Predicting the 5A Region Champs for the 2025 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5A conference always seems to find that sweet spot between high-end talent and wild unpredictability — and 2025 looks no different. A few regions have clear favorites, others feel like they could flip on a single Friday night, and everywhere you look there's a program thinking this might be their year. The new mix of schedules, transfers, and returning playmakers should make for plenty of late-season drama. We're breaking it down region by region, not to crown paper champions, but to figure out who's actually built to handle the grind and finish on top when the dust settles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Desert West: Desert Edge</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Around here, when someone like Just Chilly says you're going to run the table in the regular season, people listen — and he's been banging that drum for Desert Edge all summer. I'm not saying it's a lock, because there are still a couple of big tests and football has a way of humbling anyone, but the path is there and so is the talent.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='884389' first='Blake' last='Roskopf'] is back under center looking sharper and more in sync with his weapons, and they've got legit burners all over the secondary with [player_tooltip player_id='884388' first='Mikyal' last='Davis'] leading the charge. [player_tooltip player_id='1127575' first='Jalanie' last='George'], who looked like a grown man as a freshman off the edge, is only going to be more of a problem this year, and [player_tooltip player_id='1682122' first='Antonio' last='Para'] is the kind of linebacker who just always ends up in the right spot to clean things up.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='549596' first='Zerek' last='Sidney'] might be the most complete receiver in the state, able to win at all three levels, and now you're adding brothers [player_tooltip player_id='1120439' first='Jhaheem' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1120426' first='Hajj' last='Brown'] from Centennial to give them even more options. [player_tooltip player_id='1114228' first='Byron' last='Brandon'] looks like he's ready to be the bellcow in the backfield. When you stack that up with their experience in the trenches with&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='401165' first='Jalayne' last='Miller'] and the way they finished last season, it's hard not to see them as the team to beat in the Desert West — and they've got eyes on more than just a region crown.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Northeast Valley:&nbsp;Cactus Shadows</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trying to call the Northeast Valley winner feels like splitting hairs, but I'm leaning Cactus Shadows because they've got the right mix of talent, experience, and a quarterback who can take over a game. [player_tooltip player_id='401159' first='Donivan' last='Dixon'] isn't just a good high school QB — he's one of the most dangerous dual‑threats in the state, and having a senior signal‑caller committed to NAU gives them an edge you can't ignore.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's got big‑time weapons too, with [player_tooltip player_id='1603188' first='Alex' last='Dafnis'] as a mismatch‑creating tight end who can body smaller DBs while [player_tooltip player_id='1682333' first='Dillon' last='Aspiras'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1326047' first='Brock' last='Cashin'] stretch the field outside. That's all before [player_tooltip player_id='1177576' first='Trey' last='Peck'] is able to come in and will elevate this offense even further. Up front, [player_tooltip player_id='1306777' first='Riley' last='Baughman'] is that dependable type of player you build a line around. On defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1647549' first='Dylan' last='Malone'] is a problem off the edge, and when you pair him with [player_tooltip player_id='1682229' first='Ryker' last='Krank']'s ball‑hawking in the secondary — plus a guy like [player_tooltip player_id='1609159' first='Aidan' last='Chambers'] who can fly around — you can get creative with how you attack offenses.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They lost some top tacklers from last year, so the new‑look linebacker group has to prove it, but the core pieces are there. With the continuity they've got in the HC/QB combo, the firepower to win shootouts, and enough defensive teeth to close out tight games, I think they've got what it takes to come out on top in one of 5A's nastiest regions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">San Tan:&nbsp;Mountain Pointe</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dropping down from 6A into the San Tan feels like the perfect storm for Mountain Pointe, especially with the kind of line they've got coming back. This is a group with a ton of size and experience up front, headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='1177550' first='Aaron' last='Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1682206' first='Tyrique' last='Washington'] — both with legit Saturday futures — and they've got the depth behind them to keep the pressure on for four quarters. New head coach Jon Roberts built a winner at Vista Grande by leaning on his trench play and tailoring his offense to what his roster did best, and he's walking into a situation here where that formula fits perfectly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='883313' first='Kristian' last='Escobedo'] might be young, but he's got the arm, the athleticism, and now the coaching staff around him to grow into the role quickly. He doesn't have to be a hero on every snap with the supporting cast he's got. [player_tooltip player_id='1326122' first='Legarrette' last='Blount Jr.'] is primed for a breakout sophomore season as a dynamic weapon on the outside, and Marleigh Fely gives them both the interior push in the run game and the ability to collapse the pocket when they flip to defense. On that side of the ball, [player_tooltip player_id='739442' first='Jaylyn' last='Colter'] is a heat‑seeking missile who's always around the football, and Roberts has brought in experienced defensive minds who will know how to put guys like Colter and Fely in positions to wreck drives.