The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in a few short weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we make our way back over to the Grand Canyon State and check on the 2022 Arizona Open Division state champion Basha Bears. […]
The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in a few short weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we make our way back over to the Grand Canyon State and check on the 2022 Arizona Open Division state champion Basha Bears. Last season, the Bears reached the AIA Open Division title game, falling against Liberty, 35-17. With another loaded roster, filled with Power 4 prospects, can Basha get over the proverbial hump and win its first state title in nearly three years?
Player Spotlight: RB Noah Roberts
Coming off a very impressive sophomore season, Roberts has emerged as one of Arizona’s top high school football players heading into the 2025 campaign. Roberts, a 2027 4-star tailback, last season carried the rock 152 times for 1,062 yards and scoring 19 touchdowns. The junior is ranked as the state’s No. 1 rated player per the Rivals Industry Ratings and should be in line for a huge season behind an experienced offensive line. Expect 1,500-plus yards and over 20 touchdowns this fall for Roberts.
Others to watch: OT Jake Hildebrand, CB Mason Lewis, WR Jaden Baldwin, OL DaJohn Yarborough, WR Kash Brock, QB Broderick Vehrs, LB Eli Cramer-Cronin
Season Prediction: 9-1
Now we know this Basha Bears team right now has a lot of returning talent that would make them an easy pick to make a run to the AIA Open Division title game and winning it all. Getting there and defeating a team, let’s say like Liberty once again, is easier said than actually done. On the road to getting back to the very state title game is a difficult early slate of games, which includes one of California’s perennial powers in Orange Lutheran. Now outside of a loss to the Lancers, we see the Bears taking care of business throughout the course of the season and eventually returning to the state championship game. It’s there where we have Basha coming up just short of taking home the ultimate prize.
Game-By-Game Predictions
Aug. 28 – at Brophy College Preparatory (Ariz.) Broncos – W
There’s going to be a lot of star power in this contest and if you’re a fan attending this one, plenty of former NFL’ers should be around. Basha edges Brophy to start off 1-0.
Sep. 5 – Orange Lutheran (Calif.) Lancers – L
The Bears are coming off a physical, emotional win over Brophy and turn around to host a strong Orange Lutheran squad. Basha drops its first and only game of the regular season in Week 2.
Sep. 12 – at Williams Field (Ariz.) Black Hawks – W
Basha takes out its frustrations on Williams Field in a rout to improve to 2-1.
Sept. 19 – at Mountain View (Ariz.) Toros – W
Now the Bears are looking to get themselves on a roll as they .
Sept. 26 – Queen Creek (Ariz.) Bulldogs – W
The Bears add to their current winning streak as they cruise to a third straight victory.
Oct. 3 – at Westwood(Ariz.) Warriors – W
Basha cruises by Westwood in a 42-14 victory and sit at 5-1 past the midway point.
Oct. 10 – Salpointe Catholic (Ariz.) Lancers – W
Five straight win is a strong indicator that Basha could ride the current wave all the way into the postseason.
Oct. 24 – Hamilton (Ariz.) Huskies – W
In what is probably the team’s most challenging contest to date, the Bears upend the Huskies in a 42-26 decision.
Oct. 31 – Mesa (Ariz.) Jackrabbit – W
Halloween night turns into another blowout victory for Basha as they head into the regular season finale.
Nov. 7 – at Perry (Ariz.) Pumas – W
The Bears finish the regular season on a eight-game winning streak and have major momentum heading into the playoffs.
Category: General Sports
