The playoffs are officially in full swing for all conferences across Arizona as the 6A Conference and the Open Division brackets have been finalized following the play-in games.

We’re breaking down each matchup and identifying the previous round’s win, offensive points per game, points per game allowed by the defense and head-to-head this season (if applicable). The team at Arizona Varsity will also provide their pick for who move on to the next round.

No. 8 Mountain View at No. 1 Hamilton

Last Round

• MVT: def. Centennial, 22-14
• HAM: Idle

PPG

• Mountain View: 34.8
• Hamilton: 54.8

PPG Allowed

• Mountain View: 19.2
• Hamilton: 15.7

H2H: N/A

Analysis: Mountain View came away with a win over Centennial last week to avenge the 6A title loss last season. Talan Arnett and Brady Goodman are one of the best tandems in the state, but they and their teammates now face the most dominant team this season in the Hamilton Huskies.

Sure, the Huskies are without sophomore quarterback Jax Sculley, who suffered a likely season-ending knee injury against Chandler two weeks ago. But they have Roye Oliver III and senior quarterback Daniel Vaita, who found some confidence against the Wolves when he led the Huskies back from a deficit to win. He’s now had two weeks to prepare as a starter.

Picks

• Zach Alvira: Hamilton
• Chris Eaton: Hamilton
• Ralph Amsden: Hamilton
• Adam Beadle: Hamilton
• JJ Digos: Hamilton
• Gregg Rosenberg: Hamilton
• Anonymous 1: Hamilton
• Anonymous 2: Hamilton

No. 5 Brophy at No. 4 Chandler

Last Round

• Brophy: def. Casteel, 51-42
• Chandler: Idle

PPG

• Brophy: 35.2
• Chandler: 39.1

PPG Allowed

• Brophy: 30.1
• Chandler: 20.8

H2H: N/A

Analysis: Chandler is licking its wounds a bit after giving up a big lead to Hamilton and losing the Battle of Arizona Avenue to end the regular season. But the Wolves showed in that game they are back … and a contender.

Will Mencl was electric against the Huskies, proving himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the state. Jai Jones was elite against a stout Hamilton secondary. And for three-and-a-half quarters, the Chandler defense appeared poised to slow down any high-powered offense.

Brophy finds itself in a familiar position: the quarterfinals. The round of 8 hasn’t been kind to the Broncos in year’s past, but this time it’s different as they are in the Open Division. They outlasted Casteel in a track meet in the Open play-in game, and now have a tough task ahead if they’re not able to slow down Chandler’s offense.

Picks

• Zach Alvira: Chandler
• Chris Eaton: Chandler
• Ralph Amsden: Chandler
• Adam Beadle: Chandler
• JJ Digos: Chandler
• Gregg Rosenberg: Chandler
• Anonymous 1: Chandler
• Anonymous 2: Chandler

No. 6 Red Mountain at No. 3 Liberty

Last Round

• Red Mountain: def. ALA Queen Creek, 28-21
• Liberty: Idle

PPG

• Red Mountain: 42.4
• Liberty: 32.2

PPG Allowed

• Red Mountain: 20.2
• Liberty: 11

H2H: N/A

Analysis: Red Mountain heard the buzz around ALA Queen Creek and shut down the Patriots in the form of a 28-21 victory. Head coach Kyle Enders has created a vibe around the program of taking on any team at any time and never looking at themselves as underdogs. That’s the mentality the Mountain Lions will have to bring again on Friday night as they face the two-time defending champion Liberty Lions, who were off last week as the No. 3 seed in the Open Division.

The Lions have been almost forgotten about with the emergence of Hamilton as a high-powered offense and dominant defense. But make no mistake, Liberty is still Liberty, and the Lions defense allows the fewest points per game in the state at just 11.

Picks

• Zach Alvira: Liberty
• Chris Eaton: Liberty
• Ralph Amsden: Liberty
• Adam Beadle: Liberty
• JJ Digos: Liberty
• Gregg Rosenberg: Liberty
• Anonymous 1: Liberty
• Anonymous 2: Liberty

No. 10 Williams Field at No. 2 Basha

Last Round

• WF: def. Pinnacle 39-36
• Basha: Idle

PPG

• WF: 34.5
• Basha: 39.9

PPG Allowed

• WF: 26.7
• Basha: 14.1

H2H: Basha def. Williams Field, 42-14, Sept. 12

Analysis: Williams Field pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the postseason so far last week when the Black Hawks sent Pinnacle down to the 6A tournament. The Black Hawks were widely regarded as one of the top teams in the state all season but moved quietly throughout the year. Now, however, they are in the Open for the first time and riding a wave of momentum as they face the second-ranked Basha Bears.

Basha bounced back in a big way two weeks ago after losing to Hamilton and being challenged by Mesa. The Bears trounced rival Perry and secured the No. 2 seed in the Open. Junior quarterback Jake Rogers appears to be coming into his own as the starter with senior Brody Vehrs sidelined, as the gunslinger has now led Basha to two wins and leads his team into the Open yet again.

