Scottsdale Christian, Mogollon are Arizona football favorites in 2A, 1A

Defending 2A champ Valley Christian still alive despite loss of Cal commit Morgan; St. David and Joseph City can compete in 1A.

The public-private debate has raged for years in Arizona prep athletics. Public schools argue they can’t compete with private schools capable of drawing students from all over a region – in essence, recruiting without penalty.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association counters by pointing out there are not enough private schools to form separate conferences or state tournaments.

Both sides have valid points, but that doesn't alleviate the animosity. And nowhere is that animosity more keenly felt than in the 2A conference, where at least one private school has advanced to the past nine state football title games, winning four of the last seven despite comprising roughly one-third of the 2A ranks.

Don't expect that to change this season. While public schools such as St. Johns and Willcox have high hopes, the power still resides with privates Scottsdale Christian, Valley Christian (Chandler), Northwest Christian (Phoenix) and Yuma Catholic.

"You look at a school like Willcox, they lost three players who will be almost impossible to replace," Yuma Catholic coach Rhett Stallworth said. "It just seems like the privates have more horses."

And the debate rages on.

2A favorite
Scottsdale Christian Academy: With nine starters returning on defense, including DE Andrew Frame, DB Mike Hopkins and LB Josh O'Niell, the Eagles feel good about their ability to suffocate opponents. With nearly as much talent returning on offense, SCA becomes the odds-on favorite to win its first state title.

2A top contenders
Valley Christian: The Trojans' top player, Jordan Morgan, transferred to Blue Ridge and Valley lost 10 seniors and three juniors from last season's state champ. Drew Bond moves from tight end to fill Morgan's spot at quarterback. Valley will run a lot of wishbone this season under first year coach Kevin Allen, and that could mean plenty of running backs Ryan Johnson and Tyler Hunt, who combine power and speed. Behind a tough offensive line led by Colton Udall, the Trojans are still in the hunt.

Northwest Christian's Casey Jahn.

Photo by James Conrad

Northwest Christian: RB Casey Jahn (1,645 yards) averaged 9.1 yards per carry last season. With an offense that focuses more on his abilities, and a big line to run behind, the Crusaders have legitimate title aspirations. The defense will need to shore up some holes. Northwest allowed an average of 25 points to the seven playoff teams it faced last season.

Yuma Catholic: The Shamrocks will win the West Region and make the state playoffs, but to advance past last season's semifinal berth, they'll need superhuman efforts from quarterback/running back/receiver Julian Higuera and linebackers Ryan Gill and Tyler Moreno. Yuma catholic has never advanced to the 2A title game.

Willcox: The Cowboys lost their top passer, their top two rushers and their top receiver. So why is this team generating so much intrigue? It must be a faith in coach Jim Hughes' program.

St. Johns: How does a team that has won three of the last eight titles and two of the last three not warrant a mention in the local newspaper's list of favorites? Beats the heck out of us. Mike Morgan is as capable a coach as you'll find and the Redskins have plenty of returning talent to make another deep playoff run

2A darkhorses
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy: Tyler Vance is a capable running back and the Lions have some horses, but a weak region doesn't help preparations for the state playoffs.

Benson: The Bobcats were the class of the East region last season behind standout running back Kyle Graf. Replacing him will be difficult. So, too, will be holding off Willcox for the region title.

10 players worth watching
Paolo Aguilar, Sr., FB/LB, Willcox; Drew Bond, Sr., QB/S, Valley Christian; Ryan Gill, Jr., LB, Yuma Catholic; Ben Grams, Jr., RB, Arizona Lutheran Academy; Casey Jahn, Sr., RB, Northwest Christian; Arturo Marin, Sr., RB/DB, Morenci; Josue Miranda, Sr., DL, Bisbee; Luke Siwek, Sr., OL, Scottsdale Christian; Tyler Vance, Sr., RB/CB, Pusch Ridge Christian; Zach Wengert, Sr., DL, St. Johns.

Five things we like
1. The Central Region: Valley Christian, Northwest Christian and Scottsdale Christian make this division a 2A version of 5A's Fiesta. If you win this region, you're feeling good about your chances at state.

