Welcome to the annual ArizonaVarsity Pick’Em Contest! Each week we pick 10 games and do our best to pick a winner, with the twist of the perceived favorite getting “points” to make choosing the winner more challenging.
Standings
Week 4 Games, 1-5
Queen Creek vs Centennial (-9.5)
All time record: Queen Creek leads 1-0 (2024)
Game Notes: This game was a highly anticipated rematch between Centennial’s Kainan Manna and Queen Creek’s Tait Reynolds, but Manna transferred out before the season, and Reynolds was injured in Queen Creek’s Nevada road trip. If Reynolds isn’t back, we’ll see sophomore Sawyer Hales under center in a tough road game against Centennial sophomore Titus Hill.
Perry vs Highland (-2.5)
All time record: Highland leads 5-3
Game Notes: Highland hasn’t started a season 0-3 since 2011, and Perry is trying to break a four game streak of being held under 200 yards passing.
Boulder Creek vs Casteel (-6.5)
All time record: Casteel leads 3-0
Game Notes: This game features two teams that are both averaging less than four yards per carry on the ground, so expect the big plays to come through the air. Boulder Creek WR Joey Longo already has 6 TDs on the season despite the Jaguars being 0-3, and Casteel QB Gunnar Choy’s favorite target in 2025, Eric Avila, is still looking for his first receiving TD.
Higley vs Pinnacle (-5.5)
All time record: N/A (First Meeting)
Game Notes: Both 3-0 teams in 2025 have brought the boom on defense. Pinnacle has registered three consecutive shutouts, while Higley’s defense hasn’t given up more than 13 points in any game this year.
Horizon (-8.5) vs Sunnyslope
All time record: Horizon leads 5-1
Game Notes: Sunnyslope hasn’t won this game since 1982, and 2025 might be their best shot to end that streak. RB Kelton Rogers is getting the Vikings almost 7 yards per carry, but Horizon is getting plenty of great play from their own RB- Bodie Zamorano (443 yards rushing). The winner of this game will move to 4-0.
Week 4 Games, 6-10
Paradise Valley vs Flagstaff (-3.5)
All time record: Flagstaff leads 4-3
Game Notes: Last time this game was played was 1973. Flagstaff has started the year 0-2, but had a monster performance from Chase Brown (4 passing TDs, 2 rushing TDs) to beat Tempe. Paradise Valley is 2-1, and just beat Kellis behind one of the best WR performances of the year- 18 receptions and 2 TDs for Alonzo Gonzales.
Vista Grande vs Walden Grove (-7.5)
All time record: N/A (First Meeting)
Game Notes: Vista Grande brings a 2-1 record to this contest, and D’Marco Decastro just had his best performance at RB, with 3 TDs in a shutout win over Desert Sunrise. Walden Grove is 1-2, but with a much tougher strength of schedule, losing to 5A Tucson last week. Look for Walden Grove’s Angel Armenta (2 INTs, 6 TFLs) to make a lot of noise on defense.
Combs (-3.5) vs Paradise Honors
All time record: N/A (First Meeting)
Game Notes: Combs has outscored opponents 158-0 in 2025, which is already 50 more points than they scored in the entire 2023 season. They’ll face a 2-1 Paradise Honors team that is led by RB Chuck Van Dyke, who has 72 carries for 658 yards this season.
Valley Christian (-7.5) vs Crismon
All time record: N/A (First Meeting)
Game Notes: The battle of the Ashers- Valley Christian WR Asher Hanzal comes in with 13 catches for 224 yards and 4 TDs, while Crismon’s Asher Vance has 16 catches for 337 yards and 6 TDs. May the best Asher win.
Santa Cruz Valley vs Phoenix Christian (-12.5)
All time record: Phoenix Christian leads 2-0
Game Notes: Phoenix Christian already has nearly 1,500 yards and 21 TDs on the ground in just four games- some teams don’t do that over the course of a season! If Santa Cruz is going to hang with the Cougars, they’ll need to control the clock with a rushing attack of senior Daniel Contreras and sophomore Diego Ibarra.
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