In short: Glendale Cardinals high school football (Glendale, AZ), 2026 season: 5-4. Last game: L 7-40 vs Tempe on October 23, 2026. Next: vs Moon Valley, October 30, 2026. Schedule and results, player season stats, stat leaders, unit grades, ScorePirate ranking and the game-by-game log.
The turnover battle could decide Glendale's next game, against Moon Valley, and the recent returns favor Moon Valley. Glendale committed 0.6 giveaways per game over its first 5 games (3-2), #17 in section in that timeframe. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (2-2), the Cardinals have committed 2.2 giveaways per game, a 275% rise, #189 in section in that window. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Glendale's last 4 opponents have averaged 1.7 per game, a #106 defense in section on the season, against 1.1 per game, #195 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (1.7 per game), Glendale turned it over 33% more than those defenses usually force. Meanwhile, Moon Valley's defense has struggled in recent weeks. The Rockets have forced 0.8 takeaways per game over their last 4 games (0-4), #192 in section during that time. Those games came against some of the weaker offenses in section (2.0 per game on the season, which would rank #182). Against those norms, Moon Valley forced 62% fewer turnovers than those offenses usually give up. Overall, those opponents average an SP Strength Index rating that would rank #178 in section, a lower level of competition. Both units come in looking to get right, and whichever does first may decide the game.
The number to watch when Glendale meets Moon Valley is Glendale's scoring. Glendale averaged 14.0 points per game over its first 3 games (1-2), #195 in section through those games. In the 6 games since that slow start (4-2), the Cardinals have averaged 22.3 points per game, a 60% rise, #154 in section through that stretch. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Glendale's last 6 opponents have averaged 34.5 points per game, a #201 scoring defense in section on the season, against 26.9 points per game, #150 for the first 3. Measured against those opponents' norms (34.5 points per game), Glendale scored 35% less than those defenses usually allow. So the improvement is real, but it still trails what those opponents usually give up. Overall, though, those opponents have been lower-level teams: their average SP Strength Index rating would rank just #199 in section. Meanwhile, Moon Valley's defense has struggled in recent weeks. The Rockets have allowed 38.3 points per game over their last 6 games (0-6), #209 in section over that stretch. Those games came against a middle-of-the-pack set of offenses in section (27.1 points per game on the season, which would rank #130). Against those norms, Moon Valley allowed 42% more than those offenses usually score. On paper, that is a matchup that favors Glendale.
NOTES
The biggest worry in Glendale's season has been the direction of its defense. Glendale allowed 26.8 points per game over its first 5 games (3-2), #147 in section within that period. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (2-2), the Cardinals have allowed 35.8 points per game, a 33% rise, #194 in section across those games. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Glendale's last 4 opponents have averaged 25.2 points per game, a #141 offense in section on the season, against 21.2 points per game, #158 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (25.2 points per game), Glendale allowed 42% more than those offenses usually score. On the season, Glendale ranks #180 in section in scoring defense. Moon Valley's offense, #231 of 255 (9.0 points per game), could be the get-right matchup Glendale needs.
Glendale's ground game from the opening weeks has gone missing since. The Cardinals averaged 6.3 yards per carry (1,021 yards on 161 rushes) over their first 5 games (3-2), #96 in section during those games. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (2-2), Glendale has averaged 4.6 yards per carry (469 yards on 102 rushes), a 27% drop, #161 in section during that period. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Glendale's last 4 opponents have averaged 6.5 yards per carry, a #140 run defense in section on the season, against 7.4 yards per carry, #178 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (6.5 yards per carry), Glendale ran for 29% less per carry than those run defenses usually allow. On the season, the Cardinals rank #126 in section in rushing. Moon Valley's run defense sits in the middle of the pack, #159 in section (6.9 yards per carry).
Glendale averaged 5.8 yards per play (904 yards on 155 snaps) over its first 4 games (2-2), #146 in section during that stretch. Few teams started slower in this department, and few have turned it around as sharply since. In the 5 games since that slow start (3-2), the Cardinals have averaged 7.2 yards per play (1,292 yards on 180 snaps), a 23% rise, #94 in section over that period. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Glendale's last 5 opponents have averaged 8.5 yards per play, a #193 defense in section on the season, against 7.7 yards per play, #162 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (8.5 yards per play), Glendale gained 15% less per snap than those defenses usually allow. So the improvement is real, but it still trails what those opponents usually give up. Overall, though, those opponents have been lower-level teams: their average SP Strength Index rating would rank just #184 in section. On the season, Glendale ranks #126 in section in yards per play. Moon Valley's defense sits in the middle of the pack, #187 in section (8.3 yards per play).
