Prediction: Liberty (Ariz.) repeats as AIA Open Division champs

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we make our way to over to Arizona to check on Liberty, the state’s top-ranked team. The Lions are coming off winning Arizona’s AIA Open Division state championship and their sights set on repeating as champs amongst a talented field of teams.

Player Spotlight: LB Hudson Dunn

The rangy 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker returns for his senior season in the Lions’ front seven and will lead a defense that yielded around 20 points per game in 2024. Hudson Dunn, who is committed to Minnesota, will head up a very talented defensive front that will be leaned upon to slowed down opposing offenses. Last year, Dunn racked up 57 tackles, 24 going for a loss, 13.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Expect the future Gopher to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate by season’s end.

Others to watch: QB Brayden Stevens, DL Paz St. John, ATH Mason Lombardi, ATH TJ Fo’ilefutu, S Zeth Thues, LB Cannon Garday

Season Prediction: 10-0

The Lions play one of the toughest schedules in the state as they take on programs like national power Corner Canyon (Utah), Brophy College Prep and Pinnacle. Though they’ll be challenged throughout the season, the contest that will test their might is when they visit the Chargers out in Utah. We have the Lions just barely edging out the Chargers in a 35-34 thriller. Outside of the aforementioned teams, Liberty should get through the rest of their slate with ease as they march on to the AIA Open Division playoffs. There, the Lions will repeat as state champions behind a strong all-around performance on offense and defense against Basha in a rematch from last year.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 28 – Mountain View (Ariz.) Toros – W
The Lions kick-off the season with a dominating, 44-14, win over the Toros.

Sept. 5 – at Corner Canyon (Utah) Chargers – W
In what is the premier matchup of the season for Liberty, they head into Draper and come away with a thrilling, 35-34, victory.

Sept. 12 – at Highland (Ariz.) Hawks – W
Liberty continues on the road and picks up another blowout win, this time over the Hawks.

Sept. 19 – ALA Queen Creek (Ariz.) Patriots – W
A quick trip back home equals a fourth straight victory for the Lions.

Sept. 26 – at Pinnacle (Ariz.) Pioneers – W
The Lions play their toughest tilt since Corner Canyon, but come away with a 46-20 decision.

Oct. 3 – at Mountain Ridge (Ariz.) Mountain Lion – W
Coming off a difficult contest against Pinnacle, Liberty makes it look easy against Mountain Ridge in a rout.

Oct. 10 – Centennial (Ariz.) Coyotes – W
Liberty dominates Centennial as they head into the bye week.

Oct. 24 – Brophy College Preparatory (Ariz.) Broncos – W
Though Brophy College Prep features a lot of big names, Liberty takes it to ’em and wins handily.

Oct. 31 – at Sandra Day O’Connor (Ariz.) Eagles – W
Ahead of the regulr season finale, the Lions roll to win No. 9.

Nov. 7 – Boulder Creek (Ariz.) Lions – W
In a all-Lions matchup, its the ones from Liberty that come up with the huge win, 44-7, to cap an undefeated regular season.