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Defending champion American Leadership coach breaks down 3A playoffs | 1:11
It’s a balanced bracket and a wide-open race for the Arizona high school football 3A championship.
Richard Obert/ azcentral sports
1 of 19
Phoenix Christian coach breaks down 2A playoffs | 1:45
Phoenix Christian coach Brian Cole talks about the Arizona high school football 2A playoff brackets.
Richard Obert/ azcentral sports
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Moon Valley honors Carlos Sanchez at game | 1:38
Moon Valley booster club president describes the community rallying around the Sanchez family and creating #CarlosStrong to remember the player who died after an injury suffered in a high school football game.
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Chandler keeps Battle For Arizona Avenue trophy | 1:19
Chandler beats Hamilton 50-14 for Premier Region title
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Liberty’s Ryan Bendle talks about win over Centennial | 0:52
Senior quarterback Ryan Bendle of Liberty came up with big plays in his team’s win, but credit guys around him.
Jennifer Jimenez/Special to azcentral sports
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Williams Field’s Jadon Pearson talks about win over Queen Creek | 1:53
Jadon Pearson had two interceptions, including a pick-six to help Gilbert Williams Field defeat Queen Creek 27-6 Friday in Queen Creek. The win gave Williams Field the San Tan regional title and an automatic playoff berth.
Nick Snow/Special for azcentral sports
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Dylan Naylor after Kellis’ win over Ironwood | 0:45
Dylan Naylor had 206 receiving yards and two touchdowns to lead Kellis over Ironwood on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017.
Jake Rill/Special to azcentral sports
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Higley QB Spencer Brasch talks the victory over Seton | 1:43
Higley beat Seton, 50-0
Robert Gundran/azcentral sports/
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Arizona Lutheran outscores Gilbert Christian | 1:04
Arizona Lutheran RB Brandon Garcia and coach Dave Peter discuss their win over Gilbert Christian.
Adam Stites/Special for azcentral sports
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North’s Jason Cortez discusses their win over Maryvale | 0:54
North blanked Maryvale, 46-0
Jose M. Romero/Special to azcentral sports
10 of 19
Rivalry Week heats up with Chandler, Hamilton | 1:19
Chandler and Hamilton talk about football rivalry at Chandler Rotary Club’s Battle For Arizona Avenue luncheon
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Brock Purdy reacts to Perry’s 65-63 win over Hamilton | 1:01
QB Purdy on shootout win over Hamilton
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Lance Lawson leads Red Mountain to region title | 1:14
Red Mountain honored Lance Lawson for his career before game
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Chaparral QB Jack Miller talks after his team’s win | 0:37
Chaparral QB Jack Miller discusses their 64-20 win over North Canyon
Chris Whitcomb/azcentral sports
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Highland QB Kaleb Herber talks about win over Gilbert | 1:00
Highland QB Kaleb Herber discusses their 41-34 win over Gilbert
Ben Stapley/Special for azcentral sports
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Phoenix Christian’s Corey Leary, Brian Cole after big 2A victory | 0:44
Phoenix Christian is the 2A Metro West champion after defeating Scottsdale Christian Academy, 28-7.
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Desert Ridge’s Cooper Schmidt discusses momentum heading into playoffs | 1:34
Cooper Schmidt’s 74-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage helped Desert Ridge take down Desert Vista 35-7 Friday in Mesa.
Nick Snow/Special for azcentral sports
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McClintock RB Tyrese Green on win over Sunnyslope | 0:42
McClintock’s Tyrese Green had 179 total yards in their 19-15 win over Sunnyslope.
Jose M. Romero/Special to azcentral sports
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Sunrise Mountain’s Angel Ruiz on blowout win over Greenway | 0:50
Angel Ruiz from Sunrise Mountain starred in the 60-0 win over Greenway with three touchdowns.
Jennifer Jimenez/Special to azcentral sports
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Defending champion American Leadership coach breaks down 3A playoffs
Phoenix Christian coach breaks down 2A playoffs
Moon Valley honors Carlos Sanchez at game
Chandler keeps Battle For Arizona Avenue trophy
Liberty’s Ryan Bendle talks about win over Centennial
Williams Field’s Jadon Pearson talks about win over Queen Creek
Dylan Naylor after Kellis’ win over Ironwood
Higley QB Spencer Brasch talks the victory over Seton
Arizona Lutheran outscores Gilbert Christian
North’s Jason Cortez discusses their win over Maryvale
Rivalry Week heats up with Chandler, Hamilton
Brock Purdy reacts to Perry’s 65-63 win over Hamilton
Lance Lawson leads Red Mountain to region title
Chaparral QB Jack Miller talks after his team’s win
Highland QB Kaleb Herber talks about win over Gilbert
Phoenix Christian’s Corey Leary, Brian Cole after big 2A victory
Desert Ridge’s Cooper Schmidt discusses momentum heading into playoffs
McClintock RB Tyrese Green on win over Sunnyslope
Sunrise Mountain’s Angel Ruiz on blowout win over Greenway
This page will be updated with matchups when the post-season brackets are released on Saturday, the day after the conclusion of the regular season.
