Mason's 6A Flag Football Rankings

From top to bottom, 6A is Arizona's most competitive conference.

.

Heading into this season, the 6A conference has more contenders than ever

before.

This could be the year of parity in 6A; while there are favorites to win 6A, teams ranked lower on this list could give some of the top programs a hard time.

2026 will be one of the best years for flag football to date and surely will be a season to remember. Here are my 6A AIA flag football rankings as the 2026 season kicks off.

Highland

Rank: 1

Ceiling: 12-0

Floor: 11-1

2025 Season: 18-2, lost in semifinals to Red Mountain.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 45.1

Returning TD %: 41.9

Returning Flag Pull %: 41.4

Returning Sack/TFL %: 26.1

Returning INT/PBU %: 61.9

The Highland Hawks are the favorite to win the 6A conference.

For the past two seasons, Highland has inched closer to reaching the title game.

But this seems like the year that they can put it all together and do it.

Highland is returning some of the best talent in the state in 2026.

First and foremost, the biggest game changer for Highland is 2028 quarterback Lacie Nemchick.

Nemchick holds a D-1 offer from Nebraska, and if you put on the tape, you'll see why.

Last year, in just nine games due to transferring in from Casteel, Nemchick tossed for 1698 yards and 32 touchdowns while also adding 245 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns.

Nemchick is one of the best players in Arizona, and she now gets a full year as the full-time starter.

Highland also returns one of the best freshmen in the state from a season ago in 2029 athlete Ela Witcher.

Witcher was a standout in 2025.

She hauled in 1352 yards and had 15 total touchdowns. While on the defensive side, Witcher also snagged 9 interceptions.

Highland has a loaded roster, so I can't name everyone, but here are a few more players to keep an eye on: 2028 athlete Ella Mutters, who transferred in from Campo Verde. 2028 athlete Emma Frost and 2027 wide receiver Bella Blum.

The Hawks will be favored in many of their games this season as they start their quest to the championship. However, they will have a few tough matchups when they face Campo Verde, Mountain Ridge and Queen Creek.

Hamilton

Rank: 2

Ceiling: 12-0

Floor: 10-2

2025 Season: 21-0, won 6A title.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 28.3

Returning TD %: 28.6

Returning Flag Pull %: 50.4

Returning Sack/TFL %: 70.8

Returning INT/PBU %: 38.6

There has been a lot of chatter surrounding Hamilton this offseason, and I am here to say the Huskies are still a legit team in 6A.

In every tournament I saw this summer, they showed that this is still a team that has an elite coaching staff and talent across the board.

A player who has impressed the most this offseason is Hamilton 2029 quarterback Athena Vasquez. Due to 2028 quarterback Marlie Phillips transferring to Liberty, Vasquez was tasked with being the quarterback for Hamilton.

During the offseason, she only seemed to be getting better at the position, and I am looking forward to how she can perform.

2028 wide receiver Markiah Riley also returns to Hamilton, and she is coming off a huge season.

Last season, Riley had 1660 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. Given the opportunity to be the wide receiver one this year, she could be due for an even bigger year.

Hamilton also got in some notable transfers.

They will get former 2027 athlete Katelyn Dilworth and 2028 athlete Amaya Rodgers are two elite players on the outside who will make an immediate impact for Hamilton when eligible.

Hamilton will face new challenges this year as they will be out some talented players from last year, even with the new influx of talent on the roster.

Overall, though, Hamilton still has a great roster and should still be considered one of the top teams in AZ.

The toughest games they have this year are when they play Gilbert, Mountain View and Liberty.

Liberty

Rank: 3

Ceiling: 12-0

Floor: 10-2

2025 Season: 8-9, lost in round one to Red Mountain.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 99.8

Returning TD %: 100

Returning Flag Pull %: 66.4

Returning Sack/TFL %: 88.2

Returning INT/PBU %: 88

The Liberty Lions are one of my biggest jumps in rankings this season and for good reason.

After game six in the regular season, Liberty is getting one of the best arms in the state.

