Black Monday in AZHSFB tomorrow….any big ones anticipated?

Who is in for this years pick em?

I will list 16 games and you pick 15 of the winners.

We will start for Tuesday games like always. Get picks in by Monday night or Tuesday before 7:00pm.

We are starting this year on Monday since it is Turkey tournaments going around the state per usual...

The Open Division playoffs begin and I’ll be watching 2 teams that brought home trophies in 2023 as Liberty hosts Higley.

Higley (7-3) is making its first Open appearance. The Knights won the past two 5A titles. Gunner Fagrell (3,000 yards passing last year) is back at the controls and has receiver Jaden Taylor (53 catches, 842 yards, 13 TDs). On defense, HHS has 14 INTs with Ezy Brown having a pair of them. Among the wins for the Knights this year were Campo Verde, Desert Edge, and Desert Mountain.

Liberty (9-1) is making its 5th straight Open appearance. The Lions are the defending Open champs. Senior Hayden Fletcher has 2,500 pass yards along with 23 TDs. Braxton Huynh is having a breakout season in his sophomore year (52 catches, 851 yards, 9 TDs). LHS is riding a 6-game win streak and hasn’t lost a game to an Arizona team since the 2022 semifinals (Saguaro). Liberty has 48 sacks as a team with junior Hudson Dunn leading the way with 13.5 of them.

Will any of the 5A teams break through and move on to the semis? I’ll be on hand at Liberty to find out which team will play the Marana-Hamilton winner on Nov. 30 at Mountain Pointe HS.

Well me yearly trek around the valley starts tomorrow (well Wednesday for the AIA)

Here we go again. WAY WAY TOO EARLY to start BUT

I already know of 1 job opening!

Check out the sixteen schools (and HCs) participating in the Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge scheduled December 27-31 at Westwood HS in Mesa, AZ:

Brooklyn (NY) Canarsie - Jake Edwards, HC
Buckeye Verrado - Andra Rogers, HC
Gilbert Christian - Jason Pasquariello, HC
Gilbert San Tan Charter - Kyli Crooms, HC
Goodyear Desert Edge - Jason Wabbington, HC
Humble (TX) Atascocita - David Martinez, HC
Mesa Westwood - Daken Skouson, HC
Orange Park (FL) St. Johns Country Day - Ian Gibson, HC
Playa del Rey (CA) St. Bernard - Bernard McCrumbry, HC
Phoenix Pinnacle - Charlie Wilde, HC
Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep - Brad Quinet, HC
Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep - Aaron Trigg, HC
Snohomish (WA) Glacier Peak - Brian Hunter, HC
Stansbury Park (UT) Stansbury - Payton Dastrup, HC
Tempe Corona del Sol - Neil MacDonald, HC
Tucson Salpointe Catholic - Eric Castillo, HC

Under the umbrella of Monarch Sports Arizona, the event partners are Westwood HS & Mesa Unified School District. For real-time updates on the tournament, visit @visitbb (X) and @MonarchSportsAZ (Instagram, X).

Check out the twelve schools (and HCs) participating in the Saguaro Holiday Classic scheduled December 19-21 at Saguaro & Horizon High Schools in Scottsdale, AZ:

Gilbert ALA North - Mark Carlino, HC
Gilbert Christian - Jason Pasquariello, HC
Glendale Apollo - Jacob Marin, HC
Goodyear Desert Edge - Jason Wabbington, HC
Highlands Ranch (CO) ThunderRidge - Joe Ortiz, HC
Olympia (WA) - John Kiley, HC
Omaha (NE) Millard South - Tim Leuschen, HC
Peoria - Jacob Kurt, HC
San Tan Valley Poston Butte - Ronald Moore, HC
Scottsdale Horizon - Bob Williams, HC
Scottsdale Saguaro - Lucas Ramirez, HC
Winnetka (IL) New Trier - Scott A. Fricke, HC


Under the umbrella of Saguaro and Horizon boys basketball programs, event partners include Scottsdale Unified School District, Paradise Valley Unified School District, BSN Sports, and Monarch Sports Arizona.

Check out the eight schools (and HCs) participating in The LV8 Invitational scheduled November 27-30 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, AZ:

Gilbert Higley - Kenny Drake, HC
Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge - Justin Coleman, HC
Phoenix Mountain Pointe - Kaimarr Price, HC
Gilbert Perry - Sammy Duane, Jr - HC
Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep - Aaron Trigg, HC
Gilbert San Tan Charter - Kyli Crooms, HC
Avondale West Point - Ryan Nelson, HC
Gilbert Williams Field - Javon Cole, HC

Under the umbrella of Monarch Sports Arizona, the second-year event is sponsored by First Bank of Arizona, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, & Cloud 9 Sports. For real-time updates on the tournament, visit @MonarchSportsAZ (Instagram, X).

