Friday night's high school football matchups, predictions and score updates
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Star's Justin Spears breaks down the contenders, pretenders at the midway point of the 2018 season.
Check back Friday night for score updates.
Season's midway point shows contenders, pretenders
UpdatedFor some high school football teams, the halfway point of the season is good time to determine if theyβre built for a deep playoff. For others, itβs a reality check.
Fridayβs game of the week features two teams β Salpointe Catholic and Tucson High β who fit into the first category. The teams are a combined 9-0 at the midway point, and have not only state playoffs but deep postseason runs in mind.
The Starβs Justin Spears previews each game Friday night and predicts the outcome. Each game is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. and predicted winners are in ALL CAPS.
Salpointe Catholic 27, Tucson High 3 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: Tucson High (5-0) at SALPOINTE CATHOLIC (4-0)
Where: 1545 E. Copper Street
Matchup: Tucson High already already has wins this season (five) than in 2017 (four), making them one of the biggest surprises in Southern Arizona this season. Led by running back Gary Love and quarterback Jesus Montano, Tucson Highβs offense has outscored its opponents 124-14 in the last three weeks. The last time Tucson High and Salpointe Catholic battled, Lancers running back Bijan Robinson hurdled over a defender for a touchdown, a highlight play that went viral. Robinson has been a workhorse for the Lancers, averaging 238.3 rushing yards per game, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Tucson High will give the Lancers a tough look defensively, but stopping Robinson and fellow running back Mario Padilla is a brutal task. Salpointe Catholic holds off the Badgers, 42-23.
Canyon del Oro 35, Prescott 23 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: Prescott (3-1) at CANYON DEL ORO (3-1)
Where: 25 W. Calle Concordia, Oro Valley
Matchup: Friday marks a makeup game after the teamsβ Week 2 matchup was rained out. That may be a blessing in disguise for a CDO team that was upset by Flowing Wells the week before. Now? The Dorados have won three straight games and boast one of the best rushing attacks behind sophomore Stevie Rocker, senior Diego Munguia and senior Tiki Garcia. Expect the rushing game to wear Prescott down, and for CDO to run away with a 42-28 win.
Glendale Apollo 43, Sierra Vista Buena 42 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: Sierra Vista Buena (3-1) at GLENDALE APOLLO (1-3)
Where: 8045 N. 47th Ave., Glendale
Matchup: Buena quarterback Jovoni Borbon threw for just 76 yards against Desert View last week. If Borbon gets the hot hand in the pocket, the Colts can pull off the win, but Apolloβs experience against tougher opponents bodes well for the Hawks. Buena competes, but Apollo wins it 33-17.
Sabino 21, Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin 14 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (3-2) at SABINO (2-2)
Where: 5000 N. Bowes Road
Matchup: Well, looky here: Sabino has clawed back to .500 after an ugly first two games. The Sabercats spoiled Jeff Scurranβs homecoming two weeks ago and then followed it up with a four-point win over Lakeside Blue Ridge. Β Fridayβs rematch of last yearβs state semifinals Β should be a good one; expect Sabino to get its revenge in a tight one, 31-28.
Cienega 38, Mountain View 21 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: CIENEGA (3-1) at Mountain View (0-4)
Where: 3901 W. Linda Vista Blvd.
Matchup: Mountain View is off to its worst start since 2009, and things wonβt get any easier on Friday. Cienega routed Rincon 56-14 last week to get back into the winnerβs column. Quarterback Luis Morales completed 10 of 11 passes passing for 161 yards and four touchdowns, and that was without star player Terrell Hayward. With Hayward back into the fold, Bobcats should take care of business on the road. Call it 49-20.
Empire 37, Nogales 18 βΒ Final
UpdatedPrediction: Empire (1-3) at NOGALES (2-2)
Where: 1950 Apache Blvd., Nogales
Matchup: Expect a close one here. Empire won its first game of the season behind running back Wyatt Jeffriesβ 177-yard performance. Nogales, on the other hand, took a 49-0 beating from Walden Grove. Despite all that, we like Nogales at home. Letβs call it 28-27 Apaches, with Maile Vasquez hitting a game-winning field goal as time expires.
Catalina Foothills 31, Pueblo 12 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: Pueblo (1-3) at CATALINA FOOTHILLS (1-3)
Where: 4300 E. Sunrise Dr.
Matchup: Pueblo has surprisingly struggled through the first four games. So have the Falcons, though their schedule β which Glendale Cactus and Marana β is partly to blame. Foothills is fresh off a bye week, and should be ready to get back on track. The Falcons win, 20-7.
