The high school football season is in full swing in Southern Arizona. 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 Friday night.
Team of the week
Mica Mountain exorcised its Canyon del Oro demons with a 50-6 win over the Dorados on Friday.
Last year, CDO beat MM 17-15 in the regular season and 23-7 in the state semifinals, both at Canyon del Oro. Other than those two losses to the Dorados, Mica Mountain is undefeated since losing 55-14 to Class 6A Salpointe Catholic on Oct. 7, 2022.
The Thunderbolts are 23-2 in that span.
Against then-No. 14 CDO last week, MM senior quarterback Jayden Thoreson was 11 for 15 for 186 yards and four touchdowns. His longest pass was for 83, and his quarterback rating was 154.4.
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Mica Mountain's Josiah Thornwell gestures after crossing into the end zone for a score in the second quarter Friday against CDO.
Mica Mountain senior running back Josiah Thornwell had a game-high 45 yards on eight rushes and had two touchdowns.
There were 10 Thunderbolts that caught passes, led by senior tight end Jimmy Leon, who had three receptions for 57 yards, which included two scores.
MM junior linebacker Broden Schmidt led the way with six tackles, three solo and an interception. The Thunderbolts had three sacks.
Canyon del Oro's Mason Boothe (0) holds on to keep Mica Mountain's Broden Schmidt (40) from advancing his interception in the second quarter of their 4A Kino game at Mica Mountain High School on Friday.
With the win, Mica Mountain moved up one spot to No. 5 in the 4A rankings.
Play of the week
Peoria Liberty marched the ball 70 yards down the field late at Salpointe to score a touchdown and secure the 34-24 after a punt by the Lancers. Liberty went up 20-3, but Salpointe stormed back before the Lions held on to win.
Stat book
Willcox senior Landon Ward ran for 252 yards on seven carries in the Cowboys’ 50-8 win over Palo Verde on Friday. Ward scored four touchdowns, and his longest run was 58 yards.
Walden Grove's Robert Cash III (9) gets tossed in celebration after smashing his way into the end zone in the third quarter at Sahuaro High School on Oct. 11.
Walden Grove senior running back Robert Cash III rushed eight times for 100 yards, scoring two touchdowns in WG’s 48-0 win over Pueblo last week.
Tombstone senior running back Jmiah Wallis ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns on four carries in the Yellow Jackets’ 56-0 win over Santa Rita on Friday.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs the ball during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks, Oct. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. The Seahawks defeated the Falcons 34-14.
Next level
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson ran the ball 21 times for 103 yards and one touchdown in the Falcons’ 34-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. It was the Salpointe alum’s first 100-plus-yard rushing performance of the season.
Quotable
"8-0 Marana can secure Open spot with win next week at Buena, which is 6-1 and rolling with 3 straight routs." — Arizona Republic high school reporter Richard Obert on X (Twitter). Marana is ranked No. 1 in the Open, while Buena is just outside the Open’s rankings.
Head coach Jason McKibben gathers the Eagles for a last huddle before ending the day’s practice at Desert Christian High School on Sept. 4. The Eagles are playing their first season of competitive football, in the eight-man 1A-Independent class.
Games of the week
Playoffs: Williams (4-5) at Desert Christian (5-3)
Location: 7525 E. Speedway Blvd. (6 p.m.)
Notable: Desert Christian makes its postseason debut and hosts its first Class 1A playoff game in its first season. Coming south from near the Grand Canyon is traditional 1A power Williams, which has won four state titles (1989, 1993, 2017, 2019) and finished runner-up four other times (1970, 2016, 2020, 2022). The Vikings are seeded ninth, while DC is No. 8.
Marana's Jeffrey Smith III (33) pushes his way past Salpointe's Richard Archuleta (5) on a first quarter sweep, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Buena (6-1) at Marana (8-0)
Location: 2000 W. Emigh Road (7 p.m.)
Notable: Undefeated Marana, No. 1 in both the Open and 5A, hosts No. 10 Buena, winner of three in a row. Marana, 3-0 in region play, can clinch the 5A Southern title. The Tigers average 42 points a game, though Buena scored 56, 66 and 70 in its most recent win streak. Marana has won the last two in the series, 55-0 last year and 35-0 in 2022.
