Final football Super 10 for 2021 season
The 2021 Arizona high school football season, one to remember, is in the books, and it's time to look at The Arizona Republic's final Super 10, the best teams in the state, regardless of conference.
Super 10
1. Scottsdale Saguaro Sabercats, 12-1
Incredible run through the Open Division, beating Hamilton and Chandler in back-to-back weeks for the school's first Open Division state championship. It was a thrill ride that sent coach Jason Mohns to Disneyland for some fun with his family. The defense held Hamilton and Chandler to just a field goal each in the second half of those games.
2. Chandler Hamilton Huskies, 11-1 Was ranked No. 11 in the nation, before losing to Saguaro 31-24 in the Open semifinals. The Huskies will most be remembered by that 17-0 run in the final 1:05 to beat national power Las Vegas Bishop Gorman by a point on national TV and for ending Chandler's 45game winning streak.
3. Chandler Wolves, 11-2
The tussled and toiled to close out close games throughout the season, before falling just short of a sixth consecutive state title in the 20-15 loss to Saguaro in the end, as the Wolves won with dignity and lost with dignity.
4. Peoria Liberty Lions, 10-2
They had Chandler on the ropes throughout that Open semifinal 27-21 overtime loss, knowing they were a play or two away from taking on Saguaro
in the end.
5. Chandler Basha Bears, 10-1 Explosive, young guns, led by QB Demond Williams Jr., will be back next season with a huge chip on their shoulders after falling to Liberty in the Open quarterfinals.
6. Gilbert Highland Hawks, 11-3 Their only losses were to Basha, Hamilton and Chandler, all close games, barely missing out on the Open, but used those games as the launching pad to capture their first 6A championship with QB Gage Dayley having a monster title game against Chaparral in the revenge matchup.
7. Glendale Cactus Cobras, 10-1
This was a 4A juggernaut that beat good 5A teams handily during the season, before running into Saguaro and Devon Dampier in the Open quarterfinals. A great, great season, nonetheless. 8. Queen Creek Bulldogs, 8-3
They were in both Chandler losses into the final quarter. And they beat 6A runnerup Chaparral to start the season. Coach Travis Schureman did a great job steering the ship to the Open after Joe Germaine left to lead Mesa Mountain View's program and QB Devin Brown left to play his final season in Utah.
9. Scottsdale Horizon Huskies, 12-2 Captured their first 5A title since 1994 under first-year coach Andy Litten with QB Skyler Partridge having the best game of his life in the championship game against Tucson Salpointe Catholic.
10. Scottsdale Chaparral Firebirds, 9-5
How does a team with five losses get into the Super 10? Well, the Firebirds were the only team to beat Saguaro. They lost by three to Hamilton and four to Liberty. And they got to the 6A final for a second year in a row, falling short against Highland.