The rankings were published first in the 2025 Sollenberger. 

1. SCOTTSDALE CHRISTIAN: The Eagles graduated their 2024 stat leaders in scoring, rushing, tackles and top three receivers. When’s the 2A final? The program isn’t guaranteeing another trip to the big game, but it already proved it can book a return trip after losing talent. The two-time defending champ, it appears, restocked its ranks again. The next trio of receiving threats, Caleb Murphy, Isaiah Steffen and Dom Dickerson, can pick apart secondaries along with the best passer in the conference, 6-4 Sean Helgeson. Get ready also for a revitalized Everett Salazar, who started in the title game two years ago but was injured last year. When healthy, the weight room stalwart can do his share of bashing as a running back and linebacker. The unsung heroes of the team annually play on the O-line. “We’ve touched on it (three-peating),” coach Mike Sheahan said. “But we are staying away from it. Nothing that we did the last two years matters. Everything is new. If we happen to (three-peat), amazing. Awesome.”

 

2. PIMA: Pima’s OK. Moping over losing the title belt the last two years doesn’t do the Roughriders any good. Besides, they had to quickly regroup to replace two 220-pound-plus beasts and prepare for another round with a newfound rival. “We are as unified as ever,” Pima coach Josh Wilkins said. MVPs Jeremiah Martinez and Brock Haws are gone after three consecutive title appearances, but Pima graduated only five seniors last year. RB Rooster Alder, WR/DB Keegan Corona, C Dante McCray, WR/DB Wade Peterson, and T/DE Charlie Richardson are next in the senior leadership line. QB Cedrick Grimes, T/DT Hollen Hoopes and RB/LB Joe Palmer headline the junior class. Palmer and Alder will now be the primary ball carriers. Pima is bursting at the seams with linemen. That bodes well for the Roughriders from the start, because they’ll kick off the season Thursday against their season ending opponent from the last two years: No. 1 Scottsdale Christian.

 

3. TONOPAH VALLEY: The Phoenix learned this offseason that no program is immune to unexpected change. But they aren’t complaining. It’s not in new coach Shawn Kemmer’s DNA to do so. In recent years, the Phoenix’s offense soared, allowing the up-and-coming program to establish an identity. However, that may switch this season, because Tonopah Valley’s defense is way ahead of schedule. The defensive line, in particular, is formidable, with Josias Barbosa, Angel Acosta, Sir Jesse Caldwell, Leon Calvillo, and Corey Webb set to take turns turning heads. “They are as aggressive as its gets,” Kemmer said. “I would go to bat with them even in 4A.” The program has produced a couple of D-I players out in the middle of nowhere, including Webb, who’s transformed himself into a 6-5, 225-pound DE/WR enforcer. Webb and the strong-willed Robert Escarcega are the new deep receiving threats. New OC Jerry Ball and first-year QB Logan McManaman will operate the air raid now with a couple of new wrinkles.

 

4. SAN TAN CHARTER: Coming off back-to-back state semifinal appearances, the Roadrunners want to prove that they were more than just a one or two-man show. Of the top-10 teams, they return the most starters. “This is the most cohesive and family oriented team I’ve had,” coach Chase Cartwright said. “They’ve been working hard this summer. Attendance has been great.” In his three years as head coach, Cartwright and his staff quickly proved their worth. Some of the next playmakers are three-year starter TE Henry Tauscher, Sr. ATH Timi Akinyoyenu, all-heart DB/WR Brody Prassas, Sr. ATH Bairyk Schulte (63 tackles, 6 sacks last year), and 6-4 Isaiah Neloms. Akinyoyenu and Soph. FB Porter Smith are now the main ball carriers. Soph. Luke Cardis and L.J. Hack were competing to be the starting QB. Seniors Jacob Stafford and Hudson Cox will direct the biggest offense line Cartwright has had so far.

 

5. SANTA CRUZ: The next promising crop of Dust Devils are preparing to introduce themselves. “The faces change, but the expectations don’t,” coach Thomas Cortez said. The team’s quarterback on defense, Richard Reyes, a two-year starter at safety, will line up under center fulltime for the first time. Reyes and most of Santa Cruz’s skill players don’t shy away from contact. Cortez will tweak the offense somewhat to suit the mobile Reyes. But with Sr. Daniel Contreras out wide, Reyes plans to stay in the pocket as much as possible since Contreras tends to catch everything in his vicinity. Soph. Diego Ibarra and Nathan Ruiz, the new 1-2 punch at running back, want to tuck and truck as much as possible. Ibarra is an outstanding wrestler, and Ruiz will move to the backfield after starting at guard for two years. Freshmen DE/TE Layne James and WR/DB Manny Butler are ready to make an impact. With the 6-2, 235-pound James, Joshua Manuel and Robert Ybarra on the D-line, it’ll be tough to run against Santa Cruz.

