BJ's 2A Preseason Rankings

Scottsdale Christian

Rank: 1

Ceiling: 9-0

Floor: 7-2

‘24 record: 10-4, won state title

Off. Returning Production: 54.8%

Def. Returning Production: 57.7%

The back-to-back 2A champions have a lot to look forward to this season. After struggling during the regular season, the Eagles bounced back as a 12 seed in the playoffs, defeating #5 Santa Cruz Valley, #13 Veritas Prep, #1 San Tan Charter, & #3 Pima en route to their 2A title. All-state RB/LB Caleb Randall will be a huge loss after he graduated, but SCA has a lot of guys ready to step up. 

They return over 50% of their offensive and defensive production from last season, headlined by ‘26 QB Sean Helgeson, ‘26 WR/DB Isaiah Steffen, ‘26 LB/RB Aiden Giannopoulos, and ‘27 DL/OL London Olsen. 

HC Mike Sheahan is also excited about ‘26 LB/RB Everett Salazar returning from an injury that held him out for the majority of ‘24 as well as ‘27 WR/DB Dom Dickerson, who joined the football team this offseason after being the basketball team’s third-leading scorer in the ‘24-25 season as a sophomore.

This team is absolutely loaded and they are my favorite to 3-peat as 2A champs.

San Tan Charter

Rank: 2

Ceiling: 9-0

Floor: 6-3

‘24 record: 12-1, lost in semifinals

Off. Returning Production: 39.8%

Def. Returning Production: 52.3%

The Roadrunners have been very impressive all offseason. Back in June, they went up to the second weekend of NAU 7v7 competition and competed with several 5A and 6A schools, taking defending 6A champion Centennial to the wire as well as other top programs like Highland and Mountain Pointe. 

Now ASU WR Uriah Neloms was the talk of the town for the Roadrunners as their QB1 last season, but his younger brother, ‘28 WR/OLB Isaiah Neloms, has had a fantastic offseason and is due for a breakout sophomore season. ‘27 TE/DE Henry Tauscher has also been impressive this offseason and picked up his first D-I offer from Colgate this spring. 

‘26 WR/DB Brody Prassas, ‘26 LB/TE Bairyk Schulte, and ‘27 RB/LB Benny Sharpe will also be key returners for San Tan Charter this season as they look to take that next step and win a 2A title this season.

Seton Catholic, Tonopah Valley, & Chandler Prep are the only teams that I see playing a close game with San Tan Charter this season, and I think the Roadrunners come out of that schedule with a 9-1 record and are a strong candidate to take it the distance in the playoffs.

Pima

Rank: 3

Ceiling: 9-0

Floor: 8-1

‘24 record: 12-2, lost in state championship

Off. Returning Production: 47.9%

Def. Returning Production: 62.8%

The Roughriders were one play away from a 2A title last season and are ready to pick up where they left off.

They will certainly miss graduating RB Jeremiah Martinez, who rushed for over 2,000 yards and 30 TDs last season, but they return a good core. Despite Martinez graduating so much production by himself, Pima still returns 47.9% of their offensive production from last season, headlined ‘27 QB Cedrick Grimes, who threw for exactly 1,500 yards and 19 TDs in ‘24.

Defensively, the Roughriders return a huge amount of talent, led by last year’s leading tackle in ‘27 LB/RB Joe Palmer, who recorded 124 total tackles and 11 TFLs.

The season opener on Thursday at Scottsdale Christian is the only game I could possibly see Pima losing before at least the 2A quarterfinals.

Chandler Prep

Rank: 4

Ceiling: 9-0

Floor: 7-2

‘24 record: 5-5, missed playoffs

Off. Returning Production: 84.1%

Def. Returning Production: 68.9%

Chandler Prep had very few seniors last season. 18 out of 22 starters on the two sides of the ball return for the Titans and a massive chunk of their backups do as well. 

Don’t let last season’s 5-5 record fool you, as the Titans likely would have at least made playoffs if ‘27 QB Kody Dodson was healthy for the entirety of the regular season.

With a healthy Dodson heading into this season, ‘27 OL/DL Jacob Erwin can go back to playing his natural positions alongside ‘26 OL/DL Malachi Madrid and a massive Titans trenches group instead of emergency QB. 

‘27 WR/DB Aaron Crawford will be in the running for 2A player of the year after totaling 829 receiving yards and 8 TDs on just 33 catches last season as a sophomore and ‘26 ATH Avery Hamler has only gotten better on both sides of the ball after leading the team with 472 rushing yards and 10 TDs last season. 