Already underway: the 1A, 8-man state championship football bracket.
On Saturday, the AIA will release the other brackets during a live web show.
They will be released in this order:
9:15 a.m. – 2A; 9:30 a.m. – 3A; 10 a.m. – 4A; 10:15 a.m. – 5A; 10:30 a.m. – 6A.
WATCH: AIA football bracket release show (2A-6A)
First round
6A football tournament bracket
The 6A state championship will be Saturday, Dec. 2 at the University of Arizona at 7 p.m.
First round
Friday, Nov. 3
No. 16 Yuma Cibola at No. 1 Phoenix Mountain Pointe, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Scottsdale Desert Mountain at No. 8 Gilbert Highland, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Mesa Skyline at No. 5 Chandler Hamilton, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 13 Anthem Boulder Creek at No. 5 Chandler Hamilton, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 14 Mesa Mountain View at No. 3 Chandler, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Laveen Cesar Chavez at No. 6 Phoenix Pinnacle, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Phoenix Horizon at No. 7 Mesa Red Mountain, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 15 Avondale Westview at No. 2 Mesa Desert Ridge, Friday, 7 p.m.
Bracket Breakdown: Chandler is playing the best football right now. So the No. 3 seed will only serve as motivation for a team that doesn’t need a lot of motivating. Chandler took out a No. 5 seed Chandler Hamilton in a 50-14 drubbing Friday night.
Chandler and Pinnacle is the second round will be huge. Chandler needed overtime to beat Pinnacle early in the year, but Chandler lost four defensive starters and wide receiver Gunner Romney to injuries in that game.
Desert Ridge, the No. 2 seed, is a nice story, but it will be tough to get past Chandler in the bottom-half semifinal. Mountain Pointe is a surprise No. 1 seed, but has struggled down the stretch, even in its wins. A Perry-Hamilton quarterfinal is going to be another shootout classic. Whoever wins that will still have to face a physical Mountain Pointe team in the semifinals. If Perry gets to the semis, I like the Pumas chances to reach the state final for the first time in their history. But this is Chandler’s season to win again.
5A football tournament bracket
The 5A state championship will be Saturday, Dec. 2 at the University of Arizona at 3:30 p.m.
First round
Friday, Nov. 3
No. 16 Laveen Betty Fairfax at No. 1 Vail Cienega, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Marana at No. 8 Buckeye Verrado, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Marana Mountain View at No. 5 Queen Creek, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 13 Goodyear Desert Edge at No. 4 Scottsdale Notre Dame, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 14 Gilbert Campo Verde at No. 3 Peoria Liberty, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Glendale Apollo at No. 6 Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Scottsdale Chaparral at No. 7 Gilbert Williams Field, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 15 Phoenix Sunnyslope at No. 2 Peoria Centennial, Friday, 7 p.m.
Bracket Breakdown: Some very intriguing first-round matchups, especially the Notre Dame-Desert Edge game. Notre Dame needed overtime to hold off Desert Edge back in August. It hasn’t benefited from a light schedule. Liberty, despite the win over Centennial, only managed to be No. 3. That makes the Liberty-Centennial semifinal, in essence, the championship game. The upper bracket is wide open with Notre Dame, at No. 4, finding a favorable path to the final. But Cienega, behind dual threat QB Jamarye Joiner, looks good to get to the Dec. 2 final in Tucson. Whoever wins the bottom half semi, to me, wins it all.
4A football tournament bracket
The 4A state championship will be Saturday, Dec. 2 at the University of Arizona at noon.
First round
Friday, Nov. 3
No. 16 Apache Junction at No. 1 Sunrise Mountain, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Marcos de Niza at No. 8 Cactus Shadows, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Phoenix Moon Valley at No. 5 Glendale Cactus, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 13 Tucson Pueblo at No. 4 Tucson Salpointe Catholic, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 14 Buckeye at No. 3 Gilbert Higley, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Tucson Catalina Foothills at No. 6 Chandler Seton Catholic, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Sahuarita Walden Grove at No. 7 Peoria, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 15 Cottonwood Mingus at No. 2 Scottsdale Saguaro, Friday, 7 p.m.
Bracket Breakdown: Unbelievable. The first thing that strikes me is the first-round matchup between Moon Valley and Cactus. This was the game last week in which Moon Valley junior linebacker Carlos Sanchez collapsed on the field late in the game and died in the hospital over the weekend. This has to be Moon Valley’s worst scenario. But it took a huge step by getting back on the field in Friday night’s loss to Peoria. Maybe it is best to play Cactus again, it could wind up being cathartic for both teams.
