A big bunch of Southern Arizona teams have byes this week — a list that includes unbeaten Canyon del Oro, Mica Mountain and Pueblo, as well as Cienega, Tucson High, Nogales, Sunnyside and Rio Rico. But there’s still plenty of action elsewhere.
The two local 3A powers face off, a pair of 4-1 2A teams play and the slew of undefeated Southern Arizona teams look to remain perfect.
Heading into this week Buena (5-0), CDO (5-0), Mica Mountain (5-0), Pusch Ridge Christian (5-0) and Salpointe (4-0) are undefeated.
As expected, Pusch Ridge and Sabino were near the top of the first 3A rankings of the year. The first rankings for 4A to 6A and the Open will be released on Tuesday, so the playoffs are near.
All games start at 7 p.m.
Class 6A
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Phoenix Desert Vista (1-4) at Salpointe Catholic (4-0)
Location: 1545 East Copper Street
Salpointe players sing their school fight song after taking a win against Valley Vista High School at Salpointe Catholic High School, 1545 E. Copper Street, Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 15, 2023.
Notable: Thunder head coach Andrew “Scooter” Molander has deep ties to two of the other four teams in DV’s and Salpointe’s 6A Central Region. He was a state-title winning head coach at Phoenix Brophy Prep and went to Tempe Corona del Sol.
Class 5A
Marana (1-4) at Buena (5-0)
Location: 5225 East Buena School Boulevard
Notable: The Tigers beat Buena 35-0 last year in Sierra Vista.
Casa Grande (3-2) at Desert View (3-2)
Location: 4101 East Valencia Road
Notable: It’s a battle of 3-2 teams, but Casa Grande comes in having lost 42-27 at Mica Mountain after winning three straight and Desert View is fresh off a 33-6 loss at Walden Grove after starting 2-0.
Flowing Wells (1-4) at Ironwood Ridge (4-1)
Ironwood Ridge's Grant Dooling (11) strips Buena's Aliaz Dyson (5) of his shirt and the ball in the second quarter of their high school game at Ironwood Ridge High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 1, 2023. Buena managed to retain possession in the ensuing scramble.
Location: 2475 West Naranja Drive
Notable: The last time IR had four wins this early in the season was 2017 when Nighthawks started 4-0 and ended up 8-4 with a berth in the state quarterfinals.
Walden Grove (2-2) at Mountain View (1-3)
Location: 3901 West Linda Vista Boulevard
Notable: After an 0-2 start Walden Grove is suddenly 2-2 thanks a 26-7 win over Cienega and a 33-6 victory over Desert View so maybe Mountain View can pull off a similar turn around after that 0-3 start.
Class 4A
Douglas (2-3) at Amphitheater (3-2)
Location: 125 West Yavapai Road
Notable: Not only has Douglas won the last two games in a row (in 2021 and 2019), it leads the series with Amphi in the Max Preps era (since 2004) 8-2.
Catalina Foothills's Macen Perez-Brewer (7), left, and Michael Garcia (15) celebrate Perez-Brewer’s touchdown catch and run in the fourth quarter of their game at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, Tucson, Ariz., September 14, 2023.
Sahuaro (2-3) at Catalina Foothills (2-3)
Location: 4300 East Sunrise Drive
Notable: AllSportsTucson.com reported that Sahuaro missed 13 starters last week due to disciplinary reasons. Sahuaro lost 44-7 loss to Ironwood Ridge.
Cholla (2-3) at Rincon/University (2-2)
Location: 421 North Arcadia Avenue
Notable: Both teams have slumped after noteworthy 2-0 starts. Which will end its losing skid?
The Ranger mascot comes onto the field with the Rincon/University cheerleaders to support the Rangers after home loss to Safford on Sept. 8. Rincon/University started the season 2-0, but is now 2-2 looking to jump back into the win column.
Empire (1-4) at Sahuarita (1-3)
Location: 350 Sahuarita Road
Notable: The all-time Empire/Sahuarita series is tied 4-4. The Mustangs won the first four but Empire struck back and won the next four, including the same score of 14-6 both in 2021 and last year.
Undefeated Pusch Ridge takes to the field to face Catalina Foothills in the Lions’ matchup with the Falcons at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy on Sept. 14. The Lions are 5-0 to start the 2023 season.
Class 3A
No. 5 Pusch Ridge (5-0) at No. 7 Sabino (4-1)
Location: 5000 North Bowes Road
Notable: Youth athletes wearing their jerseys, and accompanied by an adult, will get in free to this match up of the top two teams in the 3A South standings.
Class 2A
No. 27 Catalina (3-2) at No. 33 Surprise Highland Prep (1-4)
Location: 15600 W Hearn Rd, Surprise
Notable: The Honey Badgers joined the AIA in 2021 after four seasons playing eight-man football in the Canyon Athletic Association. Highland Prep has gone 1-8 and 5-5 in 11-man football.
No. 26 Benson (2-3) at No. 36 Palo Verde (1-4)
Location: 1302 South Avenida Vega
Notable: Palo Verde has equaled its total of on-field wins from last year. In 2022, the Titans were 2-8 but that includes a forfeit from Santa Rita.
Tanque Verde High School’s Gavin Gilbert (45) and John Pfleger (58) collapse in on the Catalina ball carrier during TV’s 58-0 win Sept. 22, 2023, at Catalina High School.
No. 12 Tombstone (4-1) at No. 6 Tanque Verde (4-1)
Location: 4201 North Melpomene Way
Notable: The two teams with the best overall records in the 2A San Pedro Region face off. Tanque Verde is in first place thanks to its 2-0 region record.
