EDITOR'S NOTE: This article appearned in the 2024 Sollenberger's AZ Prep Football magazine. To view, click here.

1. MOHAVE: Head coach Rudy Olvera may never admit this, but a 30-16 loss in the 3A state semifinals to eventual champ Sabino likely stung just a little bit, especially with the Thunderbirds sporting what was likely their best team in school history at an 11-1 mark prior to that loss. But time heals all wounds, and minus the need to replace All-Arizona middle linebacker Jon Williams, who committed to Army, Mohave has mostly everyone back. One player to watch for is incoming senior Isac Urias, Olvera said. “He is dynamic in all phases of the game and can make a play whenever he is around the ball.” The defending 3A West champs will likely win the region again without another team cracking our Top 10 this fall.

2. THATCHER: Coming into the 2024 season, Eagles coach Daniel Jones believes he has one of the faster teams in Thatcher history. “I’m expecting good things from us.” Returning 15 starting players on both sides of the ball, Thatcher has a tough road in the 3A South with at least three quality teams to worry about, including Pusch Ridge, Morenci (their only loss in region last year) and defending champ Sabino. One player to watch is senior middle linebacker Brett Jones, who started early in his career and took off running when given the opportunity. “He’s going to be one of the best linebackers in 3A and in the state, he’s an impressive young man,” coach Jones said. The Eagles have won nine titles in program history, the last coming in 2018 on the heels of a three-peat (2016-2018).

3. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: Finishing second to only Valley Christian in the 3A Metro East region a season ago, Benjamin Franklin is poised to make another run at not just a region title, but a potential 3A state championship thanks to 19 returning starters on both sides of the ball. “The strength of our football program this year is senior leadership and experience,” coach Danny Norris said. “Our young men have had an awesome offseason and are prepared to compete well this season.” Tailback Ridge Allen returns for his senior season after running for more than 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns in a 2023 season that saw his club lose to No. 6 Morenci 35-7 in the first round of state.

4. VALLEY CHRISTIAN: Ranked No. 8 in our preseason rankings last year, the Trojans made quite the run in 2023, earning a No. 2 seed in the 3A postseason, but fell 72-56 to Paradise Honors in a state semifinal shootout. All signs point to Valley Christian being one of the top teams in 3A once again with six returners each on both sides of the ball and an 11-2 record to build from, but coach Jake Peterson will need to find a way to replace quarterback Gunner Link and his 3,367 yards passing and 44 touchdowns. One player that might help ease that transition is standout junior wideout Asher Hanzal. “He’s only gotten bigger, faster and stronger,” Petersen said. Hanzal caught 63 passes for more than 900 yards in 2023. The reigning 3A Metro East champs will have their hands full with Benjamin Franklin and Gilbert Christian again this fall. The Trojans are one of two teams mentioned in our 3A preseason Top 10 picks out of the 3A Metro East. Only the 3A South has more teams at three.

5. ALA-IRONWOOD: The Warriors gave No. 2-seeded Valley Christian all they could handle in the first round of the 3A state playoffs last season, eventually coming up short 24-21. Their 6-5 overall record wasn’t anything special, but with 11 returners coming back on both sides of the ball, including All-State selectees Marques Dorsey (WR/DB) and Ayden Williams (RB), ALA-Ironwood may make some noise in 3A this year. “The strength of our team is the number of returners at positions that touch the ball,” coach Loren Dawson said.

6. SABINO: The defending 3A champs came into last year’s state playoff bracket as a No. 4 seed, but as the tournament played out, it was easy to see that a tough 3A South region schedule had the Sabercats fully prepared for a playoff run of a lifetime, including a 30-16 upset over No. 1 Mohave in the semifinals before putting up 68 points in the victory over No. 3 Paradise Honors for the title. Sabino has only eight starters returning, but coach Ryan McBrayer believes the youth movement is in full swing. “Our offensive line will set the tone. They will be young, but they are big, athletic, physical and ready to get after it.”

7. BLUE RIDGE: Eric Hjalmarson enters his first year as head coach of a Yellow Jacket group that won nine games in 2023, including a 20-17 upset over No. 8 Pusch Ridge in the first round of the 3A state playoffs a season ago. Blue Ridge lost to Mohave in the quarterfinals, 54-14. The Yellow Jackets return 12 starters highlighted by quarterback Luke Berlin, who is only a junior, and senior linebackers Noah Chee and Hunter Krause. Blue Ridge holds the record for the most state championships of any program in Arizona at 15, including five in the 1990s, but haven’t raised a trophy since 2013.

8. PUSCH RIDGE: Despite finishing fourth in the ever difficult 3A South region a season ago, the Lions barely lost to Blue Ridge 20-17 in the first round of the 3A state playoffs. Kent Middleton’s group is back for more, and with 11 starting returners back in 2024, including defensive standouts Charles Palmer and Tyler Shoaff, this Pusch Ridge group has plans to once again be a Top 10 club in 3A football. Questions surround the quarterback position, with Bubba Mustain’s graduation, but it seems senior Jacob Newborn is up for the task. The Lions are the third 3A South region club to earn a preseason Top 10 spot in 2024.

9. ALA-WEST FOOTHILLS: Coach Chad Mitton’s group went 8-2 last season and made the 3A state playoffs before losing in the first round to Round Valley, 32-7. The Guardians return 12 starters, including senior running back J.J. Brutas, who had 34 carries for 307 yards and five touchdowns behind senior Marquez Smith a season ago.

10. FLORENCE: Since coach Jesse Hart took over a Florence program in 2022 that had won just 13 games in the previous four seasons, not one of which they finished at least .500, the Gophers have won 16 games in just two years, going 8-2 during the regular season in 2022 and 2023 before losing in the first round of the 3A state playoffs. Florence won a 3A Central region title in 2023. Hart’s group returns 14 starting players, including nine offensively highlighted by senior quarterback Logan Stenson and senior running back Malik Smith. The two combined for more than 1,400 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. ALA-Ironwood should be better this year in a typically weak 3A Central, but Florence should repeat as region champs again in 2024.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.