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This will be a season-long thread, ranking the top 10 teams in each of the six conferences in Arizona high school football. Keep coming back to this each day.
We’ll continue to add the other conferences, culminating with Thursday’s top 10 for 6A.
3A
No. 1 Queen Creek Casteel
Looks to ride big arm of QB Gunner Cruz to school’s first title.
No. 2 Florence
Jared Wood is back after throwing 37 TD passes last year.
No. 3 Queen Creek American Leadership
Defending state champs won’t fall off much.
No. 4 Phoenix Northwest Christian
All-state baseball player Jarin Davis has had a great summer at QB
No. 5 Tucson Pusch Ridge
RB/LB Dakota Haynes leads title contenders.
No. 6 Tucson Sabino
New coach and only four returning starters but will replenish.
No. 7 Yuma Catholic
Gave Casteel its only two losses last year.
No. 8 Wickenburg
Will ground and pound with Carson Miller’s most physical team.
No. 9 Show Low
Want to prove the East is not the least.
No. 10 Snowflake
Still needs to prove it can beat East-rival Show Low after losing to the Cougars the last two years.
2A
No. 1 Phoenix Christian
Brian Cole slides in as coach after leading Joy Christian to a 2A title two years ago.
No. 2 Thatcher
Defending state champs reloaded.
No. 3 Eagar Round Valley
Another beast from the East that can’t wait to meet up with Thatcher again.
No. 4 Eloy Santa Cruz
Skilled but are the Dust Devils deep enough?
No. 5 Benson
Opens its season at home Aug. 25 against Thatcher.
No. 6 Scottsdale Christian
Don’t feel sorry for the Eagles after QB Jack Miller moved up to Chaparral.
No. 7 Gilbert Christian
The numbers keep growing.
No. 8 Surprise Paradise Honors
Solid senior class led by 1,000-yard rusher Christian Moga.
No. 9 Tonopah Valley
Top three rushers return to give Paradise Honors a run in the Central.
No. 10 Pima
Potent, balanced offense led by accurate QB Josh Whitaker.
1A (8-man)
No. 1 Bagdad
With Pima in its second year in 11-man ball, Bagdad can start stockpiling championships.
No. 2 Williams
Only question mark at quarterback after reaching the final in ’16.
No. 3 NFL Yet
A year older and more athletic to make a serious run.
No. 4 Joseph City
Big back Matthew Fields looks to surpass 1,000 yards.
No. 5 Heber Mogollon
Plays in toughest region, the North.
No. 6 Mayer
Will hold its own in strong West.
No. 7 Elfrida Valley Union
Should win South with St. David rebuilding.
No. 8 Superior
Rebuilding but solid freshman class reinvigorates program.
No. 9 St. David
Retired coach Brent Davis has handed program over to his brother Braden.
No. 10 Salome
Another West Region threat.
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.
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