It’s as easy as one, two and three in 1A this year in terms of which teams were the favorites.

Azpreps365’s preseason rankings picked Hayden, Bagdad and Mogollon—in that order—as the top-3 teams. The final power rankings selected the same teams in the same order as this year’s top postseason seeds.

Those programs’ successful track records took the suspense out of this year’s rankings. But one team, Hayden (31-1 since 2022), has established itself as the 1A’s pack leader in recent years.

At 9-0, Hayden, the defending champ, is the only 1A undefeated team in 2024 heading into Friday's first round.

“We’re excited to once again be playing in the playoffs,” Hayden coach John Estrada said. “We’re healthy and will take it one game at a time. The competition will be tough. It should be fun.”

Facing the Lobos is anything but fun.

Hayden quarterback Paul Gaither (16 touchdown passes, just 1 INT) is once again picking apart defenses and so are five Lobos who are among the 1A’s top-10 touchdown leaders.

Kino Lorona is the kingpin with 25 touchdowns, but teammates Taylor Garner (19 TDs), JR Fong (7 TDs), JJ Manriquez (7 TDs), and Jordan Rodriguez (6 TDs) also did their fair share of celebrating in the end zone this season.

“Kino is doing well on and off the field,” Estrada said. “We’ll need him and others to step up their game and lead us through the playoffs.”

Chasin’ Hayden

No. 2 seed Bagdad (8-1): Since losing 30-20 to No. 1 Hayden in Week 3, the Sultans haven’t allowed an opponent to score a single point. Five of those six opponents reached the playoffs. “Defensively, we have gotten better and better each week,” coach Dalton Mills said. “We are super stingy. We have a mentality that nothing is free, and that we want teams to earn their points.” That stout ‘D’ also created 28 turnovers in its first seven games. “That we have to play a solid four quarters to beat (Hayden),” said Mills about the lessons his team learned in its only loss. “They (Hayden) are the defending state champions for a reason.” Bagdad was the only team to hold Hayden under 40 points in the regular season. It’s been eight long years since Bagdad and Mills won a title.

No. 3 Mogollon (7-1): The youth movement is paying off for the Mustangs. “This has been a special year for our program in so many ways,” first-year Mogollon coach Drew Gamboa said. “We are young and still learning how to be a championship team, but we have been getting better every week and taking pride in our preparation (practice, film study, attitude.)” The muscle and leadership of Kyton Tomlison and Trevor Western up front are helping open lanes for QB Quinn Tenney and RB Brody Porter (12 TDs). The pace of the offense of Porter’s uncle, Nolan (Mogollon’s OC), is leaving defenses guessing and gassed. And the determination of DB Yovanni Suarez and “tackling machine” LB Kaleb Porter are giving opponents fits.

No. 4 St. David (8-1): This is the 29th time in the past 34 seasons that the program has reached the playoffs. The team’s only loss came to No. 3 seed Mogollon this season. Despite losing by 30, coach Braden Davis saw some positives. “We felt we were right there with Mogollon, and the final score was not indicative of the difference between the two teams,” he said. “We made some mistakes and turned the ball over. Plus, we had a ton of penalties that killed drives for us and extended drives for Mogollon.” St. David’s young offensive line gained some valuable experience in that game and this year as well. Chase Pacheco and Cedar Hayne (18 TDs) are sharing running back responsibilities for the betterment of the team. Multiple players were sick and didn’t play throughout the season for St. David.

No. 5 Mohave Accelerated (7-2): The Patriots will get a chance to avenge one of its two losses when its faces Salome in the first round. Salome won the first meeting 24-18 in Week 3. A late season 28-22 overtime win over El Capitan propelled the Patriots to the fifth seed despite starting a handful of new players. Vince Garcia Jr. had an INT in OT vs. El Capitan. The seniors on the O-line and RB Ivan Sia took control at the end as well. “As a coach you love to see the confidence in your guys when it’s crunch time,” coach Adam Gibson said. The contributions of the nine seniors on the team have also been invaluable, Gibson added. “I just want to give my team, school and parents the recognition they deserve,” coach said. “Week in and week out, the team goes above and beyond for us as coaches. The support from the our school, parents and community have been a big help in making this program a success.”

No. 6 El Capitan (6-3): The program is making its fourth consecutive playoff appearance and did so despite starting six sophomores this year. One of those second-year standouts, Myron Hammon, stepped up as a leader when he made the switch from running back to quarterback during the season. The sophomore is the team’s leader in touchdowns and sacks. Also filling leadership roles during the season were senior linemen Kanyn Nez (5-11, 215) and Nathan Williams (6-0, 215). Nez recently got injured and is out for the playoffs, though. “Overall, we have played through adversity this season with lots of injuries,” White said. “But, again, we’re starting six sophomores and the future is very bright here at El Capitan. We’re excited to make a playoff push and see how far we can go. Why not us?”