Picks

• Zach Alvira: Basha
• Chris Eaton: Basha
• Ralph Amsden: Basha
• Adam Beadle: Basha
• JJ Digos: Basha
• Gregg Rosenberg: Basha
• Anonymous 1: Basha
• Anonymous 2: Basha

6A Conference

No. 8 Salpointe Catholic at No. 1 Pinnacle

Last Round

• Salpointe: def. Queen Creek, 23-8
• Pinnacle: lost to Williams Field, 39-36 (Open play-in)

PPG

• Salpointe: 19.2
• Pinnacle: 35.1

PPG Allowed

• Salpointe: 26.1
• Pinnacle: 17.6

H2H: Pinnacle def. Salpointe, 28-21, Nov. 7

Analysis: For the second time in three weeks Pinnacle and Salpointe Catholic will meet on the gridiron. This time, however, a trip to the 6A semifinals is on the line.

The Lancers came up to the Valley last week and knocked off Queen Creek at home. Pinnacle suffered an upset loss against Williams Field in the Open Division play-in game. Now, the Pioneers are the top seed in 6A and chasing their first title in program history.

Picks

• Zach Alvira: Pinnacle
• Chris Eaton: Pinnacle
• Ralph Amsden: Pinnacle
• Adam Beadle: Pinnacle
• JJ Digos: Pinnacle
• Gregg Rosenberg: Pinnacle
• Anonymous 1: Pinnacle
• Anonymous 2: Pinnacle

No. 5 Higley at No. 4 Casteel

Last Round

• Higley: def. O’Connor, 26-17
• Casteel: lost to Brophy, 51-42 (Open play-in)

PPG

• Higley: 23.4
• Casteel: 29.2

PPG Allowed

• Higley: 24.6
• Casteel: 25.5

H2H: N/A

Analysis: Casteel comes into this matchup with a bit of momentum despite losing a track meet to Brophy in the Open Division play-in. The Colts have confidence in their offense, led by junior Tee Smith. They were able to score at-will against the Broncos, and now face a Higley team that is giving up nearly 25 points per game.

The Knights stumbled a bit to end the season but got back in the win column when it mattered most. It’s still been a down year for the Knights in the stat column, as the defense is allowing more points than the offense has scored this season. But a veteran coaching staff and veteran players who have plenty of playoff experience will play a role for Higley.

Picks

• Zach Alvira: Higley
• Chris Eaton: Higley
• Ralph Amsden: Casteel
• Adam Beadle: Casteel
• JJ Digos: Casteel
• Gregg Rosenberg: Casteel
• Anonymous 1: Casteel
• Anonymous 2: Casteel

No. 6 Perry at No. 3 ALA Queen Creek

Last Round

• Perry: def. Westwood 43-23
• ALA Queen Creek: Lost to Red Mountain, 28-21 (Open play-in)

PPG

• Perry: 28.1
• ALA Queen Creek: 28

PPG Allowed

• Perry: 25.2
• ALA Queen Creek: 27.1

H2H: N/A

Analysis: Perry bounced back after a blowout loss to rival Basha to end the season, knocking off Westwood to advance in the 6A bracket. Now, however, the Pumas face off against an ALA Queen Creek team that has won five of its last six games, but fell to Red Mountain in the Open play-in.

Perry has talent all over the place, but has struggled to bring it all together this season with a record well below expectations. The Patriots have been one of the hottest teams since the midway point of the season. Now both are playing to keep their championship hopes alive.

Picks

• Zach Alvira: ALA Queen Creek
• Chris Eaton: Perry
• Ralph Amsden: Perry
• Adam Beadle: ALA Queen Creek
• JJ Digos: ALA Queen Creek
• Gregg Rosenberg: ALA Queen Creek
• Anonymous 1: ALA Queen Creek
• Anonymous 2: ALA Queen Creek

No. 7 Mesa at No. 2 Centennial

Last Round

• Mesa: def. Highland, 27-24
• Centennial: Lost to Mountain View, 22-14 (Open play-in)

PPG

• Mesa: 28.2
• Centennial: 34.5

PPG Allowed

• Mesa: 20.8
• Centennial: 17.2

H2H: N/A

Analysis: Mesa’s resurgence has been well documented thanks to some out-of-state transfers and coaching by Jeremy Hathcock. The Jackrabbits advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2022, and it came during the same year the program picked up its 700th overall. Junior quarterback Boogie Anetema has transformed the offense since his arrival alongside his brother, Kingston, and star tight end Caleb Tafua. The Jackrabbits have answered the elevation in talent on both sides of the ball and at every position.

But the Jackrabbits now face perhaps one of their toughest tasks all season in a Centennial program hungry to not let its season come to an early end. The defending 6A champion was knocked off by Mountain View in the Open Division play-in round, dropping the Coyotes down as the No. 2 seed in 6A. Centennial is still just as dangerous as ever with players becoming healthy from injury and the chance at back-to-back titles for the first time since 2017-18 within reach.

Picks

• Zach Alvira: Mesa
• Chris Eaton: Centennial
• Ralph Amsden: Centennial
• Adam Beadle: Centennial
• JJ Digos: Centennial
• Gregg Rosenberg: Centennial
• Anonymous 1: Centennial
• Anonymous 2: Mesa