2028 quarterback Marlie Phillips is transferring in from Hamilton, and she brings an impressive track record.

As a starter at Hamilton, she went 38-0 and won back-to-back 6A titles.

Last year, she shattered a record when she threw for 6079 yards and an incredible 104 touchdown passes.

Phillips will immediately make this team a contender, and she will have some weapons to throw to.

The main one is 2027 athlete Makenna Johnson. Last year, Johnson hauled in 1015 yards and 17 touchdowns. While on the defensive side, she also added 14 interceptions.

Liberty also has 2027 athlete Lainee Bosco, who was another great two-way player for them.

Bosco had 961 receiving yards and 8 total touchdowns in 2025. On defense, she had 9 interceptions.

This is a Liberty team that already had a great amount of talent returning; then you throw Phillips in the mix, and they will be a contender in 6A.

The only question will be how they do the first six games without Phillips, but I predict that they will still go between 4-2 and 6-0 during that stretch.

The toughest games they have are when they face Hamilton, Mountain Ridge and O'Connor.

Marana

Rank: 4

Ceiling: 12-0

Floor: 10-2

2025 Season: 17-1, lost in semifinals to Hamilton.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 67.9

Returning TD %: 66.9

Returning Flag Pull %: 37.7

Returning Sack/TFL %: 17.8

Returning INT/PBU %: 45.3

Similar to Hamilton, Marana will have some new faces this year as they prepare for a new chapter.

Just like Hamilton, though, the Marana Tigers will be just fine and still be a force in 6A this season.

While they will miss production from their senior group a season ago, they still have a plethora of players on the roster.

A bright spot on the roster is their gunslinger.

2029 quarterback Isabella Garcia was super impressive as a freshman and could take another jump.

She threw for 4348 yards, rushed for 704, and had 64 total touchdowns in her first year at the Varsity level.

Garcia is one of the younger superstars Arizona has, but she has made her name and presence felt on the field already.

Another freshman last year who came out of the gate on fire was 2029 athlete Sophia Silverstein.

Silverstein in 2025 caught 73 passes for 804 yards and had 14 total touchdowns. On defense, she also racked up 2 sacks and 4 interceptions.

The new era of Marana flag football is here as their younger crop of talent looks to take over and lead the Tigers to a championship game.

This is a Marana team that should not be taken lightly, as I expect them to be a top team in 6A once again.

The toughest games they face will be against Mountain View, Corona del Sol and Xavier College Prep.

Gilbert

Rank: 5

Ceiling: 11-1

Floor: 8-4

2025 Season: 11-5, lost in round one to Queen Creek.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 81.7

Returning TD %: 81.9

Returning Flag Pull %: 82.7

Returning Sack/TFL %: 93.8

Returning INT/PBU %: 64.5

The Gilbert Tigers round out my top 5 of my 6A rankings list.

I project Gilbert to leap as they return a lot of production and a lot of players who will be some of the best in 6A.

During multiple camps and tournaments, the Tigers have looked like a legit top team in the conference.

2027 quarterback Lilah Barton will be one of the difference-makers for Gilbert.

Barton is coming off a season in which she threw for 2905 yards, ran for 450, and had 48 total touchdowns for her team.

Heading into her senior year, I expect her to take another step forward.

Gilbert also returns a pair of sisters who are some of the best players at their respective positions.

2027 athlete Jasmine Guerro hauled in 766 yards for 11 touchdowns on offense. Then, on the defensive side had 32 flag pulls and 5 interceptions.

Her sister is talented 2028 athlete Jaylin Guerrero, who is also due for another big year.

Last year Jaylin had 449 receiving yards, rushed for 175, and had 14 total touchdowns on offense. On defense, she compiled 71 flag pulls, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions.

This is a Gilbert team that is searching for their first playoff win in program history, and given the talent and coaching they have, I fully expect them to get over that hump in 2026.

Gilbert does have one of the harder schedules in 6A, but if they can take care of business when they need to, I see no reason why they can't at least be a top eight seed this year.

