The roller coaster that is the 4A Conference resulted in a new No. 1 for the third time this season. 

In comparison, the 6A has seen one lead change — Basha swapping with Liberty — and the 5A has been the same all year with Desert Edge. That’s been the case for 3A and 2A as well, with Benjamin Franklin and Scottsdale Christian living up to expectations from the statewide media. 

There has been several changes behind No. 1 for every conference, however. The 6A has seen the rise of Chandler and the fall of teams like ALA Queen Creek and Highland. Cactus and Cactus Shadows started the season comfortably in the top 10 in 5A. The Cobras are now out and the Falcons are on the bubble. 

The 4A has been a crap shoot all season, but especially in the last few weeks. Gila Ridge has gone from being on nobody’s radar to No. 4. Marcos de Niza is also ranked. Two teams that didn’t get a single vote until the midway point of the season. 

The conference also remains the only one with 12-plus teams receiving votes. The latest count has 17 teams. The 3A Conference has seen many of the same programs in the top 10, just with some movement. The same goes for the 2A Conference. 

With just three weeks remaining we’re in for a good finish as members of the media and fans of Arizona high school football. Check out some of the key games below as well as the Week 8 Arizona Varsity Statewide Media Rankings. 

Key matchups

6A No. 5 Pinnacle vs 6A No. 3 Hamilton

6A No. 10 Red Mountain vs 6A No. 8 Mountain View — Battle of Brown Road

5A Notre Dame vs 5A No. 10 Cactus Shadows 

5A No. 2 Arizona College Prep vs 5A No. 5 ALA Gilbert North

4A Peoria vs 4A ALA West Foothills

4A No. 2 Snowflake vs 4A Eastmark 

4A No. 10 Coconino vs 4A No. 7 Lee Williams

4A St. Mary’s vs 4A Northwest Christian 

3A No. 9 Crismon vs 3A No. 6 Gilbert Christian (Thursday)

3A No. 10 Blue Ridge vs 3A No. 7 Show Low — Rivalry

3A No. 8 Payson vs 3A No. 2 Thatcher 

2A No. 10 Parker vs 2A No. 5 Arizona Lutheran 

2A No. 6 Veritas Prep vs 2A No. 2 Phoenix Christian

2A Camp Verde vs 2A No. 1 Scottsdale Christian

6A Conference 

5A Conference

4A Conference 

3A Conference 

2A Conference