With only one upset in the first round of the 3A Football State Championship bracket a season ago, will this year’s field have a similar feel to it? In the playoffs, anything can happen as the team’s being their journey for a title Friday, Nov. 7.

After talking with several coaches, many feel that this year’s 3A bracket is one of the more closely-matched fields they can remember, meaning anyone in the Top 10 could be hoisting a state championship trophy come Thanksgiving weekend.

PUSCH RIDGE

The defending 3A state champion Lions (8-2, 5-1 3A East) earned a No. 5 seed for this year’s 3A Football State Championships. They won it all a season ago as the No. 4 seed, defeating No. 2 ALA-West Foothills 26-7 to win the title.

Coach Kent Middleton cited “hard work” and “good athletes” when asked what he attributed his team’s success to this year. He’s not wrong about having good players, especially with wide receiver and defensive back Dominic Painter, who is a “home run hitter” with four kickoff returns for touchdowns this season.

Painter leads the team with 47 catches for 766 yards and eight touchdowns this fall. At quarterback, Race Pinneo completed 106 of 151 passes for 1,230 yards and 14 touchdowns this year.

Other players to watch include All-State defensive lineman Aaron Kenworthy, along with sophomore linebacker Cam Shoaff.

Pusch Ridge opens the state playoffs by hosting No. 12 Page (8-2, 5-0 3A North).

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Earning a No. 1 seed as the only undefeated 3A team in the regular season, Benjamin Franklin (10-0, 5-0 3A Metro) enters the fray having lost to Pusch Ridge in last year’s state semifinal matchup, 24-13.

They’ve rattled off 10 straight victories to start this season, and there’s no telling how far they can go.

“We have a group of young men who are more concerned with their teammate’s success than their own. I love the way our young men play the game, with relentless effort and genuine joy,” coach Danny Norris said, adding that his coaching staff emphasizes all three phases of the game and they work efficiently together.

The results speak for themselves.

“We need to continue to do what we’ve done all season. Prepare for each opponent with respect they deserve and execute as a team at a high level on game day,” Norris said.

Gavin Wyler leads the way at quarterback, completing 106 of 172 passes for 1,907 yards and 25 touchdowns to just two interceptions.

On the ground, Landon Stetka had 170 carries for 974 yards and 19 touchdowns, which was third in state behind only Aden Montgomery (20, River Valley) and Brody Crick (22, Round Valley).

The Chargers host No. 16-seeded Dysart in the first round of the 3A state playoffs Friday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m.

ROUND VALLEY

Earning a No. 3 seed in this year’s state playoffs, Round Valley (9-1, 4-1 3A Mountain) nearly completed a perfect regular season but a 25-21 loss at Blue Ridge in Week 5 disrupted their plans.

Coach Brad Baca said his club possesses a group of leaders that “committed” to the team right after last season.

“We have been blessed with an abundance of talent this year,” Baca said.

Players to watch are quarterback Kage Finch, who completed 89 of 145 passes (61%) for 1,542 yards and 22 touchdowns to go along with six interceptions. He also has 74 carries for 510 yards and six scores.

Also, Brody Crick, who leads all 3A in touchdowns with 22, had 116 carries for 911 yards this season.

“We will need to focus on playing our style of football and not worrying about things that we can’t control,” Baca said. “If we play the way we can play, we are a tough team to beat.”

The Elks last won a title in 2019 and have seven in program history dating back to 1966.

Round Valley is paired with No. 14 Seton Catholic in the first round of the 3A state playoffs Friday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m.

THATCHER

The Eagles made a serious run at a 3A state title a season ago after sporting one of the best teams in program history, but they fell short in a 34-22 loss to ALA-West Foothills in the state semifinals.

In 2025, Thatcher (9-1, 6-0 3A East) was one of three teams in 3A to win nine games this season. The other two were Round Valley and Valley Christian. Their only loss, a 27-12 defeat at the hands of No. 1-seeded Benjamin Franklin.

That effort, paired with wins over playoff teams Payson and Pusch Ridge have No. 4-seeded Thatcher as a team to watch when the playoffs get underway Friday, Nov. 7.

A player to watch is quarterback Chad Johnson, who completed 70 of 110 passes for 992 yards and six touchdowns, but ran 67 times for 340 yards and nine touchdowns to lead the Eagles.

When asked why Thatcher has been so successful this season, coach Daniel Jones kept it simple.

“My best answer is…the standard is the standard. Football means a lot in this little town and the young men take it seriously,” Jones said.

Thatcher has nine state championships in program history, their last coming in 2018.

Other players to watch are Ryan Jones, who had 54 carries for 389 yards and seven touchdowns, while lineman Travis Larson and Landon Robbins are “strong senior leaders” on both sides of the ball.

“We play a boring, hammer style of football. So, execution really matters,” Jones said. “This is the most contested 3A I have seen. I think anyone in the Top 10 has a shot.”

The Eagles are set to host No. 13 Florence on Friday, 7 p.m.

OTHER GAMES TO WATCH

No. 8 Show Low won seven games this season and finished third in tough 3A Mountain region. They’ll face No. 9 River Valley (7-3, 5-0 3A West) who has won six straight since they started the season 1-3, including a very close 24-18 loss to Benjamin Franklin, this year's No. 1 overall seed. The Dust Devils also beat Seton Catholic (40-6) and Payson (34-31), two teams in the playoff field. … No. 6 Crismon hosts No. 11 Blue Ridge to open first-round action. The Yellowjackets won six games this season, but three of their losses (Valley Christian, Show Low, Crismon) were close games, two of which were one-score losses. Blue Ridge has more titles (15) in program history than any other school in state at any level. … No. 7 Payson had several quality wins this season, including Page (47-21), Blue Ridge (43-14), and Show Low (35-25), while losing only by a field goal to River Valley (34-31). The Longhorns host No. 10 Gilbert Christian, which started the season 6-0 but then lost to Benjamin Franklin (43-6), Crismon (18-15) and Valley Christian (27-20) in a rough October stretch. … No. 2 Valley Christian plays host to No. 15 Sabino, a club that won the 2023 title. The Trojans have quality wins over Show Low (6-0), Blue Ridge (38-24), Crismon (28-14), Seton Catholic (48-38), and Sabino (18-14), giving them five wins this season against the playoff field. Their only loss? A 35-6 rout against Benjamin Franklin in Week 6.

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.