Casa Grande just crashed the Arizona high school flag football top 10 for the very first time, and seriously, the whole hierarchy of the state is already starting to shake out after just three weeks. This isn’t your average early season fluff, folks. We’re talking real contenders making real statements, and you can still vote for who you think should be #1 until noon MST on Friday, Oct. 9.
The Untouchables and the Unstoppable
Gilbert Highland is sitting pretty at #1, and for good reason. They’re 4-0, absolutely looking like the team to beat, and they just put on a clinic with a 55-6 rout of #4 Glendale Mountain Ridge. Think that’s impressive? They’re already getting national attention, ranked #9 in the country by USA TODAY, and they just made their debut in the MaxPreps rankings at #20. Talk about making a statement!
Then there’s Tucson Salpointe Catholic down at #10, but don’t let that ranking fool you. They’re on a blistering start, a perfect 5-0, and get this: they’ve beaten opponents by a combined score of 274-0. Yeah, you read that right, 274-0. That’s just insane, and it begs the question: are they just running through cupcakes, or are they *that* good?
Right behind Highland, you’ve got Gilbert Campo Verde at #2. They’re 3-1, their only loss was to #1 Highland, but since then, they’ve gone on an absolute rampage, outscoring teams 196-0! This week, they face a massive challenge with a road trip to California to take on JSerra Catholic, the #1 team in the nation. That’s a true test right there.
New Blood and Emerging Stars
The big story this week is Casa Grande finally breaking into the top 10 at #9. They’re 4-0 after a solid 23-0 win over Sierra Vista Buena, and it’s their first time ever in the rankings. That’s a huge moment for their program, and it shows how much movement we’re seeing.
Tempe Corona del Sol, currently #6 with a 5-1 record, bounced back from a tough loss with a 19-0 win over Phoenix Mountain Pointe. And get this, they just got sophomore Victoria Beakes eligible at quarterback after her transfer from Basha. Could she be the missing piece to take them even higher? Also making waves is Marana at #8, holding strong at 5-1. They had another perfect week with two shutout victories, 28-0 and 44-0. Sophomore quarterback Izzy Garcia is absolutely lighting up the stat sheet, making her one to watch.
The Rest of the Contenders
Chandler Basha sits at #3, another undefeated team at 4-0. They were idle last week, but things are about to get real for them with some tough road trips this week to #7 Peoria Liberty and Goodyear Millennium. Liberty themselves, at #7 and 4-0, had a forfeit win and then breezed past Avondale West Point 31-2. But they’ve got a much harder week ahead, facing Phoenix Pinnacle (5-1) and that road game against #3 Basha.
Glendale Mountain Ridge, after getting clobbered by Highland, showed some serious resilience by beating Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor 28-7, putting them at #4 with a 4-1 record. And Gilbert at #5, 3-1, easily handled Mesa Skyline 42-0 in their only game last week. They’re also headed to California to play Oxnard Channel Islands on October 10.
It’s clear the early season is all about making statements and setting the tone. With a poll still open for who deserves the #1 spot, and huge matchups on the horizon, this flag football season is already electric.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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