The regular season has concluded and the brackets have been released for the 3A, 4A and 5A conferences. 

There were some technical difficulties with the bracket release show that kept the brackets from being released live like in year’s past, but the drama was at a feverpitch nonetheless. 

The team at Arizona Varsity, along with an anonymous voice, came together to share their insight on how the brackets played out. Below are the questions asked of every Team AZV member. 

• What are some takeaways from the final bracket?
• Looking at the path for the top two seeds in the conference, which team has the most difficult route to the championship?
• Which team is the favorite now at the end of the season? Any new dark horses? 
• Who do you believe will be playing in the conference championship? 

Answers to each question for the 3A Conference are below. 

What are some takeaways from the final bracket?

Chris Eaton, Gridiron Arizona: The most notable result from Friday’s 3A regular-season finale action was Payson (who was No. 9) defeating Show Low (who was No. 6) at home, 35-25. That enabled the Longhorns to move up a couple spots from 9 to 7 and give them their first home playoff game in 17 years! Show Low stayed in the top 8 at #8, making the unfortunate team River Valley. The Dust Devils won on the road at Dysart (who was No. 15), 46-30, but dropped to 9. The difference between 8 and 9? River Valley won’t get to play at its comfy (and loud) confines at the Anderson Auto Group Fieldhouse in Bullhead City and must embark on a 335-mile road trip (about 5 hours on the bus) to Show Low for this Friday’s first round.

Ralph Amsden, Arizona Varsity Publisher: No. 9 River Valley being on the road feels dirty. 

They beat No. 7 Payson head-to-head, who beat No. 8 Show Low in week 10 – and yet River Valley, with the same 7-3 record, has to travel 350 miles to Show Low in the opening round. 

River Valley is a region winner, gave Benjamin Franklin their toughest game of the season, and had one of their losses come in a one score game against a top-4 ranked 4A team in Mohave. I know the AIA playoff formula doesn’t factor in head-to-head, but the over-reliance on “good losses” in the final seedings really sticks out here. Twelve hours of travel time back and forth because a team (that lost to a team you beat) has “better losses?” It’s ridiculous. And even if River Valley does get a win as the 9 seed on the road, the reward is playing against Benjamin Franklin in the second round. Yikes.

JJ Digos, Arizona Varsity Photographer/Writer: My biggest take away from the 3A playoff bracket is that there are still a lot of teams that have the capability of making it all the way to the state championship, and it’ll come down to which teams are able to handle a lot of travel, can limit their mistakes and penalties, and ultimately, for a lot of offenses who can control the time of possession and finish drives with scores.

I’ve seen a lot of 3A games this year where teams maybe get one possession a quarter and it’s likely that a good chunk of these first round games will be pretty low scoring because of the types of ground and pound offenses that we see at the 3A level. Top to bottom I think the 3A playoff bracket is going to be the most exciting tournament this year. Don’t be surprised if there are 3-4 first round upsets.

Adam Beadle, Arizona Varsity Multimedia Specialist: If there’s going to be any “upset” I think it will be Round Valley taking down Valley Christian and getting into the State Championship. I’m just excited to see how the 3A playoffs go down this year because we have so many competitive teams who have had a lot of success this season.

Brett Quintyne, C-Town Rivals: No surprises for me at 3A.

Zach Alvira, Arizona Varsity Writer: No major takeaway for me with the 3A Conference. One team has been dominant all season and I don’t think that’s going to change now in November. 

Anonymous: Ben Franklin and Round Valley have looked like the two best teams in 3A all year and I think are poised to meet in the championship, I think Round Valley is the best equipped team to knock off Ben Franklin and can make that a great game.

Looking at the path for the top two seeds in the conference, which team has the most difficult route to the championship?

Chris Eaton, Gridiron Arizona: In looking at the bracket, I think top-seeded Benjamin Franklin has the tougher path to the Nov. 29 title game at Mountain Pointe HS. The Chargers will get the River Valley/Show Low winner, and then either Thatcher or Pusch Ridge. In my final 3A rankings (after 9 games), I had Thatcher 2 and Pusch Ridge 3 (Valley Christian was 4). VC on the other hand, hosts Sabino (who will drive up from Tucson), then likely Payson (another long trip for the visitor) before Round Valley in the neutral semis.

Ralph Amsden, Arizona Varsity Publisher: Valley Christian opens against a 15-seed Sabino that had a second half lead against them in the season opener, so the answer here is Valley Christian. In 3A, you could make the argument that the distance between No. 1 and No. 2 is larger than the gap between No. 2 and Np. 15.

JJ Digos, Arizona Varsity Photographer/Writer: I think Valley Christian’s side of the bracket is incredibly brutal. 3A is of course going to be one of the more entertaining brackets during the early rounds because of the number of rematch games since everyone in the conference has seemed to have played each other. 

Ben Franklin has played at a considerably higher level than everyone else in 3A, so we should expect them to make it to the championship game. But the Trojans face a first round rematch vs. Sabino, a team they beat 18-14 in week 1. Then a potential rematch against a very tough Payson team or Gilbert Christian, who they beat 27-20 a couple weeks ago. VC is a well coached and tough team themselves, but as evenly matched the majority of 3A is, it will surely be a tough task to make it to the 3A title game.

