PHOENIX — The high school football season is churning along and now we are just one week away from the playoffs kicking off here in Arizona for the big schools!
Heading into Week 11, the AIA has released their playoff rankings, which stretch from the 4A to the Open Division. 1A is already in the playoffs. 2A and 3A will start the playoffs this week.
As a reminder, the Open Division consists of the top eight teams from 4A, 5A, and 6A. The ranking is "based on a multiplier of a schools (sic) rating: 6A (10x), 5A (9x), 4A (8x)," according to AZPreps365.com. After the regular season, the top eight teams based on the multiplier will make the Open Division playoffs.
Here's a look at the final Open Division rankings before the playoffs through #16.
- Centennial Coyotes (9-0)
- Liberty Lions (8-1)
- Basha Bears (8-1)
- Canyon Del Oro Dorado (9-0)
- Chandler Wolves (7-2)
- Highland Hawks (7-2)
- Hamilton Huskies (7-2)
- ALA-Queen Creek Patriots (7-2)
- Desert Mountain Wolves (8-1)
- Pinnacle Pioneers (6-3)
- Higley Knights (7-2)
- Brophy Prep Broncos (7-2)
- Salpointe Catholic Lancers (8-1)
- Desert Edge Scorpions (7-2)
- Mica Mountain Thunderbolts (8-1)
- Arcadia Titans (9-0)
Top 16 in 6A
Let's now move on to 6A. Here are the top 16 teams in line to make the playoffs in 6A (with the teams that are in the top 8 of the Open rankings excluded).
- Pinnacle Pioneers (6-3)
- Brophy Prep (7-2)
- Salpointe Catholic Lancers (8-1)
- Saguaro Sabercats (4-5)
- Perry Pumas (7-2)
- Mountain View Toros (7-2)
- Williams Field Black Hawks (5-4)
- Red Mountain Mountain Lions (4-5)
- Mountain Pointe Pride (5-4)
- Casteel Colts (4-5)
- Sandra Day O'Connor Eagles (4-5)
- Boulder Creek Jaguars (5-4)
- Desert Ridge Jaguars (5-4)
- Corona del Sol Aztecs (3-6)
- Queen Creek Bulldogs (3-6)
- Mesa Jackrabbits (5-4)
Top 16 in 5A
Here are the top 16 teams in line to make the playoffs in 5A (with the teams that are in the top 8 of the Open rankings excluded).
- Desert Mountain Wolves (8-1)
- Higley Knights (7-2)
- Desert Edge Scorpions (7-2)
- Horizon Huskies (7-2)
- Apollo Hawks (8-1)
- Cactus Cobras (6-3)
- ALA-Gilbert North Eagles (6-3)
- Millennium Tigers (6-3)
- Raymond S. Kellis Cougars (8-1)
- Notre Dame Prep Saints (4-5)
- Buena Colts (7-2)
- Sunnyslope Vikings (5-4)
- Casa Grande Cougars (6-3)
- Marana Tigers (4-5)
- Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks (7-2)
- Campo Verde Coyotes (4-5)
Top 16 in 4A
Here are the top 16 teams in line to make the playoffs in 4A (with the teams that are in the top 8 of the Open rankings excluded).
- Yuma Catholic Shamrocks (9-0)*
- Mica Mountain Thunderbolts (8-1)
- Arcadia Titans (9-0)
- Northwest Christian Crusaders (8-1)*
- Thunderbird Titans (7-2)
- Eastmark Firebirds (7-2)
- Lee Williams Volunteers (8-1)
- AZ College Prep Knights (7-2)
- Buckeye Union Hawks (6-3)
- Walden Grove Red Wolves (6-3)
- Bradshaw Mountain Bears (7-2)
- Coconino Panthers (6-3)
- Snowflake Lobos (6-3)
- Glendale Cardinals (6-3)
- Independence Patriots (7-2)
- Peoria Panthers (5-4)
* = Ineligible for Open Division, according to AIA
The 4A-6A playoffs begin on November 9, and the Open Division playoffs begin on November 17.
The 1A state championship game will be on November 11 at Coronado High School in Scottsdale, the 2A and 3A state championship games will be on November 24 at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, the 4A and 5A state championship games will be on December 1, and the 6A and Open Division state championship games will be on December 2 at Arizona State University's Mountain America Stadium.
The 5A state championship game will also be at Mountain America Stadium, however, for 4A the location will depend on which teams make the title game. If a team from Northern Arizona, Yuma, or the Valley is the higher seed in the 4A state title game, it will be at Mountain America Stadium. If the higher-seeded team in 4A is from Tucson, the title game will be held in the Tucson area, but the exact location would be announced at a later date.
Girls flag football
The first-ever girls flag football state playoffs begin tonight in both 5A and 6A! You can see all of the matchups by clicking here.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.