First-Team Leaders: The QBs Dominating 4A's All-Region Honors

<p>Quarterbacks are often the face of their team, the ones who step into the spotlight when the game is on the line. This season, 4A football had its fair share of standout QBs who led their squads with poise, precision, and plenty of highlight-reel plays. From airing it out deep to making smart reads under pressure, these signal-callers showed why they earned First-Team All-Region honors. Let's take a closer look at the quarterbacks who truly dominated their regions and helped define this season of 4A football.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Copper Sky</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1145565' first='Hone' last='Wray'] led Estrella Foothills with poise and efficiency, throwing for 1,939 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 66% of his passes. Wray displayed his ability to spread the ball around effectively by getting four of his receivers over 240 yards through the air — two of which surpassed 500. Consistently finding his receivers downfield, averaging 15.4 yards per completion, his deep ball had nice touch all season long. His pocket awareness and upper body mechanics allowed him to stay calm under pressure, making smart reads and delivering the ball with accuracy. On the ground, he added 529 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, showcasing his mobility and ability to extend plays when needed. Wray's combination of strong mechanics, resilience, and the ability to create opportunities for his team made him a key player throughout the season.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Messan Alokpovi is only a freshman and was named first-team all-region in his first season as Alhambra's signal caller. He threw for 910 yards and 4 touchdowns on the year but showed consistent growth week over week. Through his first seven games, Alokpovi had 450 yards and no touchdowns while completing 37% of his passes. Turning things around in his last three games, he amassed 460 yards and four touchdowns, completing 50% of his passes and more than tripling his quarterback rating. He also contributed on the ground, adding 230 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns as a big-bodied runner who's proven to be hard to bring down. As his development continues, Alokpovi is a player coaches should be watching closely.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Desert Sky</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1587252' first='Evan' last='Heinrich'] commanded the field for Arizona College Prep, amassing 2,112 yards with an impressive 69% completion rate. Heinrich was incredibly efficient, making smart, quick decisions to keep the offense moving. His 29 touchdowns to go against his lone interception on the year show you just how careful he is with the football. If his guy isn't going to get it, no one is. Heinrich's leadership and command on the field helped guide his team through a deep playoff run, solidifying his place as one of the top quarterbacks in 4A football this season. ACP will take on Snowflake in a semifinal matchup this Friday at 7:00 PM.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A East Sky</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Jacob LaDuke led Snowflake to an impressive undefeated season, balancing an efficient passing game with some of the most electric rushing performances in 4A football. LaDuke has thrown for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, often making key throws when his team needed to sustain drives. While his passing stats are solid, it's his rushing game that sets him apart. LaDuke has rushed for 643 yards and a jaw-dropping 19 touchdowns on the year so far. His ability to punch the ball in whenever the offense enters the redzone made him a true dual-threat quarterback and a nightmare for opposing defenses. With Snowflake set to face Arizona College Prep in the semifinals, LaDuke's playmaking on both the ground and through the air will be crucial in what promises to be an exciting matchup.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Gila</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1177566' first='Ivan' last='Higuera'] is an impressive dual-threat quarterback who led his team with both his arm and his legs. Higuera threw for 1,437 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, completing 60% of his passes. His ability to extend plays was one of his biggest strengths—always keeping his eyes downfield while evading pressure to find an open receiver. Against Rio Rico, he showcased his accuracy and composure, completing 18 of 21 passes for 301 yards and 4 touchdowns. On the ground, Higuera rushed for 657 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per carry, and added 6 touchdowns. His athleticism made him tough to tackle, and his elusiveness helped him turn broken plays into big gains. The baseball background also showed up, as Higuera displayed a variety of arm angles to get the ball to his receivers. His versatility made him an invaluable asset this season and player defenses struggled to contain.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Grand Canyon</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='583076' first='Uriah' last='Tenette'] is one of the most explosive athletes in the state, and his versatility had Prescott's high-powered offense averaging 33 points this season. Tenette threw for 2,117 yards and 21 touchdowns while averaging an incredible 20.4 yards per completion — highlighting his ability to push the ball downfield and create big plays. His athleticism didn't stop there; Tenette also rushed for 927 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. His ability to make defenders miss in the open field made him dangerous on every play, even with no one open down the field. Tenette's agility in space has proven to be nearly impossible for defenders to match. His dynamic playmaking ability kept Prescott competitive all season and made him one of the most exciting players to watch.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Kino</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Jacob Ford showed his ability to make big plays despite a challenging season for his team. Ford threw for 2,063 yards and 12 touchdowns, showing his determination to keep the offense moving and make big plays, even in difficult situations. Ford did a great job spreading the ball around, with two of his wideouts gaining over 600 receiving yards on the season. One of his standout performances came against Tucson, where he threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 160 yards on the ground, keeping his team competitive in a high-scoring battle. Ford also contributed with his legs, rushing for 565 yards and finishing as the team's leading rusher. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Skyline</h2>    <p>Tyler McNally had a season full of ups and downs, but his resilience and ability to perform under pressure stood out. McNally threw for 1,535 yards and 19 touchdowns, completing 57% of his passes. Though he may not be a threat to run for a ton of yards, he does a n excellent job of using his legs to break out of the pocket and keep plays alive, giving his offense extra chances. He has effortless arm strength and did really well throwing the ball over the middle of the field — threading into some tight windows. Despite the team's mixed results, McNally consistently delivered the ball to his playmakers and kept the offense moving.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Southwest</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Chase Dickson led Seton Catholic to an impressive 8-3 record, including a perfect 4-0 in region games. He may not have had the flashiest stats, but his incredible form and unwavering footwork were evident every time he stepped on the field. What stood out most was his ability to throw on the run, maintaining both power and accuracy while on the move. Dickson threw for 1,571 yards this season, and his efficiency improved significantly compared to the previous year. He showed strong decision-making and poise in the pocket, proving to be a key contributor to Seton Catholic's success. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A West Valley</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Laki Wallwork, the junior quarterback for Northwest Christian, had an impressive season that showcased both his efficiency and playmaking ability. Wallwork threw for just under 2,800 yards while completing 68% of his passes, proving himself as a reliable passer who keeps the chains moving. Averaging 14 yards per completion, he demonstrated the ability to dissect defenses both in the quick game, or over the top. Wallwork also showed his resilience and composure in close games, leading Northwest Christian to three one-score victories in just the first five games; including a 31-28 win over Peoria and a 16-7 triumph over Eastmark. Though his rushing stats weren't eye-popping, Wallwork's pocket presence and decision-making allowed him to extend plays and make things happen when under pressure. With his strong arm, accuracy, and poise, Wallwork has solidified himself as one of the top returning playmakers in 5A, and he's set up for an even bigger senior season.</p>

Quarterbacks are often the face of their team, the ones who step into the spotlight when the game is on the line. This season, 4A football had its fair share of standout QBs who led their squads with poise, precision, and plenty of highlight-reel plays. From airing it out deep to making smart reads under pressure, these signal-callers showed why they earned First-Team All-Region honors. Let's take a closer look at the quarterbacks who truly dominated their regions and helped define this season of 4A football.