Photos: Prep football's best of 2013
As Salpointe, Sabino and Canyon del Oro prepare to advance past tonight's quarterfinal round of the Arizona state football playoffs, take a look back at some of the best photos from the season.
Taylor Powell
Salpointe Catholic linebacker Taylor Powell, who is second on the team in tackles this season, says the Lancers “lean on the defense a lot, but our offense is very productive, too, so they both balance themselves out.”
Gilbert Higley vs. Canyon del Oro playoffs
Higley's Nick Colson (5) stretches, but comes up short of the goal line as he's tackled by CDO defenders during the during the first quarter of a playoff football game between Gilbert Higley and Canyon del Oro on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, Canyon del Oro High School in Tucson, Ariz. CDO advanced with a 34-31 win.
Gilbert Higley vs. Canyon del Oro playoffs
Canyon del Oro's Thomas Sawyer (36) runs through Higley defenders Bayley Cook (14) and James Garcia, behind, during the first quarter of a playoff football game between Gilbert Higley and Canyon del Oro on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, Canyon del Oro High School in Tucson, Ariz. CDO advanced with a 34-31 win.
Mountain View vs. Liberty playoffs
Mountain View High School's football team takes the field at the start of the game against Liberty on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, at Mountain View High School.
Mountain View vs. Liberty playoffs
Zach Neill of Liberty leaps for the end zone and scores midway through the second quarter on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, at Mountain View High School.
Salpointe vs. Tucson
Tucson High's Marcos Bowser gets tackled by a group of defensive players in the first half on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, at Salpointe Catholic High School.
Salpointe vs. Tucson
Salpointe Catholic's Cameron Denson breaks through Tucson High line and into the secondary on his way for the first TD of the game Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, at Salpointe Catholic High School.
Salpointe vs. Ironwood Ridge
Salpointe's Jay Williams, behind, and Robert Wilson, right, take down Ironwood Ridge tight end Nephi Otuafi (17) during the first quarter of the Salpointe vs. Ironwood Ridge high school football game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, at Ironwood Ridge High School in Tucson, Ariz.
Salpointe vs. Ironwood Ridge
Salpointe's Cameron Denson (5) high-steps around Ironwood Ridge's Dalton Pakkala (15) during the first quarter of the Salpointe vs. Ironwood Ridge high school football game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, at Ironwood Ridge High School in Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro vs Cienega
Cienega's Francisco Dicochea loses his grip on a punt after Sahuaro's Andrew Filiberti interferes with his ability to make the catch in the first quarter of their game at Sahuaro High School, Friday, November 1 2013, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro vs Cienega
Cienega's Christian Poe, left, Francisco Dicochea and Tre Stewart-Ruiz combine to upend Sahuaro's Cole Sterns and end his run after the catch in the fourth quarter of their game at Sahuaro High School, Friday, November 1 2013, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro vs Cienega
Sahuaro's Jose Ruiz takes a moment by himself in one of the end zones before the kick-off against Cienega at Sahuaro High School, Friday, November 1 2013, Tucson, Ariz.
Gilbert Higley vs. Canyon del Oro playoffs
Canyon del Oro's Max Smith (9) tries to fend off a trailing Bayley Cook (14) during the third quarter of a playoff football game between Gilbert Higley and Canyon del Oro on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, Canyon del Oro High School in Tucson, Ariz. CDO advanced with a 34-31 win.
Gilbert Higley vs. Canyon del Oro playoffs
Teammates celebrate a late-game interception by Canyon del Oro's Romelo Bracy, center, during the fourth quarter of a playoff football game between Gilbert Higley and Canyon del Oro on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, Canyon del Oro High School in Tucson, Ariz. CDO advanced with a 34-31 win.
Gilbert Higley vs. Canyon del Oro playoffs
Higley's Roman Pugmire (28) grabs the jersey of Canyon del Oro's Kyle Larkin (27) during the second quarter of a playoff football game between Gilbert Higley and Canyon del Oro on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, Canyon del Oro High School in Tucson, Ariz. CDO advanced with a 34-31 win.
Sahuaro vs. Buena
Buena's Dominique Drake gets a hand into the face of Sahuaro's Derik Hall as he tries to turn the corner in the third quarter of their game at Sahuaro High School, Friday October 17, 2013, Tucson, Ariz.
Mountain View vs. Salpointe
Salpointe's Jay Williams drags down Mountain View quarterback Cody Rochon in the third quarter of their game at Mountain View High School, Friday, October 4, 2013, Tucson, Ariz.
Sabino vs. Sahuaro high school football
Sahuaro's Derik Hall (5) delivers a crushing block on Sabino's Deandre Dixon (75) as Sahuaro's Jose Ruiz (24) breaks free during the second quarter of the Sabino vs. Sahuaro high school football game on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, at Sahuaro High. Sabino won 27-14.
Sahuaro vs. Buena
Buena's Javante Davis, right, gets just enough of Sahuaro receiver Omar Lloyd to prevent a first down catch in the third quarter of their game at Sahuaro High School, Friday October 17, 2013, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro vs. Buena
Sahuaro's Cole Sterns leaves Buena Deonte Williams on the turf after his scoring catch and run to make the score 38-6 in the fourth quarter of their game at Sahuaro High School, Friday October 17, 2013, Tucson, Ariz.
Salpointe football
Salpointe Catholic's student section, "The Dungeon", celebrates after a touchdown against Tempe powerhouse Marcos de Niza on Friday, September 27th, 2013 at Salpointe Catholic High School. The Lancers won big, 40-7.
