EDITOR'S NOTE: For a full preview of the AIA 2A-3A championship program, click here.

For those who live and breathe 3A football in the state of Arizona, an even playoff bracket has everyone guessing who will come out on top come Thanksgiving weekend.

That feeling was solidified amongst coaches across the state when the 3A football world searched their phones for scores and saw No. 1-ranked Mohave (9-1, 4-0 West) lost a close one to No. 4-ranked Sabino in the season finale Oct. 27, 34-29.

Thunderbirds coach Rudy Olvera said despite the loss to Sabino, his club has already shaken it off and are excited to open the playoffs with Safford.

“We have a pretty resilient group of young men who have faced a little adversity throughout this year and we expect them to get right back at it,” Olvera said. “We knew we would have our hands full with a senior [heavy] team like Sabino. That being said, we feel that we will grow and learn from the loss and get locked back in.”

Olvera believes the 3A bracket is stacked.

“Take your pick. The 3A is loaded with talented teams. Paradise Honors and ALA-West Foothills are good football teams, as is Sabino. The whole South [region is good]. Coach Petersen at Valley Christian? He has his team firing on all cylinders,” Olvera said.

Mohave, ranked No. 1 for much of 2023, has claimed the No. 1 overall seed in the 3A football state championships, which kick off Friday, Nov. 3. (Mark Jones/MaxPreps)

Thatcher head coach Daniel Jones, who led his Eagles to a 3A state final a season ago, losing to now-4A Eastmark 42-21, agreed with his counterpart, saying “Sabino is a very strong contender,” and while not crossing paths with No. 1-ranked Mohave yet this season, “they look great on film.”

All five teams from the 3A South made the state playoffs this season, which kick off Friday, Nov. 3. Sabino (7-3, 2-2 South) earned the best seed of the group at No. 4 and will face No. 13 River Valley (7-3, 3-1 West) in round one.

Morenci (7-3, 3-1 South) at No. 6 and will face No. 11 Benjamin Franklin (7-3, 3-1 Metro East); Thatcher (6-4, 3-1 South) at No. 7 will play No. 10 Florence (8-2, 4-0 Central); No. 8 Pusch Ridge (7-3, 1-3 South) will host No. 9 Blue Ridge (8-2, 3-1 East) and No. 16 Safford (4-6, 1-3 South) will face the No. 1 Thunderbirds.

“I think the [3A] South has shown any team can win on any given night,” Jones said.

Paradise Honors head coach Josh Goodloe said the 3A is “wide open.”

“Any team in the Top 16 could walk away with the state title,” Goodloe said. “It’s going to be an exciting four weeks of playoff football here in Arizona for the 3A conference.”

At No. 3, Paradise Honors (8-2, 4-1 Metro West) opens the first round of the state playoffs against No. 14 Gilbert Christian (6-4, 2-2 Metro East).

Valley Christian head coach Jake Petersen said the favorite right now may be Mohave, “but the field is really even.”

“Paradise Honors, Thatcher, Sabino, Morenci [and] ALA-West Foothills all have potential to do some damage,” said Petersen, who led the Trojans to a No. 2 seed this year after going 9-1 overall and winning the 3A Metro East.

The Trojans suffered their only loss so far this season to Paradise Honors on Sept. 22, 52-33. They open against No. 15 ALA-Ironwood (6-4, 3-1 Central).

“Matchups will play a key role with the style of play as well,” Petersen said.

Chad Mitton, head coach for the No. 5-ranked Guardians from ALA-West Foothills (8-2, 5-0 Metro West), said his side of the bracket isn’t going to be any easier than any other club.

“[We have] a very good Round Valley team coming to us,” Mitton said.

The Elks (6-4, 4-0 East) won the 3A East region, and punched their ticket to the state playoffs with a No. 12 seed in hand.

Valley Christian quarterback Gunnar Link looks to throw a pass during a regular season game in 2023. Link threw for 2,372 yards and 36 touchdowns this season and has led the Trojans to a No. 2 seed in this year’s playoff bracket. (Darin Sicurello/MaxPreps)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

There are a few players worth watching during the opening round of the 3A football state playoffs:

Mohave — Quarterback Joe Yoney Jr. had a stellar 2023 campaign, completing 107 of 159 passes for 1,756 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was also just shy of 1,000 yards rushing, carrying the ball 105 times for 995 yards and 16 scores.

He’s only a sophomore.

Valley Christian — Senior quarterback Gunnar Link threw for 2,372 yards and 36 touchdowns while completing 66% of his passes this fall.

Kicker Wilson Kaehr made the most field goals in 3A this season with five, his longest a 38-yarder.

Paradise Honors — Senior quarterback Gage Baker nearly tossed for 4,000 yards this season, completing 238 passes for 3,923 yards and 61 touchdowns.

And catching all those passes was wideout Isaiah Thomas, who led the 3A conference in yards receiving with 1,287 and 20 touchdowns. He had 26 total scores this fall, which also led 3A.

Sabino — Senior quarterback Cameron Hackworth completed 67% of his passes this season for 2,861 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Wideout Shamar Berryhill caught 54 balls for 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023.

ALA-West Foothills — Running back Marquez Smith led the team with 891 yards on 163 carries and 13 touchdowns this season.

On the defensive side, this club sports defensive end J.J. Brutus, who led 3A in sacks with 21, while teammate Jackson Smith was second with 14.

ALA-Ironwood — Running back Ayden Williams led all of 3A rushers with 1,518 yards on the ground and 18 touchdowns.

River Valley — Running back Jayden Plotkin wasn’t far behind with 1,419 yards and 17 touchdowns.

UP NEXT

The 3A football state championships kick off Friday, Nov. 3, with the highest seed hosting. All start times are set for 7 p.m.

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