By Zach Alvira
Head of Content
Welcome to the most loaded bracket of the Arizona high school football playoffs. As many as four or five Open Division-caliber teams were sent to the 6A bracket with four 5A teams making the top eight cut line.
That has opened the door for perhaps one of the most exciting football tournaments since the inception of the Open Division in 2019.
Here's a look at the favorites, contenders and potential dark horses -- if we can really call them that.
The Bracket
16 Boulder Creek at 1 Brophy
9 Chandler at 8 Perry
12 Williams Field at 5 Salpointe Catholic
13 Cesar Chavez at 4 Mountain View
14 Centennial at 3 Red Mountain
11 Casteel at 6 Highland
10 Mountain Pointe at 7 Pinnacle
15 Sandra Day O'Connor at 2 Queen Creek
The Favorites
Brophy
An Open Division team up until the final rankings, Brophy fell out of the top eight after its regular season finale road loss at Salpointe Catholic. All that does is now open the door for the Broncos to go after their first championship since 2007. And they have the talent to do it.
The quarterback tandem of Rylan Umphrey and Case Vanden bosch has been key for the Broncos. The two have combined for 1,967 yards through the air and 20 touchdowns. Vanden bosch has also gotten it done with his legs, leading the team in rushing yards with 806. The receiving core for the Broncos is elite, with Daylon Sharper and Devin Fitzgerald leading the way.
Defensively, the Broncos are led by the linebackers -- Dominic Woods, Dominic Mitchell and Bastian Vanden bosch. Cree Thomas, a Notre Dame commit, mans the secondary alongside super sophomore Ryder Noche.
Brophy was chasing the Open Division but fell short. Now, the Broncos have a legitimate shot at the 6A crown.
Queen Creek
Queen Creek has been the surprise of the season at the 6A level. The Bulldogs, who won just three games last season, were nearly in the Open Division before they were knocked off by ALA Queen Creek in the final week of the regular season. Now, they're poised to make a run at the 6A title.
Led by Clemson commit and quarterback Tait Reynolds, the Queen Creek offense has flourished this season. Reynolds' dual threat ability has accounted for 1,692 yards through the air and 1,061 yards on the ground. In total, he has scored 31 touchdowns. He has a good core around him, led by UCLA commit and tight end Dylan Sims.
Defensively, the Bulldogs have held high-powered offenses to limited points.
The Contenders
Red Mountain
There was a point in time not too long ago Red Mountain appeared to be destined for one of the top seeds in the Open Division. I was one of those people who thought that would be the case.
However, after injuries piled up, the Mountain Lions were upset by Queen Creek. They then lost to Hamilton and Mountain View in the Battle of Brown Road. The three straight losses is uncharacteristic of the Red Mountain football program, which has been a mainstay atop the 6A Conference. Now, the Mountain Lions limp into the postseason. But they remain in contender status.
Simon Lopez continues to shine for the Mountain Lions, throwing for 1,985 yards this season and 23 touchdowns with only one interception. Bode Wagner, his top target, has 808 yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively the Mountain Lions are tough up front, typically not allowing much in the way of a run game. Though, the last three weeks have shown some holes.
Nonetheless, when healthy, Red Mountain can make a run.
Mountain View
How many times can Andy Litten take over a program and in just his first year have one of the best seasons ever? Maybe we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. But to lead Mountain View to a 9-1 season in his first year with the program is no small feat.
Litten did it with Horizon and now is having the same success with the Toros. Junior quarterback Brady Goodman has been a key part to the Toros' success, throwing for 2,071 yards and 36 touchdowns on the year. Reese Bodily's 1,045 yards on the ground and a loaded receivers room has helped, too.
Defensively, the Toros have a stable of tacklers all above 40 or more on the season. They can stop the run and cover in the secondary. They've bought in to Litten's philosophy as a coach and it's paying off.
The Dark Horses
Highland
After back-to-back 6A championships and an Open Division semifinals berth, it's hard to label Highland as a dark horse in the 6A Conference playoffs. But that shows how loaded the field is this season.
The Hawks have taken care of business, for the most part, when they were supposed to this season. But a rise in programs like Red Mountain and Queen Creek have forced them to settle for the No. 6 seed in the 6A bracket. Kalen Fisher continues to show improvement this year behind a young and relatively inexperienced offensive line. Hayden Dougherty, the big tight end, continues to be one of his top targets.
Defensively, Highland is as tough as ever. The linebacking core continues to be one of the better units in the conference on a consistent basis.
Pinnacle
Perhaps the biggest dark horse of them all is the Pinnacle Pioneers.
They took a step back against Cueva (N.M.) early in the season, but have since proven themselves to be a threat in the 6A Conference. Led by quarterback Wyatt Horton, the Pioneers have a championship pedigree to them, not to mention experience. Horton, as a sophomore, took the Pioneers to the 6A title game where they fell to Highland.
This year, he's established himself as one of the top quarterbacks to ever come out of the school -- which says something. The Pioneers were one play away from knocking off the defending Open Division champions in Liberty.
Overall, this team from top to bottom can compete for a 6A championship.
Round-by-round Prediction
1 Brophy def. 16 Boulder Creek
9 Chandler def. 8 Perry
5 Salpointe Catholic def. 12 Williams Field
4 Mountain View def. 13 Cesar Chavez
3 Red Mountain def. 14 Centennial
6 Highland def. 11 Casteel
7 Pinnacle def. 10 Mountain Pointe
2 Queen Creek def. 15 Sandra Day O'Connor
Quarterfinals
1 Brophy def. 9 Chandler
4 Mountain View def 5 Salpointe Catholic
6 Highland def. 3 Red Mountain
2 Queen Creek def. 7 Pinnacle
Semifinals
1 Brophy def. 4 Mountain View
2 Queen Creek def. 6 Highland
6A Conference Championship
2 Queen Creek def. 1 Brophy
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