Friday night's high school football matchups, predictions and score updates
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Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
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The Star’s Justin Spears breaks down and predicts how each matchup across Southern Arizona will play out during the last week of the regular season. All games start at 7 p.m. Friday. Predicted winners are in ALL CAPS.
Mountain View 42, Flowing Wells 16 — Final
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Flowing Wells players line up to await the outcome of the coin flip as the Caballeros face off against Canyon del Oro at Flowing Wells High School, Friday, August 17, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Prediction: Mountain View (4-5) at FLOWING WELLS (8-1)
Where: 3725 N. Flowing Wells Road
Matchup: With a win Friday, Flowing Wells will post its best regular-season record in three years. The 8-1 Cabs still remain undefeated in the state of Arizona, with their only loss coming to Palm Desert (Calif.), but they’re catching Mountain View at the worst time. The Mountain Lions won four consecutive games, all of them in region play. Friday’s winner takes home the region title, which would mean Mountain View ending its season on a high note. The last time Flowing Wells was the Star’s game of the week, the Cabs proved us wrong. We won’t make that mistake again. Flowing Wells wins in nail-biting fashion, 33-31.
Sahuaro 21, Catalina Foothills 14 — Final
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Catalina Foothills head coach Jeff Scurran complains to an official after a penalty during the fourth quarter of the Catalina Foothills vs. Flowing Wells high school football game on Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, at Flowing Wells High School.
Prediction: SAHUARO (7-2) at Catalina Foothills (4-5)
Where: 4300 E. Sunrise Drive
Matchup: Friday marks Jeff Scurran’s final game as a head coach. Scurran has 251 wins and eight state championship appearances as a high school coach; only the late Vern Friedli (279) has more. Would it be a surprise if the Falcons won one for the Gipper? No. But Sahuaro is playing tough right now, and has the playoffs in sight. Call it 24-21 Sahuaro.
Ironwood Ridge 20, Cienega 17 — Final
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Cienega's Zach Mattas wrestles down Marana's Xoeius Ratliffe during a competitive and physical matchup Friday night.
Prediction: Ironwood Ridge (5-4) at CIENEGA (8-1)
Where: 12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Vail
Matchup: Cienega-Ironwood Ridge is always a thrilling matchup. Last season’s game went into overtime, with Cienega winning 56-55. I-Ridge is 3-1 in the 5A Southern Region, and can take the title with a win over the Bobcats. It’ll be tough considering Cienega appears to have hit fifth gear at the right time. Star Terrell Hayward is averaging 20.6 yards per catch and has 1,273 all-purpose yards this season. If he catches fire early, it could be a long night for Ironwood Ridge. Ironwood Ridge can counter Cienega’s attack by establishing the running game. If Nighthawks running back Nathan Grijalva averages four or five yards per carry and rushes for 180-plus yards, they’ll have a chance. Forced to choose, we’ll take the home team. Call it 31-21 Cienega.
Pusch Ridge Christian 41, Catalina 6 — Final
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Pusch Ridge head coach Jerry Harris congratulate his players after scoring an extra point against Casteel during the 3A state title game at Campo Verde High School, Nov. 25, 2017 in Gilbert Ariz. Pusch Ridge lost 35-28 to Casteel. (Darryl Webb/Special for the Arizona Daily Star)
Prediction: PUSCH RIDGE CHRISTIAN (4-5) at Catalina (3-6)
Where: 3645 E. Pima Street
Matchup: A year ago, we were talking about Pusch Ridge being a state contender, but that’s not the case this year. Back-to-back losses to Sabino and Safford put the Lions on the 3A playoff bubble. Win Friday, and they’re in. To do that, Pusch Ridge will have to contain Catalina running back Leon Hayes, who rushed for 246 yards and five touchdowns on just eight carries last week against Tanque Verde. Hayes makes Catalina competitive, but it’ll be tough against a Pusch Ridge team hungry for playoffs. The Lions will win 28-14.
Canyon del Oro 43, Casa Grande 28 — Final
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Canyon del Oro's Jose Cruz (9) catches a wide open pass during the second quarter.