 

6. VERITAS PREP: Books and brawn. The Phoenix Great Hearts Academy campus is adapting to doing both now. It’s coming off its best two-year stretch in school history. Continuing to hit the books and sleds with success is still the goal despite graduating some of its explosiveness. But the Falcons are bigger and more mature after losing just four senior starters. One of those stockier players is Sr. Anthony Sanfratello, who’ll contribute to Veritas Prep’s running back committee this year. Sanfratello, lineman Will Barrett (6-5, 220) and S/WR Baylor Arnold are some of the program’s first football players to get recruited. The trio also are the bosses on defense. Returning to run the offense after throwing 24 TDs in in 2024 is Sr. QB captain Rocco Guido, who can scramble as well. After helping their program last year win its first playoff game in school history, four starting offensive linemen return to help Veritas Prep keep the momentum going. Coach Mike Sanfratello is handing the keys to the offense to new offensive coordinator Lynn Keel.

 

7. MORENCI: Welcome back to 2A. The Wildcats’ MO hasn’t changed much since 2A programs last saw them. They’re still a physical bunch who love to run the ball. Last year, they finished 3-7 in 3A but lost by a point in two games and a double overtime affair to Pima. Last year’s rushing leader, Julian Aragon (756 rushing yards in 2024), missed three games with an injury. This year, a healthy and stronger Aragon and fellow senior Derrick Lytle are Morenci’s main wing-T weapons. But opponents also must contend with Morenci’s fastest player, Aundre McCauley, in the backfield. Morenci’s best player is likely Isaiah Cook, a 6-1, 250-pound wrecking ball on the offensive and defensive lines. Led by Cook, Morenci coach Frankie Gonzalez said Morenci is home to one of 2A’s best offensive lines. His coach on the field on both sides of the ball is safety Jaymz Guzzo. The senior was battling for the starting quarterback job, but he’ll be on the field regardless of who starts at QB.

 

8. PHOENIX CHRISTIAN: Sticking to what Phoenix Christian coach Jason Kindred and his staff are preaching is paying off. So much so that the Cougars want to make a playoff run this year. In Kindred’s third season, this offseason was the best so far in terms of participation. With its tough schedule, the cohesive bunch should be battle tested come playoff time. It’s 2024 Region POY, Z’yeon Rondan, returns. The agile tailback is slated to make an impact on defense as well along with another talented running back, Aaron Whitten. Whitten was a menace on D in 2024 with 10 sacks—as a freshman. Another standout two-way sophomore, MLB AJ Hernandez, is the “brains” of the defense. Jr. Jude House, one of the school’s best athletes/baseball title game heroes, Jr. Gio Young or Jr. Joel Fajardo will be the new QB. Rondan, Young and Kevin Palofax rushed for a combined 2,000 yards last year. DL Danny Sanchez and 6-2, 260-pound LT Cassidy Kovach anchor the lines.

 

9. WILLCOX: Powerhouse RB/LB Ismael Cuevas kept reassuring his coach in the offseason. “We’re going to be OK,” Cuevas told Jeston Lotts. “Just watch, coach. Just watch.” Two losses (42-40 vs. Bisbee; 27-21 to Scottsdale Prep in the playoffs) left Lotts scratching his head last year. But it also lit a fire under the you-know-what of the Cowboys in the offseason. Nobody on the team gets as pumped as likely the best linebacker crew (Cuevas, Christian Teeters and Kaleb Cooke) Lotts has coached in his 18 years. Those three also will help their stacked backfield flourish this year. Safety Joe Sanchez, who calls the defense, or the athletic Robert Hill will start at QB. Loading the box to slow down Willcox’s wing-T may backfire this year, because Willcox will unveil the tall and talented Da’Marion Jackson on the outside. The Cowboys are glad Marco Fierro is back starting at the center after overcoming some injuries that kept him out most of last year.

 

10. ARIZONA LUTHERAN: The Coyotes embraced their preseason uncertainty. “I’m excited about the unknowns and excited about putting the pieces together and building a roster that cares about each other,” coach David Peter said. “When kids care about each other, we can be successful.” The Coyotes regularly produce a top-10 team, so it shouldn’t take them long to figure things out. Settling on a QB and solidifying the offensive line are atop the to-do list. Xavier Gonzales split time at QB last year before getting injured. He’s in the mix again this year along with 6-5 QB Nash Beilke, the younger brother of last year’s starter, Owen. The athletic Justin Schmidt, a 4x100 school relay member, will fill a need on the line on both sides of the ball. With Sebby Guye and Liam Enter starting, the Coyotes’ run game is in good hands. Guye is a physical runner who will also start at linebacker. Enter (11 sacks and team’s leading tackler last year) is pound-for-pound one of the strongest players Peter has ever coached. Sr. TE/DE Dontay Bell (6-4, 215) also can foil opponents’ plans.