Photos: Canyon del Oro takes down Mica Mountain 23-7, high school football state semifinals
Canyon del Oro (13-0) defeated Mica Mountain (11-2) 23-7 in an Arizona Class 4A state semifinal matchup Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at Canyon del Oro High School. The win propels the Dorados to next week's 4A state championship, where they'll face Yuma Catholic.
Canyon del Oro (13-0) sings their fight song after a 23-7 win against Mica Mountain (11-2) on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Kayden Luke (30) extends his body into the end zone for a Dorado touchdown during the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Evan Greer (8) goes in for the sack on Mica Mountain quarterback Jayden Thoreson (2) during the Dorados' 23-7 win over the Thunderbolts on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Mica Mountain’s Kason Colbert (44) goes in for a tackle on Canyon del Oro’s Kayden Luke (30) during CDO's 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Austin Greer (11) pulls down on Mica Mountain’s Josiah Thornwell (5) jersey during the Dorados’ 23-7 win over the Thunderbolts in 2023.
Canyon del Oro players run to celebrate with Kayden Luke (30) after his touchdown during the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Evan Greer (8) continues his stride as Mica Mountain’s Broden Schmidt (40) drags him down from behind during the Dorados’ 23-7 win over the Thunderbolts on Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Mica Mountain’s defense blocks the extra point from Canyon del Oro’s kicker Reece Douglas (1) during the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Sa'Kylee Woodard (55) celebrates after Evan Greer (8) intercepts the ball during the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Mica Mountain’s Broden Schmidt (40) stops Canyon del Oro’s Evan Greer (8) as he runs the ball during CDO's 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Mica Mountain’s Conner Hangarner (7) picks up a first down during CDO's 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Kayden Luke (30) gets jammed up by Mica Mountain’s defense during the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Evan Greer (8) stands tall as Mica Mountain’s Broden Schmidt (40) holds onto his leg during the Dorados’ 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday in the state semiffinals.
Canyon del Oro head coach Dustin Peace, left, and Mica Mountain head coach Pat Nugent have a laugh before the start of their teams’ Class 4A state high school football semifinal matchup at CDO on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Evan Greer (8) sacks Mica Mountain quarterback Jayden Thoreson (2) during the Dorados’ 23-7 win over the Thunderbolts on Friday in the 4A state semifinals.
Canyon del Oro quarterback Tristen Mcclelland (17) misses the snap during the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Mica Mountain’s Jimmy Leon (1) runs the ball into the end zone after he intercepted the pass from Canyon del Oro during CDO's 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Mica Mountain’s Devin Hayward (4) jumps to catch a pass from quarterback Jayden Thoreson during CDO's 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Kayden Luke (30) shakes Mica Mountain’s Broden Schmidt (40) off of his leg as he runs the ball during the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Mica Mountain’s Kason Colbert (44) intercepts a pass from Canyon del Oro’s Tristen Mcclelland (17) during CDO's 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Mica Mountain’s Jack Bradley (15) is pushed out of bounds by Canyon del Oro’s Blake Sholl (44) during during the CDO's 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro quarterback Tristen Mcclelland (17) hands the ball off during the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Evan Greer (8) sacks Mica Mountain quarterback Jayden Thoreson (2) with just over five minutes left in the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
CDO head coach Dustin Peace talks to Izaiah Lucero on the sideline during the Dorados’ 23-7 win over Mica Mountain. The unbeaten Dorados play for the state title this Friday.
Canyon del Oro Grant Young (33) locks in on Mica Mountain’s Josiah Thornwell (5) as he runs the ball during the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Mica Mountain’s Kaleb Morrow (72) holds back tears as head coach Pat Nugent delivers a speech after the Thunderbolts' 23-7 loss to Canyon del Oro on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Nick Mondragon (22) runs the ball during team warm ups before the start of the Dorados' Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup with Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro warms up before the Dorados' Class 4A state semifinal high school football game against Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 in Oro Valley.
Mica Mountain kicker Riley Carson (30) and Canyon del Oro kicker Reece Douglas (1) hug eachother before the Thunderbolts and Dorados squared off on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro players and coaching staff take to the field for a celebratory photo after the Dorados' 23-7 win over Mica Mountain on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in a Class 4A state semifinal high school football matchup in Oro Valley.
Grace Trejo
Photojournalist
High school football: One more for all for senior-heavy Canyon del Oro in 4A championshipArizona 4A State Championship: No. 2 CDO (13-0) faces No. 1 Yuma Catholic (13-0) Friday at 4 p.m. at Mountain America Stadium on the ASU campus in Tempe. Out of the 42 players on CDO's roster, the Dorados have 29 seniors who will suit up for the final time.
The Arizona high school football season comes to a close this weekend, and for teams from Southern Arizona, just one game remains — Canyon del Oro in the Class 4A state championship, a week after Sabino won the 3A crown.