Arizona High School Football Top 25 Rankings - Sept. 17

Arizona high school football is through three weeks of play and what we’ve learned is the state runs through the Basha Bears up to this point.

The Bears have the signature victories in order to stake the claim as the Grand Canyon State’s best team. Who else joins them in the latest set of Arizona high school football Top 25 rankings?

From established powers to emerging programs, here are the top 25 teams in the Grand Canyon State, according to Massey.

The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory as of Sep. 17.

1. Basha Bears

Basha (3-0) may have come up short last year in their quest to win a second Open Division crown in three years, but early returns this fall say they’ll be back in the title game. The Bears have opened the 2025 season off with impressive wins over Brophy College Prep, California powerhouse Orange Lutheran and Williams Field.

Quarterback Broderick Vehrs has led a talented Basha offense which features four-star sophomore running back Noah Roberts, three-star wide receiver Jaden Baldwin and four-star offensive tackle Jake Hildebrand. The team’s defensive unit is led by Mason Lewis and linebacker Eli Cramer-Cronin.

The Bears return to the gridiron this week when they go on the road to take on Mountain View.

2. Liberty Lions

For as every bit of impressive Liberty was to start the season in a 37-0 rout of Mountain View, they took a step back against nationally ranked Corner Canyon, a 45-14 loss.

The Lions (2-1) bounced back against Highland last week, running away with a 43-3 victory. Next up for the Lions is a meeting with winless ALA Queen Creek (0-3).

Liberty will need players like Boise State commit Paz St. John and Minnesota pledge Hudson Dunn to lead the charge for the Lions’ defense if they look to repeat as Arizona’s Open Division state champions this fall.

3. Hamilton Huskies

Hamilton’s title-drought now stands at 12 years after falling to Liberty in last year’s Open Division semifinals. The Huskies (3-0) are already off to a sizzling start in wins over ALA Queen Creek, Sandra Day O’Connor and Casteel, respectively.

There’s been no shortage of scoring points for the Huskies’ offense as they’ve put up 179 in their three victories, is anchored by Nebraska commit Rex Waterman, who is one of the best offensive linemen in Arizona. Among the standouts on the season for the Huskies has been a number of contributors, including quarterback Jax Sculley (928 yards, 15 touchdowns), running back Skyler Cole (272 yards, four touchdowns) and four-star sophomore wide receiver Roye Oliver, who has caught 21 passes for 429 yards and 10 scores.

The Huskies face their toughest test of the season thus far when they take on Brophy College Preparatory (2-1).

4. Pinnacle Pioneers

It’s been now three games and three blowouts victories for the Pinnacle Pioneers (3-0) to start the Arizona high school football season. The Pioneers have out-scored their first three opponents by an eye-popping combined score of 133-0.

Quite a statement for a team coming off a 8-4 season and is off to one of the hottest starts for a team in Arizona. Leading the way is quarterback Drew Varsano, who has thrown for 614 yards and nine touchdowns this fall.

Pinnacle will look to notch a fourth straight shutout victory when they take on a undefeated Higley group on Friday.

5. Chandler Wolves

Was last year an admiration or a sign of things to come for the Chandler Wolves? The program determined to bounce back after posting its first losing season in two decades. Chandler (2-1) kicked off the season by upending last year’s Class 6A state champion Centennial in a 24-17 decision.

Chandler returned back down to earth a little bit after dropping a 24-23 contest to Cathedral Catholic. The Wolves got back to their winning ways when they defeated ALA Queen Creek, 49-29, and look to win consecutive games when they take on Williams Field.

Quarterback Will Mencl is one of the best junior quarterbacks in Arizona, and he’ll have a pair of standout targets at receiver in Jai Jones and Kaydon Gray. Veteran safety Hamisi Juma, who committed to Arizona last September, will anchor the team’s defensive secondary.

Arizona High School Football Rankings: Nos. 6 – 25

6. Centennial (2-1)
7. Brophy College Preparatory (2-1)
8. Red Mountain (3-0)
9. Higley (3-0)
10. Mountain View (2-1)

11. Salpointe Catholic (3-0)
12. Horizon (3-0)
13. Desert Edge (3-0)
14. Queen Creek (3-0)
15. Williams Field (2-1)

16. Highland (0-3)
17. Desert Mountain (2-1)
18. ALA Queen Creek (0-3)
19. American Leadership Academy Gilbert North (3-0)
20. Casteel (1-2)

21. Perry (1-2)
22. Marana (2-1)
23. Saguaro (1-2)
24. Arizona College Prep (3-0)
25. Mountain Pointe (3-0)

How to Follow Arizona High School Football

For Arizona high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the state, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Grand Canyon State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the state of Arizona.