AIA power-ratings update: Marana remains No. 1 in Open Division & Mica Mountain No. 6 in 4A

AIA power ratings as of Tues., Oct. 15, for Class 1A to 6A schools, including Open Division. Top 8 for Open Division and top 10 for all classes listed with Southern Arizona teams shown up to No. 25 in 2A-6A and No. 20 in 1A. Southern Arizona teams in bold.

OPEN DIVISION

Update: Marana (7-0 overall, 2-0 in the 5A Southern) remains the No. 1 team in the Open Division in the second release of the power ratings by the AIA on Tuesday. The system deems the Tigers the top overall program in the state despite being a 5A team compared to Phoenix-area powerhouse programs Chandler Basha (6-1), ALA-Queen Creek (6-0), Peoria Liberty (5-1) and Phoenix Brophy Prep (5-1) — the four top teams rated in 6A. Marana’s lofty rating is based on victories over Salpointe and Gilbert Higley. Salpointe host Liberty this Friday. If the Lancers upset the Liberty, that could strengthen Marana’s No. 1 spot. The Tigers play at No. 21 Cienega (3-3) on Friday. Higley lost 16-14 to ALA-Gibert North last week and fell from No. 3 in the Open Division to No. 9. The top eight teams advance to the Open Division playoffs. Ironwood Ridge, of the 5A Sonoran, moved from No. 15 to No. 12 after beating Tucson 30-27 last week.

OPEN DIVISION

12 5A Ironwood Ridge (5-1)

6A

NOTE: With five 6A teams slated for the Open Division with four weeks left in the regular season, No. 13 Salpointe would be the No. 8 overall seed (and host in the first round) if the season ended today. The Lancers figure to get a significant power-point boost by playing Liberty this week. An upset victory will likely catapult Salpointe into the top 8 of the Open Division.

OD – Open Division team

1 Basha (6-1) OD No. 3

2 ALA-Queen Creek (6-0) OD No. 4

3 Liberty (5-1) OD No. 5

4 Brophy Prep (5-1) OD No. 6

5 Red Mountain (6-0) OD No. 7

6 Highland (5-1)

7 Queen Creek (5-1)

8 Mesa Mountain View (5-1)

9 Perry (4-2)

10 Pinnacle (4-3)

13 Salpointe (4-1)

5A

NOTE: If the season ended today, No. 5 Ironwood Ridge would be the No. 2 seed in the 5A tournament because three teams are presently in the Open Division — No. 1 Marana, No. 2 Desert Mountain and No. 3 Horizon. No. 9 Buena would be at No. 6, No. 11 Tucson at No. 8, No. 16 Mountain View at No. 13 and No. 17 Casa Grande at No. 14. No. 21 Cienega, which would be No. 18, will get a power-point boost by playing Marana on Friday.

OD – Open Division team

1 Marana (7-0) OD No. 1

2 Desert Mountain (6-0) OD No. 2

3 Horizon (5-1) OD No. 8

4 Higley (4-2) OD No. 9

5 Ironwood Ridge (5-1) OD No. 12

6 McClintock (6-0) OD No. 14

7 ALA-Gilbert North (5-1) OD No. 16

8 Cactus (4-2)

9 Buena (6-1)

10 Verrado (5-1)

11 Tucson (4-2)

16 Marana Mountain View (3-3)

17 Casa Grande (4-3)

21 Cienega (3-3)

23 Sunnyside (2-3)*

* – Sunnyside’s season-opening loss against Glendale Apollo is listed now as a forfeit by Apollo because of the use of an ineligible player. Sunnyside is 3-3 overall after the forfeit but the power ratings reflect the Blue Devils at 2-3 because points are not awarded for a forfeit. The loss is erased, however.

4A

NOTE: As of now, No. 6 Mica Mountain, No. 10 Walden Grove and No. 14 Canyon del Oro are rated in the top 16 and would be eligible for the state playoffs. The next highest rated 4A team locally is No. 28 Douglas (3-4) of the 4A Gila.

1 Snowflake (6-0)

2 AZ College Prep (5-1)

3 Yuma Catholic (6-1)

4 Arcadia (6-0)

5 Thunderbird (6-1)

6 Mica Mountain (6-0)

7 Northwest Christian (6-1)

8 Prescott (5-1)

9 Seton Catholic (5-2)

10 Walden Grove (4-2)

14 Canyon del Oro (3-2)

3A

NOTE: Pusch Ridge remains at No. 7 after winning at Morenci last week and would have a home game in the opening round of the playoffs if the season ended today. The Lions on Friday host an 0-7 Coolidge team, which may adversely affect their power rating before facing No. 2 Thatcher at Eastern Arizona College next week. Safford hosting Thatcher this week should boost the Bulldogs’ power points. Right now, Safford is on the borderline of making the playoffs at No. 16.

1 ALA-West Foothills (6-0)

2 Thatcher (6-1)

3 Florence (6-0)

4 Franklin (6-1)

5 Blue Ridge (7-0)

6 River Valley (7-0)

7 Pusch Ridge (6-1)

8 Payson (6-1)

9 Mohave (6-1)

10 ALA-Ironwood (5-1)

16 Safford (4-4)

22 Morenci (2-5)

2A

NOTE: Tanque Verde slipped out of the top 16 (the number of teams that will make the playoffs) but should have a power-points boost playing at No. 7 Bisbee on Friday. If the No. 17 Eagles pull off an upset, that would significantly strengthen their chances of making the playoffs.

1 San Tan Charter (7-0)

2 Santa Cruz Valley (7-1)

3 Tonopah Valley (8-0)

4 Phoenix Christian (6-1)

5 Pima (6-1)

6 Arizona Lutheran (6-2)

7 Bisbee (6-1)

8 Scottsdale Prep (6-1)

9 Heritage Academy Laveen (5-2)

10 Veritas Prep (4-3)

11 Willcox (4-3)

17 Tanque Verde (4-3)

18 Benson (4-3)

19 Tombstone (4-3)

1A

NOTE: This is the last week of the regular season for 1A, which means No. 6 Desert Christian is in a solid position to not only make the playoffs in its first season of existence. But the Crusaders will likely host a game in the first round after receiving a power-points boost by playing at No. 5 St. David on Friday.

1 Hayden (8-0)

2 Bagdad (6-1)

3 Mogollon (6-1)

4 Mohave Accelerated (7-1)

5 St. David (7-1)

6 Desert Christian (5-1)

7 Lincoln Prep (5-2)

8 Williams (4-4)

9 El Capitan (5-3)

10 Desert Heights Prep (5-3)

12 Valley Union (5-2)

18 San Manuel (2-6)

19 Baboquivari (1-7)