A Salpointe-Sunrise Mountain semifinal will be huge, so will Saguaro against Higley in the other semi. It would be a shock if there is another team out there that cracks the final four.
I see Saguaro and Salpointe meeting in Tucson for the title with Salpointe ending Saguaro’s string of four consecutive state championships.
3A football tournament bracket
The 3A state championship game will be Friday, Nov. 25 at Gilbert Campo Verde High School at 6:30 p.m.
First round
Saturday, Nov. 4
No. 16 Wickenburg at No. 1 Pusch Ridge, Saturday 6 p.m.
No. 9 Show Low at No. 8 Phoenix Northwest Christian, Saturday, 6 p.m.
No. 12 Fountain Hills at No. 5 Tucson Sabino, Saturday, 6 p.m.
No. 13 Page at No. 4 Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin, Saturday, 6 p.m.
No. 14 Tucson Empire at No. 3 Queen Creek Casteel, Saturday, 6 p.m.
No. 11 Lakeside Blue Ridge at No. 6 Florence, Saturday, 6 p.m.
No. 10 Snowflake at No. No. 7 Yuma Catholic, Saturday, 6 p.m.
No. 15 Ganado at No. 2 Queen Creek American Leadership, Saturday, 6 p.m.
Bracket Breakdown: Wow. This is as balanced a bracket as there is. Any one of a eight teams could win it all. But take a closer look, and you’ll find Pusch Ridge and Sabino in one semifinal and American Leadership and Casteel in the other.
Casteel ran the regular-season table as the preseason No.1 team but only gained a 3 seed out of it because of its light schedule, other than playing Yuma Catholic. American Leadership likely keeps Casteel from having to face Yuma Catholic again. They’ll meet in the quarterfinals. That has a semifinal feel.
Benjamin Franklin, which opened with its only loss to defending state champion American Leadership, is a dangerous 4 seed. But Sabino should be able to get past that semifinal. I think Pusch Ridge ends up taking it all.
2A football tournament bracket
The 2A state championship game will be Friday, Nov. 25 at Gilbert Campo Verde High School at 1:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Saturday, Nov. 4
No. 16 Kingman Academy vs. No. 1 Eagar Round Valley, at Round Valley, 6 p.m.
No. 15 Bisbee vs. No. 2 Phoenix Christian at Phoenix Christian, 6 p.m.
No. 14 Willcox vs. No. 3 Thatcher at Eastern Arizona College, 6 p.m.
No. 13 Pima vs. No. 4 Eloy Santa Cruz Valley at Eloy Santa Cruz, 6 p.m.
No. 12 Whiteriver Alchesay vs. No. 5 Scottsdale Christian at Scottsdale Christian, 6 p.m.
No. 11 San Tan Foothills vs. No. 6 St. John’s at St. John’s, 6 p.m.
No. 10 Tempe Prep vs. No. 7 Gilbert Christian at Gilbert Christian, 6 p.m.
No. 9 Arizona Lutheran vs. No. 8 Morenci, at higher seed, 6 p.m.
Bracket Breakdown:Round Valley’s top seed will be challenged in the end by Phoenix Christian, which has been ranked No. 1 by azcentral sports since preseason and showed no signs of slipping throughout the season with QB Hunter Cole leading the way for his father Brian’s team. Cole know how to win championships, and even though Round Valley made a big statement the second half of the season with a win over defending state champion Thatcher, Phoenix Christian has few if any deficiencies and will play up to the competition. Watch for Santa Cruz to come through to meet Round Valley in one semifinal and Phoenix Christian to meet Thatcher in the other semi.
1A football tournament bracket
The 1A state championship game will be Friday, Nov. 10 at Maricopa High School at 6:30 p.m.
First round
Friday, Oct. 20
No. 9 Winkelman Hayden 30, No. 8 Fort Thomas 20
No. 12 Salome 72, No. 5 Mayer 42..
Saturday, Oct. 21
No. 6 Goodyear Trivium Prep 28, No. 11 Joseph City 26
No. 7 Kearny Ray 50, No. 10 Elfrida Valley Union 0
Saturday, Oct. 28
Quarterfinals
No. 9 Winkelman Hayden at No. 1 Heber Mogollon, 6 p.m.
No. 12 Salome at No. 4 Williams, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Goodyear Trivium Prep at No. 3 Superior, 6 p.m.
No. 7 Kearny Ray at No. 2 Bagdad, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 4
Semifinals
2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., at Maricopa High School
Friday, Nov. 10
1A championship
6:30 p.m., at Maricopa High School
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert. Watch the azcentral sports high school football show on the azcentral sports Facebook page, with a new episode live every week at 7 p.m.
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