Jordan Spurgeon
The regular season is over for all levels in Arizona high school football.
There are of course teams that didn’t make it, who probably could’ve. That’s always going to be the result, no matter the system.
Here are the matchups for Round 1.
Open Division (Nov. 26)
Open Division 1st Round Matchups:
8 ALA-QC at 1 Hamilton
7 Queen Creek at 2 Chandler
6 Liberty at 3 Basha
5 Saguaro at 4 Cactus— Sports360AZ (@Sports360AZ) November 13, 2021
Hamilton and Chandler appear to be on a collision course for a rematch on Dec. 11. However, Queen Creek gave Chandler a run for its money early on in the season.
Saguaro at Cactus could be a really enticing matchup. Both programs have strong leadership and players who are bought in.
Liberty made a strong push at the end of the season to get in. They’re running into a 10-0 Basha team that’s hungry to prove that youth doesn’t matter. The Basha Bears also will be coming off three weeks rest after a bye week to end the season.
ALA Queen Creek is surprised to make the jump from 4A to the Open. Coach Ty Detmer says it doesn’t matter because they’re ready to play anyone that’s on the schedule.
6A Conference
Many people believed Highland could’ve been an Open team. They only lost to Chandler, Hamilton and Basha in three consecutive weeks. Now, as the top seed in 6A the Hawks should be the favorites.
Casteel had higher expectations this season, but now they’re in. And they’ll face a Desert Vista program that was winless in 2020. Ty Wisdon has done a great job turning the ship around there, even winning the Tukee Bowl last night against Mountain Pointe.
Chaparral is the defending 6A champ and is on track to meet Highland in the title game for a rematch. Brayten Silbor is a top QB in the state and is playing lights out this year. The Firebirds also beat Saguaro in a nail biter early on, so they’re battle tested.
Mountain View is under a resurgence with Joe Germaine at the helm. He previously coaches Queen Creek and is a Toro alum. His son Jack is a sophomore and playing great as the signal caller.
Official 6A Bracket:
16 Mountain Pointe at 1 Highland
9 Casteel at 8 Desert Vista
12 Desert Ridge at 5 Brophy Prep
13 Centennial at 4 Red Mountain
14 Boulder Creek at 3 Williams Field
11 Mountain Ridge at 6 Mt. View
10 Pinnacle at 7 Sandra Day O'Connor
15 Perry at 2 Chaparral— Sports360AZ (@Sports360AZ) November 13, 2021
5A Conference
Horizon had its best regular season in a long time. Under first year head coach Andy Litten, they beat Pinnacle and Desert Edge. The expectation there is to win it all. The defense is the backbone of the team.
Salpointe Catholic and Desert Edge both made the Open in 2020. Now, the 5A playoffs are a more even playing ground for the two respective programs.
Official 5A bracket:
16 Cactus Shadows at 1 Horizon
9 Cienega at 8 Verrado
12 Campo Verde at 5 Sunrise Mtn
13 Ironwood Ridge at 4 Desert Mtn
14 Canyon View at 3 Desert Edge
11 Millennium at 6 Desert View
10 Apollo at 7 Notre Dame
15 Sunnyslope at 2 Salpointe Catholic— Sports360AZ (@Sports360AZ) November 13, 2021
4A Conference
The top two 4A teams both made the Open, so this race is wide open. Mesquite is the back to back champ in 4A and have the opportunity to run it back a third year, this time without Ty Thompson who’s at Oregon.
Glendale is a resurgence story, after COVID-19 issues ended their season right as the postseason began in 2020. The program is hungry to show what it can do on a run.
Poston Butte and Casa Grande both played lights out this season.
4A Matchups:
16 Northwest Christian at 1 Poston Butte
9 Bradshaw Mountain at 8 Prescott
12 Canyon Del Oro at 5 Lake Havasu
13 Coconino at 4 Glendale
14 Benjamin Franklin at 3 Mesquite
11 Lee Williams at 6 Apache Junction
10 St. Mary's at 7 Buckeye
15 Deer Valley at 2 Casa Grande— Sports360AZ (@Sports360AZ) November 13, 2021
