Basha-Liberty headlines The Arizona Republic's Top 10 preseason high school football scrimmages
Suddenly, it's here. The 2023 Arizona high school football season. With the small schools set to start playing real games next week, the big schools will hold controlled scrimmages across the landscape. Coaches will be running the starters for maybe 20 to 30 plays. There will be the heat still to navigate. Some are pushing their scrimmages back from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
For those who can't wait for the real thing to start Aug. 25 for the big schools, here are 10 intriguing scrimmages to check out.
1. Chandler Basha at Peoria Liberty, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
This might be the headliner of all scrimmages. But don't expect to see coaches calling all the plays that they will want to hold back for the regular season. And the starters likely won't be in very long. But, it could be a prelude to the Open state championship game with the state's top two quarterbacks — Basha senior Demond Williams Jr., and Liberty senior Navi Bruzon — sharing the field.
Bruzon was the Gatorade Arizona Football Player of the Year, when he led the Lions to a 35-7 win at Basha after a couple of lightning delays. It was the only game Basha lost on its way to its ground-breaking first Open Division state championship. Now the spotlight is on the Bears with a No. 18 national ranking entering the season. And Liberty, which lost its only game last year 43-42 to Scottsdale Saguaro in the Open semifinals, is the underdog, feeling it's got something to prove this year after three straight excruciatingly close Open state semifinals losses.
2. Laveen Cesar Chavez at Phoenix Central, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
This is the first live action against another school since the Cesar Chavez football community was devastated by the drowning death of 15-year-old player Christopher Hampton in Show Low Lake while the team was at summer camp in the White Mountains last month. William Burwell is now leading the team with William Chipley on administrative leave, according to the Phoenix Union High School District. Since the tragedy, receiver/safety Phillip Braxton said he has returned from Peoria Centennial to play his senior season for his brothers in honor of Hampton. All of Chavez's practices are still closed off to the media. Meanwhile, Central feels really good about its upcoming season which will be led by a freshman quarterback, Cam Allen.
3. Chandler Hamilton at Phoenix Pinnacle, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
This scrimmage was pushed back from 6 to wait for the sun to go down. Hamilton plans to play its 1s for 30 plays and its 2s for 30. Pinnacle junior quarterback Wyatt Horton stayed tight after the nation's No. 1 senior prospect Dylan Raiola transferred in from Chandler, only to move to Georgia this summer so he wouldn't have to sit the first five games, due to AIA transfer rule. Horton led Pinnacle to its first 6A final last year, but he'll be getting used to new receivers, whom he believes can get the job done. Hamilton returns QB Beckham Pellant, who has the state's biggest line in front of him.
4. Tempe Corona del Sol, Marana at Phoenix Horizon, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Lots of buzz flying around both programs. Horizon, like Hamilton, has a formidable offensive line, and some playmakers to make them a 5A title contender, if not an Open eight playoff team. Corona del Sol coach Jake Barrow is excited about the prospects of unleashing an explosive offense, led by QB Connor Ackerley with several elite receivers, including freshman Jai Jones and junior Raiden Vines-Bright. Barrow plans to run his 1s through two series. Marana has the makings of an explosive offense, led by junior receiver Dezmen Roebuck, who had 92 catches for 1,274 yards and 13 TDs as a sophomore. Marana is the former coaching home of Horizon coach Andy Litten.
5. Glendale Apollo at Phoenix Arcadia, Thursday, 7 p.m.
Apollo could be a surprise team this year behind explosive plays by running back Adam Mohammed, who has two of the best linemen to run behind. They are Matthew Lado and Michael Watkins. All three players have committed to play college football at Arizona. Arcadia junior QB Braylen Rooney is poised to have a season that will have Power 5 schools coming in for him, and he'll have an extra big receiving weapon in Carter Pruitt at receiver. Pruitt, a D. I recruit, just played safety 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
6. Gilbert Mesquite, Tempe Marcos de Niza, Glendale Copper Canyon at Mesa Dobson, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Mesquite should improve under Vance Miller this year, after finishing the summer strong, returning 22 players with varsity experience, including nine offensive starters and nine defensive starters. Marcos, Copper Canyon and Dobson all are looking for improvements over last season, as well, in this four-way scrimmage.
7. Gilbert Williams Field at Chandler, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Two new quarterbacks are expected to lead their respective teams — Williams Field junior Kody Guy and Chandler senior Blake Heffron. Both have the ability to dial it up. Chandler will likely let Heffron take off and run much more. He is a natural quarterback who played receiver and kick returner last year when Raiola was the QB.
8. Scottsdale Saguaro at Gilbert Higley, Wednesday, 6 or 7 p.m.
This might get pushed back due to the heat. These teams meet every year for scrimmages. But this will be the first time Zak Hill is leading a Saguaro team that might have the best corps of receivers in the state with senior QB Mason Bray finally getting his opportunity to lead the Sabercats. Higley can scrimmage QB Luke Haugo, but the defending 5A champions likely will have to wait until midseason to have his services due to his transfer move from Phoenix North.
Read more: Top 10 Dynamic Duos to see in the 2023 high school football season
9. Chandler Arizona College Prep at Phoenix Sunnyslope, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
This is cool for ACP coach Myron Blueford, who went to Sunnyslope and was mentored by Vikings coach Sam Jacobs, while Blueford was an assistant under Jacobs at Phoenix Moon Valley. Sunnyslope has one of the top QBs in the state in Luke Moga, and ACP has one of the top edge rushers in Cayden Gibson.
10. Queen Creek at Phoenix Brophy Prep, Thursday, 6 p.m.
This will be held at the Graham Sports Complex, formerly known as the Brophy Sports Complex. Brophy coach Jason Jewell highly respects Queen Creek coach Travis Schuereman. They're both former offensive linemen. The key for Brophy is to prevent another injury like last year when the Broncos lost highly touted safety Billy Eastep for the season in the Queen Creek scrimmage. Eastep is back, stronger than ever, committed to Yale, and ready for a breakout senior season.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Basha-Liberty tops Arizona high school preseason football scrimmages
