EDITOR'S NOTE: For the full 3A state football playoff bracket, click here.

One of the themes that 3A football coaches regularly highlighted during conversations with colleagues and local media outlets across the state of Arizona this fall was how the parity in their league was at its highest level in years.

Judging from the 3A state playoff bracket, which was released Nov. 2, these next four weeks could be one of the more entertaining high school football events to watch in Arizona, at any level.

And with defending champ Sabino not making the playoffs this year, and runner up Paradise Honors coming in at No. 12, it should be fun to watch.

MATCHUPS

No. 16 Page at No. 1 Benjamin Franklin

The Chargers (9-1, 4-0 3A Metro East) will have their hands full with one of the best quarterbacks in 3A football as Joseph Benally comes to town with No. 16-ranked Page.

Benally completed 177 of 303 passes for 2,462 yards and 33 touchdowns, by far and away tops in the state this year at the 3A level. Saul Mendez from Tempe was next closest with 26.

The Sand Devils (7-3, 5-0 3A North) may struggle offensively, however, considering five of their 10 games came out of the 3A North this season, which had only two teams above .500 and other than Monument Valley, Winslow (27), Ganado (29), Chinle (30) and Window Rock (36) were all ranked in the bottom half of the league.

Benjamin Franklin head coach Danny Norris said expects his program to compete at their highest level during the month of November, and their senior class has led by example.

“As we have proven all season, it’s going to take all 48 minutes to compete with us and we will make our opponents earn everything they get,” Norris said, adding that the 3A is “wide open” this year.

“There is more parity this season than I believe in most years,” Norris said.

No. 15 Dysart at No. 2 ALA-West Foothills

Coach Chad Mitton expects his Guardians (10-0, 5-0 3A Metro West) will compete for a 3A state championship. As the only undefeated team in the conference, who could blame him.

ALA-West Foothills doesn’t have a player on the team whose stats jump off the page, but J.J. Brutas, Hunter Cotton and Mathew Lee are ones to watch.

“There are a lot of good schools that will be in all the rounds,” Mitton said. “I think right now, Thatcher is really good. Benjamin Franklin, Pusch Ridge and probably five other schools that can make a run. It will be competitive in all of the rounds.”

No. 14 Gilbert Christian at No. 3 Thatcher

The Eagles (8-2, 3-1 3A South) come in at No. 3 this year and will look to spread the wealth, offensively, but fans can watch out for Kody Bingham, a senior who logged 87 yards for 788 yards and 12 touchdowns this year for Thatcher.

“Our team speed has been one of the things that has helped our team win,” Thatcher coach Daniel Jones said.

A few key injuries might hinder the Eagles from reaching their goal of winning a state title, but Jones still feels they can make a “deep run.”

No. 13 Blue Ridge at No. 4 Pusch Ridge

Lions senior quarterback Jacob Newborn completed 105 of 170 passes this year for 1,427 yards and 21 touchdowns, and he ran 64 times for 508 yards and 11 scores.

The dual-threat signal caller will be on display against a Blue Ridge (7-3, 1-3 3A East) club that surrendered just 11.5 points per game in 2024.

“Jacob is a very athletic dual threat at quarterback,” Pusch Ridge coach Kent Middleton said. “He has great speed and agility and is very strong.”

Pusch Ridge (9-1, 4-0 3A South) will have to content with one of the top running games in 3A featured by Karlo Harris, who had 191 carries for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns this year for the Yellow Jackets.

TEAM NOTES

No. 5 Mohave was bitten by the injury bug when the lost quarterback Joe Yoney Jr. midway through the 2024 campaign, but Isac Urias has stepped up in his place, completed 23 of 48 passes for 364 yards and five touchdowns, including 974 yards on the ground and 14 scores. They face state runner up, No. 12 Paradise Honors. … No. 6 Florence features tailback Malik Smith, who had 1,081 yards on 147 carries and 12 touchdowns this year for the 9-1 club. The 3A Central region champs will face a tough Wickenburg club at No. 11. … No. 7 River Valley intends on making some noise in these 3A playoffs, having given Mohave a game (lost 14-0) just three weeks ago and with running back Jayden Plotkin one of the best pound-for-pound runners in the state, the Dust Devils could be a sleeper pick for an Elite 8 appearance. … No. 8 ALA-Ironwood faces 3A East region champ Payson, one of the more complete teams in all three phases of the game in the conference, so they’ll certainly be leaning on Aiden Williams, who ran for 1,684 yards and 21 touchdowns on 183 carries in 2024.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.