The Race for Arizona’s Golden Football: Meet the 1A Semifinal Contenders of 2024!

Arizona’s 1A conference in eight-man football held its quarterfinals Friday night, marking a crucial step in the playoffs.

PHOENIX — The competitive landscape of Arizona’s high school football intensified as the 1A conference teams fought for supremacy during the quarterfinal round. This round featured the top four seeds—Hayden, Bagdad, Mogollon, and St. David—who advanced after receiving byes in the first round.

Key results from the quarterfinals showcased dominant performances:

No. 1 Hayden overpowered No. 8 Desert Christian, 77-6. No. 4 St. David triumphed against No. 5 Mohave Accelerated, 59-12. No. 3 Mogollon shut out No. 6 El Capitan, 46-0. No. 2 Bagdad defeated No. 7 Lincoln Prep, 62-12.

Looking ahead, the semifinal matchups have been confirmed:

No. 1 Hayden will face No. 4 St. David, while No. 3 Mogollon takes on No. 2 Bagdad. Both games are scheduled to be played at Coronado High School in Scottsdale, with specific dates and times yet to be released.

The 1A State Championship game is set for November 16 at 6 p.m. at Coronado High School. Last year’s champions, Hayden, aim to defend their title after defeating Mogollon 60-23 in the 2023 final.