The playoffs begin for the 4A, 5A, and 6A and I’ll be starting out at the same place I began 2023’s playoffs - at ALA-Gilbert North. The Eagles host Goldwater in a 5A first-round game.

Goldwater (7-3) is in the playoffs for the first time since 2007! The Bulldogs won the Northwest Region title with its Single Wing offense. BGHS averages 344 rushing yards per game, led by 2,238 yards and 34 TDs from Dylan Hayhurst.


ALA-Gilbert North (7-3) has wins this year over Higley & Horizon (both in the Open). Two of the Eagles’ losses have come against Desert Mountain & ALA-Queen Creek (both in the Open). For much of the season, ALAGN has used 2 quarterbacks - Conner White and Bryson Landon (combined 21 TD passes). In last week’s win over Horizon, it was all Conner White (208 passing yards, 2 TDs).

Can Goldwater shock the state with a 16-1 upset? I’ll be there to see if the Bulldogs can stop ALAGN and what that rushing offense can do!

Top-10 running weekly or biweekly
My own personal rankings...NOT the computer

OK here we go

I am sure to get this wrong

I will do 1-2 at a time.

73 team breakdown: (Tried to just get 1 per)
32 6A
19 5A
13 4A
5 3A
3 2A
1 1A

Can you please explain to me how a good young man with no discipline problems and with good grades is punished by his parents decisions. This young man was living with his Aunt and Grampa in Agua Fria district so that his dad can tie up things with his wife and work in California. No, there was no court paperwork or nothing like that, just a decision that his parents thought that was in the best interest of this young man. He played Basketball in a District, but now his dad has moved to another District where he can afford a place for himself and his Son. There is no transportation for this young man to go back to his former District so he is attending the school in which boundaries he lives in.. The Basketball coach from where he transferred from has took it personal and said that this young man left because his dad did not like his program ( You should be ashamed of yourself for stopping a young man from playing). So the young man has to sit 9 games. His hardship has been denied, because there probably is not enough evidence or paperwork besides residency of his dad in California and now here in Phoenix. This young man is a Senior and has potential this year to earn a scholarship.
They do not have money for a lawyer. It is really a shame. I have seen transfers left and right in this state, and appeals being herd with a Lawyer on hand and it gets overturned. What about the families that cannot afford that option. He did not transfer to a Basketball Powerhouse nor leave a Basketball Powerhouse. Am I missing something!! Here are the hardship Rules. Does he not fall in this category. The kid does not make any decisions.

5.14.1 Hardship Defined - Each case is dependent upon its facts, but as a general guideline, the Executive Board will use the following criteria:
15.14.1.1 An unforeseeable, unavoidable, and uncorrectable act, condition, or event, over which the student and his/her family has no control; and
15.14.1.2 Which has caused a severe burden upon the student or his/her family; and
15.14.1.3 Which has caused the student’s noncompliance with the eligibility rule(s) involved.
15.14.1.4 Whether athletics plays a role in the circumstances involved in the hardship request. NOTE: Where it is determined that athletic motivation is present; this would be sufficient, in and of itself, for denial of the hardship request.
15.14.1.5 Loss of eligibility in itself is not to be considered a hardship

It’s the final week of the regular season and I’m going Way out West to see Desert Edge at Verrado. 5A Desert West Region is on the line and it will be my first trip to VHS since 2017.

Desert Edge (6-3) has won 4 straight and allowed just 41 total points during the streak (10.25/game). The Scorpions have a D-I talent in CB Jamar Beal-Gaines, a Texas A&M commit. In last week’s win against Cactus, Desert Edge limited the Cobras to just 42 total yards of offense! Elijah Sherbin-Fox had 4 of the team’s 6 sacks. Sophomore QB Blake Roskopf became eligible in Game 6 and has 1146 passing yards and 9 TDs in his 4 starts.

Verrado (7-2) has dialed up the offense all season. The Vipers have scored 40 or more points in each of their last 8 games. Senior Jack Isidore had 176 of the team’s 239 rushing yards in a win over Canyon View (42-7) and is over 1100 yards for the season. QB Chase Gieszler has 24 touchdown passes in his second year as a starter. He is averaging over 200 yards per game and also has 8 rushing TDs.