No. 7 Lincoln Prep (6-2): The Lightning will play a first round opponent, Desert Heights, that is also chasing a playoff win as an AIA member for the first time. The Lightning reached the postseason for the third time in their five year AIA existence and are led by a couple of four-year players, two-way threat Finn Dilley and QB Parker Filleman. “Finn has been incredible,” coach Paul Schubring said. “He’s strong, fast and experienced. Most importantly, he has a great knack for making the big play when we need it.” Dilley blocked two punts to help “fuel” comeback victories in two games this year. “Parker is a savvy football player,” coach said. “He’s good at many things—good arm, head and accuracy. He’s also sneaky athletic, and he utilizes that to his advantage.” The contributions of the “relentlessly positive” Quinn Yamada (G/LB) and Tanner Finlinson (CB/WR) can’t go unnoticed as well. The seniors play big roles on both sides of the ball.

No. 8 Desert Christian (5-3): Desert Christian is nearly 40 years old, but this is the first year that it fielded a football team. To start, it decided to play an independent schedule, going 2-2 versus teams that reached this year’s 1A playoffs. Only four seniors dressed for the team, so expect big things from the Eagles next year as well. Jason McKibben, a pastor, is serving as a head football coach for the first time at the high school level. “I have a great defensive backs/WR coach in his first year, Jake Reyes,” McKibben said. “Both of us have known each other for quite some time and have chips on our shoulders, it being our first year coaching. We've embraced the inexperience and let it serve as motivation to us bringing excellence in our game plans.” Sr. FB Tony Barcelo, Jr. WR/S Tyson Dobbins and Jr. QB Cooper Payne have established themselves as the go-to players in their inaugural season.

No. 9 Williams (4-5): The program played seven opponents that reached the playoffs and did so with a slew of injuries. “Yes, our schedule has been tough,” veteran coach Jeff Brownlee said. “(But) we enjoy the competition and feel it will help us out in years to come.” The Vikings have only played two games with all of their starters on the field this year. Williams outscored those two teams 118-12. A silver lining about the injuries is that the program’s younger players gained valuable playing time. “It’s fun to watch their growth,” Brownlee said. Two of the mainstays have been QB Jack Dent and OLB Andy Lerma (10 tackles per game). “Both kids have a great attitude and have carried the team through the rough times,” coach said. “They are great leaders on the field.”

No. 10 Desert Heights Prep (6-3): The is the first time that the Coyotes reached the playoffs and will finish with a winning record since their doors opened five seasons ago. Josh Orozco was leading 1A in receiving (707 yards, 17 TDs). “For offense, (Orozco) runs great routes and has good vision when running the ball,” coach Kendrick Felix said. “His motor is always going and fights for yards after first contact. For defense, he has the ability to recognize the run and pass game. He has a natural instinct to be where the ball is at all times.” Keeping opponents on alert as well is elusive wideout/lockdown corner Justin Aguon. Mason Wicker, a three-year varsity player, was second in passing (1,550 yards) in 1A. “Mason has been through the grind the past two seasons trying to figure things out, which prepared him for this season,” coach said. Wicker is 6-3, 215-pounds and can scramble to extend plays, Felix added.

No. 11 Superior (5-4): “I’m super proud of the way these young men battled adversity,” coach Elias Olmos said. Injuries hampered the team in the early going, when it started 1-3. But the Panthers rebounded, winning four of their final five games to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2022. “These boys never made it (injuries) an excuse,” coach said. “I feel like we are hitting our stride at the right time.” QB Antonio Lopez was one of 1A’s leaders in total yards with 1,249, and DE/TE Adam Sandoval had 7.5 sacks. Superior reached the championship round of T Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights national competition. As one of 16 rural school finalists, Superior has a chance to win a multi-million grand prize for its program. To help the school win the grand prize, go to @superiorusd15 on Instagram.

No. 12 Salome (4-4): Salome reached the postseason for the 14th time in the past 16 seasons and did so with only 12 players available to play in the first round. Injuries ravaged its roster. “Having to overcome the numbers game has been our biggest obstacle,” coach Bryan McCarty said. “Players playing out of position has been tough, but the guys haven’t complained. They have moved and worked harder. We will give it our best Friday night.” Carlos Esparza was fifth in 1A with 794 rushing yards. LB Beau Balderrama was averaging 10.2 tackles per game.

1A state football program.