Here are AzPreps365's preseason rankings for 3A flag football:

1. Scottsdale Christian – There is a lot of talent returning for the state champions after going 16-0 a year ago with Campbell Reader, Reagan Gibbons and Nola Bynum leading the way.

The program has gone 28-2 over the previous two years and advanced to at least the semifinals. Expect no different. The competition in 3A will only get better in its second year, but the Eagles should remain the top team.

“If we are going to make a good playoff run we have to be able to catch the ball because we have such a talented quarterback (Reader),” Bynum said. “She is so good we have trouble catching the ball sometimes. If we can get better, we will make a lot of big plays.”

The scoring disparity – 599 to 33 - was ridiculous but Scottsdale Christian was challenged by Heritage Academy in the title game (10-7).

Reader, a junior, was impressive at quarterback as she completed 68 percent of her attempts and finished with 50 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions.

Bynum, a senior, is a multi-threat athlete who does damage no matter where she lines up. She finished last year with 62 catches for 1,165 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also rushing for 278 yards and four scores.

Gibbons, a senior rusher, creates havoc for the opposing offense and finished with 20 sacks.

Junior Jolee Baddeley is the highest returning flag puller and she had eight interceptions, while Bynum had 11 picks and 20 passes defended.

2. Heritage Academy Laveen – The Heroes, who went 15-1, were just as dominant as SCA in their 16 games – 580 points to 31 – so it is hard to imagine anything but a rematch in the finals, but of course it is why you play the game.

And Heritage does it well behind the guidance of coach Steve LaDrigue.

The offense is directed by Savana Soltero, who had 37 touchdowns to four interceptions ratio through 10 games, with her main target being Sieana Soltero, who scored 20 touchdowns on her first 63 catches on the season.

The second and third receiver – senior Christian Martinez and senior Gloriann Blanco – are back as well so the offense should be performing at a high level once again.

The defensive unit returns mostly intact with junior Carrington Rose being a big contributor along with the Soltero tandem as the three combined for more than 20 interceptions.

The schedule should be pretty manageable with only Gilbert Christian offering up a competitive regular season game last year.

3. Ben Franklin – Ben Frankin has made the playoffs three years in a row going from 5A in 2023, to 4A in 2024 and 3A in 2025.

Last year’s squad was able to advance to the state semis before bowing out of the postseason with a 10-7 overall record.

Jake Thomas will find a way to get the team competitive again as the Chargers look to extend their playoff streak to four.

The offense seems to be in good hands with senior Adlee Trujillo, who shared time at quarterback a year ago, controling the huddle. Last year’s receiver tandem of senior Amari Zincke and sophomore Kennlie Hill, who had more than 100 catches and 15 scores combined, will be able to get loose again this season.

The defense has a good stronghold behind junior Avery Stetka and Hill. Stetka was a terror with 16 sacks, and 29 flag pulls for a loss. 

The schedule provided some hiccups last year, but it readied the Chargers for a deep playoff run.

4. Valley Christian – The Trojans were semifinalist last season and went 12-3 under Billy Ernst which was big jump from the 4-8 inaugural season in 2024.

The offense was the biggest difference as the total points for the year went from averaging 9.5 points a game in 2024 to 30.3 points last year.

Can Valley Christian maintain that level of execution?

Junior quarterback Abigail Trillo returns after surpassing 3,100 yards with 46 touchdown passes against only eight picks. While two of the top three receivers graduated, senior Alana Cross (77 catches, 857 yards, 21 TDs) will become the top option to keep it rolling.

The defense will be anchored by junior Kenzie Hackett and Cross. Hackett tries to duplicate last season’s 52 flag pulls for a loss, which included 24 sacks while Cross had 54 flag pulls and eight interceptions.

5. Gilbert Christian – The Knights had a good inaugural season in 2025, going 11-3 to earn the No. 3 seed.

The year came to an end in the quarterfinals after a loss to Ben Franklin. Ronnie Sharp’s group is looking to build off the early success and push deeper into the postseason.

Gilbert Christian had one of the most balanced offenses and actually rushed for more yards than it passed for as five players had at least 24 carries including sophomore leading rusher Alexa Enman, who finished with 425 yards and was followed by senior Madelyn Wilms with 383 yards.

Senior Alyssa Cervantez is the quarterback and she found the end zone seven times through the air with Enman (48 catches for 460 yards) as her top target followed by Mackenzie Henderson with 32 catches.

Defensively, senior Riley Bublitz had 34 flag pulls including 15 for a loss, while Enman had 51 flag pills and nine for a loss and sophomore Devan Jovanski had seven sacks. Henderson was second on the team with five interceptions.

The schedule opens at Heritage Academy, includes Valley Christian, Ben Franklin and Scottsdale Christian so the Knights run the whole gauntlet of the preseason top five.
 

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