The 1A-3A football power rankings were released Wednesday and the most interesting aspect is first-year program Desert Christian is ranked No. 4 in the 1A poll.
The AIA lists independent Desert Christian as 4-0 although the season-opening game at Bagdad is recorded as a forfeit because the Eagles lacked enough healthy players.
Chris McKibben, a former player at Sahuarita, has coached Desert Christian to four straight wins, with routs as the result of each: 42-20 over Desert Heights Prep, 58-12 at Marvale Prep, 46-6 against Cicero Prep and 32-8 over Salome.
Desert Christian hosts No. 7 Mohave Accelerated (5-1), a team that lost to Salome 24-18 at home on Friday.
St. David (5-1) is ranked No. 6. The Tigers host Desert Christian in the last day of the regular season for 1A on Oct. 18.
1A
1 Hayden (6-0)
2 Mogollon (5-1)
3 Bagdad (4-1)
4 Desert Christian (4-0)
5 Lincoln Prep (5-1)
6 St. David (5-1)
7 Mohave Accelerated (5-1)
8 El Capitan (4-2)
9 Williams (3-3)
10 Desert Heights Prep (3-3)
Other Southern Arizona schools in the Top 20:
12 Valley Union (3-2)
17 San Manuel (2-4)
18 Baboquivari (1-5)
2A
Tanque Verde (4-1, 2-0 in the 2A San Pedro) is one of the biggest surprises in the state after the Hawks lost more than 20 seniors from last year’s team that advanced to the 2A state quarterfinals. The Hawks, coached by rising coaching talent Jeff Bollnow, are the highest 2A San Pedro team ranked at No. 5. Tanque Verde plays at Tombstone (2-3, 0-2) on Friday.
1 San Tan Charter (5-0)
2 Santa Cruz Valley (6-0)
3 Tonopah Valley (6-0)
4 Phoenix Christian (5-1)
5 Tanque Verde (4-1)
6 Pima (4-1)
7 Arizona Lutheran (4-2)
8 Scottsdale Prep (5-1)
9 Bisbee (4-1)
10 Veritas Prep (4-2)
Other Southern Arizona schools in Top 25:
17 Willcox (3-2)
21 Benson (2-3)
3A
Another surprise at the midway point of the season is Pusch Ridge at 4-1 ranked No. 10 among 3A teams. In the last two years, the Lions have lost high-level leadership players in Tyler and Bubba Mustain, Will Way and Bryce Jewell, to name a few. Fifth-year coach Kent Middleton continues to keep the program rolling as one of the best in the 3A despite the turnover in talent and leadership. Pusch Ridge plays its first 3A South game against Sabino (2-3, 0-1) at home Friday at 7 p.m.
1 Florence (6-0)
2 ALA-West Foothills (4-0)
3 Thatcher (4-1)
4 Blue Ridge (6-0)
5 River Valley (6-0)
6 Benjamin Franklin (5-1)
7 Mohave (4-1)
8 Payson (5-1)
9 ALA-Ironwood (4-1)
10 Pusch Ridge (4-1)
Other Southern Arizona schools in Top 25:
12 Safford (3-3)
20 Morenci (2-3)
21 Sabino (2-3)
The 4A-6A and Open Division power ratings will be released next Tuesday.