2. Yuma Catholic: The city of Yuma doesn't have much to hang its hat on in terms of prep sports. Things look worse this season with budget woes canceling all out-of-area traveling for the district’s high schools. But the Shamrocks can hang with anybody, including Yuma's three 5A schools, who they regularly beat.

3. Games at Scottsdale Christian: You want to combine family fun with black and blue? Check out the spread at SCA. There's activities for the kids, grass terraces where the fans congregate, and a genteel feel that gives this locale a uniquely Scottsdale flavor.

4. St. Johns: The town so tiny it can't afford an apostrophe before the "s" still finds a way to compete every season. Chalk that up to coach Mike Morgan, who has six state championships to his credit over the past 18 years.

5. The Bisbee-Douglas rivalry: Douglas has moved all the way up to 4A, but the schools still face off against each other every year, just as they have since 1906.

Region predictions
2A Central
Champ: Scottsdale Christian
Top contenders: Valley Christian, Northwest Christian

2A East
Champ: Willcox
Top contenders: Benson, Morenci, Thatcher
 
2A North
Champ: St. Johns
Top contender: None

2A South
Champ: Pusch Ridge Christian
Top contender: San Manuel

2A West
Champ: Yuma Catholic
Top contender: Arizona Lutheran

1A favorite
Mogollon: The Mustangs return their entire backfield in running backs Boone Baker, Betten Stephens and quarterback J.T. Maner. Mogollon is eager to erase the disappointment of last season’s title-game loss

1A top contenders
Joseph City: The defending champs will have a new-look defense but senior quarterback Tracy Poudrier is a capable leader and Utah transfer J.T. Heward could surprise people at running back.

St. David: Quarterback Tyler Davis threw for 1,364 yards, 25 touchdowns and only two interceptions last year. St. David also returns seven defensive starters, fueling the belief that it can advance past last season's quarterfinal loss.

Bagdad: Quarterback Zach Loveall threw for 2,300 yards and 30 TDs with only one interception last season. He also rushed for 750 yards and 12 TDs. Bagdad returns 11 starters from last season's semifinalist.

Orme: Quarterback Alfonzo Broom rushed for about 2,300 yards and 34 touchdowns last year to lead the Warriors into the semifinals.

1A darkhorses
Valley Union: Randy Landwerlen rushed for about 1,700 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, giving Valley a potent offensive threat.

Duncan: The Wildkats believe they are bigger and stronger than last season's quarterfinalist. The problem? They're also younger.

10 players worth watching
Boone Baker, Jr., RB, Mogollon; Alfonzo Broom, Sr., RB, Orme; Tyler Davis, Jr., QB, St. David; Jake Dunn, Sr., RB/LB, Duncan; Chad Helliher, Sr., OL, Fort Thomas; J.T. Heward, Sr., RB, Joseph City; Randy Landwerlen, Sr., RB, Valley Union; Zach Loveall, Sr., QB, Bagdad; J.T. Maner, Sr., QB, Mogollon; Tracy Poudrier, Sr., QB, Joseph City.

3 things we like
1. Eight-man football: The smallest class schools don't have enough students to play 11-man football, but that doesn't detract from the entertainment. Nine 1A playoff games last season saw at least one team score 30 or more points.

2. Small-town spirit: The 1A schools don't get a lot of press, but the fans turn out in these distant towns, which makes for festive Friday nights.

3. First-round byes: Earning a top seed means more in 1A's 12-team playoff format. It means a week off to rest bumps and bruises. That's worth playing for.

Region predictions
1A East
Champ: Duncan
Top contender: Fort Thomas

1A North
Champ: Mogollon
Top contenders: Joseph City, Mayer

1A South
Champ: St. David
Top contender: Valley Union

1A West
Champ: Bagdad
Top contender: Orme

Craig Morgan is a freelance writer who has covered professional, college and high school sports in the Phoenix area for the past 18 years. He currently serves as the Phoenix correspondent for CBSSports.com, covering the Arizona Cardinals and other local teams. He also writes a weekly column and other features for The Arizona Republic. You can reach him at craig@wordsmithonline.com.