Desert Edge can win the 5A Desert West Region with a victory. A Verrado win coupled with a Cactus loss to Millennium gives the Vipers the Region. If Verrado & Cactus both win, it creates a 3-way tie and the region would be settled via the final power rankings on Saturday.

2016 6'9" C Klay Stall (Basha) received his 4th offer from North Dakota. Portland State, San Jose State and E. Washington. (other 3)

2017 6'5" W Caleb Simmons (DV) received his 1st offer ever from Portland State.

Heading out to Laveen tonight to see a pair of experienced coaches in their first year with new programs. The transition has gone well for both as they are meeting for a region title. It’s Mountain View and Cesar Chavez.

Mountain View (7-1) is scoring 51 points per game. It’s a balanced offense for the Toros that averages more than 200 yards passing with Brady Goodman (28 TDs, 3 INTs) and 200 yards rushing led by Reese Bodily (804 yards). The Toros are led by Andy Litten, who has coached with Marana and Horizon.

Cesar Chavez (6-2) has scored more than 40 points four times this year. Sophomore Pharis Jenkins is coming off a 200-yard game against Mesa. Another sophomore, Mason Penrod, has 13 TD passes for the Champions. Cesar Chavez is led by alum Chandler Hovik, who coached previously with Central.

Chavez won just 3 games last season and has already doubled its total. Mountain View could have a shot to make the Open with a win as the Toros close with Red Mountain. Which team will be putting up a region championship banner in the gym? I’ll be on hand to find out!

It’s been 7 years since I’ve seen a game at Bemis Field. Heading out to Scottsdale this week to see Notre Dame Prep against Cactus Shadows.

Cactus Shadows (5-3) has one of the state’s most exciting players in junior QB Donivan Dixon. The dual-threat has accounted for 32 touchdowns (20 passing, 12 rushing) this season. This will be the first time I’ve seen him play live (not counting 7x7 tournaments). The Falcons have been in every game and all three of their losses are by just one score. However, 5A Northeast Region games have been difficult for CSHS as the team has lost 12 straight (0-3 this year).

Notre Dame (4-3) started the year off at 4-0, but has seen the offense fall upon hard times. The Saints have scored a total of just 7 points in their three-game losing streak. The star power for NDP lies with WR Cooper Perry, an Oregon commit, who has 48 career touchdown receptions. Will the Saints be able to be creative enough on offense despite some injury woes to score points on a Falcon defense giving up 34 points per game this season?

Both teams are currently ranked in the 5A Conference and are vying for a potential home game in the first round.

It’s Big Game week for me! Heading out to East Mesa for the big tilt between ALA-Queen Creek and Red Mountain. Both teams enter with perfect 6-0 records!

ALA-Queen Creek hasn’t allowed 20 or more points in a game this season. The Patriots have 23 sacks this year and bring a pass rush that includes Ryder Agne, Brody Michael, and Talon Roit.

Red Mountain averages 44 points per game this year. The Mountain Lions have a strong passing duo with Simon Lopez (15 TDs, 0 INT) and Bode Wagner (514 yards, 5 TDs).

Both teams have had a week off to get ready for it. Both teams currently in the Open Division rankings. Should be an exciting one with big implications!

Arizona Varsity High School Football 2A-6A Rankings- 8/29/24

An abbreviated slate this week as 44 teams in the 6A & 5A have their bye weeks. One team that's already had its bye is defending-champion Liberty. I'll be headed up to Peoria for the Lions' game this Friday against Pinnacle.

Pinnacle (4-2) has only lost to La Cueva (NM) and ALA-Queen Creek - both are undefeated. The Pioneers have experienced QB Wyatt Horton, an Idaho State commit, who has 15 TD passes in his senior season. PHS has spread it around as the team is averaging 237 passing yards per game, but no individual receiver has more than 300 receiving yards on the year.

Liberty (4-1) has won 16 consecutive games against Arizona competition. Saguaro was the last to defeat the Lions in the 2022 Open semis. Liberty is coming off a resounding 45-20 win at Chandler. The Lions led that game 35-7 at the half. QB Hayden Fletcher has 1207 passing yards and 11 TDs. Sophomore Braxton Huynh leads LHS in receiving with 456 yards and 6 TDs.

Last year, Liberty won this game 57-19. Can the Pioneers make it a better game this year? I'll be on hand in North Peoria to find out.

