Photos: Salpointe holds on to edge visiting Marana 20-18, HS football
The Lancers came out on top 20-18 in a see-saw battle with the Tigers in their season opener, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Salpointe's quarterback Matthew Avelar (2) tries to hurdle his way over the Marana defense in the first quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz. Avelar was assessed an unsportsmanlike penalty for the leap.
Marana's Sean Roebuck (5), left, and Donnell Bridges (4) team up to keep Salpointe's David Rushing (9) from a reception inside the five in the second quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Marana's Sean Roebuck (5) takes Salpointe's Charles Chaney (5) off his feet in the first quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Salpointe's Kane Collins (11) makes contact too early and gets a pass interference penalty on Marana's Sean Roebuck (5) in the second quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Marana's Sean Roebuck (5) lines up to receive a punt as the Salpointe student section lights up the stands with their phones in the second quarte, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Marana's Walter Evans-Gonzalez (24), left, and Marana's Daniel Hayward (6) team up to smother Salpointe's RJ Gory (3) on sweep in the third quarter, Aug. 29, 2025, in Tucson.
Salpointe's Bryan Melton (25) gets airborne as Marana's Sean Roebuck (5) tries to slip his tackle in the second quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Marana's Jaxsun Sharp (12) gets surrounded by Tigers after he grabbed a desperation heave to score in the second quarter of their game at Salpointe, Aug. 29, 2025, in Tucson.
Salpointe’s Matthew Avelar manages to turn the corner on Marana’s Greg Webb and buy time to throw in the second quarter of their game, Aug. 29, 2025, in Tucson.
Salpointe's Jake Bondi rides Marana's Sean Roebuck down on a kickoff return in the third quarter of their game on Aug. 29, 2025, in Tucson.
Salpointe's Carlos Gonzalez (6) interferes with Marana's Jaxsun Sharp (12) and picks up the penalty breaking up a pass play in the third quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Marana's Wyatt Berry (10) comes up behind Salpointe's Parker Pierce (4) and punches the ball out of his arms after a catch in the fourth quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz. The Tigers recovered the turnover.
Salpointe's Carlos Gonzalez (6) slams into Marana's Darian Dewitt (21) right after he gathered in a throw in the fourth quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Salpointe's Charles Chaney (5) drops Marana's Colten Meyer (16) for a sack on a fourth down play in the third quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Marana's Wyatt Berry (10) ends Salpointe's Matthew Avelar (2) scramble around end in the first quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Salpointe's Alon Deon (1) is too late to keep Marana's Sean Roebuck (5) from reeling in a throw over the middle in the second quarter of their game, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Marana's Colten Meyer (16) gets off the throw as the pocket collapses on him in the second quarter of the game at Salpointe, Aug. 29, 2025, in Tucson.
Salpointe's Charles Chaney (5) gets a congratulatory salute from Noah Banhie (0) after threading his way into the end zone in the second quarter of their game against Marana on Aug. 29, 2025, in Tucson.
Marana's Timothy Harris (9), left, and AJ Rocha (8) stop Salpointe's Matthew Avelar (2) burst up the middle, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Salpointe's Carlos Gonzalez (6),left, and Axel Martinez (7) sandwich Marana's Jaxsun Sharp (12) and keep him from pulling in a TD catch in the corner of the end zone in the third quarter, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Salpointe’s Matthew Avelar (2) gets off a throw in the arms of Marana’s Greg Webb (11), bottom, and Justin Elder (56) to avoid the sack late in the fourth quarter of their game, Aug. 29, 2025, in Tucson.
The Salpointe pom squad and V’Dara Wafer line up for the national anthem before the Lancers’ opening game against Marana', August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Salpointe’s head coach Pat Ryden gets watered down as the Lancers celebrate holding on for 20-18 win to open their season against Marana, Aug. 29, 2025, in Tucson.
Marana's head coach Phillip Steward has some instructions for the offense and Jesse Howell (0) in the first quarter of their game at Salpointe, August 29, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
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