By Zach Alvira
Head of Content
The Arizona Interscholastic Association has deliberated and finalized the initial conference placements for the 2025 football season.
The realignment comes after a two-year block of conference placements. The AIA released conference placements for all sports outside of football earlier in the week. However, football - as has been the case for years now - will have separate placements based on enrollment and past success.
The placements showed a total of 15 football teams moving to a different conference next season. Below is a breakdown of the movement. Schools have until Jan. 7 to appeal their placement.
Mountain Pointe and Chaparral to 5A
The Mountain Pointe Pride and Chaparral Firebirds will move to the 5A Conference after back-to-back years of struggles at the 6A level.
The Pride, with a talented roster, lost in the first round of the 6A Conference playoffs this past season. Two years ago, they fell in the second round.
Chaparral went 5-15 the last two seasons playing at the 6A level. Before that, the Firebirds were contenders for the 6A championship, winning it in 2020.
Mountain Pointe will have a new head coach next season, as Eric Lauer stepped down following the conclusion of his team's season. A perennial power in the 2010s, this will be the first time Mountain Pointe won't be competing at the state's highest level. Chaparral became a power in 5A before being moved up to 6A.
Higley to 6A
Winning back-to-back 5A championships in 2022 and 2023, the Knights figured they would be on the move to the 6A Conference for the first time since 2021. Higley, despite three losses this past season, made the Open Division alongside three other 5A programs.
The Knights previously competed in the 6A Conference in 2021, winning just three games. They petitioned down following the tough season, but went on to win the two titles. Now, they'll be back in 6A.
Yuma Catholic, Arizona College Prep move to 5A
Fresh off their first state championship appearance in program history, the Arizona College Prep Knights will find themselves with yet another challenge at the 5A Conference next season. The Knights had their best season in history, losing just two games -- the last in the title game to Mica Mountain.
ACP has steadily grown since moving to its new campus in Chandler. With that, the football team has grown, too.
After another trip to the state semifinals, Yuma Catholc -- a 3A school by enrollment -- will play football in the 5A Conference. The Shamrocks have been dominant since their inception, led by standout players and standout coach Rhett Stallworth. However, Stallworth may be walking away from the program after this past season, opening the door for a new head coach to lead the team into the 5A for the first time.
Full list of conference movement
Mountain Pointe from 6A to 5A
Chaparral from 6A to 5A
Higley from 5A to 6A
Westview from 5A to 4A
Agua Fria from 5A to 4A
Yuma Catholic from 4A to 5A
Arizona College Prep from 4A to 5A
Canyon Del Oro from 4A to 5A
Vista Grande from 4A to 5A
Apache Junction from 4A to 3A
Empire from 4A to 3A
Mohave from 3A to 4A
Paradise Honors from 3A to 4A
Fountain Hills from 3A to 2A
Pima from 2A to 3A
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