Toughest games for the Tigers this year are when they face Hamilton, Liberty and Highland.

Corona del Sol (1-0)

Rank: 6

Ceiling: 10-2

Floor: 8-4

2025 Season: 7-5, missed playoffs.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 70.1

Returning TD %:

Returning Flag Pull %: 83.1

Returning Sack/TFL %: 85.5

Returning INT/PBU %: 89.7

The Corona del Sol Aztecs are the team I expect to take the biggest jump in 2026.

Corona del Sol went 7-5 last year and just missed out on the playoffs.

This year I expect them to not only be in the playoffs but also host a playoff game.

The Aztecs also return a good portion of their production and have some transfers coming.

A player to keep an eye out for who transferred in is 2029 quarterback Victoria Beakes.

During the offseason, Beakes looked super sharp, and I think she has what it takes to be one of the better quarterbacks in 6A this year.

A key returner to keep an eye out for is 2028 athlete Sofia Villone.

Last year for Corona del Sol, Villone played pretty much everywhere.

She tossed for 1663 yards with 12 touchdowns, hauled in 262 yards for 5 touchdowns, and on defense led the Aztecs in interceptions with 10.

Villone is a do-it-all player and will have another big season for her team.

Another playmaker Corona del Sol has is 2027 athlete Aaliya Van Heel.

Van Heel had to sit the first six games last year due to transferring in, but given a full season, she should be a huge factor for this team.

There are a lot of other Corona del Sol players that I didn't mention that will help this team reach the postseason.

Corona del Sol will have some tough games this year, but based on talent alone, I can easily see this team winning 10+ games this year.

The toughest games for Corona del Sol are when they face Gilbert, Marana and Mountain View.

Mountain Ridge

Rank: 7

Ceiling: 10-2

Floor: 8-4

2025 Season: 10-8, lost to Highland in the quarterfinals.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 73.5

Returning TD %: 64.1

Returning Flag Pull %: 76.9

Returning Sack/TFL %: 71.4

Returning INT/PBU %: 71.6

The Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions come in at number 7 on my rankings.

Mountain Ridge had a stellar season last year that saw them win double-digit games as well as a playoff game.

I see them building off it heading into 2026.

The Mountain Lions are well coached and return a lot of their 2025 roster this year, which is why I think they are a top eight team in 6A.

2028 quarterback Amiaya Tice was electric in her first year of high school flag football and should only grow.

Last season, Tice tossed for 3866 yards, ran for 1032, and had 47 total scores on offense. Tice is one of the best quarterbacks in Arizona, and I am excited to see her growth this year.

Mountain Ridge also returns a duo of pass rushers that will help them greatly on defense next year.

2028 rusher Lauren Laaker and 2027 rusher Ashlynn Hazen combined for 17 sacks last season, and both should have big years again.

One of the only questions about this team is who will replace some of the production at the wide receiver position.

But given the previous track record Mountain Ridge has shown, I am confident there will be some players who make their names known by the end of the year.

Mountain Ridge does have a gauntlet of a schedule as they face my top three 6A teams this year. However, I still believe Mountain Ridge will have a successful season and win a majority of their games.

The toughest games for Mountain Ridge are when they face Highland, Hamilton and Liberty.

Mountain View

Rank: 8

Ceiling: 10-2

Floor: 8-4

2025 Season: 13-5, lost in the quarterfinals to Hamilton.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 65.7

Returning TD %: 60.2

Returning Flag Pull %: 56.5

Returning Sack/TFL %: 83.9

Returning INT/PBU %: 54.1

The final team I envision hosting a first-round playoff game this year is the Mountain View Toros.

Since 2023, Mountain View has been a staple program in Arizona that is always guaranteed to put together a great squad.

In what is a bittersweet moment for the Toros, they get one more season from two players who helped lead them to a 6A title in 2023.

2027 linebacker Ginny Wilson has been a face of the program since she was a freshman.

Now, as a senior, she hopes to build off a great 2025 campaign and lead Mountain View back to being a contender.

