Five Tucson-area football teams have qualified for Arizona’s big-schools playoffs, with two of them slated to host postseason games on Friday.
Cienega, Ironwood Ridge, Salpointe Catholic and Desert View all made the Class 5A state bracket, with Canyon del Oro qualified in Class 4A.
Second-seeded Salpointe Catholic, which finished 8-2 and won the Class 5A Southern Region championship, will miss out on the Open Division playoffs for the first time since the elite postseason field was created three seasons ago. The Lancers will instead host 15th-seeded Phoenix Sunnyslope on Friday night in rhw first round of 5A play.
Should Salpointe continue to win, it would host the quarterfinals and semifinals before taking part in the 5A state championship game, held Dec. 10 at Sun Devil Stadium.
Sixth-seeded Desert View, fresh off a 9-1 regular season, will host No. 11 Goodyear Millennium. Ironwood Ridge used a 69-27 win over Marana Friday night to qualify as a No. 13 seed. The Nighthawks will travel to Scottsdale Desert Mountain in the first round. Ninth-seeded Cienega will play No. 8 Buckeye Verrado, while No. 12 CDO will travel to No. 5 Lake Havasu.
Two Southern Arizona teams already played in the Class 3A state playoffs, which began two Fridays ago. Pusch Ridge Christian fell in the first round to Thatcher on Nov. 5, while Sabino lost at American Leadership Institute-Gilbert North in Friday night’s quarterfinals.
This year’s Open Division playoffs feature eight Phoenix-area schools: Chandler Hamilton, Chandler, Chandler Basha, Glendale Cactus, Scottsdale Saguaro, Peoria Liberty, Queen Creek and American Leadership Academy-Queen Creek. Open Division teams will start their playoffs Nov. 26.
Here’s a look at the high school football brackets featuring Tucson teams. All games will be played at 7 p.m. Friday:
Class 5A state playoffs, first round
No. 16 Cave Creek Cactus Shadows at No. 1 Horizon
No. 9 Cienega at No. 8 Buckeye Verrado
No. 12 Gilbert Campo Verde at Phoenix Sunrise Mountain
No. 13 Ironwood Ridge at No. 4 Scottsdale Desert Mountain
No. 14 Waddell Canyon View at No. 3 Goodyear Desert Edge
No. 11 Goodyear Millennium at No. 6 Desert View
No. 10 Glendale Apollo at No. 7 Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep
No. 15 Phoenix Sunnyslope at No. 2 Salpointe Catholic
Class 4A state playoffs, first round
No. 16 Phoenix Northwest Christian at No. 1 Poston Butte
No. 9 Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain at No. 8 Prescott
No. 12 Canyon del Oro at No. 5 Lake Havasu
No. 13 Flagstaff Coconino at No. 4 Glendale
No. 14 Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin at No. 3 Gilbert Mesquite
No. 11 Kingman Lee Williams at No. 6 Apache Junction
No. 10 Phoenix St. Mary’s at No. 7 Buckeye Union
No. 15 Glendale Deer Valley at No. 2 Casa Grande
Photos: Ironwood Ridge wins in a shootout at Marana, 69-27, high school football
Marana vs Ironwood Ridge
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Jordan Thomas ran for 1,006 yards and 14 touchdowns last season for Ironwood Ridge. He’s since transferred to Canyon del Oro.
Marana vs Ironwood Ridge
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Ironwood Ridge's Ian Van der Merwe (56) doesn't let a hold keep him from sacking Marana's Elijah Joplin (6) in the fourth quarter of their game at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., November 12, 2021.
Marana vs Ironwood Ridge
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Ironwood Ridge's Trent Vanoni (4) gets an arm in, enough to break up the reception in front of Marana's Jaelen Collins (12) in the third quarter of their game at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., November 12, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Marana
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Marana's Dezmen Roebuck (1) tries to fight his way out of the hands of Ironwood Ridge's Ethan Morrison (32) in the second quarter of their game at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., November 12, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Marana
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Jordan Thomas gets into the Marana backfield on a second-quarter carry last season.
Ironwood Ridge vs Marana
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Ironwood Ridge's Landon Billings (28) stiff arms Marana's Dezmen Roebuck (1) on a sweep at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., November 12, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Marana
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Ironwood Ridge's Nashon Jantz (16) breaks through the line to drag down Marana's Elijah Joplin (6) for a sack against in the third quarter of their game at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., November 12, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Marana
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Marana's Jaelen Collins (12) beats Ironwood Ridge's Trent Vanoni (4) but can't catch up to the Hail Mary throw late in the fourth quarter Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., November 12, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Marana
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Ironwood Ridge's Hudson Thompson (18) tries to find some room to run after a catch as the Marana defense closes in at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., November 12, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Marana
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"It was difficult, but you do what you gotta do to move forward and better your career and what you're trying to do," said Jordan Thomas, left, of leaving I-Ridge for CDO.
Should winning team apologize for 106-0 high school football score?
UpdatedPhotos: CDO tops Sahuaro 49-19, high school football
CDO at Sahuaro
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The Canyon del Oro Dorados cheer towards their family and friends after their game against Sahuaro at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 12th, 2021. CDO won 49-19.
CDO at Sahuaro
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Canyon del Oro's Zack Rogowski, 9, runs out of bounds after his one handed touchdown catch during the first half of their game against Sahuaro at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 12th, 2021.
CDO at Sahuaro
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Canyon del Oro's Zack Rogowski, 9, celebrates with teammates after his one-handed touchdown catch during the first half of their game against Sahuaro at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 12th, 2021.
CDO at Sahuaro
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Canyon del Oro's Daylon Beck, 33, cannot secure a catch with inference from Sahuaro's Chris Apalategui, 80, during the first half of their game at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 12th, 2021.
CDO at Sahuaro
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during the first half of their game at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 12th, 2021.
CDO at Sahuaro
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Canyon del Oro's Zack Rogowski, 9, celebrates with a fellow teammate after his one-handed touchdown catch during the first half of their game against Sahuaro at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 12th, 2021.
CDO at Sahuaro
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Canyon del Oro's Caden Sholl, 44, raises his fist in the air in the closing seconds of CDO's win over Sahuaro at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 12th, 2021. CDO won 49-19.
CDO at Sahuaro
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Canyon del Oro Head Coach Dustin Peace, left, and Sahuaro Head Coach Scott McKee have a laugh after taking a photograph before their game at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 12th, 2021.
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Sahuaro varsity football players warm up before their game against Canyon del Oro on Nov. 12. The Cougars open the 2022 season Sept. 2 with a home game against Chandler Seton Catholic.
