Photos: Canyon del Oro comes back big to drop Marana 49-21, high school football
CDO runs off seven straight touchdowns to erase a 14-point halftime deficit, spoiling the Tigers' delayed home opener on Sept. 22, 2023, in Marana, Arizona. Marana's new turf was heavily damaged in a monsoon storm right before the start of the season.
Marana's Jaelen Collins (4), left, gets a handful of Canyon del Oro’s Kayden Luke’s (30) face mask while he tries to fend off Dermain Linen Jr (2) on a punishing run up the middle in the fourth quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Evan Greer (54) comes flying in to celebrate Oro's Austin Greer (11) pick-six in the fourth quarter at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Marana’s Andres Taylor (7) gets his leg loose on the brand new turf at Marana High School as the Tigers get ready to face Canyon del Oro Marana, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Marana's Moses Miller (3) jars the ball out of the grip of Canyon del Oro's Joe Alba (23) on a first quarter run at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro’s Elijah Unsworth (60) can’t drag down Marana’s Dezmen Roebuck on his punt return on Sept. 22. The Tigers beat Desert View last week and are now 3-5 on the season.
Canyon del Oro's Chase Laux (14) tries to squeeze his way between Marana's Dominik Pries (54), left and Marana's Adyn Bixby (75) on his interception return in the first quarter at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Marana's Dezmen Roebuck, left, cradles a first-down catch just inside the line and in front of Canyon del Oro's Austin Greer at Marana High School on Sept. 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Grant Young (33) slams into Marana's Andres Taylor (7) after his catch in the second quarter at Marana High School, Sept. 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro’s Izaiah Lucero, right, gets just enough of Marana’s Dezmen Roebuck to trip him up for a loss on this second-quarter catch at Marana High School on Sept. 22, 2023.
Marana's Colten Meyer (16) slings a pass around the pressure of Canyon del Oro's Kayden Luke (30) in the second quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Marana's Jaelen Collins (4) makes the catch over Canyon del Oro's Joe Alba (23) for a touchdown in the second quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Tristen Mcclelland (17) gets the pass away despite being in the grip of Marana's Jude Scott (57) in the last seconds of the second quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Marana's Colten Meyer (16) escapes the pressure from Canyon del Oro's Evan Greer (54), left, and Grant Young (33) in the third quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Kayden Luke (30) can’t high-step out of the hands of Marana's Dezmen Roebuck (1) in the third quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Joe Alba (23) looks to get by Marana's Jude Scott (57) trying to pick up yardage on a sweep in the third quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Chase Laux (14) can’t get out of the hold of Marana's Moses Miller (3) in the quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
A wide open Canyon del Oro's Chance Cassel (10) reels in the catch in front of the entire Marana bench before lighting out untouched for the end zone at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Grant Young (33) runs down Marana's Colten Meyer (16) for a sack in the third quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Kayden Luke (30) dives into the end zone after rumbling untouched through the Marana defense in the fourth quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Marana's Andres Taylor (7), left, and Dermain Linen Jr (2) celebrate Taylor’s catch-and-run touchdown to open the night’s scoring in the first quarter of their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
A young Marana fan explores the team’s inflatable just before the Tigers use it to enter the field for their game against Canyon del Oro at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Marana's linemen run drills on the new turf as they get ready to face Canyon del Oro it Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro’s head coach Dustin Peace congratulates Chance Cassel (10) after he reeled in a touchdown catch at Marana High School on Sept. 22.
Marana's head coach Phillip Steward makes some adjustments on a third down play in the second quarter of their game at Marana High School against Canyon del Oro, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Joe Alba (23), left, Izaiah Lucero (2) and Chance Cassel (10) come together to stop Marana's Dominic Cillitto (6) in their game at Marana High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2023.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
High school football: Woodard, Luke (CDO), Colbert (Mica), Moore, Kraus (Buena) pace unbeatensHigh school football across Tucson and surrounding communities — looking back at Week 5 and ahead to Week 6: Canyon del Oro's Sa'Kylee Woodard and Kayden Luke, Mica Mountain's Kason Colbert and Buena's Nash Moore and Cooper Kraus help pace their teams to 5-0 starts.
James Kelley opinion: Obviously, neither Mica Mountain (6-0) nor Canyon del Oro (6-0) would go so far as to tank this Friday night's matchup. But with the way the state's high school football playoff system is set up, the loser just might be better off.
Canyon del Oro trailed 14-0, but roared back for a 49-21 win at Marana to move to 5-0 on the season in Tucson-area high school football action Friday. Also 5-0 now: Pusch Ridge Christian, Mica Mountain and Buena. Salpointe (bye) is at 4-0.