Varsity Xtra football rankings as of Sept. 8:
1. Mountain Pointe 3-0
2. Red Mountain 3-0
3. Desert Vista 2-1
4. Brophy 2-2
5. Chandler 3-0
6. Desert Ridge 3-0
7. Basha 3-0
8. Hamilton 1-2
9. Pinnacle 3-0
10. Westview 2-1
Mountain Pointe is the new No. 1 after knocking off second-ranked Desert Vista. The Pride now have early-season victories over both D.V. and Hamilton. Red Mountain moves up to No. 2 after knocking off top-ranked Brophy, followed by the Thunder and Broncos. Chandler drops a spot after a slow start against Mesquite. The bottom of the top 10 stays steady as each team won.
1. Centennial 3-0
2. Marcos de Niza 3-0
3. Salpointe 3-1
4. Ironwood Ridge 3-0
5. Cesar Chavez 3-0
6. Chaparral 1-2
7. Horizon 3-0
8. Apollo 3-0
9. Perry 2-1
10. Notre Dame 1-2
The top five stand pat, while No. 6 Perry drops three spots after getting beaten by Queen Creek. Notre Dame also lost and is on the cusp of dropping out, but the Saints have been beaten by Hamilton and Marcos de Niza, two of the best teams in the state. Chaparral, Apollo and Horizon each move up a small amount. Cienega is knocking on the door.
1. Cactus 2-1
2. Sabino 3-0
3. Saguaro 2-1
4. Queen Creek 3-0
5. Liberty 3-0
6. Desert Edge 3-0
7. Williams Field 3-0
8. Paradise Valley 2-1
9. Thunderbird 2-1
10. Sunrise Mountain 3-0
The top four spots remain the same, as all four teams looked good in winning this week. Liberty jumps to No. 5 after a strong second half in an easy win over Paradise Valley, and Desert Edge jumps up to No. 6. Williams Field drops one spot after a lackluster performance against Campo Verde, and Paradise Valley also dropped with the loss to Liberty. Thunderbird and Sunrise Mountain enter the rankings, while Arcadia and Campo Verde fall out.
1. Blue Ridge 3-0
2. Show Low 3-0
3. Coolidge 3-0
4. Seton Catholic 2-1
5. Mingus 2-1
Seton Catholic's loss to Division V Tempe Prep knocks the Sentinels down only one spot. Tempe Prep is good, and Seton lost starting QB Ryan Bresnhan early due to injury, was without two offensive lineman and still almost came back to win. Coolidge moves up to No. 3, and Mingus enters the picture over a couple undefeated schools (Buckeye, Globe) on account of a narrow loss to Blue Ridge followed by consecutive wins against slightly better competition.
1. Northwest Christian 3-0
2. Yuma Catholic 2-1
3. Tempe Prep 3-0
4. Scottsdale Christian 2-1
5. St. Johns 2-1
Tempe Prep's win over Seton Catholic might warrant the Knights being pushed up an extra notch to No. 2, but Yuma Catholic also beat a Division IV schools (Estrella Foothills). Tempe Prep's win is more impressive, but Yuma Catholic hasn't done anything to warrant being dropped, so Tempe Prep and Scottsdale Christian switch spots. The Eagles nearly shook up the rankings but fell short against No. 1 Northwest Christian.
1. Joseph City 3-0
2. Pima 3-0
3. Scottsdale Prep 3-0
4. Joy Christian 3-0
5. Mogollon 3-0
No changes here since everyone won, which leaves undefeated Mesa Prep (3-0) and Gilbert Christian (3-0) still waiting in the wings.
For more high school coverage, visit the East Valley Tribune's Varsity Xtra.