Glendale 35, Walden Grove 14 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: WALDEN GROVE (3-1) at Glendale (4-0)
Where: 6216 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale
Matchup: Another program thatβs been a pleasant surprise in Southern Arizona this season is Walden Grove. Coach Corey Nobleβs defense has given up just 26 points through its last three games. Walden Grove blanked Pusch Ridge Christian 21-0 and blew past Douglas 49-0. Expect the Red Wolves to bring another win home to Sahuarita on Friday. Call it 45-35.
Sahuarita 43, Queen Creek San Tan Foothills 6 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: Queen Creek San Tan Foothills (2-2) at SAHUARITA (3-1)
Where: 350 W. Sahuarita Road, Sahuarita
Matchup: The Mustangs recorded their first shutout of the season last week with a 46-0 win over Holbrook. Sahuarita can very well finish the season 9-1 or 8-2 if it beats the teams itβs supposed to beat down the stretch. Thatβll happen Friday, with a 23-10 win over San Tan Foothills.
Pusch Ridge Christian 27, Fountain Hills 3 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: PUSCH RIDGE CHRISTIAN (1-3) at Fountain Hills (2-2)
Where: 16100 E. Palisades Blvd., Fountain Hills
Matchup: The Lions are off to their worst start since 2012, which isnβt a surprise considering they lost nearly every starter from the 2017 squad that made the Class 3A state championship game. The Lions need a win this week, and theyβll get it. Expect a 21-14 win in Phoenix.
Ironwood Ridge 49, Desert View 14 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: IRONWOOD RIDGE (1-3) at Desert View (1-3)
Where: 4101 E. Valencia Road
Matchup: This is another case of donβt-let-the-records-fool-you. Ironwood Ridge lost back-to-back nail-biters to Goodyear Millennium and Gilbert Campo Verde, followed by a blowout loss to Peoria Centennial. Desert Viewβs defense gave up 304 rushing yards last week against Buena. The Nighthawks have one of the best running backs in Southern Arizona in Nathan Grijalva; expect him to have a huge week to get the season back on track. Ironwood Ridge wins big, 55-7.
Rincon/University 51, Palo Verdo 45 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: PALO VERDE (1-3) at Rincon/University (1-3)
Where: 421 N. Arcadia Blvd.
Matchup: Palo Verde struggled the last two weeks, but could turn it around against Rincon. Expect the Titans to win, 21-7.
Tanque Verde 35, Chandler Prep 28 β Final
UpdatedPredictions: Tanque Verde (0-4) at ARIZONA COLLEGE PREP (0-4)
Where:Β 3434 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
San Manuel 48, Santa Rita 28 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: SAN MANUEL (0-4) at Santa Rita (0-4)
Where: 3951 S. Pantano Road
Matchup: This could be the week Richard Sanchez gets his first win as Santa Ritaβs head coach, which would be the programβs first victory since Sept. 16, 2016. Rather than jinx the Eagles, however, weβll pick San Manuel. Call it 28-0.
Douglas 7, Silver City 3 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: Douglas (4-0) at SILVER CITY (N.M.) (3-1)
Where: 3200 N. Silver Street, Silver City, New Mexico
Matchup: Douglas is one of the feel-good stories so far this season. The Bulldogs are 4-0, the best start for the program in seven years, after going winless in 2017. Β Douglas will go toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in New Mexico. Expect Douglas to keep it close but lose, 37-24.
Sahuaro 48, Sunnyside 0 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: Sunnyside (3-1) at SAHUARO (4-1)
Where: 545 N. Camino Seco
Matchup: Sunnysideβs Roy Lopez is two wins away from reaching 100 career wins as a high school coach. Reaching the milestone wonβt be easy: the Blue Devils have back-to-back road games against Sahuaro coming up on their schedule. Sunnyside has improved since last season, but Sahuaroβs offense β with Cameron Williams and Izaiah Grigsby as the leaders β should be enough for a win. Expect the Cougars to take care of business at home, 30-7.
Coolidge 39, Catalina 20 β Final
UpdatedPrediction: COOLIDGE (4-1) at Catalina (1-3)
Where: 3645 E. Pima Street
Matchup: Catalina is off to a rocky start, but played three away games. Now the Trojans will play back-to-back games at home, but Coolidge is no slouch. The Bears escape Tucson with a 28-10 victory.
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