Chandler Prep’s September 19th game at San Tan Charter has a very good chance of being the only blemish on their regular season record. 2025 has a good chance of being a historic season for the Titans program in year two under HC Chris Ator.

Phoenix Christian

Rank: 5

Ceiling: 9-0

Floor: 7-2

‘24 record: 9-2, lost in Round of 16

Off. Returning Production: 83.2%

Def. Returning Production: 76.5%

Phoenix Christian probably has the most continuity on offense this season in all of 2A. Every single player that rushed for 100 or more yards last season was a ‘26, ‘27 or ‘28. The Cougars don’t pass the ball much, but leading receiver, ‘26 Cashis Grimwade also returns this season in addition to ‘26 ATH Z’yeon Rondan, who led the team with 801 rushing yards and 14 TDs. 

Defensively, ‘28 DE/RB Aaron Whitten was an absolute force as a freshman last season, leading the team with 10 sacks and 16 TFLs. The Cougars also return 76.5% of their defensive production.

Scottsdale Christian might be the only team standing in the way of a perfect regular season for the Cougars.

Tonopah Valley

Rank: 6

Ceiling: 9-0

Floor: 7-2

‘24 record: 12-1, lost in semifinals

Off. Returning Production: 10.4%

Def. Returning Production: 78.0%

Offensively, the Phoenix and new HC Shawn Kemmer will be hitting the reset button with just 10.4% of their offensive production returning from last season. Dual-threat QB Sir-izzik Sanchez Caldwell and star WR Najea Cooper both graduate and ‘26 RB/ATH TJ Foilefutu has transferred to Liberty. The only major contributor returning offensively is 3-star Boise State commit Corey Webb Jr, who is being recruited as a defensive end but also played significant snaps at WR last season as well.

Defensively, Tonopah Valley has a ton of players back and should pick up where they left off last season. Among key returners is ‘26 LB/RB Alejandro Rivas, ‘26 DL Sir-jessie Caldwell, and ‘27 LB Cesar Avila. 

The Phoenix’s schedule does not have a ton of roadbumps in it, but they will have host #1 Scottsdale Christian and #2 San Tan Charter in a two-week span early in the season.

AZ Lutheran

Rank: 7

Ceiling: 8-1

Floor: 6-3

‘24 record: 8-4, lost in quarterfinals

Off. Returning Production: 45.0%

Def. Returning Production: 71.0%

Offensively, the run-heavy Coyotes have a playbook that makes it easier to replace key graduating seniors. Six different players had at least 20 carries and four different players had at least 50 carries last season. Although Elijah Harris will be tough to replace after his 1,274 yard and 16 TD season while averaging 13.4 yards per carry, the Coyotes have multiple returners that are used to carrying the rock.

Defensively, the Coyotes have almost every key player back, led by ‘26 DE/RB Liam Enter, who led the team with 74 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, and 11 sacks as a junior. 

San Tan Charter, Santa Cruz Valley, Scottsdale Prep, & Willcox are the biggest challenges for the Coyotes in the regular season, but I would be surprised to see them finish any worse than 7-2.

Glendale Prep

Rank: 8

Ceiling: 8-1

Floor: 5-4

‘24 record: 6-4, missed playoffs

Off. Returning Production: 92.2%

Def. Returning Production: 70.5%

Nobody in my top 10 has a better returning production rate than Glendale Prep. Every single key contributor for the Griffins returns this season, headlined by star ‘26 WR/DB Dylan Lincoln, who led the team with 48 receptions for 878 yards and 14 TDs (1 passing) and 55 tackles and 5 interceptions on defense. 

Among other key returners for the Griffins will be ‘26 QB/DB Josh McHale, ‘26 LB/RB Bobby Glazner, and ‘26 OLB Brody Goodson. 

6-3 is a reasonable expectation for this team, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they finish even better than that. The Griffins toughest challenges will come against #1 Scottsdale Christian, #4 Chandler Prep, & #6 Tonopah Valley.

Santa Cruz Valley

Rank: 9

Ceiling: 8-1

Floor: 5-4

‘24 record: 8-3, lost in Round of 16

Off. Returning Production: 13.0%

Def. Returning Production: 31.5%

The Dust Devils have a massive senior class to replace, but they’ll have some time to figure it out. None of the first four opponents on their schedule made the playoffs last season, but Game 5 is when it gets real. Santa Cruz Valley will face #5 Phoenix Christian, #7 AZ Lutheran, Benson, & Willcox in 4 straight games that will truly test how much their underclassmen grew from last season.