Prediction: Casa Grande (5-4) at CANYON DEL ORO (6-3)
Where: 25 W. Calle Concordia, Oro Valley
Matchup: CDO bounced back from a loss to Salpointe Catholic with a 33-point win over Casa Grande Vista Grande last week. Sophomore Stevie Rocker rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, and senior Jose Cruz caught two passes for 127 yards, both resulting in touchdowns. The Dorados missed the playoffs last season, but they’re right in the mix this year. The question is, will CDO host a playoff game? Dorados win 42-27.
Salpointe Catholic 63, Casa Grande Vista Grande 7 — Final
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Salpointe’s Sergio Sanchez hoists the football aloft after blocking a punt and falling on it for a score in the first quarter. The Lancers improved to 9-0.
Prediction: SALPOINTE CATHOLIC (9-0) at Casa Grande Vista Grande (2-7)
Where: 1556 N. Arizola Road, Casa Grande
Matchup: Salpointe Catholic can finish the regular season undefeated for the first time since 2013, which bodes well considering the Lancers won a state title that year. And if Salpointe appears in the state title game this season, it will be played at Arizona Stadium, the same as in 2013. This year’s Lancers are stacked: Sophomore offensive tackle Jonah Miller received his first Division I scholarship offer from Arizona State earlier this week, while junior running back Bijan Robinson added an offer from UCLA and defensive back Lathan Ransom got one from Notre Dame. With Mario Padilla also raking in college offers, Salpointe has too much talent. Lancers roll, 56-0.
Sabino 20, Safford 17 — Final
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Sabino's Claudio Oviedo (3) stretches for the ball as the Sabercats warm up just before sunset to Sahuaro at Sabino High School, Friday, August 31, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Prediction: SABINO (7-2) at Safford (6-3)
Where: 1400 W. 11th Street, Safford
Matchup: Both teams enter Friday’s game with 4-0 region records, meaning the winner Friday will take home the 3A Southern Region title. Safford pulled off a 35-34 win over Pusch Ridge Christian last week. But the Sabercats have enough momentum to power through for a win on Friday, 30-20.
Marana 50, Nogales 0 — Final
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Marana's Trenton Bourguet (5) just escapes the arms of Ironwood Ridge's Justin McGrath (52) to avoid a sack in the second quarter of their game at Ironwood Ridge High School, Friday, October 5, 2018, Oro Valley, Ariz.
Prediction: MARANA (6-3) at Nogales (2-7)
Where: 1950 Apache Blvd., Nogales
Matchup: Marana quarterback Trenton Bourguet has 82 career passing touchdowns; if he throws five against Nogales, he will tie the 5A all-time record. That could very well happen. In fact, we predict Bourguet will break the record as the Tigers roll 49-6.
Empire 28, Desert View 27 — Final
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Empire's Wyatt Jeffries (25) finds just enough room to squeeze by Catalina Foothills' Pouria Mostafizi (52), tangled up in a blocker, in the fourth quarter of their game at Empire High School, Friday, September 15, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
Prediction: Desert View (3-6) at EMPIRE (4-5)
Where: 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Vail
Matchup: Empire senior Wyatt Jeffries broke the program’s all-time rushing record two weeks ago, and has since raised his mark to 3,680 yards. The Ravens will miss the playoffs, meaning Friday will be their last game of the season. Expect Jeffries, who has offers from UTEP, Arizona Christian, Arkansas Baptist College and Whittier College, to run wild on senior night. Empire wins, 27-7.
Walden Grove 54, Palo Verde 0 — Final
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“They definitely work really, really well together,” Walden Grove coach Corey Noble says of Alex, left, and Jordan Lopez.
Prediction: Palo Verde (2-7) at WALDEN GROVE (7-2)
Where: 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, Sahuarita
Matchup: Walden Grove has already clinched the 4A Gila Region title, the first in program history. Junior linebacker Ricky Avelar recorded a career-high 20 tackles last week against Amphi, and has 54 total over the last three weeks. With twins Alex and Jordan Lopez leading the offense and Avelar dominating on ‘D,’ Walden Grove is a team to watch in the playoffs. Red Wolves cruise to a 52-8 win.
Tucson High 59, Phoenix Trevor Browne 0 — Final
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Tucson High's quarterback Jesus Montano (1) looks for a receiver downfield during the third quarter of the Tucson High vs. Ironwood Ridge high school football game Oct. 13, 2017, at Ironwood Ridge High School, 2475 W. Naranja Dr., in Oro Valley, Ariz. Ironwood Ridge won 35-17.