The second half of the regular season begins with region play and I'm heading out to Glendale to see Ironwood against Agua Fria in what should be a competitive matchup. Both teams come in with 3-2 records.

Agua Fria is happy to be 3-2 as the Owls have won three straight. Last week, AFHS retained the River Rock when it stopped Tolleson on a 2-point conversion in the game's final minute to claim a 27-25 win. Unfortunately, Agua Fria hasn't entered offensive stats all year, so it will be a mystery to see what they have. I do know they return RB Jayvier Cook, who was a 1,200-yard rusher last season.

Ironwood started out 3-0 with wins over three Phoenix Union schools (two on the game's final play) before losses to Kellis & Verrado. The Eagles have already surpassed last year's win total from a 2-8 campaign. Since IHS has entered offensive stats, we'll give some love to Khavontae Paul. The junior QB is a dual-threat and has ran for 732 yards and 8 TDs in the first 5 games. This will be my first trip out to Ironwood since the 2018 season.

Last year, this game was a good one as Agua Fria prevailed 28-26. We'll see if this one comes down to the end as well to see who claims their 4th win and begins 5A Northwest Region play at 1-0.

We hit the midway point of the Arizona high school football season this week (even though it's supposed to hit 109 Friday!). It's been 14 years since I've done a game at Mesa High. How long ago was that, the winning quarterback that night was Brett Hundley of Chandler. Time to change that as the Jackrabbits host Casteel.

Casteel (2-2) is averaging 33 points per game. It's a balanced and powerful offense for the Colts led by QB Paul Palmer (13 TDs 0 INT), who was the most experienced returner in the CUSD at the position. On the ground, it's newcomer Isaiah Linyear, a transfer from New York. Linyear had his 2nd 100-yard game in a 45-6 win over Mountain Ridge last week. The Colts only 2 losses have come by 1 and 7 points.

Mesa (2-2) has rebounded from an 0-2 start to pull back even. QB Adrik Reed is a dual-threat with 5 TD passes and is also the Jackrabbits rushing leader with 186 yards. Griffin Yamamoto is a 2-way player for MHS, who has started on varsity since his freshman year. He leads the team in receiving and also plays safety. Mesa outscored district foes Skyline and Dobson 90-14 over the past 2 weeks. Are the 'Rabbits ready for the CUSD? I'll be on hand to find out as Mesa closes in on 700 wins in its illustrious history (MHS is currently at 695).

The Arizona Varsity AALL Power 25 (9/5/24)


Chilly and I had a debate over #1, and even though we went with Liberty... he might have been right.

Gridiron Arizona's 8 Shining Stars: Week 3

Heading up to North Scottsdale this week for a big 5A matchup between Cactus and Desert Mountain.

Cactus (2-1) rallied to score the last 27 points of the game (all in the 4th quarter) in a 41-30 win over O'Connor last Friday. It was a school-record game from Juju Stubblefield, who had 16 catches for 224 yards. One concern - the Cobras were limited to just 12 yards rushing.

Desert Mountain (3-0) made the Open last year, but graduated a lot off of that team. The Wolves have been sound defensively, though allowing just 21 points so far. The defense even scored the first 4 points of the game in last week's 18-7 win over rival Chaparral with a pair of safeties. No stats posted on MaxPreps from that one yet (hint-hint), but QB Bryce Herges threw 7 total TD passes in the Wolves' first 2 wins.

It's been 9 years since I've seen a game out at DMHS. Should be an entertaining one!

Heading out to the East Valley this week to see a pair of talented young QBs as Perry plays host to Queen Creek this Friday. Both teams come in at 2-0.

Queen Creek brings Clemson commit Tait Reynolds, who I haven't seen play live yet. The Bulldogs could equal their win total from all of last year this week. A dual-threat, Reynolds is averaging 224 passing yards for QC and also running for 129 yards per game. He's surpassed the 100-yard mark in each game. QCHS had a dramatic come-from-behind victory last week against Casteel, 39-38. This week brings another chance to take out a team from the CUSD.

Perry has sophomore QB Kael Snyder, who has thrown 7 TD passes in his first 2 varsity starts. He is coming off an Honor Bowl MVP performance against Granite Hills in San Diego, where he was 22-of-33 for 250 yards and a touchdown pass in a 39-21 win. Perry also has a two-way star in Maddox Ford, who has rushed for 109 yards and has 10 tackles and an interception from his linebacker position. Ford had 11 sacks last year as a sophomore.

So who will go to 3-0? I'll be on hand in Gilbert to find out on Friday night!