‘26 WR/OLB Daniel Contreras is the only player to play significant time on offense as he caught 29 passes for 479 yards and 8 TDs (led team). Defensively, ‘26 DT Robert Ibarra recorded 52 tackles, 6 TFLs, & 5 sacks, which leads all returners on defense in each category. Contreras and Ibarra will be key as the Dust Devils hit the reset button this season.

Bisbee

Rank: 10

Ceiling: 9-0

Floor: 6-3

‘24 record: 10-2, lost in quarterfinals

Off. Returning Production: 19.3%

Def. Returning Production: 39%

The Pumas graduate a lot of key players from last season, especially on offense, but they return one of the best players in 2A in ‘26 DL Fabian Hernandez. The Small Ball Player of the Year finalist recorded 135 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, and 13 sacks in his junior season and will once again be a cornerstone of this Bisbee defense. 

Offensively, ‘26 WR/DB Hunter Wright is going to be vital for this offense after catching 35 passes for a team-leading 683 yards and 8 TDs last season.

The Pumas open the season with a rivalry game against Benson, but don’t face a ton of challenges after that until September 26th at home against Chandler Prep. The following two weeks after that, the Pumas face Tanque Verde and Tombstone. It’s hard to see them finishing any worse than 7-2. 

Veritas Prep

Rank: 11

Ceiling: 8-1

Floor: 6-3

‘24 record: 8-4, lost in quarterfinals

The Falcons’ stats from last season are incomplete, but 10 out of 38 players from last season’s roster were seniors, which with all things being equal, would give them a de-facto 73.6% returning production rate. 

The Falcons open the season at Camp Verde before hosting Scottsdale Prep and then their schedule eases up until they host #5 Phoenix Chrisitian in their regular season finale. 2025 looks like it will be another promising season at Veritas Prep. 

Scottsdale Prep

Rank: 12

Ceiling: 7-2

Floor: 5-4

‘24 record: 10-2, lost in quarterfinals

Off. Returning Production: 22.5%

Def. Returning Production: 54.8%

The Spartans will be hitting a hard reset button offensively as ‘26 WR/DB Will Ryken is the only returning skills position starter. Ryken caught 42 passes for 734 yards and 8 TDs last season and will now likely be the team’s QB1 after last year’s starter and backup both graduated. 

Defensively, the Spartans return a comfortable amount of production, led by ‘27 OL/DL Jake Nicholas and ‘26 OL/DL Finn Larson, who combined for 150 tackles, 47 TFLs, and 10.5 sacks last season. Ryken will also be a key returner on defense, where he recorded 8 interceptions at DB last season.

The Spartans open up the season with #4 Chandler Prep and #11 Veritas Prep back to back and also have tough matchups against Willcox and #7 AZ Lutheran later in the season. They might get off to a slow start, but this team should still finish above .500 and comfortably make it to the new 24-team playoffs.

Willcox

Rank: 13

Ceiling: 8-1

Floor: 5-4

‘24 record: 7-4, lost in Round of 16

Off. Returning Production: 30.5%

Def. Returning Production: 61.7%

The Cowboys play your typical rural football. They run the ball down your throat and dare you to stop them. Willcox attempted less than 6 passes per game, yet senior RB Landon Ward rushed for 1,626 yards and 19 TDs on a whopping 14.6 yards per carry. I’m sure the Cowboys will try to replicate the same with ‘26 RB/LB Ismael Cuevas, who rushed for 815 yards and 15 TDs on 7.0 yards per carry last season as a junior. 

Defensively, Cuevas is also their leading tackler, totaling 94 last season. ‘27 LB/FB Kaleb Cooke will also be a key part of the defense after totaling 81 tackles and 2 TFLs in ‘24. 

The Cowboys will have a trio of tough road games at #3 Pima, #7 AZ Lutheran, & #9 Santa Cruz Valley as well as hosting #12 Scottsdale Christian. If Willcox brings home a W in any of those three road games, they will be in contention for a first-round bye in this new 24-team playoff format. At worst, they will be comfortably in the playoffs and probably hosting a play-in game.

Camp Verde

Rank: 14

Ceiling: 8-1

Floor: 6-3

‘24 record: 7-4, lost in Round of 16

Off. Returning Production: 44.9%

Def. Returning Production: 49.1%

The Cowboys return a pretty normal percentage of their production from last season, where they finished 11th in my final rankings and were seeded 11th in the playoff bracket. 

Offensively, star ‘26 QB Brayden Walsworth returns after throwing for 1,958 yards, 30 TDs, and just 7 interceptions last season. 

