With Arizona high school football season in full swing, the Star shares 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 week.
Team of the Week
Desert View earned its sixth straight win of the season and third straight win in the Duel in the District rivalry game on Thursday, beating Sunnyside 41-12. The Jaguars have not lost a regular-season game since Nov. 1, 2024, a 54-12 loss to Marana.
Mountain View's Andrew Muhlestein’s grip on the jersey of Desert View's Desmond Dowayee isn’t near enough to stop him from breaking away and scoring on Sept. 18, 2026, in Tucson. The Jaguars won 48-0.
The Jags accumulated 161 yards on the ground across 13 carries from four different ball carriers. Senior back Desmond Dowyaee carried the ball seven times for 77 yards and three touchdowns, as well as a 91-yard kickoff return score to open the contest. Desert View had two takeaways on defense, including a scoop-and-score touchdown by junior Lamichael Flannigan.
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DV poured it on with a 24-point second half after going into the halftime break with a narrow 7-6 lead.
Play of the Week
Mica Mountain senior Kaden Watson flashed his skills as a returner and a receiver on Friday night in the Thunderbolts’ 58-6 win over Douglas, scoring three touchdowns, each in a variety of fashions. Watson had a 42-yard touchdown reception, a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 45-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Canyon del Oro's Luis Garcia (21), top, manages to do just enough to keep the ball out of reach of Mica Mountain's Kaden Watson (4) breaking up a catch in the red zone in the second quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 4, 2026.
Stat book
The most common types of touchdowns scored across all levels of football are passing/receiving and rushing touchdowns. Teams can also find the end zone via fumble recoveries, interception returns, punt returns and kickoff returns, but those spawn from special teams and defensive opportunities and are less common.
On Thursday and Friday, seven Southern Arizona teams scored at least three types of touchdowns in their respective contests.
Mica Mountain scored touchdowns in five ways Friday in its 58-6 victory over Douglas, logging three rushing touchdowns, two receiving scores and one interception return, punt return and kickoff return.
Pueblo scored five rushing touchdowns in a 62-0 homecoming win over Rincon, adding two receiving scores, a pick-six and a punt return touchdown.
Sahuarita, Pusch Ridge, Catalina Foothills and Willcox all scored via three types of touchdowns on Friday. Sahuarita stepped out of the norm with a fumble recovery; Pusch Ridge and Willcox had interceptions returned for touchdowns, and Catalina Foothills took a score back on a kick return.
Mac’s Friday Fact
Tucson’s most impactful transfer, former Desert View running back Jaylee Abraham, transferred from the Jaguars to Peoria Centennial this offseason.
After sitting out for the first five weeks due to transfer rules, Abraham was activated for the No. 3 Coyotes this past Friday, scoring two touchdowns in a 36-12 win over Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor.
Abraham carried the ball five times for 31 yards and a touchdown. He also hauled in three receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Quotable
“It’s a feel-good season, but it feels like it’s still not complete…(We have) to hold everybody accountable from the littlest things, to get your hand on the line at practice, day in, day out. They’re responding. The good thing is that we are bringing them together a little closer every single day, and we’ll go from there.” — Desert View head coach Robert Bonillas told AllSportsTucson.com after the win over Sunnyside regarding the Jags’ 6-0 start and keeping the team focused.
Mac is the Arizona Daily Star's Community Sports Reporter. Reach him via email at mfriday@tucson.com
Mac Friday
Community Sports Reporter
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