Arizona High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - September 2

The 2024 high school football season in Arizona kicked off last week, and there’s already been plenty of movement in the state rankings.

Two new entrants in the top 10 and a couple of big risers and fallers highlight the changes heading into week two in the Grand Canyon State. Hamilton is now the No. 2 team in the state following a season-opening win over top-five Centennial.

Five games between ranked programs are set to kick off later this week. Below is the updated On3 Massey Ratings Arizona top 25, as of Sept. 2.

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

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1. Liberty (1-0)

Previous: No. 1
The Lions were considered the top team in the state entering the season, and a 22-0 shutout of top-25 Desert Edge on the road to kick off the 2024 campaign does nothing to sway those thoughts. Running back Dominic Lombardo found the end zone three times while the Lions ran for 240 yards in the win. Liberty will play its first home game of the season this Friday as No. 10 Sandra Day O’Connor comes to Peoria from Glendale.

2. Hamilton (1-0)

Previous: No. 4 (+2)
Defense was the name of the game last week for Hamilton, as it outlasted Centennial at home in a 17-10 dogfight. A one-yard keeper from Hamilton QB Rich Lucero Jr. broke a 10-10 tie in the middle of the fourth quarter and proved to be the difference. The Huskies stay home for another Thursday-night clash this week, hosting top-30 team Desert Ridge.

3. Chandler (1-0)

Previous: No. 2 (-1)
Chandler was able to run the ball for over 200 yards last week, but it wasn’t able to blow Cesar Chavez out of the water like many thought. The Wolves won 27-18, but were jumped by Hamilton in the updated rankings. Chandler will also get back on the field this Thursday and look for more offensive output when it hosts Mountain Ridge.

4. Basha (1-0)

Previous: No. 5 (+1)
Basha put on for its state last week with an impressive 39-25 win over Omaha Millard South, the No. 5 team in Nebraska. Junior quarterback Brodie Vehrs threw for five touchdowns to begin his first season as starter. Arizona wide receiver commit Gio Richardson caught two of those TDs and finished the night with over 170 yards. The Bears take on Mesa this Friday.

5. Centennial (0-1)

Previous: No. 3 (-2)
Centennial’s seven-point loss to Hamilton was full of miscues and sloppy offense, but the Coyotes have another big opportunity to get back on track this Friday when they head to Gilbert to take on No. 7 Highland. Centennial’s defense ranks No. 2 in the state following week one. It is favored to win the top-10 matchup on the road this week and is being given a 68% win probability by the Massey Ratings.

6. American Leadership Academy (1-0)

Previous: No. 11 (+5)
Predicted to lose its season-opener on the road at then top-10 Saguaro, American Leadership Academy turned heads last week by running away with a dominant 38-10 win. The Patriots were rewarded with a five-spot jump in the rankings ahead of a two-game home stand that starts this Friday with a matchup against Boulder Creek, the No. 28 team in the state. A road trip to Sandra Day O’Connor looms large later this month.

7. Highland (1-0)

Previous: No. 7
Like Liberty, Highland also opened its season by pitching a shutout, defeating Shadow Ridge 35-0. Central Michigan QB commit Kalen Fisher threw for three touchdowns and over 200 yards in the win. The Hawks will now gear up for their early test at home against No. 5 Centennial this Friday in Gilbert. The Massey Ratings predict a 28-20 victory for the visitors.

8. Brophy Prep (1-0)

Previous: No. 9 (+1)
It was a dramatic season-opening victory for Brophy last week, as a 20-yard touchdown pass with just seven seconds left sealed a 35-28 win on the road at then-No. 13 Williams Field. The home team erased a 16-point deficit in the second half, but junior QB Rylan Umphrey hit junior receiver Devin Fitzgerald for the final score of the evening to get the Broncos to 1-0. This week Brophy debuts at home, welcoming Regis Jesuit (Colo.) in from Aurora.

9. Higley (1-0)

Previous: No. 10 (+1)
Defenses going to work was a theme of last week in Arizona, as Higley also held its opponent scoreless in a 42-0 thumping of Campo Verde. Arizona QB commit Luke Haugo threw for over 250 yards and four touchdowns to open his senior campaign. The Knights now head to California to take on San Juan Hills, a top-40 program in the Golden State, on Friday.

10. Sandra Day O’Connor (1-0)

Previous: No. 17 (+7)
O’Connor’s defense also allowed zero points last week, blanking top-25 Chaparral 49-0 in a major statement to kick off the fall. The Eagles check in with the No. 10 defense in the state after week one, but that will be put to the test this Friday when No. 1 Liberty comes to Glendale. The top-ranked Lions are being given a 97% win probability, per the Massey Ratings.

Teams 11-25 in latest Arizona High School Football Rankings

11. Saguaro (-5)
12. Horizon (+3)
13. Mountain View (+9)
14. Red Mountain (-2)
15. Casteel (+1)

16. Perry (+3)
17. Desert Edge (+1)
18. Queen Creek (+3)
19. Phoenix Pinnacle (-11)
20. Williams Field (-7)

21. Desert Mountain (+2)
22. Notre Dame Prep (previous unranked)
23. Chaparral (-3)
24. Mountain Pointe (previous unranked)
25. Salpointe Catholic (-11)

Dropped Out: Desert Ridge (previous 24th), Boulder Creek (previous 25th)