Defensively, ‘27 DE/TE Jamin Roderick returns after recording 57 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks as a sophomore. ‘26 OLB/WR Jase Seekins will also be a leader for the Cowboy defense after recording 71 tackles and 3 TFLs as a junior. A young gun to look out for will be ‘28 DB/WR Gage Selting, who recorded 3 interceptions and 11 PBUs as a freshman last season.

#11 Veritas Prep, #6 Tonopah Valley, and #1 Scottsdale Christian should all be tough games for the Cowboys this season, but the rest should be pretty smooth sailing. Cortez and Holbrook are my only other ranked teams on their schedule.

Morenci

Rank: 15 

Ceiling: 7-2

Floor: 5-4

‘24 record: 3-7, missed 3A playoffs

Off. Returning Production: 43.2%

Def. Returning Production: 44.9%

Typically, a team that went 3-7 the season before and has less than 50% returning production is not going to be ranked this high. But after dropping down from 3A, 2025 should be a good mini-reset for the Wildcats after a brutal year with a brutal schedule. 

The Wildcats looked solid in their first 5 games last season, taking 3A #8 ALA Ironwood to the wire, knocking off 3A #10 Round Valley, and giving 2A runner-up Pima a run for their money. But after losing a narrow Week 6 game to Safford, the wheels came off for Morenci last season.

If the Wildcats can get back to their early season play from last season, this time with a significantly easier schedule, they could become a serious threat in 2A. If the Wildcats look more like they did in the second half of last season, they will be fighting for their playoff lives.

Tanque Verde

Rank: 16

Ceiling: 7-2

Floor: 4-5

‘24 record: 6-4, missed playoffs

Off. Returning Production: 57.2%

Def. Returning Production: 61.7%

The Hawks were so close to making the playoffs last season, but the Tombstone loss really came back to haunt them. I don’t think it will be that close of a call with the new 24-team playoff format, and more of the late season conversation for Tanque Verde will be whether or not they will host a play-in game.

‘26 QB/DB Rocco Haggard and ‘26 LB Anthony Torgeson, who led the team with 99 tackles and TFLs last season, will be the two biggest returners for the Hawks this fall.

#5 Phoenix Christian and #10 Bisbee will likely be the two toughest games for the Hawks this season while Morenci, Benson, and Tombstone will also challenge them, but I think Tanque Verde will eclipse that .500 mark again this season.

Tombstone

Rank: 17

Ceiling: 6-3

Floor: 3-6

‘24 record: 6-4, missed playoffs

Off. Returning Production: 17.9%

Def. Returning Production: 21.0%

The Yellowjackets had a solid season in 2024, but the powerpoint system did them no favors, leaving them out of the playoffs despite their 6-4 record. With the new 24-team format, the Yellowjackets should at least make the play-in round and should be in contention for a home play-in game.

On top of low returning production, their schedule poses a lot of challenges, including 5 teams that finished in the top 10 last season, but strength of schedule should actually work in Tombstone’s favor once playoff time comes this season.

5 wins should be enough to give the Yellowjackets a home play-in game and 3 wins should be enough to put them in the playoffs.

Miami

Rank: 18

Ceiling: 6-3

Floor: 4-5

‘24 record: 7-4, lost in Round of 16

Off. Returning Production: 8.9%

Def. Returning Production: 45.9%

The Vandals lose virtually everybody on offense and will have to develop a new identity on that side of the ball this season. Defensively, the Vandals return a decent percentage of their talent.

Last season, the Vandals benefited from a weak strength of schedule, going 0-4 against playoff teams with a -125 point differential, while going 7-0 against non-playoff teams with a +180 point differential.

This season, the schedule tightens up as they face #2 San Tan Charter, #3 Pima, a much-improved #8 Glendale Prep again, #15 Morenci, & #16 Tombstone. It is going to be difficult to win more than 2 of those 5 games. However, I believe even with a potential 4-5 record, the Vandals will comfortably make a 24-team playoff.

Benson

Rank: 19

Ceiling: 4-5

Floor: 1-8

‘24 record: 5-5, missed playoffs

Off. Returning Production: 65.9%

Def. Returning Production: 48.5%

The Bobcats have a solid returning core this season and all the metrics to make you think this team should be ranked higher. And then you open up their schedule and gasp.

Desert Christian is a first-year program and then every other team on their schedule is in my top 17, including #5 Phoenix Christian, #9 Santa Cruz Valley, #10 Bisbee, and #11 Veritas Prep. Benson easily has the most brutal schedule in 2A and truthfully, 2-7 might be enough to get them into the playoffs.

