Arizona high school football’s Top 25 got shaken up fast in Week 3, and the biggest jolt came from a result few saw coming: then-No. 15 Pinnacle went into the weekend and blasted No.
3 Basha, 40-7. That loss sent Basha tumbling three spots to No. 6, while Pinnacle made one of the week’s biggest leaps, climbing seven places to No.
At the top, Liberty and Hamilton held firm at Nos. 1 and 2, but the rest of the upper tier kept moving. Chandler climbed, Centennial moved up, and unbeaten Desert Edge surged three spots to complete the Top 5 heading into Week 4.
Liberty kept rolling with a 41-7 win over Highland. Sophomore quarterback Jason Haines was sharp again, throwing for 220 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers.
It was his third straight game with at least three touchdown passes, and now he gets a big chance to keep the momentum going with a road trip to No. 6 Basha.
Hamilton also handled business in one of the week’s best games, knocking off Perry 30-22 to move to 3-0. USC wide receiver commit Roye Oliver III made his season debut, but sophomore Roman Oliver took center stage with eight catches for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Jax Sculley passed for 240 yards, and Devante Roebuck added 100 yards on the ground in a game that stayed tight throughout. The Huskies host Casteel in Week 4.
Chandler is finding its stride after an uneven start. After losing on national television, the Wolves have won two straight by a combined 84-23.
Oregon quarterback commit Will Mencl topped 400 passing yards for the first time this season, going 24 of 35 for 3 touchdowns in a 42-10 win over then-No. 14 Salpointe Catholic.
Chandler now turns to ALA-Queen Creek at home in Week 4.
Centennial may have turned in the most suffocating defensive performance of the week. The Coyotes beat then-No.
6 Mountain View, 27-3, forcing seven turnovers and picking off five passes. Derrion Bartholomew scored twice to finish off a dominant night in Peoria.
Centennial hosts Mesa next.
Desert Edge kept its unbeaten start intact and did it in style. Blake Roskopf threw five touchdown passes after tossing four in Week 2, finishing 18 of 30 for 353 yards in a 46-7 win over Notre Dame Prep.
The Scorpions, now 3-0, face a major test in Week 4 against No. 18 ALA-Gilbert North.
Pinnacle’s rise is fueled by a statement win and a backfield that took control of the night. Matt Blaylock and Braxton Lowe led the charge in the 40-7 rout of Basha, which served as a major bounce-back after the Week 2 loss to Mountain View. The Pioneers head to Queen Creek in Week 4.
For Basha, the loss was as startling as it was lopsided. Jake Rogers threw for 190 yards, and Texas running back commit Noah Roberts was held to 53 yards.
The Bears now have no time to dwell on it, because No. 1 Liberty is coming to town in Week 4.
Brophy Prep stayed at No. 9 after picking up its first blowout win of the season, a 49-7 victory over Queen Creek. The Broncos have now responded to a season-opening loss to Hamilton with wins over Boulder Creek and Queen Creek, and they could strengthen their resume even more with a road game against No. 10 Mountain View.
Mountain View dropped after the turnover-heavy loss to Centennial. The Toros had been rolling early, including a 26-15 win over Pinnacle, but managed only three points against the Coyotes.
Their schedule does not ease up with No. 9 Brophy Prep coming to town in Week 4.
In Other News...
Arizona Suddenly Has A Major Gio Richardson Problem
Arizonas passing game took a significant hit Saturday when Gio Richardson went down in the second quarter against BYU and never came back. The Wildcats leading receiver was hurt on a lower extremity play, and Brent Brennan confirmed afterward that Richardson will be out for a period of time, leaving Arizona without its most productive target as the schedule moves forward.
Richardson had been Arizonas most reliable option through the early part of the season, leading the team in both catches and receiving yards before the injury halted his day. For a group trying to establish rhythm on offense, losing a receiver who has already become central to the game plan creates an immediate lineup challenge and puts more pressure on the rest of the room to absorb the workload. [Read more 🡒]
Arizonas BYU Loss Put Brent Brennans Biggest Questions Front And Center
Arizonas loss to BYU left Brent Brennan facing the kinds of roster and identity questions that tend to linger well beyond one Saturday. The defense had moments that suggested more trust than the final result ultimately showed, while the offense again raised familiar concerns about whether Arizona has enough consistent playmakers around its quarterback to keep pace in the league.
The receiver group remains a point of unease, especially with Giovanni Richardson out and the unit trying to absorb the shift in workload. There are also fresh evaluation points up front and in the backfield, where the offensive line and running back depth have shown enough to keep the staff interested but not enough to settle much, which is why an upcoming weaker opponent could offer a useful chance to sort out who can handle a larger role. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Suddenly Faces A Big Test In This Crucial Stretch
Arizonas first Big 12 setback arrived quickly, and it put an immediate premium on how the Wildcats respond in the weeks ahead. The 28-17 loss to BYU left them at 1-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play, a reminder that the margin for error gets thinner fast once league games begin. Now the schedule opens up with a run of unranked opponents, starting with Northern Illinois, giving Arizona a chance to steady itself before the bigger tests return.
For the Wildcats, the next stretch is about more than simply piling up wins. The secondary still needs to tighten up, and the offense has to keep functioning smoothly while Noah Fifita deals with an injury concern. Arizona has enough time to get things right, but this part of the calendar can also expose lingering issues if the team does not settle in quickly. [Read more 🡒]