TEMPE — Mica Mountain did it again.
The seventh-seeded Thunderbolts repeated as state football champions, defeating No. 1 seed Phoenix Arcadia 42-17 in the 4A state title game Friday night at Mountain America Stadium.
Mica Mountain's Sergio Raygada (8) celebrates his pick-six touchdown during the 4A state championship game against Arcadia at Mountain America Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Tempe.
Senior receiver Evan Wheeler caught four passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns and was named the offensive and overall player of the game. Senior quarterback Jaidyn Crist had three TD passes and one rushing touchdown.
Senior defensive end Sergio Raygada returned an interception for a touchdown to give the Thunderbolts a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter that they wouldn’t surrender. Senior Riley Carson capped a wild first half with a 99-yard kickoff return for a score to put Mica Mountain up 28-17 heading into intermission.
The Thunderbolts (12-2) shut out the Titans (13-1) in the second half.
Mica Mountain won its second state championship in just its fifth season of varsity football. The Thunderbolts are the first Tucson-area school to win back-to-back football championships since Canyon del Oro in 1976 and ’77.
Mica Mountain's Jaidyn Crist (11) throws the ball over the Arcadia defense during the AIA 4A state championship game at Mountain America Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Tempe.
Head coach Jay Campos captured his first state title after losing in the championship game four times at Sabino. Campos took over as Mica’s coach after Pat Nugent retired in the offseason.
Mica Mountain defeated Chandler Arizona College Prep 42-13 in last year's title game.
