Top games to watch in 4A, 3A, 2A play-in round, 1A semifinals

Earlier this week we examined the top 6A and 5A games to watch in Week 8 of the Arizona high school football season. Now, we focus on the lower conferences. It’s the play-in round for 4A, 3A and 2A, while 1A is holding its state semifinals.

JD Humburg | Nov 19, 2020

Top games to watch in 4A, 3A, 2A play-in round, 1A semifinals /

Earlier this week we examined the top 6A and 5A games to watch in Week 8 of the Arizona high school football season, including the showdown between Chandler and Hamilton.

Now, we focus on the lower conferences. It’s the play-in round for 4A, 3A and 2A, while 1A is holding its state semifinals.

Here is an inside look at the top games to watch in each of those classes.

4A Play-In | 4A bracket

St. Mary’s Knights (5-2) at Poston Butte Broncos (6-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Poston Butte High School

Last meeting: This is the first meeting ever between the teams.

About the Knights: The Knights, the No. 11 seed in the play-in round, are making their first postseason appearance since 2016, when they lost to Higley in the first round. It’s been 21 years since they won a postseason game, losing their past seven playoff matchups. They rode a four-game win streak after a Week 1 loss to ALA-Queen Creek to get to this point, clinching their first winning season since 2014. Top players include senior RB/LB Liam Phelan (987 yards, 10 TDs, 65 tackles) and SS Jack Burch (36 tackles, five interceptions).

About the Broncos: The sixth-seeded Broncos are making their fourth postseason appearance since the school opened in 2009 and first since 2014. They have never won a playoff game, but the Black Canyon region champions feature one of the state’s top running backs in senior Zion Burns, who’s averaging almost 12 yards per carry (1,096 yards, 14 TDs). Sophomore DE Bobby Gaitan has had a fantastic debut season with 14 tackles for loss and 5½ sacks, and junior safety Amari Gilmore leads the defense with 66 tackles and four interceptions.

Prescott Badgers (4-3) at Cactus Cobras (5-2)

7 p.m. Friday at Cactus High School

Last playoff meeting: The teams have met once in the postseason — the Cobras won 14-10 in the 1987 3A Division 2 semifinals.

About the Badgers: The Badgers, the No. 13 seed, are in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season but have not won a playoff game since 2007. They’ve bounced back from an 0-3 start to earn their spot in the play-in round. Senior RB Nathan Wright needs 31 yards to reach 1,000 for the season, and he and sophomore Cody Leopold have combined for 22 touchdowns on the ground. Senior Luke McCauslin has a conference-leading 86 tackles (eight for loss).

About the Cobras: The fourth-seeded Cobras are a perennial contender in 4A, winning a playoff game each of the past four years and reaching the semifinals last season before losing a heartbreaker to eventual champion Mesquite. They enter the postseason on a four-game win streak. Sophomores Will Galvan (899 yards, nine TDs) and Chase Jasinksi (299 yards, two TDs) split time under center, allowing Galvan (10 catches) to spend time at receiver. Junior Justin Holmes (73 tackles, 11 for loss) leads the defense.

Other games

No. 16 Washington Rams (6-1) at No. 1 Mesquite Wildcats (5-1)

No. 15 Lake Havasu Knights (4-3) at No. 2 Casa Grande Cougars (5-1)

No. 14 Estrella Foothills Wolves (4-3) at No. 3 Coconino Panthers (7-0)

No. 12 Flagstaff Eagles (4-3) at No. 5 ALA-Queen Creek Patriots (6-1)

No. 10 Marcos de Niza Padres (4-3) at No. 7 Northwest Christian Crusaders (4-2)

No. 9 Peoria Panthers (4-3) at No. 8 Apache Junction Prospectors (3-2)

Note: No. 9-ranked Glendale was not included in the play-in round as it will not exit COVID-19 quarantine in time.

3A Play-In | 3A bracket

Wickenburg Wranglers (4-2) at Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets (5-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Blue Ridge High School

Last playoff meeting: The teams have met six times in the postseason, with the Yellow Jackets owning a 4-2 edge but the Wranglers winning the most recent matchup — 26-23 in the 2006 3A quarterfinals.

About the Wranglers: Wickenburg, the No. 10 seed, is back in the playoffs after a one-year absence seeking its first postseason victory since 2008. Their only losses this season were against two region champions (Yuma Catholic in Week 3 and Phoenix Christian in Week 6). Senior RB Bryson Alder is second in the conference with 1,065 rushing yards and has 13 touchdowns. Senior LB Clay Watson leads the defense with 74 tackles.

About the Yellow Jackets: Blue Ridge is third in the most recent AIA rankings but dropped to the No. 7 seed as four region champions vaulted ahead in the seedings. One of the most storied programs in 3A, the 15-time champions hope to make the final for the first time since 2013. Their only defeat this season was to rival Snowflake, 22-21 in Week 2. Senior dual-threat QB P.J. London (1,125 passing yards, 468 rushing yards, 15 combined TDs) leads the attack.

River Valley Dust Devils (5-2) at Phoenix Christian Cougars (4-3)

7 p.m. Friday at Phoenix Christian High School

Last meeting: The teams met last week in a non-region game, with River Valley winning 35-33 at home.

About the Dust Devils: River Valley is actually two spots higher than Phoenix Christian in the 3A rankings but ended up the No. 11 seed once four region champions were reseeded 3-6, leaving the Dust Devils the road team for this immediate rematch. They’re seeking a first playoff win since 2015. Junior RB Zach Hammett ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries last week, giving him 911 yards and 14 TDs this season.