St. John’s

Rank: 20

Ceiling: 5-4

Floor: 3-6

‘24 record: 6-5, lost in Round of 16

Last season’s stats appear to be incomplete, but ‘26 ATH Sam Winters will be the heart and soul of this team. Winters led the team in receiving yards (365), receiving TDs (5), and TFLs (20) and was second on the team with 45 total tackles as a junior last season. 

St. John’s had a solid season in 2024, making the playoffs and giving #3 Pima a fight in the Round of 16. In 2025, their schedule stiffens up even more to give them dates with #3 Pima, #9 Santa Cruz Valley, 3A tests in Round Valley and Monument Valley, and a couple more solid tests from Miami and Morenci. 5 wins should get the Redskins a home play-in game and 3 wins should get them into the postseason.

Parker

Rank: 21

Ceiling: 6-3

Floor: 5-4

‘24 record: 6-5, lost in Round of 16

The Broncs have not entered a single stat from last season, so I have no data to go off of. When I look back at their record last season, they beat up all the teams they were supposed to and then struggled against the top teams in the state besides giving #2 Tonopah Valley a scare in their playoff rematch against them.

Parker has tough games at Scottsdale Prep and AZ Lutheran as well as hosting a solid 3A program in Wickenburg and a Needles (CA) team that went 10-1 last season, but the remainder of their schedule is very favorable.

6-3 might be enough to host a play-in game and 5-4 should still comfortably get them back to the playoffs. Anything worse could jeopardize their postseason hopes.

Heritage Academy Laveen

Rank: 22

Ceiling: 6-3

Floor: 5-4

‘24 record: 6-4, first team out of playoffs

Off. Returning Production: 16.3%

Def. Returning Production: 29.4%

New HC Stephen Hemming will have his hands full in Year 1 at Heritage Academy Laveen as the third coach in three seasons. The Heroes graduate stars Kaleb Burras and La’Mario Claiborne and ‘27 QB/ATH Gabe Terrell transferred to North Canyon a few weeks ago.

The two most productive returners are ‘28 WR/DB Kaelen Williams, who caught 26 passes for 608 yards and 6 TDs as a freshman, and ‘28 LB/WR Ryan Lee, who totaled 58 tackles, 13 TFLs, and 4 sacks as a freshman last season.

After being the unlucky 16th seed last season and having automatic bid Holbrook bump them out of the playoffs, the Heroes have an interesting schedule this season. They face #6 Tonopah Valley, #8 Glendale Prep, and #12 Scottsdale Prep. But the next best team they play is Antelope Union, who finished 25th in 2A last season and they face two first-year programs in Desert Christian and Highland Prep West.

Cortez

Rank: 23

Ceiling: 6-3

Floor: 5-4

‘24 record: 5-5, missed playoffs 

Off. Returning Production: 39.2%

Def. Returning Production: 41.5%

‘27 QB Jamerrius Anthony will try to lead his team to their first playoff appearance since 2005. This is a program that didn’t win a game from September 8th, 2016 to August 26th, 2022.

It’s been a long rebuild for this program, which is one of the few schools playing 2A football with a 4A enrollment. The Colts showed some signs of being a playoff team when they went wire-to-wire with neighboring Glendale Prep in last season’s regular season finale but came up just short. 

#1 Scottsdale Christian, #10 Bisbee, and #14 Camp Verde are going to be a daunting task for the Colts to get wins and the Antelope Union game is a true tossup, but I would be very surprised if they did not win their remaining 5 games to sneak themselves into the playoffs for the first time in two decades.

Antelope Union

Rank: 24

Ceiling: 5-4

Floor: 3-6

‘24 record: 6-4, missed playoffs

Off. Returning Production: 43.4%

Def. Returning Production: 73.0%

The Rams return several of their top players on defense as well as the majority of their WR core on offense. After a 6-4 season was not enough to make playoffs last season, 5-4 or possibly 4-5 should get the job done in the new 24-team playoff bracket.

#4 Chandler Prep, #6 Tonopah Valley, #8 Glendale Prep, and #11 Veritas Prep are tall tasks for the Rams, but #22 Heritage Academy Laveen and #23 Cortez are truly tossup games that could decide their playoff fate.

Final Thoughts

Biggest risers from end of last season: Chandler Prep (+17 spots), Glendale Prep (+10 spots), Scottsdale Christian (+5 spots)

Biggest sinkers from end of last season: Heritage Academy Laveen (-9 spots), Santa Cruz Valley (-5 spots), Tonopah Valley (-4 spots), Scottsdale Prep (-4 spots)

This is the first season where I will be tracking my percentage of correctly-picked top 24 2A teams.