The two-time 6A flag defending champion had a miserable season for a variety of reasons. The runner-up the last two season will be a seed in the teens.

Even the champion from the inaugural season in 2023 is likely squeaking in as a seed in the teens.

It means the Arizona 6A state championship tournament, which begins on Tuesday, is likely to see a first-time champion as the level of play in flag football continues to increase across the state.

“We’re seeing the game grow, especially at the club youth level, as girls are starting to choose flag over other sports,” Highland coach Kenny Gollady said. “We’re seeing it grow across every level and teams at the high school level are getting better as well, meaning there are chances to see different teams winning some of these big games.”

It’s definitely the case in 6A as No. 1 Highland, No. 2 Basha, No. 3 Boulder Creek, No. 4 Liberty, No. 5 Mountain Ridge, and No. 6 Marna have shown a championship level of play this year. Of this group, only Mountain Ridge, as it finished as the 2023 6A runner-up, has made a final in the short time the sport has been an AIA sanctioned sport.

The 16-team tournament is played over 12 days with the 6A championship game on Nov. 21 at Corona del Sol with a 7 p.m. start.

“Highland has been really dominant, but there are a handful of teams that have a chance to make the championship game,” said Hamilton coach Matt Stone, who led the Huskies to the last two championships. “It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. There are quite a few teams that have a real shot this year.”

The Hawks are the favorites after going 14-2 with the two defeats coming against the 5A and 4A favorites in Campo Verde and Salpointe Catholic, respectively, at the Fiesta Bowl tournament.

Since then Highland has been a different team, partly because their transfer players became eligible, after reflecting on the two defeats.

“We were off in that tournament,” said Highland junior quarterback Lacie Nemchick, who has 84 touchdown passes and seven interceptions on the season. “We didn’t have the energy like we normally do, but I think it will end up helping us. We like to say we are hungry and humble. We’ll come back stronger from those losses.”

The postseason hasn’t been Highland’s best friend. Twice the Hawks came in as the No. 1 seed and fell short, losing in the quarterfinals in 2023 and the semifinals last season.

It’s another reason the Hawks seem to be completely zeroed in on winning it all this year.

“We’ve worked really hard, and we’ve had some great regular seasons, but it hasn’t shown up in the playoffs,” Gollady said. “We’re pretty locked in this time around.”

The Hawks have outscored opponents 816-127 this season. The scary thing for any team it comes across in the bracket is the fact that Highland is just starting to figure out how good it can be as there were some position changes in recent weeks that have created new dimensions within the team.

“Addyson Lowe has been really good at rusher, disrupting the opponent’s rhythm,” Golladay said. “She asked the coaches to try it earlier in the year and we said, ‘Let’s wait until the transfers become eligible.’ She came down from safety and has been excellent.”

It probably means the other teams in the mix need to increase their level of play as well over the next four games if anyone other than Highland hoists the trophy.

Second-seeded Basha (13-1), No. 3 Boulder Creek (10-5), No. 4 Liberty (10-6), No. 5 Mountain Ridge (11-3), No. 6 Marna (11-4) and No. 7 Corona del Sol (13-3) have all shown glimpses of being in the running.

Corona del Sol’s only non-tournament loss was early in the season and enters with a six-game winning streak including wins over Boulder Creek, Liberty and Marana.

Mountain Ridge has a wild card in in junior quarterback Amiaya Tice, who has thrown for 38 scores and ran for 11, as she was singled out by several coaches as a player who can take over a game at any point to knock off the opposition.

Basha neartly went undefeated but has played a lesser schedule than most of the contenders although the Bears beat Liberty. The defense, however, appears to be at a championship level as six opponents have been shut out and only three opponents have reached double figures.

It all adds up to four interesting rounds with a high probability of a new team named champion.

“It think it can come down to who remains healthy,” Golladay said. “The game is getting more physical and it leads to injuries. Everyone knows who they are at this point, but if a top play goes down it might change everything.”

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