As the Arizona high school football season enters Week 7, 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 Thursday or Friday night.
Team of the week
Marana ended Sierra Vista Buena’s perfect season in dominant fashion on the road, beating the Colts 55-0.
Buena (5-1) had been off to its best start since 1977. The upset also snapped Marana’s three-game losing streak.
Marana (2-4) jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter and was up 42-0 at the half.
Marana senior quarterback Jason Wood passed for 378 yards and three touchdowns, going 27 for 32 with no interceptions.
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The Tigers are at Sunnyside (2-3) Friday at 7 p.m.
Basha High School quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (9) runs with the ball during a 31-13 Basha win over Brophy College Prep in Chandler on Sept. 28.
Recruiting trail
On Thursday, Chandler Basha senior quarterback Demond Williams Jr. ran for three touchdowns in the first half of the Bears’ 31-13 win over Phoenix Brophy Prep. Then, over the weekend, the UA commit went to Tucson and took in the Wildcats’ game. He was pictured with UA president Robert Robbins.
Salpointe three-star edge rusher Keona Wilhite opened up his recruitment this week, announcing Monday that he was backing out of his verbal pledge to Arizona to look at other opportunities.
Walden Grove’s Gabriel Smith drops a pass over the head of Cienega’s Ledainean Moore during the Red Wolves’ early-season win back in September.
Stat book
Walden Grove senior Gabriel Smith passed for 320 yards and three scores, with no interceptions, going 20 for 22 in the Red Wolves’ 35-21 win over Mountain View last week. Since starting the season 0-2, Walden Grove has won three straight, also knocking off Cienega 26-7 and Desert View 33-6.
Two Salpointe Catholic backs ran for over 115 yards in the Lancers’ 34-24 win over Phoenix Desert Vista on Friday. Senior Jaylin Willis Dennard rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts, with a high of 40 yards. Meanwhile, senior Jaxson Banhie ran for 118 yards and a score on 18 carries.
Cholla junior fullback Francisco Javier Mendivil ran for 176 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries as the Chargers beat Rincon/University 39-0. Cholla’s win over the Rangers snapped their three-game losing streak.
Quotable
“That was a wake-up call,” said Sabino senior quarterback/cornerback Cameron Hackworth about the Sabercats’ 49-7 loss at Mica Mountain. “It was a wake-up call that we can be touched, you know? We were coming in the season ranked No. 1, high hopes and they came in and they dominated. They dominated that game. Some stuff we could’ve cleaned up, we could’ve did a lot better but that was a wake-up call and now we’re just gonna move on from that.”
In the two games since Sabino lost to undefeated 4A Mica Mountain, the Sabercats have outscored opponents 90-48, including then-No. 5 Pusch Ridge Christian 40-27 last week.
The "Toy Story" version of former Salpointe Catholic star (and now Atlanta Falcon running back) Bijan Robinson makes a catch in the flat and runs up field Sunday when the Falcons and Jaguars squared off in London.
Going social
“I’m genuinely upset that we weren’t chosen for the Toy Story game.”
— 49ers linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles posted on X (Twitter). On Sunday, ESPN broadcast an NFL game with players animated in the style of the Toy Story movies. Flannigan-Fowles played at Mountain View High School, then the UA. Tucson native Bijan Robinson was featured in the Toy Story game.
Western Michigan quarterback Treyson Bourguet celebrates after throwing a 64-yard touchdown pass during the first half of his team’s matchup at Iowa on Sept. 16, 2023. Bourguet transferred to BYU last offseason.
Next level
Western Michigan freshman quarterback Treyson Bourguet won MAC West Offensive Player of the Week. The Salpointe alum threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns on 24 completions. Meanwhile, his brother Trenton, a junior who went to Marana, threw for 344 yards in his second start of the season for ASU in a loss at Cal.
Mica Mountain coach Pat Nugent chats with his team after its 49-7 win over Sabino on Sept. 8. It was the 150th career victory for Nugent.
Games of the week
Mica Mountain (5-0) at Pueblo (3-2)
Location: 3500 South 12th Ave.
Mica Mountain looks to remain perfect ahead of a potential 6-0 vs. 6-0 game next against Canyon del Oro. But the Thunderbolts can’t overlook Pueblo. Both teams are coming off of byes. Last time out, Pueblo lost by 20 at Buena while Mica Mountain beat Casa Grande 42-27. Pueblo junior defensive back Adam Moreno is second in the 4A Kino region with three interceptions.
Buena's Brayden Hall (7) strips the ball out of the grip of Ironwood Ridge's quarterback Dominic Norris (10) negating his big scramble after the Colts recovered in the first quarter of their high school game at Ironwood Ridge High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 1, 2023.
Buena (5-1) at Desert View (3-3)
Location: 4101 East Valencia Road
Sierra Vista Buena looks to bounce back after the Colts suffered their first loss of the season, 55-0 at home to Marana. There’s also a revenge angle as the Colts can partially blame their 43-28 home loss to Desert View in the second-to-last game of the 2022 season for Buena missing the playoffs despite a 7-3 overall record. Desert View is 3-1 at home this year.
Video Vault
Sabino showed (for now, at least) it's the local power at the 3A level, with a 40-27 win over Pusch Ridge last week:
VIDEO: Sabino High School running back Mason Cade takes the snap himself and scores on the goal line keeper during the Sabercats' 40-27 win over Pusch Ridge Christian Academy on Sept. 29, 2023. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Pusch Ridge Christian Academy's Elliot Lovett 5-yard touchdown reception during the Lions' 40-27 loss to Sabino High School on Sept. 29, 2023. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Pusch Ridge Christian Academy quarterback Bubba Mustain scores on a 1-yard touchdown run during the Lions' 40-27 loss to Sabino High School on Sept. 29, 2023. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Pusch Ridge Christian Academy quarterback Bubba Mustain scores on a 10-yard touchdown run during the Lions' 40-27 loss to Sabino High School on Sept. 29, 2023. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Sabino High School's Brit Roberson scores on a 13-yard touchdown reception during the Sabercats' 40-27 win over Pusch Ridge Christian Academy on Sept. 29, 2023. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Sabino High School's Max Trainer scores on a 5-yard touchdown reception during the Sabercats' 40-27 win over Pusch Ridge Christian Academy on Sept. 29, 2023. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Sabino High School quarterback Cameron Hackworth keeps it himself and runs for a 67-yard touchdown during the Sabercats' 40-27 win over Pusch Ridge Christian Academy on Sept. 29, 2023. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Sabino High School's Jack Skaggs forces a fumble during the Sabercats' 40-27 win over Pusch Ridge Christian Academy on Sept. 29, 2023. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
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