None are among the top 25, but four Arizona high school football teams are ranked in MaxPreps' expanded preseason national football rankings that were released Monday.
Defending Open state champion Peoria Liberty leads the Arizona contingent at No. 48, followed by Open runnerup Peoria Centennial (70), Chandler (89) and Phoenix Brophy Prep (100).
Liberty will face MaxPreps' preseason No. 8 team, Corona (California) Centennial, at home on Sept. 21. Last year, Liberty's only loss was at Corona Centennial, 42-35.
All but Centennial graduated their quarterback from last season.
Liberty graduated Arizona Republic Offensive Player of the Year Navi Bruzon, now a quarterback at Arizona State, along with starting tailback Jon Wilson (a 1,200-yard rusher), and its top three receivers, Braylon Gardner, Chris McKivitz and Ryan Wolfer. Those three receivers combined for 135 catches, 2,380 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.
The Lions' defense, however, is stacked with linebacker Hudson Dunn, safety Cannon Garday and defensive linemen Caden Branston and Paz St. John all back. They've added former Scottsdale Saguaro standouts Zeth Thues (safety) and Kamden Segall (tight end/wide receiver).
Centennial returns quarterback Kainan Manna (2,180 yards, 21 TDs, one interception passing last year) and linebacker Aaron Alvarez (more than 100 tackles). The Coyotes also picked up key transfers in receivers Nikko Boncore (Glendale Cactus) and the Berryhill brothers, Shamar and Romeo (Tucson Sabino).
Chandler, which went 8-3 and lost to Gilbert Highland in the Open quarterfinals, has to replace 2,000-yard passer Blake Heffron and tailback Ca'Lil Valentine (now at Illinois), who ran for more than 1,000 yards each of his last two years. But the Wolves have a strong receiving corps, led by Carter Ochoa (37 catches, 495 yards, four TDs) and sophomore Jai Jones. Jones had 35 catches at Tempe Corona del Sol during his freshman season on varsity.
Brophy Prep was the only one of the four that didn't get into the Open last year. Brophy has never made it into the Open eight. But this should be coach Jason Jewell's most talented team with 14 players who have received Division I college football offers.
His secondary and wide receivers group, along with the offensive line, stand out for the Broncos. Among Brophy's top players is junior wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald, the son of former Cardinals great Larry Fitzgerald. Receivers Daylen Sharper and Donovan McNabb Jr. also round out the receiving corps.
Brophy must replace Charlie McGinnis, who led the Broncos at quarterback the past two seasons. Brophy reached the 6A semifinals, before losing to Mesa Red Mountain in overtime last year.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 4 Arizona high school football teams make MaxPreps' expanded Top 100 national preseason rankings
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