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 Friday night.
Team of the week
Sabino routed Safford 40-0 on Friday to snap its four-game losing streak and return to the playoffs.
Going into the regular-season finale, the Sabercats (4-6) were ranked 16th and were squarely on the bubble for the 16-team Class 3A state tournament, but after the win, they moved up a spot and returned to the playoffs after a year's hiatus.
Sabino sophomore quarterback Bodhi Sanford passed for 283 yards and five touchdowns, going 11 for 17 with an interception. Senior Zachari Haley rushed for 89 yards on eight carries and caught five passes for 194 yards.
On defense, three Sabercats had interceptions: junior Javian Winton, junior Anthony Dimas and freshman Je'miah Martinez. They had 99 yards in interception returns, led by 37 from Martinez and 35 from Winton.
Sabino football players put on their pads before taking on Pusch Ridge Christian Academy in a game at Sabino High School on October 3, 2025. Pusch Ridge won 27-8.
Play of the week
Tucson High’s bid to get the road upset over Cave Creek Cactus Shadows on Thursday ended with a fumble and lost possession at the CS 34 yard line with 1:11 to go in its 48-40 loss reported by All Sports Tucson. However, when the playoff brackets were revealed on Saturday morning, the Badgers learned they wouldn’t have to wait long to get back at the Falcons, going back to Cactus Shadows on Friday for the 5A first round.
Stat book
– Benson junior Rene Lorta ran for 127 yards on 10 carries and Benson senior Rawley Evans caught four passes for 112 yards as the Bobcats beat Globe 49-6 in the 2A first round last week.
– St. David senior Canon Haynie ran for 308 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries in the Tigers’ 58-40 loss to Williams in the 1A quarterfinals on Friday.
Recruiting trail
Marana's Colten Meyer (16) scrambles around the pursuit to get off a throw in the second quarter against Canyon del Oro, September 19, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Last week, Marana senior quarterback Colten Meyer decommitted from the University of Jamestown and reopened his recruiting.
Pusch Ridge Christian senior receiver/safety/kick off returner Dominic Painter committed to George Fox University.
Also, Salpointe Catholic senior center/guard Joshua Meisner committed to New Mexico.
Next level
Pusch Ridge alumnus Will Way, a center for Weber State, and Canyon del Oro alum Steve Rocker Jr., a running back at Montana, faced off on Saturday. Montana won 38-17. Way graduated in 2023 and Rocker in December 2020, enrolling at the UA before transferring to Montana. CDO and PRCA are 1.3 miles away via Google Maps.
Going social
Valley Union plays Bagdad today in the 1A Quarterfinals. The team left Elfrida at 6 a.m. for their 7 p.m. kickoff tonight. #azhsfb — Lee Patterson, sports director of KATO-AM in Safford, posted on X (Twitter). No. 10 Valley Union lost 60-0 to No. 2 Bagdad on Friday. The towns are 342 miles apart.
Games of the week
5A state first round: No. 18 Mountain View (6-4) at No. 15 Sierra Vista Buena (7-3)
Location: 5225 E. Buena School Blvd., Sierra Vista
Buena head coach Joe Thomas mulls over his options on the sideline during his team’s 35-20, come-from-behind win at Ironwood Ridge last Friday night.
Notable: Winners of three of its last four, Mountain View travels to Buena, who have a four-game winning streak, for a 7 p.m. game on Friday. The Mountain Lions beat three playoff teams during the regular season, and the Colts also defeated a couple. Both teams finished second in their regions, the 5A Southern and 5A Sonoran. Mountain View leads the all-time series 10-3 since 2004, but Buena has won two of the last three.
4A state first round: No. 20 Phoenix Northwest Christian (6-4) at No. 13 Walden Grove (7-3)
Location: 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road
Notable: It’s déjà vu for Northwest Christian and Walden Grove, who meet for the third year in a row in the playoffs, on Friday at 7 p.m. The Crusaders also beat Walden Grove, 38-26, to open the 2023 season and 21-16 on the road last year in the opening game. In 2023, Northwest Christian beat Walden Grove 40-12 in the first round, but last year the Red Wolves upset Northwest Christian, 30-20, on the road in the first round.