Last season, Wilson had 51 flag pulls, 5 sacks and 5 interceptions. Wilson is one of the best linebackers in Arizona, and I expect her to finish her high school career strong.

Another player who has been a staple of the program since the beginning is 2027 quarterback Tierah Metcalf.

Metcalf is now entering her fourth year as the starting quarterback for the Toros.

Last year she threw for 4134 yards, ran for 877, and had a total of 62 touchdowns on offense.

Mountain View will have some holes they need to fill in terms of production.

But given that they still return over half of their production from last year, I still fully expect them to have a great year.

The toughest games for Mountain View this season are when they face Corona del Sol, Marana and Hamilton.

Basha

Rank: 9

Ceiling: 10-2

Floor: 8-4

2025 Season: 8-5, lost in round one to O'Connor.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 87.1

Returning TD %: 84.4

Returning Flag Pull %: 82.2

Returning Sack/TFL %: 97.2

Returning INT/PBU %: 90

The Basha Bears have made their way into my top 10 for my 6A preseason rankings.

From the outside, this looks like a team that has not changed much, but after further thinking about it, that is a great thing.

Basha has an exciting young team that people should look forward to watching this season.

They return a good chunk of last year’s production, which should help them secure more wins this season.

A player to keep an eye out for is 2028 athlete Tifaimoana Tuitele. Tuitele is an electric player who could be due for a breakout year.

She hauled in 409 yards for 5 touchdowns on offense.

Tuitele was also efficient in the secondary with 6 interceptions and 19 total flag pulls.

One player that has been around the longest, though, is 2027 quarterback Amiah Walker.

At this point, Walker is a veteran,n and she has seen everything and knows what it takes to win and lead her team.

In 2025, she tossed for 2134 yards and had 17 total touchdowns on offense.

Overall, Basha will be a team I see making a jump from last year’s rankings and having a solid season.

The Bears have a lot of winnable games and will only have a few opponents that they will not be the favorites to win against.

Toughest games for Basha are when they play Hamilton, Liberty and Chandler.

Red Mountain

Rank: 10

Ceiling: 9-3

Floor: 7-5

2025 Season: 19-2, lost in 6A title game to Hamilton.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 20.5

Returning TD %: 18.1

Returning Flag Pull %: 42.6

Returning Sack/TFL %: 34.2

Returning INT/PBU %: 40.2

One of the teams that fell the most in my rankings was the Red Mountain Mountain Lions.

It has nothing to do with what they did or didn't do; they just simply lost a high number of talented seniors from last season.

I think people might write off Red Mountain because of it, and I think they could even wind up higher than number 10 when the season is all said and done.

Red Mountain has back-to-back 6A title appearances, and I think they can once again be competitive with some new faces stepping up.

One player to keep an eye on for the Mountain Lions to step up their role is 2028 athlete Ava Richardson.

Richardson hauled in 41 catches for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns, and now, given a larger role on the offense, I think she is due for a breakout season.

Another key returner is 2027 rusher Melodee Frost. Frost was second on the team in sacks as she racked up 22 last season. She will be asked to be the number one rusher for them this season, and she could easily break the 30-sack threshold.

While Red Mountain lost a lot, you cannot count them out, as they will give some of the other top teams in 6A a hard time.

The Mountain Lions have a lot of favorable games on their schedule that will help them accumulate wins.

The only real question will be who will stand out for them in 2026.

The toughest games for Red Mountain are when they play Mountain View, Mountain Ridge and Salpointe.

Chandler

Rank: 11

Ceiling: 10-2

Floor: 9-3

2025 Season: 5-7, missed playoffs.

Returning Offensive Yard %: N/A insufficient stats.

Returning TD %: N/A insufficient stats.

Returning Flag Pull %: N/A insufficient stats.

Returning Sack/TFL %: N/A insufficient stats.

Returning INT/PBU %: N/A insufficient stats.

A team that will make the playoffs that missed out on them last year, in my opinion, is the Chandler Wolves.

