High School Flag Football Playoffs Heat Up in Arizona: Quarterfinal Showdowns Unveiled in 4A, 5A, and 6A

The flag football playoffs in Arizona have officially begun, marking the start of the second-ever postseason for this exciting sport. The first round has concluded, revealing strong contenders across various divisions as teams gear up for the semifinals scheduled for Wednesday.

On Saturday, November 9, the Arizona Interscholastic Association unveiled playoff brackets for multiple divisions, including Open Division, 6A, 5A, and 4A flag football. Meanwhile, playoffs in 3A, 2A, and 1A football are already in progress.

Each division operates under specific bracket systems. For instance, 1A teams compete in a 12-team bracket, with the top four seeds earning byes to the quarterfinals. The other divisions, 2A through 6A, utilize a 16-team bracket format, while the Open Division consists of the top eight teams from 5A and 6A.

Turning to the 6A playoffs, the first round showcased dominant performances, with no upsets occurring. Hamilton, seeded first, beat Higley, ranked 16th, decisively at 37-0. Other results included Basha defeating Sunnyside (28-0) and Marana overcoming Desert Vista (42-13).

As we move to the quarterfinals, Hamilton continued its success with a 41-6 victory against Mountain Ridge. However, notable was Red Mountain’s surprising 34-0 upset over second-seeded Basha. Marana’s tight 17-16 win against Millennium also highlighted the competitive nature of these playoffs.

The semifinals feature an intriguing rematch between Hamilton and Mountain View. This matchup recalls the 2023 semifinals in which Mountain View, then a ninth seed, upset Hamilton. The second semifinal pits Marana against Red Mountain, a rematch of an earlier season encounter that saw Marana claim victory.

In the 5A division, again, the first round yielded no upsets. Mountain Pointe soundly defeated Mountain View Marana (48-13), while Canyon View and Campo Verde also advanced without issue. Mountain Pointe’s matchup against Nogales has fans anticipating a thrilling game as they compete for a chance at the championship.

Over in the 4A division, St. Mary’s Knights lead the pack with an undefeated record, defeating Arcadia in the first round. Coconino pulled off a shocking upset by defeating Mesquite. The upcoming semifinals will see St. Mary’s face Scottsdale Christian for the first time in flag football.

All eyes will be on the semifinal matchups scheduled for November 20 at 6 p.m., as the winners will secure spots in their respective state championships, taking place on November 23 at Chandler High School.

This is a thrilling time for high school flag football in Arizona, with championships on the line and teams striving for glory.