Something changed for Glendale's defense after its first 4 games. The Cardinals allowed 8.1 yards per play (1,232 yards on 152 snaps) over their first 4 games (2-2), #173 in section over that timeframe. In the 5 games since that slow start (3-2), Glendale has allowed 7.1 yards per play (1,739 yards on 245 snaps), a 12% drop, #139 in section over that span. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 6.3 yards per play on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (6.5 yards per play), Glendale allowed 9% more per snap than those offenses usually gain. So the improvement is real, but it still trails what those opponents usually give up. Overall, though, those opponents have been lower-level teams: their average SP Strength Index rating would rank just #184 in section. On the season, the Cardinals rank #152 in section in yards per play allowed. The trend lines up well against Moon Valley, whose offense ranks just #217 of 230 (3.9 yards per play).
TIDBITS (6 found)
• Club Glendale has lost 2 straight, and a loss would make it 3 in a row. The last time they lost 3 or more in a row was 2025, a run of 4.
• Club The last time Glendale went a game holding the opponent under 5.0 yards per carry was August 30, 2024 against Arcadia (L, 0-41). Since then Glendale has gone 27 straight games allowing 5.0+ yards per carry, a school-record 27 straight in the 5 seasons on record.
• Club The last time Glendale went a game forcing no turnovers was August 30, 2024 against Arcadia (L, 0-41). Since then Glendale has gone 27 straight games forcing 1+ turnover, a school-record 27 straight in the 5 seasons on record.
• Player Orvante Stokes has 312 rushing yards over his last 3 games (104.0 a game, August 28, 2026 through September 11, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Orvante Stokes has gone 4 straight games running for a touchdown, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Michael Anguiano has gone 7 straight games without running for a touchdown. The last time he ran for a touchdown was October 2, 2025 against Independence (L, 39-42) — 1 rushing TD.
SCHEDULE STRENGTH
Glendale has played one of the softest schedules in the pool so far (#234 of 260).
Schedule so far · 1 = hardest
#234 of 260
avg opponent rating -12.0 over 10 games · 0 vs top-25 AZ section
@Washingt… W 23-18Cibola L 7-39@North Ca… L 12-43Desert S… W 28-20@Westview W 17-14Independ… W 35-32@Greenway W 33-24@Marcos D… L 14-47Tempe L 7-40Moon Val…
Each bar is one opponent, placed by where its rating ranks in this pool (tall and red = top 10; short and green = bottom half). Hatched bars are games still to play; the dashed line is today.
Win chances are the site's own game projections where one is on file, otherwise the SP Strength Index gap with a small home edge. The realistic range covers 80% of outcomes (10th to 90th percentile).
Every player with a stat on file, listed only where he has one. Open the arrow beside a name for his game-by-game line. Stats through the Sep 11 game; last updated Sep 17; roster and numbers checked Oct 6.
Click a column heading to sort. MIN hides players below that many attempts.
PPG/OPP PPG use every played game on file. YPG/PLAYS-PER-GAME columns only ever come from games with a full box score on file, which can be a smaller sample than GP -- see the coverage note below when that's the case for this team.
Averages use only games with that number on file (offense 8/9, defense 8/9, sacks/INT 3/9, sacks allowed 3/9 games). SACKS ALW comes from the opponent's box score; TO FORCED is takeaways; TO MAR is takeaways minus giveaways, and its bottom cell is the season total. Dashes mean not on file.
UNIT INDEX
Pass Offense: grade 25.1/100 (-67 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Offense: grade 54.2/100 (-1 yds/gm vs average)
Pass Defense: grade 24.2/100 (+35 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Defense: grade 10.1/100 (+104 yds/gm vs average)
Unit grades: 0-100 league percentile, adjusted for the opponents faced.
