Wildcats, behind QB Dayton Johnson, will likely be challenged for the top spot in this conference by San Tan Charter (4-1, 5-5), Miami (3-2, 5-5) and Pima (3-1, 7-4). Globe (1-4, 1-8) and San Carlos (0-5, 1-7) round out the section.

Gila

The Gila Conference features a former Salt team, Gilbert Christian, that boasted a solid 2021-22 season as it swept through Salt sectional play, going undefeated at 5-0 on the way to a 9-3 overall record. Arete Prep (2-3 in Salt, 4-6) will pose a familiar foe for the Knights.

San Juan

No team in the San Juan Conference had a record that stood out last season, so it might take a while to see which school will emerge as its champion. That said, Chinle (0-5, 0-8) and Tuba City (1-4, 3-7) come from the 3A North Conference, where even though they didn’t have winning records they are used to playing against that level of competition. Greyhills Academy is new to the conference after being out of football for a couple of seasons. Many Farms (2-4, 2-7) also comes over from the Little Colorado.

Verde

Scottsdale Prep (4-1, 8-2) looks like the best bet on paper to lead the Verde Conference, though Veritas Prep, which comes over from the Gila Conference, could be a contender as well. Also, Scottsdale Christian (2-0, 5-4), with limited in-conference exposure last season, could present a good challenge.

Agua Fria 

Camp Verde (3-1, 8-4) was one of the standout teams last season. The Cowboys and Glendale Prep (2-2, 3-7) are the only two teams that stayed in the conference after the realignment.

Hassaympa

Trivium Prep (3-0, 5-5) and St. John Paul II (2-1, 5-4) are the two teams in the Hassaympa Conference that fared best last season, both finishing at or above .500. The other school that is staying in the conference is Tonopah Valley (0-3, 1-7). Highland Prep (0-4, 1-8) and Kingman Academy (1-3, 2-8) join the conference from Agua Fria. 

Little Colorado

The Little Colorado Conference was unaffected by realignment. Last season, the conference was split with three teams posting winning records and three not. Alchesay (2-1, 5-3), Holbrook (2-1, 7-3) and St. Johns (2-1, 7-5) finished with a three-way tie for first in the conference.

Independent

Two independent schools under the 2A umbrella are Highland Prep West and Sequoia Pathfinder. The Highland Prep Hornets went 0-4 in the Agua Fria Conference last year and were 1-8 overall. The Sequoia Pathfinder Academy team does not have any games scheduled at the time of printing.