WSSArizona has released their Game of the Week schedule for the 2024-2025 Arizona HS Football Season. This is the 2nd year that WSS will feature a weekly “GOTW”. The schedule will feature games across the entire valley, as well as the Southern Arizona Area. The schedule will include “headliner” matchups, including multiple supporting games around AZ.

W1: Centennial vs Hamilton, Liberty vs Desert Edge

Centennial and Hamilton kick off the AZHSFB season on Thursday, August 29th in Chandler.

The Coyotes finished last season as the Open Division runner-ups, while Hamilton lost to the eventual champion Liberty Lions. Both teams will set-out to avenge their shortcomings this season.

Saguaro-transfer Dajon Hinton will be available for the Huskies after not playing the entirety of last season.

On Friday, it’s the defending Open Division Champion Liberty Lions who will head into Goodyear to take on the 5A Runner-Ups, the Desert Edge Scorpions.

Liberty opened up their season last year in a big way, starting the year with a 56-20 victory over Hamilton. Desert Edge travelled to Peoria to play Centennial, losing a close one 13-0.

Saguaro-transfer Zeth Angel Thues will be available for the Lions to start the season.

W2: Regis Jesuit vs Brophy

Colorado’s Regis Jesuit comes into town to take on Brophy in Week Two.

The Raiders are one of the better teams in Colorado. Regis Jesuit currently sits ranked as the #13th best team in Colorado. Similarly, Brophy is ranked as the #8 School in Arizona.

The game will be played at a neutral site, Central High School, right next to Brophy.

Supporting Games:

• Centennial vs Highland
• Bishop Alemany (CA) vs Salpointe Catholic
• Raymond S. Kellis vs Peoria

W3: Brophy Prep vs Centennial

Two of the most talented young teams in Arizona get our GOTW Spot in Week 3. Brophy Prep travels to the west valley to take on the Centennial Coyotes.

Centennial gets back OL Camren Durfee after a 2-game penalty for an NIL violation.

Brophy will rely on a stellar defense that includes LB Bastian Vanden-Bosch, DB Dominic Mitchell, and DB Cree Thomas. Brophy certainly has their stars on offense, with a very solid offensive line headed by Anderson Kopp and Logan Powell in addition to a bright young receiving core.

Supporting Games:

• Saguaro vs Basha
• Higley vs Marana

W4: Desert Edge vs Higley, Corona Centennial vs Liberty

An absolutely stacked Week 4 sees another” Co-Games of the Week”, two rematches from last season.

(9/20) Desert Edge vs Higley

DE travels to Gilbert to play Higley in what has quickly become a fierce cross-town rivalry.

This is the 4th matchup between Desert Edge and Higley. Higley leads the series 2-1, with both of their wins coming in the post-season. (2022 5A Round 2, 2023 5A Conference Final). Desert Edge defeated Higley last regular season in a 3OT thriller in Goodyear.

DE will rely on many of their players who have been around for all 3 previous matchups. Defensive stars DB Jamar Beal-Goines and LB Joshua Hopphaus both were impact players in both the 2022 5A Playoff game as sophomores, as well as last year.

(9/21) Corona Centennial (CA) vs Liberty

Perhaps the most star power we will see in the valley all season, Corona Centennial will play Liberty in a rematch of last years regular season matchup in the 2024 Honor Bowl.

Corona Centennial was the only team to defeat Liberty last year. They did so in close fashion, beating the Lions by one score at home.

Liberty’s defensive stars of LB Hudson Dunn, DL Caden Branston, and DL Paz St John will look to contain Centennial’s offensive threats including QB Husan Longstreet and ASU-bound WR Cory Butler Jr.

Supporting Games:

• Horizon vs Pinnacle (9/19)
• Salpointe vs Centennial (9/19)

W5: Chandler vs Highland

Highland sees it’s 2nd GOTW this season, they take on the visiting Chandler Wolves.

