This weekend's high school football state semifinal pairings and score updates

Southern Arizona features three teams in state semis

Three Southern Arizona teams remained in the hunt for state football titles at the start of the week. After Friday night, two remained.

Top-seeded Salpointe Catholic cruised to a 53-6 win in the 4A semifinals on Friday over No. 5 Sahuaro to set up a championship rematch with No. 2 Saguaro. That game will be at Arizona Stadium on Nov. 30.

On Saturday night, No. 6 Sabino will play No. 2 Yuma Catholic in Phoenix for a chance to advance to next week’s Class 3A state final.

Here’s a look at both games, with the projected winners in ALL CAPS:

Yuma Catholic 75, Sabino 43 — Final

Matchup: No. 6 SABINO (10-2) vs. No. 2 Yuma Catholic (10-2)

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Shadow Mountain High School, 2902 E. Shea Blvd., Phoenix

What: 3A semifinals

Winner plays: No. 5 Valley Christian or No. 1 Northwest Christian

Matchup: Both teams will have to bus at least two hours to Shadow Mountain for Saturday’s semifinals. This game could be played on Mars and it still would be quite the show. Sabino took down Snowflake 30-14 on the road last week behind quarterback AJ Skaggs’ 235-yard performance. Skaggs was installed as the starter in the third game of the season against Catalina Foothills after Sabino’s 0-2 start, and the sophomore gunslinger is undefeated since. In 11 games (10 starts) this year, Skaggs has thrown for 1,558 yards and 18 touchdowns with a 66.7 completion percentage. Linebacker Richie Pina, the 3A South Player of the Year, has 128 tackles this season and intercepted a pass for a touchdown in the second half against Snowflake, which gave the Sabercats a cushion late in the game. He’s been Mr. Everything for Sabino, and has proven to be one of the best defensive players in Southern Arizona. Yuma Catholic is talented, but we expect the Sabercats to advance to The Big Show after beating the Shamrocks 42-38.

Salpointe Catholic 53, Sahuaro 6 — Final

Matchup: No. 5 Sahuaro (10-2) vs. No. 1 SALPOINTE CATHOLIC (12-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Mountain View High School, 3901 W. Linda Vista Blvd.

What: 4A semifinals

Winner plays: No. 3 Goodyear Desert Edge or No. 2 Scottsdale Saguaro

Matchup: The last time Sahuaro was in the state semifinals, none of its current players were even born. It was 1999, and the Cougars were coached by Tucson high school football icon Nemer Hassey. Quarterback Reggie Robertson, one of Southern Arizona’s top quarterbacks ever, led the Cougars to the state championship game, where they eventually lost. How did Sahuaro get back? By pounding Chandler Seton Catholic Prep 63-19 last week. After leading 14-12 at halftime, Sahuaro running back Izaiah Davis ran wild for 246 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. To reach the state title game, Sahuaro will have to get through the only undefeated team in Class 4A this season. Salpointe Catholic nearly swept the 4A Kino Region honors this season. Dennis Bene won Coach of the Year, running back Bijan Robinson took Offensive Player of the Year and Lathan Ransom received Player of the Year, while Sahuaro’s Cameron Williams brought home Defensive Player of the Year honors. This isn’t the first time these teams have met. In the regular season, Salpointe Catholic held off Sahuaro 28-12, but Robinson was held out with an injury and two-way star Mario Padilla left the game with a groin injury after the first offensive drive. Robinson and Padilla are back into the offensive game plan and the Lancers’ monstrous offensive line is playing well. It’s going to take a perfect game from Sahuaro to compete. Coach Scott McKee’s group exceeded expectations simply by making the semifinals, and the Lancers have too much talent across the board. Lancers win 49-24 to set up a possible state title rematch at Arizona Stadium against a loaded Scottsdale Saguaro team.