Mason's 4A Flag Football Rankings

The 4A conference last season in Arizona proved to be one of the most interesting conferences in flag football last season.

Parity was a key factor in the entertainment, as there were first-year programs that made a name for themselves, and other programs that have been around for years that made huge improvements.

Looking forward to this upcoming season, it looks like we are in for another battle in 4A.

Here are our 4A preseason flag football rankings as we head into an eventful season. Please note that first-year programs were not eligible to be ranked.

Salpointe Catholic

Rank: 1

Ceiling: 12-0

Floor: 11-1

2025 Season: 16-1, 4A Champions.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 71.9

Returning TD %: 73.6

Returning Flag Pull %: 55

Returning Sack/TFL %: 27.8

Returning INT/PBU %: 71.1

Coming in at number one in the 4A flag football preseason are the reigning 4A champs, the Salpointe Lancers.

In their first year as a program, the Lancers went 16-1 and were atop 4A last year.

As for the 2026 season, I do not see that changing much.

This team returns some heavy hitters, including 2029 athlete Isla Collins.

Not only is she one of the best players in Arizona, but she has made her name known on a national level.

Last year for the Lancers, Collins threw for 2,432 yards and 47 touchdowns while also rushing for 966 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Not only was she a dynamic offensive player, but Collins also led her team in interceptions with 10.

Salpointe also returns its top wide receiver in 2028, Alyiah Adger.

Adger was also productive on offense as she hauled in 728 yards and 17 touchdowns. She was also a key part of the elite defense the Lancers had as she snagged 3 interceptions and deflected 2 passes.

Salpointe head coach Barrie Pedersen has instilled a winning culture at Salpointe. That, mixed with the talent the roster has, means they will once again be the top contender.

Overall, Salpointe is the team to beat in 4A at the moment.

They displayed dominance last year, and it is expected they will keep that rolling this season.

Some of the toughest games Salpointe will have this year are when they take on teams such as Buena, Marana, and Casa Grande.

Eastmark

Rank: 2

Ceiling: 12-0

Floor: 10-2

2025 Season: 16-4, lost to Salpointe in the 4A championship.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 90.4

Returning TD %: 93.6

Returning Flag Pull %: 72.5

Returning Sack/TFL %: 91.3

Returning INT/PBU %: 74.7

The 4A runner-ups from a season ago come in number two in the preseason rankings as Eastmark looks to avenge their previous season.

Since the start of AIA flag football, the Firebirds have been one of the premier teams in Arizona, and they continue to inch closer to hoisting that title.

Not only were they close to winning the championship last year, but they return a majority of their talent this upcoming season for their title run this Fall.

Eastmark 2027 quarterback Paige McCrabb is one of those players that returns.

The Firebirds will benefit greatly as their signal caller, who has loads of experience, is back for one more year.

Last year was McCrabb's best as she tossed for 4,191 yards and threw 45 touchdowns.

In what could be called a big three, McCrabb also gets to throw once again to her two top targets.

2027 athlete Kinsley McCarty and 2027 athlete Mikaela are debatably the best wide receiver tandem in the entire state.

McCarty in 2025 had 1,272 yards and 20 touchdowns, while Oberstein had 1,525 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The duo also combined for a whopping 21 interceptions on the defensive side.

Not only does Eastmark have the veteran talent and leadership, but they also have some younger players who are intriguing pieces for this season.

Eastmark is one of the top contenders in the 4A conference, and they have the talent/motivation from previous seasons to hoist that gold ball.

The toughest games Eastmark will have this season are when they face Marana, Crismon, and Ben Franklin.

Mesquite

Rank: 3

Ceiling: 12-0

Floor: 11-1

2025 Season: 14-2, lost to Mingus Union in the quarterfinals.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 83.2

Returning TD %: 76.6

Returning Flag Pull %: 74.5

Returning Sack/TFL: 85.7

Returning INT/PBU %: 58.9

At the number 3 spot, I have Mesquite, a team that I believe can surprise a lot of people and be one of the contenders in 4A.

The Wildcats went 14-2 last year, return a lot of their players, and overall just seem to improve every season.

A reason I believe in Mesquite so much is because of 2029 quarterback Alexa Montoya.

Montoya, as just a Freshman, threw for 2,154 yards and 48 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions. She also ran for 884 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Montoya is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the state, and you can only imagine she gets better as a player as she gains experience.

