We wait eight long months for the Arizona high school football season to start and then, in the blink of an eye, the regular season is half over.
Through the first month of the big school’s slate, we’ve seen the expected, as well as the unexpected.
Below are a few things which caught my attention in September.
Hamilton Heat
I was chatting with a AZHS coach just days before the season started and he asked me what caught my attention most from CUSD football media day. It wasn’t necessarily anything I heard, but what I saw.
I told him Hamilton looked like a Big 12 team. I even quipped with head coach Travis Dixon it appeared his team just lived in the weight room all summer.
That strength has been on display all season, particularly on offense where Dixon’s group has been flat out cooking with sophomore quarterback Jax Sculley who’s video game numbers have the 5-0 Huskies coasting into October.
“What Jax Sculley has been able to accomplish through the first five games of the season is remarkable,” Sports360AZ’s Cody Cameron told the “Zone Read.” “Remember, this is a kid who is coming off a major injury last season, and he looks like a three-year varsity vet on the gridiron this fall.
Hamilton strikes right back2028 QB @JaxSculley launches a bomb to 2028 WR @Roye_Oliver who beats the opposing DB on the deep route, Oliver races to the house for a 70+ yard TD. Game tied at 7 here in the 1st Q @CoachDixonDBs @Husky_Football7 pic.twitter.com/OaE2f4wlB3
— Cody Cameron (@CodyTCameron) September 6, 2025
“He throws a beautiful deep ball and is accurate in all levels of route concepts. Sculley is playing at such a high level right now, and he has that Hamilton offense rolling. Really excited to see what he can accomplish in the second half of the season.”
Hamilton hasn’t scored less than 50 points in any game and Scully has already thrown for 24 touchdowns (TWENTY-FOUR!!) and 1600 yards. He’s also only been intercepted four times in 133 attempts. Fellow sophomore stud Roye Oliver III has caught 17 of those touchdowns, while Skyler Cole and Jacob Brown add balance in the run game.
— Travis Dixon (@CoachDixonDBs) September 23, 2025
Circle the calendar for October 24th in Chandler: Hamilton at Basha.
I know where I’ll be that Friday night.
Same Breed, Same Success
Off the Loop 101 in north Scottsdale, the Horizon Huskies have also taken a bite out of all five of their opponents this season and, outside of a hard-fought 20-7 with Cactus, really haven’t been tested in non-region play.
Horizon’s defensive has been especially stout, allowing seven or less points in four of the five victories. Senior linebacker Gage Lee has been everywhere, already registering 38 tackles (7.6 per game), including 5.5 tackles for loss. Fellow linebacker, junior CJ Battle, is second behind Lee in tackles per game (6.3). The group has also forced 11 takeaways.
WIN!! @CoachDitmore @CoachZelaya3 pic.twitter.com/vjifiwpdqL
— Horizon Football (@hzfbfamily) September 12, 2025
The Huskies offense has shown balance, paced by running back Bodie Zamorano’s 628 rushing yards and four scores. Fearless quarterback Carter Puma has been solid (12 touchdowns, only three interceptions), and is a total gamer. Wide receiver James Klopfenstein is continuing the family’s HHS success – averaging over 15 yards per reception with five touchdowns.
“I think some of the biggest factors of our 5-0 start is the senior leadership we have with our team right now,” head coach Tyson Ditmore said to the “Zone Read.” “We are able to run the ball well and play good defense. Those have complemented each other. Special teams tops everything off.
“We are excited about the fast start but know that the best teams never get comfortable and we can’t get complacent.”
The back half of the schedule will offer more challenges in region play but the Huskies are already well-positioned for a high seed in the 5A playoffs.
Tolleson Turnaround
Rich Wellbrock is at it again.
After a one-win 2024 season, where the Wolverines were outscored 387-99 in the heavyweight 6A Fiesta Region, Tolleson seems right at home in the 5A Desert West after moving down.
Wellbrock’s club is off to a 5-0 start heading into this week’s match-up against Kellis in the far west Valley.
Update:
Even cooler, Tolleson is 5-0 for the first time since 1984.
Long way to go and lots to work on, but super cool for the Tolleson Community! Go T-Town! https://t.co/XyqUzDdVJv
— Tolleson Football (@TTownFball) September 27, 2025
Headliner for the offense is wide receiver Rico Blassingame. The three-star Minnesota commit leads 5A with 644 receiving yards (he had 690 in 10 games last season) and seven touchdowns.
Blessed to receive my official offer!! #RTB #GoGophers
@GopherFootball @CoachMGSimon @Coach_Fleck pic.twitter.com/7cxGuVub1s
— 3
WR Rico Blassingame (@Ricoblass2026) August 1, 2025
Speedster Quintin Gavin on the other side is the perfect complement (422 yards, 23.4 per reception, four TD’s).
The Wolverines’ offense also features senior quarterback Youngmin Lee (17 total touchdowns and close to 1,500 total yards), as well as 6’2, 185-pound sophomore running back Jimmy Guzman who leads the team in rushing (536 yards) and is second in rushing TD’s (five). Wellbrock has a nice one-two punch with senior Ayjon Daniels and his team-high six rushing scores.
The defense has been balanced and aggressive (13.5 sacks, 12 forced turnovers). Victor Juarez and Barry Sorle always seem to be around the ball. Senior Aydan Sheiha has five sacks in five games.
A short trip west down I-10 to Goodyear to take on Desert Edge on October 17th will prove to be a true measuring stick of how deep Tolleson could go in the playoffs.
4A Best? Look Far West
If you’re looking to watch arguably the most competive and balanced 4A region in the state, stay in the west Valley.
Through the first half of the season, the West Valley (Estrella Foothills, Youngker, Lake Havasu, Buckeye Union, Deer Valley) is a combined 19-4. Estrella Foothills and Youngker are unbeaten, Lake Havasu is 4-1, Buckeye and Deer Valley each 3-2.
— Estrella Foothills Football (@EFHSWolvesFB) September 21, 2025
Obviously, this region will start eating its own this month.
Whomever qualifies for the playoffs will certainly be battle-tested and prepared heading into November.
The post Zone Read: One Month In, What We’ve Learned first appeared on Sports360AZ.