With what I saw during spring/summer ball, I think Chandler will be a top riser in 6A this season.

While stats are not available from last year, here are a few players that stood out to me.

Starting with 2027 athlete Arianna Martin. Martin looked super impressive during the summer tournaments and is a player I expect to have a huge season.

2028 wide receiver Jacqueline Gonzalez is another player for Chandler who will leap. She is a great 50/50 ball receiver and was dominant during multiple tournaments/scrimmages.

The Wolves are hungry, and given the coaching plus the roster, this is a team I see easily making the playoffs.

Talent has never been an issue for Chandler, and now they have a coaching staff that pairs well with that talent; the sky is honestly the limit for them.

Chandler will have a few tough matchups, but in a lot of their games they play this season, I expect them to secure victories.

Some of the toughest games for Chandler this season are when they face Highland, Hamilton and Casteel.

Xavier College Prep

Rank: 12

Ceiling: 9-3

Floor: 7-5

2025 Season: 10-7, lost to Mountain Ridge in the first round.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 18.8

Returning TD %: 14.5

Returning Flag Pull %: 19.8

Returning Sack/TFL %: 45.1

Returning INT/PBU %: 17.5

The Xavier College Prep Gators entered a new era last season, and what a start to the era it was.

XCP came out of the gates swinging as they racked up double-digit wins and found their way into the playoffs.

The main concern with XCP this season is, like Red Mountain, due to the fact they lost a lot of production to graduating seniors.

However, the Gators still return a handful of talented players and have an incoming freshman class that will help right away.

One of the main returners for XCP is 2029 athlete Evania Maas.

Maas is one of the best flag football players in Arizona, and she is only going to be a sophomore.

As a freshman last season, she hauled in 72 catches for 1044 yards and 16 touchdowns. She is also elite on defense too as she deflected 9 passes last season.

Maas was not the only talented freshman on the roster last season, as 2029 rusher Mae Rawls had a solid year in 2025.

Rawls was second on the team in sacks with 9, and due to graduating seniors, she will have a larger role on that side of the ball.

In the grand scheme of things, XCP is a bright program that is going to feature a lot of super young but talented players on the roster this season.

Even with younger players, this is still a team that is a playoff lock, and I think will have a good chance of winning their first playoff game in program history.

The Gators will have challenging games ahead but overall should win most of their games this fall.

The toughest games Xavier Prep will have this season are when they play Marana, O'Connor and Corona del Sol.

Queen Creek

Rank: 13

Ceiling: 9-3

Floor: 7-5

2025 Season: 12-2, lost to Marana in the quarterfinals.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 76.9

Returning TD %: 77.6

Returning Flag Pull %: 64.8

Returning Sack/TFL %: 100

Returning INT/PBU %: 57.1

The Queen Creek Bulldogs are coming off their best season in program history after going 12-2 and making it all the way to the quarterfinals.

Queen Creek again this year will be one of the teams to look out for in 6A as they return some heavy hitters at almost every position.

Leading the charge is 2027 quarterback Emma Reynolds.

Reynolds is coming off a season that saw her throw for 2353 yards, run for 370, and have 46 total touchdowns on offense.

She has one of the strongest arms in Arizona, and I expect her to have a strong 2026 season.

One of Reynolds top targets also comes back as 2027 athlete Alessia Velasquez comes off a strong season as well.

Velasquez had 481 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on offense last year for the Bulldogs. She played on defense too, as she compiled 18 flag pulls and 4 interceptions.

Overall, Queen Creek returns a solid core of players that will help them reach the playoffs once again and possibly go on a run.

For the most part, Queen Creek has a lot of games on their schedule that I see them winning. They will have some matchups this season, though, against some other solid 6A squads.

Toughest games for Queen Creek this season will be when they face Casteel, Gilbert and Highland.

O'Connor

Rank: 14

Ceiling: 8-4

Floor: 6-6

2025 Season: 11-4, lost to Red Mountain in the quarterfinals.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 62.4

Returning TD %: 52.3

Returning Flag Pull %: 71.1

Returning Sack/TFL %: 100

Returning INT/PBU %: 50.4

Coming in at number 14 on my 6A rankings is the O'Connor Eagles.

