The Arizona Republic's 10 most competitive high school football regions in 2023
It's not like the old days when region championships meant an automatic state playoff berth (at least not for more conferences), but region championship banners still are being made, and teams have much to play to try to come out on top of their region during the 2023 high school football season. And, with the AIA realigning conferences for football on an annual basis, regions also are realigned, turning some regions into beasts.
The Arizona Republic ranks the most competitive regions in the state for this season.
The Republic's Top 10 most compeititve regions
1. 6A Premier
This features the vaunted Chandler schools — Chandler, Basha and Hamilton, three of the greatest programs all-time in Arizona. And with always tough Casteel and a Perry team that wants to get back to being "Purdy" good, this region is second to none in Arizona when it comes to dog-eat-dog second-half grinds that can leave a team either exhausted or exhilarated entering the playoffs. It's a given every year that Chandler, Basha and Hamilton are among the eight Open teams. Since the Open's inception in 2019, Chandler has won it twice and Basha won it all last year.
2. 6A Northeast Valley
Take your pick here on who comes out on top: Centennial, Chaparral, Liberty, Pinnacle or Saguaro. All of them have a chance. Even Chaparral, which looks to flip the switch after going 3-7 last year behind new coach Doug Nisenson and sophomore quarterback Marcel Jones and his array of weapons. Liberty's only loss last year was 43-42 in the Open semifinals, one of the greatest Arizona high school football games ever. Centennial is back to an elite level with a chance to show how strong it has come back in next week's opener against Desert Edge. Zak Hill will be like the navigator of a PlayStation with so many dynamic pieces at Saguaro, which could find its way to a third straight Open final. And Pinnacle was in the 6A final a year ago behind QB Wyatt Horton, who is back, more confident than ever.
3. 5A Northeast Valley
This region is absolutely loaded with at least two teams having legit shots at making the Open. There are two defending conference champions — 5A Higley and 4A American Leadership Gilbert North — along with the usual tough teams Notre Dame Prep and Horizon. And Cactus Shadows should be improved with sophomore QB Donivan Dixon making progress from his freshman year leading the offense. Watch for Higley to take off the second half of the season when QB Luke Haugo becomes eligible. Desert Mountain is a legit Open championship contender, loaded with high-profile Division I prospects.
4. 3A South
Morenci moves up after reaching the 2A final the last two years. That team will be a problem under new coach Rishard Davis, who won a state championship leading Eloy Santa Cruz in 2020, before moving to Alabama. He's back and has a lot of talent to work with, namely running back Michael Casillas, a workhorse who could rush for 2,000 yards in Davis' system. Then, there is Tucson Sabino, which might be the best team in 3A, to go with green machine Thatcher, Tucson Pusch Ridge Academy and Safford. Absolutely, no weeks off for these teams during region gauntlet play.
5. 4A Kino
After one Southern Arizona team qualified for the state playoffs last year, teams wanted to be part of this region to make the schedules tougher to enough AIA computer points to be part of the 4A playoffs. This region was born with every team having a playoff shot now. It is comprised of Canyon del Oro, Catalina Foothills, Mica Mountain, Pueblo, Sahuaro and Walden Grove. All teams that improved since last year.
2-a-days: 1A South, East regions | 2A San Pedro, Agua Fria regions | 2A Verde, Salt regions | 2A Gila Region, 3A South Region | 3A East, North regions | 3A West, Metro West regions | 4A Desert Sky, East Sky regions | 4A Grand Canyon, 5A Desert Sky | 4A Gila, Kino regions
6. 6A Central
This is a crazy good region with Mountain Pointe, Brophy Prep and Corona del Sol so much better than last year. They're going to push each other. And Tucson Salpointe Catholic is going to be prepared better than ever for the state playoffs. If the Lancers get through this, it's Open ready. And don't count out Phoenix Desert Vista, despite losing so many players. Coach Scooter Molander is a great coach, and with former Thunder coach Dan Hinds around to lend help and advice, this program will be back on the rise in no time.
7. 4A West Valley
Every team reached the playoffs last year. With Buckeye, Lake Havasu, Northwest Christian, St. Mary's, Thunderbird and Yuma Catholic, there are no Friday nights off. Northwest Christian and Yuma Catholic are back in the same region, which makes for the best (geographically longest) rivalry perhaps in 4A. Watch for some thrilling finishes in every matchup these teams play.
8. 6A East Valley
American Leadership Queen Creek, the fastest-moving team in Arizona, moving from 2A to the top level in less than a decade, is part of this region, after two straight Open appearances. The Patriots will hold their own, going up against two-time defending 6A champion Highland, Queen Creek, Williams Field and Red Mountain. Every game will be incredibly tough to win in regional play for anybody. A team that goes unbeaten in this region might be deserving of one of those precious Open eight spots.
9. 5A Desert West
This will be a gauntlet for any of the teams — Desert Edge, Millennium, Cactus, Canyon View, Verrado and Sunrise Mountain — to get through. Desert Edge might look like the best team in this region, but the Scorpions will find out they'll have to go 100% every minute to get through unscathed.
10. 1A North
When you have Mogollon and Williams ranked 1 and 2 to start the season this week, you know this is a tough region. They'll battle it out to the end in the toughest 8-man region in Arizona with El Capitan/Centennial mixing it up, wanting to prove they'll be a tough out. Joseph City will also be tough, looking to improve after going 6-5 last year, four of those losses coming against Mogollon (twice), Williams and El Capitan/Centennial.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Arizona Republic's Top 10 competitive high school football regions
