Marco Piombi is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arcadia High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX – It was Dec. 5, 2025, when No. 1-ranked Arcadia lost 42-17 in the 4A state championship game to No. 7 Mica Mountain. 

“I didn’t like that feeling at all, so I never want to feel that feeling again,” said Arcadia senior receiver Konnor Kammes when recollecting the emotions he felt that day.

Arcadia was 13-0 until they lost that game. The game was the Titans’ first state championship appearance in 63 years, when they defeated the Tucson Badgers 40-7 in 1962. 

That experience has served as motivation for the 2026 season, and Arcadia hopes it’ll end differently.

“It sucks in the moment,” senior linebacker and fullback Braden Knaub said. “That was the big one, since it’s the one that really matters the most. But at the end of the day, I got to play with my guys and I really reflected on that.”

“The brotherhood that we played with, that really got me into next year and what we’re trying to accomplish here.” 

Knaub is one of the players on last year’s team that Arcadia head coach B.J. Pasquel identified as someone who stepped up with leadership this season. Others include Kammes, senior offensive and defensive lineman Malo Sosa, junior defensive end and tight end Greyson Stauff, senior offensive and defensive lineman Milo Marinick, junior running back and defensive back Jordan Barnes, junior defensive back Broden Arnold, and junior defensive back Cayd Sheaffer.

“It’s a team sport, and you need every single one of the loving guys in that field,” Knaub said. “They’re the reason that I play so hard.”

With every season comes the challenge of incorporating new players into the team system. This is something that experienced players like Kammes have helped with.

“I’m just preaching to the youngins to be coachable and to not talk back,” Kammes said. “You can build a lot of great things off of that.”

Since then, nothing has changed in terms of the routine the team goes through. They still have the same practice schedule from 6:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with weights after school on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The team has gotten closer through Thursday team dinners. In addition, they go out to do other activities together, including trips to the Arizona State Fair and Fear Farm. 

Pasquel is satisfied with the team chemistry that was built by his seniors, and he considers it a big part of the team’s success.

“With some new kids on the team and some new kids coming in you don’t really know how that is going to play out, but I’m really proud of where we’re at, and that’s a credit to the kids,” Pasquel said.

This season, Arcadia lost its season opener to Bradshaw Mountain 24-7. It was a moment that immediately served as a wake up call for the team.

“Game 1, we got punched in the face and looking back that was probably the best thing that happened to us because for all of us players and coaches there are a lot of things we have to work on,” Pasquel said.

Even when Arcadia wins by a significant margin the team still finds ways to improve for the next game. After a 38-0 win against Mesquite, the players huddled up to discuss being more disciplined in the future.

“We take it really hard on ourselves because we have high expectations and being a better, mentally focused team,” Kammes said.

Arcadia athletic director Drew Ammon has noticed the improvements and team chemistry as the season has progressed. 

“The team is starting to come together, gel and hit their stride,” Ammon said.

The Titans will now look to make another deep run this season as they finished 7-3 heading into the postseason.