For the past two seasons, the Eagles have been a consistent program that won double-digit games in each of those years.

I do have them falling a little bit in my rankings this year due to losing some talented seniors.

With that being said, though, 6A is a tough conference in every game you play, and no matter who the team in front of O'Connor is, they will give them their best shot.

The Eagles return some key starters, one of them being 2027 quarterback Kylie Pruitt.

Last year Pruitt threw for 3314 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Now entering her senior year, Pruitt will look to have her biggest season yet.

On the opposite side of the gridiron, 2028 rusher Alivia Escalera is another key piece to the team that will be back.

Escalera was a problem for opposing offenses last season as she led O'Connor in sacks with 23 and tallied 119 flag pulls and 3 interceptions.

While the Eagles will have to look for new players in the wide receiver group to step up, this is still a team I think will be a tough out in 6A.

Out of most 6A teams, O'Connor also has one of the hardest strengths of schedules which is another reason I had to put them at 12.

They face a lot of top teams in the conference, but the positive side is they will be battle-tested heading into the postseason.

The toughest games O'Connor will face this season will be when they face Marana, Highland and Liberty.

Boulder Creek

Rank: 15

Ceiling: 8-4

Floor: 6-6

2025 Season: 8-7, lost in round one to Marana.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 95.4

Returning TD %: 96.7

Returning Flag Pull %: 80.4

Returning Sack/TFL %: 50.7

Returning INT/PBU %: 93.9

Landing at number 15 in my 6A preseason rankings list is the Boulder Creek Jaguars.

The Jaguars are coming off a season where they finished above .500 and snagged one of the last spots in the playoffs.

Given how much production from last year’s team is coming back, I see Boulder Creek having another solid season.

Leading the charge for the Jaguars is 2029 quarterback Sophia Coffman.

She was one of the best freshman quarterbacks in Arizona a year ago.

Coffman threw for 3049 yards, scampered for 363, and had a total of 29 touchdowns for her team.

Given a year-two jump is inevitable, I expect Coffman to have a great season.

One other key player for Boulder Creek this season is 2027 athlete Lauren Grunert.

Grunert led the Jaguars in receiving yards as she finished 1048 and had 11 total scores. On defense, she finished with 52 flag pulls and 9 interceptions.

Boulder Creek is a team people should watch this year, as I think they have a chance to be a sleeper team in 6A.

The Jaguars have a lot of games on their schedule I expect them to win; however, they will have some challenging games along the way.

Casteel

Rank: 16

Ceiling: 7-5

Floor: 5-7

2025 Season: 8-9, missed playoffs.

Returning Offensive Yard %: 100

Returning TD %: 100

Returning Flag Pull %: 100

Returning Sack/TFL %: 100

Returning INT/PBU %: 100

Rounding out my preseason 6A rankings list is the Casteel Colts.

Casteel missed out on the playoffs last season but hope to find their way back into postseason play.

The Colts finished below .500 last season, but crazy enough, they had zero seniors on their team last year.

Which means Casteel returns 100 percent of their production, which will help with their playoff ambitions.

2029 athlete Payton Schneider is a player to keep an eye out for as she is coming off an impressive freshman campaign.

In 2025, Schneider had 51 catches for 664 yards and 2 touchdowns. She was also great on defense, as she was able to come away with 7 interceptions.

Another standout underclassman from last year was 2028 defensive back, Lily Slingerland.

Slingerland had 86 flag pulls, 3 sacks, and 7 interceptions last year on defense, proving she is one of the most versatile defenders the Colts have.

Overall, the Colts are a young team, but with another year under their belt playing together, I believe they will be back in the playoff conversation.

Casteel has one of the toughest schedules this season in 6A as they must go head-to-head with some of the best teams in 6A.

Their toughest games this season will be when they take on Highland, Red Mountain and Hamilton.