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When you've got a veteran line, speed and playmaking in the skill spots, and a coach who knows how to maximize both sides of the ball, you've got the recipe to win a lot of games. The San Tan region is going to be tough, but winnable. Mountain Pointe has every tool to make a serious run at the crown in year one in 5A — and maybe even do some damage in the playoffs beyond that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sonoran:&nbsp;Marana</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a 10–0 regular season and a run as the top seed in the Open, Marana's got plenty back to make another push. [player_tooltip player_id='1587237' first='Colten' last='Meyer'] is one of the most productive quarterbacks in the state, throwing 30 touchdowns last year while keeping the offense on schedule, and having him back gives them a huge advantage in a region where QB play can swing close games. Losing a weapon like Dezmen Roebuck definitely stings, but his younger brother [player_tooltip player_id='1190656' first='Sean' last='Roebuck'] has been making plays all offseason and looks ready to keep the passing game explosive. Meyer still has other dependable targets, and with a sophomore running back like [player_tooltip player_id='499907' first='Jeffrey' last='Smith III'] — who led all Arizona freshmen in touchdowns last season — they've got a balanced attack that can win in different ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Up front, multiple starters return on the offensive line, giving them the size and experience to protect Meyer and open lanes for Smith. That group's consistency is going to matter against physical defenses like Salpointe and Buena. On the other side of the ball, the pass rush is headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='1177561' first='Hayden' last='Utley'] and Greg Webb, a duo that can really wreck protections and force quarterbacks into mistakes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They're battle-tested after the spotlight of being the Open's No. 1 seed, and they've got the balance, depth, youth, and confidence to handle whatever this region throws at them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Northwest:&nbsp;Cactus</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='739446' first='Luke' last='Berlin'] comes in from Blue Ridge, and getting him cleared to play right away is massive for a team already loaded with weapons. He's got the poise, the arm strength, and the confidence to work the whole field, and stepping into this offense gives him plenty to work with from Day 1. [player_tooltip player_id='1333115' first='Tevin' last='Marrufo'] is hungry to make the most of his senior year as the lead back, running behind a veteran offensive line that can open lanes and give Berlin time to work. Out wide, Julian Moncivais is as polished and reliable as they come, with the kind of route-running and sure hands that make a quarterback's life easy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1327834' first='Daylen' last='Moore'] brings that burst off the edge that can wreck a game plan, forcing quarterbacks into hurried throws. He's backed by a front seven with plenty of varsity snaps, capable of setting the tone early in games and holding up in the trenches against the more physical opponents. They were one of the most exciting teams to watch last year, and with so much of that core still in place — plus a proven coaching staff that's kept them steady — they've got every reason to believe they can take the Northwest and make another deep run once the postseason hits.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Central Valley:&nbsp;McClintock</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a 9–1 regular season and a playoff loss that came down to literally the final yard, McClintock is back in 2025 with a lot of reason to believe they can win the Central Valley. There's a new head coach in Nick Offenberger, who's already talking about raising the standard, and he's got some serious pieces to work with. Daniel Fuentes gives them a hard-hitting linebacker and their secondary is going to have a lot of talent and depth headlined by&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1718929' first='Ab' last='Ouatara'] and Jeremiah Paet.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='498322' first='Aidan' last='Whitaker'] is a truly versatile weapon who can make plays at receiver and lay the wood at safety. His younger brother, Jackson Whitaker, is only a freshman but will reportedly play a role on varsity, and Preston Molina is another newcomer in that freshman class with the kind of burst that can change a game. Add in a wave of transfers, and suddenly this team doesn't look like a full rebuild.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big question is the quarterback spot, but after a really impressive offseason by yet another freshman, Kaiden Ikaika Agbunag, all signs point to them handing him the reigns and having full confidence in doing so. With that being said, they still have [player_tooltip player_id='1698592' first='Isaiah' last='Venegas'] who's a really accurate senior that will likely still find his way onto the field throughout the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By the time they hit the back half of the season — when chemistry in a new system really starts to click and transfers become eligible — this could be a very different team than the one you see in August.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Metro:&nbsp;Camelback</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1617071' first='Angel' last='Neria'] is back with a full season of starting experience and a much better feel for running this offense. I don't expect to see the same quarterback we did in his first start last year — he's more comfortable in the pocket, more decisive when he takes off, and has a bigger, stronger line in front of him now. That group up front is heavier and deeper than a year ago, which should open things up for a more balanced attack and give him time to work through progressions. They'll need to replace some big-play production from last year's seniors, but there's enough skill talent coming back to spread the ball around and keep defenses honest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, this has a chance to be one of the stingiest units in the Metro. Adan Medrano and [player_tooltip player_id='1617431' first='Cezaire' last='Yates'] bring veteran savvy and range to the secondary, while [player_tooltip player_id='1682232' first='Sifita' last='Kakau'] anchors the front and can wreck a drive with a big play in the backfield. Add in a few young pieces who flashed last season, and you've got a defense that can create turnovers and get off the field. Combine that with the fact that the path in the Metro isn't as brutal week-to-week as some other regions, and Camelback is in a great position to build on last year's success and make a real push for the region title.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Southern:&nbsp;Mountain View - Marana</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the region realignments, Mountain View Marana has a pretty clean path to a region championship and the right pieces back to make it happen. Michael Davis is a difference‑maker who can hurt teams on both sides of the ball, whether he's taking the top off a defense or locking down receivers in coverage. Liam Lewis gives them a steady, physical presence in the backfield, running behind an experienced offensive line that can control the line of scrimmage. In the trenches, [player_tooltip player_id='1662741' first='Caden' last='Rudy'] is the tone‑setter off the edge, while [player_tooltip player_id='1682319' first='Jason' last='Pogue']&nbsp;is as reliable as they come when it comes to fitting the run and making tackles in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This isn't the most brutal region in the conference, and that plays into their hands — but it's not just about the schedule. They've got a front seven that can dictate games and a few legitimate playmakers who can flip a series in one snap. If they play to their identity, limit mistakes, and let their leaders set the tempo, Mountain View Marana can absolutely end up wearing the Southern Region crown.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->