Prediction: Phoenix Trevor Browne (3-7) at TUCSON HIGH (4-5)
Where: 400 N. 2nd Ave.
Matchup: Tucson High was thrown in the grinder over the last four weeks with losses to Salpointe Catholic, Phoenix Cesar Chavez, Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor and Chandler. The Badgers have been outscored 99-0 over the last two weeks. Tucson High can end its season on a high note with a win over a struggling Trevor Browne team. Expect the Badgers to do just that, winning 35-23.
Douglas 47, Rio Rico 0 — Final
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Douglas High's head coach James Fitzgerald and the referee have differing opinions in the second quarter of their game at Pueblo High School, Friday September 28, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Prediction: Rio Rico (1-8) at DOUGLAS (1-8)
Where: 1500 15th Street, Douglas
Matchup: So much for Arizona’s best feel-good story. Douglas has been forced to forfeit six games for using ineligible players. As a result, the Bulldogs are 1-8 with no chance of making the playoffs. Douglas can end its season on a positive note, and it will with a 49-7 win over Rio Rico.
Sunnyside 22, Sierra Vista Buena 14 — Final
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Sunnyside's Jose Silva (2) finds some room to run as Salpointe linebacker Joshua Pasos (9) tries to slow his advance during the second quarter of the Sunnyside vs. Salpointe Catholic high school football game on Sept. 15, 2017, at Salpointe Catholic High School, 1545 E. Copper Street, in Tucson, Ariz.
Prediction: SIERRA VISTA BUENA (5-4) at Sunnyside (4-5)
Where: 1725 E. Bilby Road
Matchup: Buena is the No. 22 team in 5A according to MaxPreps.com, which means that even with a win Friday, the team will likely be on the outside looking in for the playoffs. Expect Buena quarterback Jovoni Borbon to put on a show in the likely final game of his junior season. He currently has 1,536 yards and 11 touchdowns, and will play one more game with his top target, Mandrell Garrick. Those two will be too much to handle for Sunnyside. Call it 35-7.
Sahuarita 47, Tanque Verde 6 — Final
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The home stands at Sahuarita High School overlooking the Burton Tingle Field, Tuesday, July 28, 2015, Sahuarita , Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Prediction: Tanque Verde (3-6) at SAHUARITA (5-4)
Where: 350 W. Sahuarita Road, Sahuarita
Matchup: MaxPreps.com lists Sahuarita at No. 16 in the 3A state rankings, so the Mustangs likely need to win Friday to make the playoffs. Don Watt’s Mustangs should fare well this week. Sahuarita wins, 49-13.
Pueblo 52, Amphitheater 20 — Final
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Pueblo High's Omar Ibanez (34) lunges into the end zone dragging Douglas High's Sam Ramos (17) the last several yards of his long run to put the Warriors up 14-0 early in the first quarter of their game at Pueblo High School, Friday September 28, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Prediction: Amphitheater (4-5) at PUEBLO (4-5)
Where: 3500 S. 12th Ave.
Matchup: The Panthers and Warriors will play Friday for the right to finish the season .500. Expect it to be Pueblo. Riding seniors Omar Ibanez, Ruben Rivera IV and Julio Carino, all of whom were listed in the Star’s preseason players to watch list, the Warriors win 45-20.
Thatcher 63, Santa Rita 6 — Final
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Richard Sanchez unretired from football coaching in 2018 to take over Santa Rita’s football program. This spring, he was named the new head coach at Tucson High.
Prediction: Santa Rita (0-9) at THATCHER (9-0)
Where: 601 N. 3rd Ave., Thatcher
Matchup: Undefeated Thatcher has the No. 1 seed for the Class 2A playoff bracket locked up, and likely won’t let up against the winless eagles. Thatcher wins 56-7, and Richard Sanchez’s first season at Santa Rita ends without a victory.
Cholla 47, Rincon/University 33 — Final
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Mountain View's Aaron Logsdon (2) gets away with a facemask on Rincon/University's JJ Haygood (31) during the first quarter of the Rincon/University vs. Mountain View high school football game on Sept. 1, 2017, at Mountain View High School, 3901 W. Linda Vista Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz.
Prediction: Cholla (0-9) at RINCON/UNIVERSITY (1-8)
Where: 421 N. Arcadia Blvd.
Matchup: This should be a competitive game, especially on senior night. Expect Rincon to prevail at home, 16-7.
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
