Friday Night Lights — and Thursday — are back.

Arizona’s 2024-25 high school football season kicks off Thursday night with three 2A Conference games. Then, on Friday, the 1A and 3A teams join the fun along with a full slate of 2A games.

azpreps365’s staff is planning to attend some of the biggest games. On Saturday, the azpreps365 morning radio crew will recap some of this week’s biggest headlines on 1580 AM The Fanatic.

Next week, when the big schools play their first games, the azpreps365 Friday Night Wrap-Up Show returns to the airwaves from 9:30-11:30 p.m.

The Headliners

The Sollenberger’s preseason No. 1 team in 2A, Scottsdale Christian, is hosting No. 4 San Tan Charter Thursday.

San Tan Charter was a play or two from reaching the 2A final last year. Arizona State wide receiver commit Uriah Neloms will make his first start as QB1 for San Tan Charter.

On Friday, seventh-ranked Willcox will visit No. 5 Arizona Lutheran Academy. Run, run, run is the name of the game for both programs.

Willcox’s Jeston Lotts and Arizona Lutheran’s David Peter are two of the best in Arizona’s coaching fraternity.

Best of the rest

In 3A, River Valley and running back Jayden Potkin, the 3A leading rusher last year, host Yuma. … Crismon and first year-year coach Derrick Sainz will attempt to help their program win its first ever varsity game. That task will be difficult against Benjamin Franklin, which returns 19 starters. … Gilbert Christian (6-4 last year) wants to avenge last season’s opening season 42-28 loss to No. 10 Florence. … Eric Hjalmarson makes his coaching debut at his alma mater, Blue Ridge, which hosts Monument Valley. … Top-10 ALA Ironwood and 2023 quarterfinalist Morenci, which is under new management (first-year coach Frankie Gonzalez), square off in Morenci. … Coach Carlo Hernandez returned to Coolidge High to see if he can recreate some of that state title magic from the early 2000s. His Bears travel to 3A defending champ Sabino. … The 2023 3A runner-up Paradise Honors is travelling to 3A’s No. 2 Thatcher. … A Nevada school launched by rapper Pitbull, SLAM, visit’s 3A’s No. 1 Mohave. … In 2A, can Greyhills Academy win its first game since 2018 season? Because of the pandemic, it didn’t field a team in 2020, ‘21 and ‘22. It’ll open 2024 against a Pinon program that won a school record nine games last year. … No. 10 Phoenix Christian is at Tanque Verde, which also won a school record 9 games last year. … Cortez’s Michael Anthony rushed for over 1,000 yards and 20 TDs last season. He’ll try his best to help keep No. 6 Tonopah Valley’s potent offense grounded. … In 1A, No. 9 Ray will be at No. 3 Mogollon in Andrew Gamboa’s first game as Mogollon’s head coach. … Preseason No. 1 Hayden, the defending champ, will start at No. 10 Superior. … No. 4 St. David is at No. 8 Cicero Prep.