A few other players Mesquite has are: 2028 wide receiver Norija Anothy, 2027 defensive back Jensen Cowart, and 2028 rusher Penelope Schrader.

The roster for the Wildcats has a lot of depth that includes some younger players who should be even better this season with another year under their belts.

I think Mesquite can be a sleeping giant in 4A this season and perhaps give some teams issues when it comes to getting to the title game.

Mesquite also has a favorable schedule, but the toughest games for Mesquite are when they take on Coconino and Arcadia.

Mingus Union

Rank: 4

Ceiling: 12-0

Floor: 10-2

2025 Season: 14-2, lost in semifinals to Eastmark.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 52.4

Returning TD %: 52.8

Returning Flag Pull %: 45.3

Returning Sack/TFL: 57.3

Returning INT/PBU %: 24.8

Another underrated team, in my opinion, has to be Mingus Union.

The Marauders went 14-2 and lost by four points to Eastmark in the playoffs.

Looking ahead at their schedule, Mingus Union has one of the easier schedules in 4A this season and has a lot of games they will win comfortably.

They also return 2027 athlete Karstyn Richardson.

Richardson proved to be one of the best wide receivers in 4A last season as she hauled in 1224 yards and 12 total touchdowns.

She was also a great defensive back, as she had 4 interceptions and 11 passes deflected.

Other key returners include 2027 rusher Maddie Babcock, who had a ridiculous 50 sacks last season.

The other top rusher was 2028 Kambra Hahn, who had 29 sacks herself.

Mingus Union does have some questions, such as who will be their quarterback this season, but overall this is a team I am confident in to have another double-digit win season.

The toughest games for Mingus Union are when they face Coconino, Prescott, and Flagstaff.

ALA Gilbert North

Rank: 5

Ceiling: 11-1

Floor: 9-3

2025 Season: 12-3, lost to Prescott in quarterfinals.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 73.5

Returning TD %: 70.4

Returning Flag Pull %: 35.2

Returning Sack/TFL %: 24.2

Returning INT/PBU %: 19.4

Heading into year two of their program, I believe the ALA Gilbert North Eagles are poised to have an even better season than last year.

This is a team that, out of the gate, made noise in 4A as they won 12 games, one of which happened to be a playoff game.

The Eagles return some key pieces to their team, and given another year under their belt, they could look improved.

2027 quarterback Karissa Behnke is a big piece to the puzzle for ALA Gilbert North, and she is coming off a stellar season.

Last year she threw for 2,682 yards, ran for 595, and compiled 40 total touchdowns for her offense.

The Eagles will look for more production in the wide receiver room as they had some seniors graduate, but there are a few players to look out for as main targets in the offense.

Those are 2027 wide receiver Bella Fulcher and 2027 wide receiver Maci Hansen.

Both Fulcher and Hansen contributed on offense last season but will look to get a bigger role this season.

The defensive side of the ball raises the most questions, as the Eagles don't return much production in that department.

However, given how they played in their first year as a program, it is safe to assume the coaching staff will find the right players to fill those gaps.

I am also a fan of ALA Gilbert North's schedule this upcoming season and can only see a few games giving them trouble. Those games are when they take on Ben Franklin, Eastmark, and Crismon.

Crismon

Rank: 6

Ceiling: 11-1

Floor: 9-3

2025 Season: 14-3, lost to Eastmark in the quarterfinals.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 41.4

Returning TD %: 44.7

Returning Flag Pull %: 46.6

Returning Sack/TFL: 60.6

Returning INT/PBU %: 46.6

Rounding out the top half of my 4A preseason rankings is the Crismon Rattlers.

The Rattlers are coming off a solid double-digit win season, plus they also won a playoff game and made it to the quarterfinals.

Crismon burst onto the scene last season, and they made a statement that they are building a sustainable culture and program.

Out of the teams ranked thus far, they do have one of the lower returning production rates.

Even though they had key players graduate, this is still a team that brings back talented players.

One of those is 2028 athlete Sophia Saldivar. Saldivar was an elite two-way player last year for the Rattlers and put up impressive numbers.

On offense, she racked up 851 total yards and 16 total touchdowns. While on the defensive side, she snagged 9 interceptions and deflected 4 passes.

Luckily enough for Crismon, Saldivar was not the only two-way superstar on the team.

2029 athlete Reylynn Lazarin also had a productive 2025 season on both sides of the ball.

She hauled in 708 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on offense last season. Lazarin was also a ballhawk herself as she came away with 8 interceptions.