Adam Beadle, Arizona Varsity Multimedia Specialist: Valley Christian absolutely has the more difficult path. Like I said in my takeaway, I think Round Valley is the one team that could upset the Trojans, but I know any one of those teams that are on that side of the bracket will also give the Trojans a run for their money any day of the week.

Brett Quintyne, C-Town Rivals: The 3A is really going to be great as the top two seeds have an equally challenging road to the finale.

Zach Alvira, Arizona Varsity Writer: I would say Benjamin Franklin because the Chargers would have to face either Show Low or River Valley in the quarterfinals, both scrappy teams, followed by (likely) Thatcher or Pusch Ridge in the semifinals. But the Chargers already beat both of those powerhouses this season. 

So, we look to Valley Christian, which has had an incredible bounce back season. Sabino won’t go down easy and the Trojans’ side of the bracket also features Round Valley, Payson, Gilbert Christian and Crismon – all teams that can make a run. 

Anonymous: The toughest path in 3A ironically goes to the No. 1 seed. Playing a team for a second time is always a challenge so facing off against Dysart round one and potentially the winner of Show Low/River Valley in the quarterfinals is a challenge as both teams have upset potential. The semifinals could also be a matchup between the defending champion Pusch Ridge or Thatcher who many feel is the No. 2 team as opposed to the No. 4 seed they received. 

Which team is the favorite now at the end of the season? Any new dark horses? 

Chris Eaton, Gridiron Arizona: Despite the more difficult path, there’s no question Ben Franklin is still the favorite. The Chargers are the only undefeated team in 3A and have defeated Thatcher, Valley Christian, Crismon, and River Valley this season. BFHS played for the 3A title in 2019, but lost to ALA-Queen Creek (which shows you how far the Patriots have risen in 6 years!). This could be the first title for Benjamin Franklin in the team’s 11th season (3rd with head coach Danny Norris). As for dark horses, I called Payson and Show Low in this spot in our mid-season article. Thinking Payson has a better shot at making a run being in the lower half of the bracket. Crismon could be a tough out. The Rattlers, in the playoffs for the first time with new head coach Scott Hare, would likely make a trip to the Round Valley Dome in Eagar in the second round. The Elks were unbeaten there this season (5-0).

Ralph Amsden, Arizona Varsity Publisher: Benjamin Franklin not winning a championship as the No. 1 seed when they are the overall leader in power points amongst any team in any division, and are entering the 3A playoffs already having gone 8-0 against 3A playoff teams, would be one of the bigger shocking upsets in the history of Arizona High School football. If there are any dark horses in 3A, they are so dark they’re invisible. That being said, not a lot of teams have as much playoff experience as the Thatcher Eagles. No one at Thatcher is looking at Benjamin Franklin like they’re unbeatable, and maybe that confidence will carry over into an upset.

JJ Digos, Arizona Varsity Photographer/Writer: In 3A, it’s Ben Franklin and then everybody else. Their defense is outstanding and their offensive line led by Ammon Alexander is the best in 3A.  As I mentioned earlier, 3A is going to be incredibly entertaining football throughout the month of November. I truly believe that teams 2-13 all have a chance to make the semifinals.

Adam Beadle, Arizona Varsity Multimedia Specialist: Ben Franklin to the moon.

Brett Quintyne, C-Town Rivals: I think we will see Benjamin Franklin face either the 2 or 3 seed in the 3A finale.

Zach Alvira, Arizona Varsity Writer: Benjamin Franklin. No question and really no explanation needed. The Chargers have been on a roll and beat eight playoff teams in the regular season. 

Anonymous: The preseason favorite in both 3A and 5A continues to be the favorites entering the postseason. Ben Franklin and Desert Edge have both dominated their respective conferences all year long and have shown no signs of slowing down. In fact they’ve both started to play their best ball at the right time. 

Who do you believe will be playing in the conference championship? 

Chris Eaton, Gridiron Arizona: As for the championship matchup, I’m going to ride the top 2 seeds here and say Benjamin Franklin gets there still undefeated against Valley Christian, whose only loss this year was 35-6 to the Chargers.

Ralph Amsden, Arizona Varsity Publisher: Right now, I think Benjamin Franklin will probably be meeting No. 3 Round Valley in the 3A Championship game. I like Round Valley’s offensive schemes, and the skill they have on defense to create pressure and allow the secondary to make plays on errant passes. But it’s also possible that Crismon makes a run all the way to the final game, and I say that because when QB Braxton Thill takes care of the football, this has been a team that can go toe to toe with anyone … but they are 0-3 in multi-interception games, so they need to take care of the football in order for the Rattlers to make a run.

JJ Digos, Arizona Varsity Photographer/Writer: Ben Franklin vs. Crismon

Adam Beadle, Arizona Varsity Multimedia Specialist: No. 1 Ben Franklin vs No. 2 Valley Christian

Brett Quintyne, C-Town Rivals: Benjamin Franklin vs either Valley Christian or Round Valley

Zach Alvira, Arizona Varsity Writer: Give me Benjamin Franklin vs Valley Christian. Again, Chargers hoist the gold ball. 

Anonymous: For 3A I believe it’ll be Ben Franklin versus Round Valley