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.