With the 3A Football State Championship bracket all set, 16 teams begin their journey toward a title Friday, Nov. 6. Can Round Valley repeat, winning their ninth championship in program history? Will Benjamin Franklin, currently the No. 1 overall seed, finally break through and win their first? Or will another dark horse rise to surprise us all?

We can’t wait to find out!

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

The Chargers (10-0, 5-0 3A Metro) were one of two teams to go undefeated in 2026 and they hope to continue their winning ways over the next four weeks, hoisting a trophy as the top 3A team in the state.

Led by senior quarterback Gavin Wyler, who completed 151 of 202 passes for 2,442 yards and 37 touchdowns to only one interception this fall, No. 1-seeded Benjamin Franklin has one of the most talented rosters in the playoff bracket.

Aaron Dwiggins, senior tailback for the Chargers, carried the ball 92 times for 894 yards and 11 scores, while senior Christian Sorenson led the team with 42 catches for 573 yards and nine touchdowns.

Coach Danny Norris, nearing the end of his fourth season at the helm, said it is “awesome” to have leaders like Wyler and Sorenson on the team, as well as Paul Bergdahl and Ashton Goddard.

“These four young men have been on varsity since their freshman year and have been critical in how this program has been built,” Norris said, adding that his club has won the region three straight years but that isn’t their end goal.

“That is not the championship we have our sights set on,” Norris added.

After cruising through Dysart (27-7), Show Low (21-0), and Pusch Ridge (47-14) in last year’s playoff, they ran into a speed bump at then No. 3-seeded Round Valley, which beat the Chargers 13-10 in the finale.

This year may be different for the Chargers, however, as they were 7-0 against the playoff field with wins over Dysart, Thatcher, Seton Catholic, Valley Christian, Gilbert Christian, Pusch Ridge and Crismon.

Benjamin Franklin opens with No. 16 Coolidge on Friday, 7 p.m.

ROUND VALLEY

The defending champ Elks (10-0, 5-0 3A Mountain) come into this month’s 3A state playoffs searching for the ninth championship in program history. Blue Ridge leads all teams in state history with 15.

Quarterback Kage Finch leads Round Valley into battle this year. He completed 88 of 154 passes for 1,412 yards and 25 touchdowns to only one interception, while running for another five scores on the ground.

Leading the rushing attack for the Elks is junior Titan Myers, who had 96 carries for 1,175 yards and 12 touchdowns this fall.

Round Valley’s strength however is their defense. They’re led by junior Peyton Tucker who had 82 total tackles this year, including 18 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks. Davin Gillespie recorded 80 tackles, while sophomore Jaxon Crick had 11 sacks.

The No. 2-seeded Elks open with No. 15 ALA-Mesa North.

THATCHER

The No. 3-seeded Eagles (8-2, 5-1 3A East) have won five straight heading into November’s state playoff bracket, including a thrilling 29-27 win over Payson in mid-October.

Thatcher started strong with a 33-6 win over ALA-Ironwood in Week 1 and a 45-0 blowout over Apache Junction before running into a buzz saw against Benjamin Franklin in a 38-0 loss. Two weeks later, Pusch Ridge beat them 28-21, but they haven’t lost since.

Tufden Taylor led the Eagles with 99 carries for 1,253 yards and 17 touchdowns. In the air, four different quarterbacks have taken snaps under center this fall, with mixed results.

Thatcher has nine state championships in program history, but all have come in the 2A conference and their last was in 2018. The Eagles open with No. 14 ALA-Ironwood on Friday, 7 p.m.

PUSCH RIDGE

The Lions (8-2, 6-0 3A East) come into this year’s state playoff picture as the No. 5 seed, but their two losses came against Crismon in a 42-31 shootout back in Week 3, and against Benjamin Franklin in the regular season finale, 27-21. In fact, Pusch Ridge was the only team this year in 3A to give top-seeded Benjamin Franklin a game this year.

Kent Middleton focuses mostly on limiting turnovers, preventing the big play and staying together.

“We have hard work, cohesion, grit,” Middleton said.

The Lions are fairly well balanced on the offensive side of things with five different players getting the bulk of the carries on the ground this season. Marshall Williamson led the team with 60 carries for 468 yards and two scores.

Pusch Ridge has a pair of senior quarterbacks who have played all 10 games this season in Race Pinneo and M.J. Buckner. Buckner has 966 yards passing with nine touchdown tosses this fall.

Pusch Ridge opens with No. 12 Dysart on Friday, 7 p.m.

SHOW LOW

Searching for the program’s fifth state championship, but first since 2010, the No. 4-seeded Cougars (9-1, 4-1 3A Mountain) won their first six games to start the season before losing 48-21 to Round Valley. They haven’t lost since, including a 23-20 thriller over Payson to end the regular season.

Show Low coach Michael Boyce said the team’s success this season really points to how hard the boys worked last summer.

“They play for each other and that makes them special,” Boyce said. “To keep this thing going, we must keep doing what we have been doing and that’s one game at a time. Show up and go 1-0 this week.”

Corbin Wood leads the Cougars as one of the top running backs in Arizona, carrying the ball 162 times for 1,541 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Wood was fourth overall in rushing touchdowns this season behind only Cody Curley of Chinle, Aden Montgomery of River Valley and Tank Hamblin of Blue Ridge.

None of those stellar tailbacks play on a playoff team, however.

“We look forward to this opportunity to make a run in the 3A playoffs,” Boyce said.

Kickoff Friday against No. 13 Seton Catholic is set for 7 p.m.

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