Mountain View vs. Ironwood Ridge high school football
Mountain View's Morgan Flores, left, and Dru Pelter team up with Justice Summerset, bottom, to up-end Ironwood Ridge's Jake Vartanian (42) during the first quarter of the Mountain View vs. Ironwood Ridge high school football game on Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, at Ironwood Ridge High School in Tucson, Ariz. Mountain View won 14-7.
Mountain View vs. Ironwood Ridge high school football
Mountain View tight end Brandon Stoutmeyer hauls in a pass during the first quarter of the Mountain View vs. Ironwood Ridge high school football game on Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, at Ironwood Ridge High School in Tucson, Ariz. Mountain View won 14-7.
Canyon del Oro vs. Catalina Foothills high school football
CDO's Tristan Peterson hauls in a touchdown pass during the first quarter of the Canyon del Oro vs. Catalina Foothills high school football game Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, at Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson vs. Sunnyside
Tucson's Jonathan Brown, right, manages to get a hand in and claw the ball away from Sunnyside receiver Steven Saenz as the two go up for a jump ball pass in the fourth quarter of their game at Sunnyside High School, Friday, September 20, 2013, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson vs. Sunnyside
Tucson quarterback Donovan Moore rips out of the grip of Sunnyside's Antonio Federico avoiding a sack and picking up several yards on a scrambling run in the fourth quarter of their game at Sunnyside High School, Friday, September 20, 2013, Tucson, Ariz.
Sunnyside vs. Salpointe high school football
Salpointe’s Cameron Denson (5) hauls in a circus touchdown catch over Sunnyside’s Michael Gonzales during the second quarter of Salpointe’s blowout win on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, at Salpointe.
Walden Grove vs. Empire
Kecia Packard, left, and her mother Lisa Lee, right, decorate the stands in the new stadium with helium balloons for Lee's son and Packard's brother, Salem Lee, who was preparing to face Empire in their game at Walden Grove on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, in Sahuarita.
Ironwood Ridge at Cienega Football
Cienega's Cody Carpenter pulls down the football to score against Ironwood Ridge defender Jared McKemy during the last minute of the first half of the season opener at Cienega on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013 in Vail.
Sunnyside vs. Salpointe high school football
Salpointe's Cameron Denson (5) slips a tackle from Sunnyside's Juan Avalos during the first quarter of Salpointe's 46-0 win on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013.
Sabino vs. Sahuaro high school football
Sabino's Matt Bushman hauls in a touchdown pass over Sahuaro's Cole Sterns during the third quarter of the Sabino vs. Sahuaro high school football game Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, at Sahuaro High School. Sabino won 27-14.
Walden Grove vs. Empire
Walden Grove's Emerick Martinez keeps a tenuous grasp on the ball to move the Red Wolves into scoring range with seconds left while trailing Empire 16-9 at Walden Grove on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013.
Ironwood Ridge vs. Liberty
Ironwood's Kai Ellingboe drags down Liberty quarterback Tyler Wyatt for a sack in the fourth quarter at Ironwood Ridge High School, Friday, Aug. 23, 2013, Tucson.
Sunnyside vs. Salpointe high school football
Salpointe's Cameron Denson, right, high-fives with fans after hauling in a first-quarter touchdown during the Salpointe's 46-0 win over Sunnyside on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013.
Sunnyside vs. Salpointe high school football
Sunnyside's Ruben Figuero, right, forces Salpointe's Jay Williams to fumble during the first quarter Salpointe's 46-0 win on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013.
hs fb
090713-spt-hs fb MV -p10 Mountain View's Chris Smith, left, and Morgan Flores, top left, and Justice Summerset tackle Cienega's Christian Poe on Friday, Sept. 6th, 2013, at Mountain View High.
Canyon del Oro vs. Ironwood Ridge
Ironwood Ridge's Jake Vartanian tiptoes along the sidelines and into the end zone after slipping through the grip of Canyon del Oro's Edward Contreras at Canyon del Oro High School on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013.
Canyon del Oro vs. Ironwood Ridge
Canyon del Oro’s Max Smith prepares to pull in a 72-yard catch in last season’s meeting. The Nighthawks won 42-14.
Canyon del Oro vs. Ironwood Ridge
Canyon del Oro's Walker Padilla dives to bring down Ironwood Ridge's Jake Vartanian after he broke into the secondary in the second quarter of their game at CDO on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013.
hs fb
Mountain View's Cody Rochon airs it out against Cienega on Friday, September 6th, 2013 at Mountain View High.
Canyon del Oro vs. Ironwood Ridge
Ironwood Ridge's Jared McKemy comes down with an interception in front of Canyon del Oro's John Jackson to kill a Dorado drive at the I-Ridge 10-yard line late in the fourth quarter of their game at CDO on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013.
Canyon del Oro vs. Ironwood Ridge
Ironwood Ridge's Sam De Voy, left, and Kai Ellingboe sandwich Canyon del Oro's Walker Padilla to bring his run to a stop in the third quarter of their game at CDO on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013.
hs fb
Mountain View's Garrett Darmer catches a pass for a short gain in the first half on Friday, Sept. 6th, 2013 against Cienega at Mountain View High.
Walden Grove vs. Empire
Empire's Chance Hatfield shovels a pass to avoid a sack while in the arms of a Walden Grove defender on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, in Sahuarita.