These two played each other last season, where Chandler got the victory by a narrow margin. They defeated the Hawks, 24-22.

Highland ultimately got the last laugh, as they were victorious in last season’s playoffs, defeating Chandler 19-14 to advance to the Open Division Semi-Finals

Supporting Games:

• Canyon Del Oro vs Marana
• ALAQC vs Pinnacle
• O’Connor vs Basha

W6: Basha vs Brophy

Week Six sees Basha traveling into Phoenix to play Brophy.

These two teams played each other last season, with Basha winning convincingly 31-13. Brophy managed to contain Basha’s passing game, but it was the ground game defense that really let down Brophy. Demond Williams ran for 99 yards and 3 touchdowns.

It would not be a surprise to see this game become a shootout between two very potent offenses, especially with the amount of WR talent both teams posses.

Supporting Games:

• Liberty vs Chandler
• Mountain Pointe vs ALAQC
• Desert Edge vs Millennium

W7: Yuma Catholic vs Thunderbird (10/10), Hamilton vs Basha (10/11)

One of, if not the biggest games in 4A this season, the 4A Runner-Ups from last season will take on Thunderbird.

Both teams are expected to make deep runs into the 4A post-season this year, and this game could be a potential preview of what to expect in the playoffs.

With many teams on a bye, Basha has their 2nd Game of the Week this year. It’s two big games in a row for Basha as they will take on Hamilton.

Last season, Basha took home the win in OT, beating Hamilton 45-44 in a thriller. Hamilton came up short, as a last second 2pt-conversion failed.

Supporting Games:

• Pinnacle vs Liberty (10/11)
• Casa Grande vs Marana (10/11)
• Horizon vs Notre Dame Prep (10/11)

W8: Mica Mountain vs Canyon Del Oro (10/18)

One of the biggest games in Southern Arizona all year, Mica Mountain will play the defending 4A Champion Canyon Del Oro Aztecs.

Mica Mountain is expected to be one of the best teams in SOAZ this year. The team returns many of last years key contributors, including TE/DE Jimmy Leon, who lead the team with 17 Sacks last season. Much of the offense and defense will be coming back for this rematch of last season’s 4A Semis.

Supporting Games:

• Desert Mountain vs Horizon
• Notre Dame Prep vs Higley
• Perry vs Hamilton
• West Point vs Raymond S. Kellis

W9: Higley vs Horizon (10/24)

Horizon was one of two teams last year to defeat Higley. They look to do it again this season against the Knights, this time in Scottsdale.

The 28-6 W last year saw Horizon’s two running backs put up 100+ yards each. It was this ground domination that helped the Huskies secure a late-season W.

Supporting Games:

• Basha vs Chandler (10/25)
• Highland vs ALAQC (10/25)

W10: Pinnacle vs Centennial (11/01)

The Pioneers head to Peoria to play Centennial at Home in early November.

Centennial will be at full strength when they play the Pioneers, as transfers Nikko Boncore, Shamar Berryhill, Jesus Diaz III, and Asad Ali, (just to name a few), will all be available.

The Coyotes defeated Pinnacle 31-6 last season.

Supporting Games:

• Saguaro vs Salpointe
• ALAQC vs Williams Field

W11: Liberty vs Centennial (11/08)

The most anticipated game of the season. It’s an Open Division Championship rematch as Liberty takes on their west valley rival, Centennial.

Like last year, this will seemingly be the two top teams in AZ facing off in the final game of the season.

No exaggeration, this will be a clash of giants and perhaps an Open Division preview. Not much more needs to be said, this is expected to be the most competitive game of the season.

Supporting Games:

• Battle for Arizona Ave
• Ahwatukee Bowl

Final Remarks

As we prepare for another great season of Arizona HS Football, it goes without saying that anything can happen. With that being said, games may be flexed depending on the importance/performance of teams throughout the season.

Regardless, we are excited to bring the state coverage from around the valley and beyond. We are looking forward to a competitive year for football around the valley.