As the Arizona high school football season enters Week 12, the Star presents our weekly look back at the best of last week while charging ahead toward what we might be able to expect from programs across Tucson and surrounding communities this Friday night.
Team of the week
Sabino is making it a habit of following up a loss with a big win. But last week, the Sabercats notched their most important victory.
Entering the week ranked No. 7, the Sabercats upset No. 1 Bullhead City Mohave, 34-29, to hand the Thunderbirds their first loss of the season. The win moved Sabino up to the fourth seed for the Class 3A state tournament, giving them home-field advantage in the first two rounds.
Mohave is so strong they kept the top seed despite the loss.
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Sabino senior Cameron Hackworth passed for 268 yards, 2 scores, ran for 122 yards on 8 carries and nabbed an interception that he ran back 40 yards.
Hackworth moved to second on the all-time Southern Arizona career passing charts, according to AllSportsTucson.com, with 7,844 (Rhett Rodriguez of Catalina Foothills is first with 8,694) and first in career passing touchdowns with 87, passing Marana alum Trenton Bourguet, who he also surpassed in yardage on Friday.
Sabino quarterback Cameron Hackworth (1) sidesteps between Mohave’s Gage Maynes (6), left, Tanner Maynes (5) and Jonathon Williams (14) for a Sabercat first down in the third quarter of Sabino’s eventual 35-29 victory over top-ranked Mohave on Friday at Sabino High School.
Stat book
Two Tanque Verde backs ran for over 100 yards in its 24-6 win over Benson on Friday: Senior quarterback Grayson Bradshaw ran for 102 yards on 11 carries, and senior Gavin Gilbert rushed for 177 yards on 27 attempts. Gilbert ran for 1,262 yards in the regular season.
Two Marana quarterbacks threw for over 150 yards in its 42-9 win over Casa Grande last week. Senior Jason Wood was 12 for 15 for 154 yards and sophomore Colten Meyer was 9 for 12 for 206 yards.
Mountain View junior Damien Wallace ran for 125 yards on 10 carries in its 36-26 loss to Tucson High on Friday. Wallace’s longest run was 57 yards.
Cienega's Kadin Thomas (88) almost comes up with the interception on a pass intended for Walden Grove's Jayvon Coleman (18) in the third quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Recruiting trail
Walden Grove junior receiver Jayvon Coleman visited ASU over the weekend. Coleman has 35 catches for 697 yards this season.
Next level
“Got a chance a rush the field at my sons game! @Genesis_Smithh #bucketlist #agtg (raising hands emoji) (bear emoji) (down arrow emoji)”
Chandler Hamilton receivers coach Tee Smith celebrated his son, and the Arizona Wildcats, via X (Twitter) Saturday night; Genesis Smith, who went to Hamilton, is a freshman safety for the Wildcats, who defeated a ranked opponent (this time Oregon State) for the second straight game.
Salpointe’s Nathan Spivey (8) makes the catch while Valley Vista’s Ethan Penner (55) and Brandon Johnson (25) try to make the tackle in the matchup at Salpointe Catholic High School, 1545 E. Copper Street, Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 15, 2023.
Quotable
“We take a lot of pride in our defense. As they say, defense wins championships,” Salpointe Catholic junior linebacker/tight end Nathan Spivey said, according to the Arizona Republic. “Well, defense won us this game, and we take a lot of pride in it. Our coaches, everybody, they take a lot of pride in it.”
Salpointe exorcised its Scottsdale Saguaro demons with a 21-14 road win over the Sabercats. According to AzFootballArchives.com, Saguaro had been 5-0 in games played against Salpointe (the Lancers got a forfeit due to COVID in 2020), including 3-0 in the playoffs, 2-0 in state championship games.
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.
Going social
“Tiger family let’s vote!!!”
Marana Tiger football took to X (Twitter) to garner support for Marana junior receiver/safety Dezmen Roebuck. Roebuck was part of an SI.com naming 20 players and asking, “Who has been the best high school football athlete in the country in 2023?”
Games of the Week
Salpointe’s Thomas Regina (22) runs the ball after catching a pass from quarterback Taylor Nagore (10) in the game against Valley Vista High School at Salpointe Catholic High School, 1545 E. Copper Street, Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 15, 2023.
Salpointe (8-1) at Brophy (7-2)
Location: 4525 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
Notable: Salpointe Catholic, No. 10 at the Class 6A level, faces long time Catholic-school rival No. 9 Phoenix Brophy Prep for the 6A Central Region crown. Although the 6A doesn’t have automatic state tournament bids, winning the Central title could ensure a high 6A ranking. The Broncos and Lancers are the second and third seeds, respectively, in the 6A tournament right now; now that's after the Open takes its 6A teams, and there's still the possibility that either of these programs make the Open tournament.
Cienega head coach Justin Argraves gives his Bobcats a talk after they upset McClintock 23-19 at Cienega High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 21, 2023.