About the Cougars: Phoenix Christian moved up this season from 2A, where it won six titles since 1984 and reached last year’s final. The Cougars are No. 11 in the AIA rankings but earned the No. 6 seed and a home game by virtue of winning the Metro West region. Senior RB Howard Russell leads the conference with 1,195 yards and 17 touchdowns — including a 356-yard, four-touchdown effort in last week’s loss at River Valley.

Other games

No. 16 Bourgade Catholic Golden Eagles (4-3) at No. 1 Yuma Catholic Shamrocks (7-0)

No. 15 Dysart Demons (3-2) at No. 2 Snowflake Lobos (6-1)

No. 14 Gilbert Christian Knights (4-2) at No. 3 Pusch Ridge Christian Lions (6-1)

No. 13 Safford Bulldogs (4-2) at No. 4 ALA-Gilbert North Eagles (6-1)

No. 12 Thatcher Eagles (4-3) at No. 5 Arizona College Prep Knights (5-2)

No. 9 Round Valley Elks (5-2) at No. 8 Valley Christian Trojans (6-1)

2A Play-In | 2A bracket

St. Johns Redskins (4-1) at Chandler Prep Titans (4-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Chandler Prep High School

Last meeting: This is the first meeting ever between the teams.

About the Redskins: St. Johns, the No. 10 seed, shared the Salt Region title with Miami in the same season that coach Mike Morgan became the state’s all-time winningest coach in Week 3, beating Holbrook 62-8. That kicked off a four-game win streak heading into the postseason.

About the Titans: Seventh-seeded Chandler Prep is in the playoffs for the third consecutive year and fourth time in the past five years, but the Titans have yet to win a postseason game. They are one of four teams out of the grueling Gila Region to make the play-in round. They feature a balanced rushing attack, with four backs with double-digit carries led by senior Aidan Daly (416 yards, four TDs). Senior Reese Villaboy ranks among the conference leaders with four interceptions.

Sequoia Pathway Pumas (4-2) at Morenci Wildcats (6-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Morenci Jr./Sr. High School

Last meeting: This is the first meeting ever between the teams.

About the Pumas: Sequoia Pathway qualified for the playoffs as the No. 12 seed in its first season transitioning from the Canyon Athletic Association, where the Pumas reached the final last year before losing to San Tan Charter. They also advanced out of the Gila Region. Senior QB Alex Montano (955 yards, 13 TDs) and freshman DE Norien Banks (47 tackles, 17 for loss) are among the team leaders.

About the Wildcats: No. 5 seed Morenci is making a sixth consecutive postseason appearance after finishing second in the San Pedro region behind top seed Benson, which handed the Wildcats their only loss, 12-6 in Week 5. Senior RB L.T. Morey leads a balanced offense with 584 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, and TE Maddux Martinez has caught a team-high 15 passes for 306 yards and six TDs.

Other games

No. 16 Pima Roughriders (2-3) at No. 1 Benson Bobcats (6-0)

No. 15 San Tan Charter Roadrunners (3-4) at No. 2 Scottsdale Christian Eagles (6-0)

No. 14 Veritas Prep Falcons (3-3) at No. 3 Santa Cruz Valley Dust Devils (5-1)

No. 13 Willcox Cowboys (3-2) at No. 4 Arizona Lutheran Coyotes (4-0)

No. 11 Glendale Prep Griffins (5-2) at No. 6 Parker Broncs (4-1)

No. 9 Miami Vandals (5-1) at No. 8 Scottsdale Prep Spartans (5-1)

1A Semifinals | 1A bracket

Williams Vikings (5-1) vs. Superior Panthers (6-0)

6 p.m. Friday at Coronado High School

Last playoff meeting: This is a rematch of the 2019 state final, won by the Vikings 35-20 for their fourth title.

About the Vikings: Williams is in the semifinals for the fifth consecutive season after defeating South Region champion St. David 38-20 in the quarterfinals. The Vikings spread the ball around in their offense, with five players with double-digit carries — senior Blake Smith has a team-high 489 yards on 48 carries, while sophomore Drew Logan has a team-high 13 touchdowns (eight rushing, five receiving).

About the Panthers: Superior seeks a fourth consecutive berth in the state championship game against a team that has proven to be their playoff nemesis since the Vikings dropped back to the eight-man ranks in 2015. The Panthers advanced with a 76-20 rout of Anthem Prep last week. Junior QB Matthew Cruz has thrown for 990 yards and 17 touchdowns with just one interception.

Bagdad Sultans (6-1) vs. Mogollon Mustangs (7-0)

6 p.m. Saturday at Coronado High School

Last playoff meeting: The teams met in the 2019 quarterfinals, with Mogollon winning 28-18. The Mustangs lead the all-time series 13-3, including 3-2 in the state playoffs.

About the Sultans: Bagdad is in the semifinals for the first time since 2017 and seeking to get to the final for the first time since it won its second championship in 2016. The Sultans ousted Tempe Prep 62-20 in the quarterfinals last week. Senior QB Rocky Sandoval has passed for 1,509 yards and 25 touchdowns (three interceptions) and run for eight TDs, second on the team to senior Steven Peterson (672 rushing yards, 14 TDs). Junior Connor Watson leads the conference with 40 catches for 640 yards and 13 touchdowns.

About the Mustangs: Mogollon has made 11 appearances in a state final but none since 2014, when it won the last of its four titles. The Mustangs secured a fourth consecutive semifinal trip with a 50-6 victory over San Manuel. They’ve been ranked No. 1 in 1A most of the season, led by senior RB/LB Jayk Kelton (784 rushing yards, eight TDs, 74 tackles, five sacks).

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