GLE finished 2025 at 2-7. Missed playoffs. Notable win: 14-7 over WESTVIEW (WESTVIEW finished 10% that season). Toughest loss: 20-22 to NORTH CANYON (2-point margin).
"N/A" stands in for a box score that does not have stats entered. A total followed by a count in parentheses covers only the games with that stat on file.
TALKING POINTS (15 storylines)
GLE HAS PERFORMED BEST THIS DATA SET WHEN...
• GLE averages 6.0+ yards per play (.714), and has won 5 straight when doing so
• GLE holds its opponents under 8.0 yards per attempt (.571), but most recently lost to Marcos De Niza when doing so
• GLE rushes for 150+ yards (.600), but most recently lost to Marcos De Niza when doing so
• GLE commits fewer than 3 giveaways (.556), and has won 4 straight when doing so
• GLE's defense has forced 1+ turnover in 9 straight games (08/28/2026-10/23/2026), going 5-4 over that stretch.
• GLE's offense has averaged 3.0 giveaways per game over their last 3 games. Their 12-game average is 1.6 giveaways per game. (+89%)
• GLE's defense has conceded 5.0+ YPC in 8 straight games (09/04/2026-10/23/2026), going 4-4 over that stretch.
• GLE's offense has averaged 11.8 YPA over their last 5 games. Their 9-game average is 7.4 YPA. (+61%)
• GLE rushes for 152.0+ yards (GLE's own median) (.600)
• GLE's defense has averaged 155.7 rush yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 11-game average is 224.1 rush yards per game. (-31%)
• GLE averages 6.6+ yards per play (GLE's own median) (.667)
• GLE averages 5.1+ yards per carry (GLE's own median) (.667)
• GLE holds its opponents under 8.1 yards per play (GLE's own median) (.600)
• GLE's offense has averaged 4.2 YPC over their last 3 games. Their 11-game average is 5.4 YPC. (-23%)
• GLE's offense has averaged 186.2 rush yards per game over their last 10 games. Their 20-game average is 151.7 rush yards per game. (+23%)
• GLENDALE has lost by 20+ in 2 straight games (10/16/26–10/23/26). It has not reached 3 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• GLENDALE has committed 2+ turnovers in 2 straight games (10/16/26–10/23/26). It has not reached 3 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• GLENDALE has allowed 30+ in 2 straight games (10/16/26–10/23/26). It has not allowed 30+ in 3 straight since 9/13/24–9/26/24 (2024). It has reached 3 straight 3 times in the last 4 years and has reached a high of 4 straight (2024) in that span.
GLE's defense has averaged 155.7 rush yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 11-game average is 224.1 rush yards per game. (-31%)
(moved to the Appendix, Data Export 1, to keep this section shorter -- the full spreadsheet-paste table is there unchanged)
APPENDIX
Full-length explanations and full-size data exports for the shortened notes and relocated tables referenced throughout this report, numbered in the order their pointers appear above.
Explanatory Notes
Note 1 -- SEASON OUTLOOK
Every remaining game is projected from schedule-adjusted ratings; already-played games carry their real result. Records are simulated distributions, not a single guess -- MOST LIKELY FINAL is the single most probable record and its own probability, PROJECTED RECORD is the season's expected win total expressed in record form (an average across every simulated outcome, so it can land on a fraction of a game).
Note 2 -- OPPONENT TRACKER -- why some cards have no record shown
Only meaningful for an opponent who is ALSO a tracked team in the library -- an opponent with no games on file here at all shows the date and site alone.
Note 3 -- MOST IMPORTANT NUMBERS -- how a number is scored
Every split this report computes is scored on how strong the number is and how much it sets this team apart from its opponent and the rest of the field, and the top 5 per team are listed. A condition needs at least 8 occurrences to count.
Full Data Exports
Data Export 1 -- TRENDS — TAB-SEPARATED (10 columns)
The program's index across 5 seasons on file -- -3.4 in 2022 to -24.0 in 2026.
These graphs were chosen by the program from this season's most notable numbers. Build your own -- any stat against any other, for any mix of teams, seasons or players, with a JPEG download -- in the Graph Builder.
Report Produced by ScorePirate | Commitment and offer data sourced from 247Sports | GENERATED
10/30/2026 23:02