Cienega (5-4) at Marana (4-5)
Location: 12000 West Emigh Road
Notable: While their records aren’t as pretty as those sported by Salpointe or Brophy, this game could be more important as Cienega, No. 20 at the Class 5A level, and No. 14 Marana may both see their seasons on the line. The Bobcats have won two in a row to set up a potential de facto play-in game for one of the last 5A playoff spots. Marana has also won two straight and a win would go a long way toward securing the Tigers' spot, too.
Video Vault
Amphitheater won't have a game this Friday; the last week of the regular season happens to be a bye week for the Panthers after a 7-3 regular season. While Amphi's ranking may not be high enough to make a playoff push, they did clinch at least a share of a region title with a 47-0 win over Sahuarita last week. Here are some video highlights via Star sports correspondent James Kelley:
VIDEO: Amphitheater High School senior tight end Riley Robinson catches a 36-yard touchdown pass as part of the Panthers' 47-0 win over Sahuarita on Oct. 27, 2023. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Amphitheater High School senior tight end Riley Robinson hauls in a 57-yard touchdown catch during the Panthers' 47-0 win over Sahuarita on Oct. 27, 2023. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Picture This
Last Friday: Sabino 34, Mohave 29
Ranked seventh coming in, Sabino took down No. 1 Mohave at home to ensure at least one more (if not two or more) playoff games on the school's North Bowes Road campus.
For dozens of images from this game, a full photo gallery from Star photographer Kelly Presnell:
Photos: Sabino upsets previously undefeated Mohave 34-29, high school football
Sabino's Mason Cade (8), left, and Isaiah Robertson (2) come together to sack Mohave's Joe Yoney Jr. (12) in their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023. The Sabercats upset the No. 1 and previously undefeated Thunderbirds 34-29 in their regular season finale.
Sabino's Cameron Hackworth (1) leaps in to intercept a red zone pass intended for Mohave's Nathaniel Villarreal (4) in the fourth quarter and the Sabercats nursing a lead in their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Zachary Binford-Wiggins (46) tries to stiff arm his way out of the end zone through Mohave's Nathaniel Villarreal (4) in the third quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023. Binford-Wiggins was dragged out of bounds for a Thunderbird safety.
Sabino's Sayid Talbert (77), left, Shamar Berryhill (4) and Amonte Edwards (5) get a team sack on Mohave's Joe Yoney Jr. (12) during a goal line stand in the third quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Mohave's Nathaniel Villarreal (4) can’t reel in the two-point conversion pass on after a Thunderbird touchdown late in the fourth quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Shamar Berryhill (4) drags down Mohave's Joe Yoney Jr. (12) for a first quarter sack at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Cameron Hackworth (1) slips between Mohave's Necalli Faumui (55), left, and Blake Moore (8) breaking up the middle in the first quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Zachary Binford-Wiggins (46) tumbles over the tackle of Mohave's Isac Urias (2), bottom, and Cesar Rodriguez (20) at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino’s Zachari Haley (19) finds a hole to pick up a few yards against Mohave in the first quarter of their game at Sabino High School on Oct. 27, 2023.
Sabino's Mason Cade (8) drills Mohave's Joe Yoney Jr. (12) on a run in their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Isaiah Robertson (2) steps into the hole to stack up Mohave's Jonathon Williams (14) at the line in the second quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Savaughn Berryhill (6) gets double teamed by Mohave's Jonathon Williams (14), left, and Cesar Rodriguez (20) after a catch in the second quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Mohave's Isac Urias (2) can’t hold on enough to drag down Sabino's Cameron Hackworth (1) on a sweep in their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Shamar Berryhill (4) tiptoes down the line to pick up a couple of extra yards after a sideline catch against Mohave in their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Savaughn Berryhill (6) and Mohave's Anthony Moses (3) come head-to-head after Berryhill’s catch in the third quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Brit Roberson (7) manages to hang on for a first down catch after getting hit from behind by Mohave's Pedro Marentes (1) in the third quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Cameron Hackworth (1) sidesteps between Mohave's Gage Maynes (6), left, Tanner Maynes (5) and Jonathon Williams (14) for a Sabercat first down in the third quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Mohave's Triston Urias (15) scrambles to recover a pooch kick-off in the third quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Zachary Binford-Wiggins (46), bottom, Shamar Berryhill (4) and Devon Waxwood (12) stuff Mohave's Anthony Moses (3) in the fourth quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Amonte Edwards (5) gets hands on the ball but Mohave's Jonathon Williams (14) still makes the catch in the fourth quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Devon Waxwood (12) upends Mohave's Jonathon Williams (14) after he broke into the defensive secondary in the fourth quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Mohave's Tanner Maynes (5) hits Sabino's Bryce Curran (10) helping jar the ball loose on a Thunderbird onside kick late in the fourth quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
The Sabino bench, including head coach Ryan McBrayer, right, after the Sabercats held firm on a Mohave fourth and goal clinging to a four point lead in the final minutes of the fourth quarter of their game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Cameron Hackworth (1) gets his arm loose as the sun sets at Sabino High School prior to the game against Mohave, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
Sabino's Shamar Berryhill (4) taps a sign over the team’s entrance to the field as the Sabercats head out to take on Mohave at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 27, 2023.
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