This is a big week in Arizona high school football with playoff ramifications in Arizona Interscholastic Association conferences. The 1A, 8-man state playoffs also start this week.
Here's a look at The Arizona Republic's top 10 games of the week, Oct. 22-23, 2026. All games are at 7 p.m. MST.
Vote in our poll for the game you think is the best matchup. Poll closes at noon on Friday, Oct. 23. Print readers can find the poll online with this story at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.
Top 10 HS football games of the week
1. Chandler Hamilton (7-0) at Peoria Liberty (6-1), Friday, Oct. 23
This feels like an Open state semifinal, or even final game. Both teams are in playoff mode, with Hamilton's defense behind defensive end Derrick LeBlanc Jr. making a statement all season, and Liberty rolling since a 30-22 loss at defending state champion Chandler Basha on Sept. 18.
2. Phoenix Brophy Prep (6-2) at Basha (6-2), Friday, Oct. 23
Brophy has become a dangerous team with quarterback Noah Stewart coming off his best game. The Broncos' tough schedule will have them ready for anything in the Open. Their two losses came against Hamilton and Chandler, the top-two ranked teams in 6A by MaxPreps/AIA. Jake Rogers is back at quarterback for Basha, and running back Noah Roberts has become a scoring machine with nine touchdowns in the last three games for the Bears.
3. Scottsdale Desert Mountain (7-1) at Phoenix Horizon (7-1), Friday, Oct. 23
This figures to be Desert Mountain's toughest game of the season so far. The defending 5A champion Wolves have not lost on the field (they had to forfeit the early-season win over Chandler Arizona College Prep). That strong defensive front, led by Davian Whitener, might receive a challenge against a strong offensive line and sophomore sensation running back Dylan Brush and his 23 rushing TDs.
4. Goodyear Millennium (8-0) at Waddell Canyon View (7-1), Friday, Oct. 23
Big 5A matchup of top West Valley teams. Canyon View's only loss was against Goodyear Desert Edge, which Millennium plays on Oct. 30 in the final regular-season game. Millennium has one of the best running attacks in the state, led by tailback D'Mari Bryant, who ran for 173 yards and four touchdowns on just 10 carries in last week's 58-0 rout of Glendale Raymond S. Kellis.
5. Gilbert Campo Verde (6-2) at ALA Gilbert North (8-0), Friday, Oct. 23
ALA Gilbert North was able to beat Desert Edge and its talented QB, Blake Roskopf, 33-30, on Sept. 18. This figures to be another big 5A challenge, facing one of the state's best dual-threat quarterbacks in Jonah Lubno.
6. Queen Creek Crismon (5-3) at Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (8-0), Friday, Oct. 23
This shouldn't be yet another blowout for top-ranked Benjamin Franklin, which is getting a Crismon team that is healthier on defense. Crismon just shocked 3A with a win over Gilbert Christian. But Benjamin Franklin is the favorite to win 3A, behind efficient passer Gavin Wyler, who has passed for 1,809 yards and 29 TDs with no interceptions, completing 75% of his passes.
7. Scottsdale Chaparral (4-4) at Cave Creek Cactus Shadows (3-5), Friday, Oct. 23
Cactus Shadows is coming off its biggest win of the season, beating Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep 17-7. Transfers are gaining traction and they want to show they can carry that momentum against a Chaparral team that needs a win to possibly break into the top 10 in 5A. The Firebirds, led by quarterback Ryan Trocki, are ranked 14th by MaxPreps/AIA with Cactus Shadows at eighth.
8. Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (7-2) at Scottsdale Christian (8-0), Friday, Oct. 23
In 2A, the last week of the regular season is staged for region champions. This could be a trap game for top-ranked (Arizona Republic rankings) Scottsdale Christian. Last year, on their way to a third straight 2A title, SCA's only loss of the season came against Arizona Lutheran, 35-21, in this criss-cross region champions game.
9. Buckeye Youngker (5-2) at Prescott (8-0), Friday, Oct. 23
Youngker could be a trap game for Prescott, which might have rival Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain on their minds. They finish the regular season against each other on Oct. 29. The Badgers can't look past this team, which has been playing solid football all season, behind quarterback Jonas Phillips and wide receiver Larry Moore Jr.
10. San Manuel (3-6) at Superior (6-3), Friday, Oct. 23
This is a first-round 1A playoff game. Superior is the No. 6 seed. San Manuel is seeded 11th. San Manuel lost a 44-38 thriller to Superior on Oct. 2. In that game, Superior's Jaleel Atkins was virtually unstoppable, running for 267 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.