While there are roles that will need to be filled by Crismon, players such as Saldivar and Lazarin are the reason why they will once again be a force in 4A.

Heading into the year, Crismon will have some tough games. Eastmark, O'Connor, and ALA Gilbert North will be some of the hardest games for the Rattlers in 2026. However, in a majority of their games, Crismon will be favored.

Prescott (1-0)

Rank: 7

Ceiling: 10-2

Floor: 8-4

2025 Season: 16-3, lost in semifinals to Salpointe.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 23.9

Returning TD %: 21.7

Returning Flag Pull %: 52.5

Returning Sack/TFL %: 57.6

Returning INT/PBU %: 48.5

The Prescott Badgers are coming off a strong season in 2025.

Prescott won a remarkable 16 games and were a few plays away from stamping their ticket into the 4A title game.

The Badgers now come in at number 7 on my 4A preseason rankings, and I think they have what it takes to once again pile up wins.

A problem with the Badgers for the upcoming season is that they had some impactful seniors graduate last season.

This is the reason they did not get into my top 5.

However, this is still a program that has instilled a winning culture, and they still have a plethora of players who will help them secure victories.

One of those players is 2029 quarterback/linebacker, Rylee Hart.

Hart split time last season at quarterback, but in the opportunities she was given, she flashed potential.

She threw for 989 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025. Given the full-time starting role, Hart could find herself being one of the top quarterbacks in the conference.

Another player to look out for is 2028 rusher Lucy Zembik. Zembik compiled 11 sacks in 2025 and was second for Prescott in that category.

As I said earlier, the Badgers will be missing some of their seniors who graduated last season. But this is a team with an influx of young talent that can surprise a lot of people in 2026.

The toughest games for Prescott are when they face Desert Mountain, Mingus Union, and Coconino.

Paradise Honors (1-0)

Rank: 8

Ceiling: 10-2

Floor: 8-4

2025 Season: 11-3, lost to ALA Gilbert North in round one.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 68.1

Returning TD %: 68.4

Returning Flag Pull %: 81.5

Returning Sack/TFL %: 100

Returning INT/PBU %: 70.2

The Paradise Honors Panthers had an 8-win improvement from 2024 to 2025, and I think the team will build off of what they started last season.

Paradise Honors was one of the breakout teams last season in 4A, as they were not only able to hit the double-digit win mark, but also secure a playoff spot for the first time in program history.

With the great season they had last year, plus all of the players that are coming back for the Panthers, I think they can once again knock on the door of 10-plus wins.

Paradise Honors 2027 defensive back Beryln Holt returns to the secondary, and she is coming off of one of the best seasons in Arizona last year.

She snagged a ridiculous 19 interceptions and was overall just making opposing offenses have long days.

Another key defender that will be back is 2028 rusher, McKenzie Rose.

Rose led the Panthers in sacks last season with 19 and also compiled 23 flag pulls for loss.

In general, this team returns a majority of its players, as every production % category is over 68 percent.

Combining the talent on the roster plus their schedule, I could very well see this team hosting a playoff game in November. The toughest games Paradise Honors will have are when they take on Eastmark and Coconino.

Coconino

Rank: 9

Ceiling: 10-2

Floor: 7-5

2025 Season: 9-5, lost in round one to Crismon.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 91.2

Returning TD %: 92.6

Returning Flag Pull %: 77.3

Returning Sack/TFL %: 82.4

Returning INT/PBU %: 90.8

Through their first two years as a program, the Coconino Panthers have put together a 21-9 record.

Coconino has been one of the more consistent teams at the 4A level, as it seems like they always find ways to win.

In 2026, I do not see that changing.

This is a Coconino team that is returning almost all of their production from last season, and they also have a somewhat favorable schedule.

The main player to watch for the Panthers is 2028 quarterback Blanca Ventura Gomez. As only a sophomore last year, Gomez was electric.

Gomez passed for 3,032 yards, rushed for 750, and had a total of 33 touchdowns on offense.

Now entering her junior year, it is likely that she has an even better season.

Gomez also gets to throw to her number one target again.

2027 wide receiver Kate Wesche is also coming off a fantastic season.

In 2025, Wesche had 62 catches for 1,044 yards and found her way into the end zone 17 times.

Other Coconino players who will make an impact this fall include 2028 defensive back Sofie Palmer, 2028 defensive back Corabelle Mercer, and 2027 defensive back Rebekah Wilson.

