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    • The Republic’s Top 10 Arizona High School Football Playoff Games
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    The Republic’s Top 10 Arizona High School Football Playoff Games

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    The Arizona 6A, 5A and 4A high school football playoffs begin this week, while the 3A and 2A quarterfinals and the 1A 8-man championship game take place. Here are The Arizona Republic’s top 10 playoff games to watch this week. All games are at 7 pm unless otherwise noted.

    1. Peoria Centennial (3-7) at Mesa Red Mountain (7-3), Friday

    Centennial is No. 14 in 6A and Red Mountain No. 3. On paper, this looks like a loss. But Centennial’s tough schedule may have prepared it for the playoffs. The Coyotes have had plenty of opportunities to do things right. Did all those transfers create chemistry problems? Special teams have broken down too often. QB Kainan Manna hasn’t had time to pass. And the defense has been so weak that it’s hard to imagine a Centennial victory. Red Mountain has lost its last three games. Can QB Simón López get this Red Mountain offense back on track to make another wild run to the 6A final?

    2. Queen Creek Casteel (5-5) at Gilbert Highland (7-3), Friday

    Another 6A first round game with Casteel as the 11th seed and Highland No. 6. For most of the season, Highland looked like an open playoff team. Casteel, who has relied on receiver Elijah Beamon to lead the offense, lost by one point to Queen Creek and beat Gilbert Perry. But the Colts lost their last three Premier Region games.

    3. Tempe McClintock (9-1) at Campo Verde (7-3), Friday

    This is a rematch of a regular season game in which Camp Verde handed McClintock its only loss, 34-14, two weeks ago. It was the fewest points scored by the Chargers, who are ranked No. 9 in 5A. Campo Verde is in fifth place, having won five games in a row. The tougher schedule has helped the Coyotes, who will try to limit prolific passer Jaxon Knutson once again.

    4. Phoenix Barry Goldwater (7-3) at ALA Gilbert North (7-3), Friday

    This is a 5A first round game with Goldwater as the No. 16 seed and ALA Gilbert North as the No. 1 seed. ALA Gilbert North is gaining momentum after beating Horizon 17-10 in the regular season finale. Horizon is an open team. ALA Gilbert North coach Ty Detmer led ALA Queen Creek to three straight Open appearances before moving on to Gilbert North, who will try to find a way to slow down coach Frank Lautt’s powerful Double Wing T that sees Dylan Hayhurst running the ball more than 30 times. In last week’s 53-47 win over Willow Canyon, Hayhurst rushed 47 times for 413 yards and six touchdowns.

    5. Scottsdale Notre Dame (5-5) at Buckeye Verrado (8-2), Friday

    Verrado coach Jeremy Hathcock turned the program around in his first year after the Vipers won three games last season. His team’s 17-10 win over Goodyear Desert Edge should give him confidence against a Notre Dame team that’s hard to imagine. Two weeks ago, the Saints beat ALA Gilbert North 51-48. But last week they were eliminated by Scottsdale Desert Mountain 35-0. Verrado is the No. 6 seed in the 5A playoffs, and Notre Dame is No. 11. Jack Isidore rushed for over 200 yards for Verrado against a tough Desert Edge defense.

    6. Cave Creek Cactus Shadows (7-4) at Desert Edge (6-4), Friday

    Another 5A first round game with Cactus Shadows as the No. 10 seed and Desert Edge No. 7. Cactus Shadows came out of the gauntlet of six teams from the Northeast Valley Region, so it’s up for anyone. Dual-threat quarterback Donivan Dixon will be tasked with trying to dissect a fast, physical defense led by Texas A&M commit cornerback Jamar Beal-Goines.

    7. Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain (7-3) at Phoenix Thunderbird (9-1), Friday

    This might be 4A’s best first-round game. Bradshaw Mountain is No. 12 and Thunderbird is No. 5. Thunderbird was rolling this season before losing to Yuma Catholic 45-14 last month. The Titans will try to unleash senior running back Elijah Little, who rushed for 1,861 yards and 28 touchdowns. Bradshaw Mountain finished second to Prescott in the Grand Canyon region. Bradshaw Mountain is led by junior running back Kylin Jackson, who rushed for 175 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 47-29 win over Lee Williams.

    8. Eagar Round Valley (7-3) at ALA West Foothills (11-0), Friday

    This 3A quarterfinal is a rematch of last year’s first-round game in which ALA West lost 32-7. That team was hampered by injuries when playing the Elks. The No. 2 seeded Guardians should be fully loaded this time around, seeking revenge against a well-proven No. 10 seed in Round Valley coming off a 35-18 win over No. 7 seed River Valley.

    9. Phoenix Veritas Prep at Scottsdale Christian, Friday

    These are two double-digit seeds meeting in the 2A quarterfinals. But how many players will No. 12 Scottsdale Christian have after some left the bench in the final minute of its win over Eloy Santa Cruz last week when a skirmish broke out? Players who leave the bench are subject to suspensions ordered by the AIA. No. 13 Veritas Prep is coming off a historic first playoff win, defeating No. 4 seed Phoenix Christian, 23-20.

    10. Baghdad (10-0) vs. Hayden (11-0), Saturday, 6 p.m., at Scottsdale Coronado

    This 8-man 1A state championship game pits No. 1 Winkelman Hayden against No. 2 Bagdad. Bagdad’s only loss was to Hayden 30-20 on September 6. In that game, Hayden pounded the ball with Tyler Garner and Kino Lorona each rushing for over 150 yards. Expect the same to happen. Hayden is seeking its second straight state title. The last Baghdad football championship was held in 2016.

    (This story has been updated to add or change a gallery.)

    Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest ideas for human interest stories and other news, contact Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

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