Class 1A football season preview, rankings
It’s day-to-day in the days of the pandemic, but high school football has the green light from the Arizona Interscholastic Association to play, with most varsity games kicking off Oct. 2.
Let’s break down the conferences, one each day, starting with 1A and working up to the Open Division (Super 10).
1A Conference
Now that Winkelman Hayden has canceled the season due to COVID-19, this looks like another battle for the crown between defending champion Williams and Superior.
Superior won the 8-man title two years ago. San Manuel is new to 8-man ball, after dropping down from 2A. And if some Hayden players transfer to San Manuel to play football, the Miners could be a factor. Superior could be the other destination point for Hayden players.
But watch out for Heber Mogollon and Bagdad, two teams always in the title conversation.
Preseason Top 10
1. Williams: Looks strong again to play in fourth state final in five years.
2. Superior: Wants to avenge that 3520 state championship loss to Williams with return of the 1A Offensive Player of the Year Adam Navarrette.
3. San Manuel: Moving down from 2A should give the school a chance to contend.
4. Heber Mogollon: Beat Bagdad last year’s quarterfinals
5. Bagdad: A faster, stronger team that will grow through the season.
6. Fort Thomas: Split with Duncan last year but won the playoff meeting.
7. Duncan: Went 7-2 last year but loses top two rushers.
8. Tempe Prep: Has depth and experience after move down from 2A.
9. Salome: Lost key senior leaders but has a consistent program.
10. St. David: Returns key skill players from a 5-4 team.
Dark horse
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Tempe Prep might quickly move up the rankings, despite a 1-9 season last year in 11-man, 2A football. Coach Larry Cain has 16 returning starters between offense and defense. “This is the most talented team I have ever coached at the 8-man level,” Cain said. “This team is even more talented than the teams I coached
School.”
Key players
Luis Lara-Arredondo, Williams, TE/ DE; Blake Smith, Williams, RB; Jesse Hernandez, Williams, RB; James Eischen, Williams, OL/DL; Drew Logan, Williams, RB/CB; Jayke Kelton, Mogollon, RB; Caden Owens, Mogollon, QB; Adam Navarrette, Superior, RB/WR/LB; Matthew Cruz, Superior, QB/LB; Joshua Marquez, Superior, WR/LB; Matthew Diaz-Gonzalez, Superior, RB/LB; Connor Watson, Bagdad, WR/DB; Rocky Sandavol, Bagdad, QB; Steven Peterson, Bagdad, RB/LB; Hayden Sampson, Tempe Prep, QB; Luis Ternyneck, Tempe Prep, WR; Diego Foster, Tempe Prep, WR/QB; Thomas Holmes, Tempe Prep, DE.
Key date
Oct. 2: Williams at Bagdad. It all starts with this big opener, a pretty good gauge to see how much firepower Williams has coming back and how Bagdad’s young but fast players are equipped to play arguably the best team right out of the gate.
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