Between those three, they combined for 16 interceptions and made opposing wide receivers have rough games.

Overall, expect Coconino to once again be a team that is well above .500 and etch a spot in the playoff bracket.

The toughest games for Coconino this season will be when they face Mingus Union, Prescott, and Mesquite.

Flagstaff

Rank: 10

Ceiling: 9-3

Floor: 7-5

2025 Season: 13-3, lost in quarterfinals to Salpointe.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 47.5

Returning TD %: 43.1

Returning Flag Pull %: 79.1

Returning Sack/TFL %: 77.1

Returning INT/PBU %: 87.5

Similar to Coconino, since the program started up a few years ago, Flagstaff has been one of the best teams in 4A.

For the past three years, the Eagles have won double-digit games in each season and have made the playoffs all three times as well.

This is a program that has quietly gone under the radar, in my opinion, for how well they are every season.

I don't see much changing in 2026, except that a big question they will have to answer early in the season is who will stand out on the offensive side of the ball.

Offensively, they will have less than half of their returning production and need to look for that production elsewhere this Fall.

For defense, however, the Eagles return most of their production.

A big producer last year for Flagstaff was 2028 rusher Sylvia Dudine, who led the Eagles in sacks last year with 11.

Also, 2027 defensive back Ryleigh Conklin will be back on the field for the Eagles, and she is coming off a 4-interception and 9-pass-deflection year.

While Flagstaff has some unknowns about them this year, I think they will still be a really tough out in 4A and give a lot of teams trouble in 2026.

The toughest games for Flagstaff this season are when they face Prescott, Mingus Union, and Coconino.

St. Mary's (0-1)

Rank: 11

Ceiling: 8-4

Floor: 5-7

2025 Season: 7-6, lost to Mesquite in round one.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 81.8

Returning TD %: 75.9

Returning Flag Pull %: 45.5

Returning Sack/TFL %: 26.8

Returning INT/PBU %: 66.7

Two years ago, St. Mary's was the inaugural 4A state champions.

Last year, however, the Knights were not able to recapture the same magic they had in 2024

A majority of the reason why for that was simply that they had a lot of new faces on the roster who had shoes to fill.

Heading into 2026, though, I am very confident in St. Mary's to be a playoff team in 4A and possibly surprise a lot of people and go on a playoff run.

The Knights also have a few players who could be poised to break out.

St. Mary's 2027 wide receiver Sylvia Grace is a player to keep an eye out for the Knights in 2026.

Grace took on a larger role last year and should only improve. Last year she hauled in 503 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, she also came away with 6 interceptions.

The other player who will be key for St. Mary's is 2028 rusher Ava Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was second on the team in sacks with 10, and given the opportunity, I believe she could double her sack count in 2026.

Even though I have them ranked at 11, this is one of my sleeper teams for the season.

They are coached well, have young players with another year on their belt, and they simply know what it takes to win.

We will find early on what kind of team St. Mary's is, as they debatably have their hardest games at the start of the season. The Knights play Prescott, Eastmark, Crismon, and Xaver Prep in the first four weeks of the season.

Lee Williams

Rank: 12

Ceiling: 8-4

Floor: 6-6

2025 Season: 8-6, lost in round one to Flagstaff.

Returning Offensive Yard %: N/A

Returning TD %: N/A

Returning Flag Pull %: 41.8

Returning Sack/TFL %: 11.8

Returning INT/PBU %: 50

Coming in at my number 12 spot is the Lee Williams Volunteers.

Lee Williams is coming off a playoff appearance and an above .500 season.

I wanted to include them on this list as I think they have what it takes to once again have a winning season despite a lot of seniors graduating last year.

While the returning production numbers are lower than most teams on this list, they still have some talented players returning.

2027 defensive back Baleigh Crook is a player who I could see take another jump this year for the Volunteers.

During the 2026 season, she hauled in 4 interceptions, which was the second most on the team, and also had 28 flag pulls.

Since no stats were entered for the offensive side of the ball, it is hard to gauge how many players are returning on that side.

There are a lot of questions about the Volunteers this season, but I think they will still be a playoff team this year.

That said, though, Lee Williams has a schedule that works in their favor and should be able to stack wins.

They will have games that are challenging, though.

The toughest games for Lee Williams this season are when they play Flagstaff, Coconino, Prescott, and Mingus Union. Besides those four games, Lee Williams will have a solid chance in every other game to take home a win.