Itâs another interesting week for tackle football in Southern Arizona, as there is a score of state finalists or title game rematches on tap.
In 6A, Salpointe Catholic and Scottsdale's Saguaro play a rematch of the 2017 and 2018 4A championship games. Yuma Catholic hosts Marana, trying to exorcise some of its Southern Arizona demons after Mica Mountain ended its playoff run last year and Canyon del Oro beat them in the 2023 4A title game.
Plus, Sahuaro and Peoria replay the 1994 4A state championship game.
The other games are packed with intrigue as teamsâ freedom games run out and region play comes.
All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
THURSDAY
5A
South Mountain (0-2) at Canyon del Oro (1-1)
Location: 25 W. Calle Concordia
Notable: The reverse of Salpointe and Saguaro, Phoenix's South Mountain is 6A in other sports, but moved down a conference in football. The Jaguarsâ last winning season was the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign, when they went 2-1.
4A/3A
Catalina Foothills (2-0) at Pusch Ridge Christian (3-0)
Location: 9500 N. Oracle Road
Time: 6 p.m.
Notable: After Foothills won the first matchup of these north-side schools in 2016, the Lions won the next five, including four wins in the last four years.
2A
San Pasqual Valley (1-2) at Santa Rita (0-3)
Location: 3951 S. Pantano Road
Notable: San Pasqual Valley, of Winterhaven, Calif., is located near the border with Arizona, close to Yuma.
FRIDAY
6A
Saguaro (1-1) at Salpointe (2-0)
Salpointeâs Matthew Avelar (2) tight-ropes down the line for a scrambling touchdown against Saguaro in the fourth quarter of their game at Salpointe Catholic High School, Oct. 30, 2024.
Location: 1545 E. Copper St.
Notable: Both schools are 4A-sized (Saguaro 1,430 enrollment and Salpointe 1,305) but moved up a couple conferences in football.
5A
Mountain View (2-0) at Desert Mountain (1-1)
Location: 12575 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale
Notable: Mountain View is off to its first 2-0 start since 2015.
ALA - Gilbert North (2-0) at Buena (2-0)
Location: 5225 E. Buena School Blvd., Sierra Vista
Notable: ALA - Gilbert Northâs head coach is Ty Detmer, who won the Heisman Trophy at BYU in 1990 and played eight seasons in the NFL.
Camelback (0-2) at Desert View (2-0)
Location: 4101 E. Valencia Road
Notable: Desert View is looking for its first 3-0 start since 2021, when the Jaguars began 5-0 and went 10-2.
Cienega (0-2) at Ironwood Ridge (0-2)
Location: 2475 W. Naranja Drive
Notable: The loser of this game between two 2024 playoff teams and two of the more prominent programs in Southern Arizona will start the season 0-3.
Flowing Wells (2-0) at North (0-2)
Location: 1101 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix
Notable: Phoenix's North was among the PXU schools closed in the 1980s along with Phoenix Union, Phoenix East and Phoenix West. However, after closing in 1981, Phoenix North reopened in 1983.
Campo Verde (1-1) at Sunnyside (2-0)
Location: 1725 E. Bilby Road
Notable:Â Gilbert's Campo Verde plays its second straight Southern Arizona team after beating Ironwood Ridge 36-6 last week.
Marana (1-1) at Yuma Catholic (0-2)
Location: 2100 W. 28th St., Yuma
Notable: The 3A-sized Shamrocks (517 enrollment) moved up to 5A after losing to Mica Mountain in the 4A semifinals last year and CDO in the 4A state championship in 2023.
5A/4A
Sahuarita (0-2) at Nogales (2-0)
Location: 1905 Apache Blvd., Nogales
Notable: After snapping its 20-game losing streak in the season opener, Nogales ended its three-game skid against Rio Rico and now leads that series 14-3.
Tucson High (0-2) at Walden Grove (1-1)
Walden Grove quarterback Gauge Abalos looks to pass against the Firebirds at Eastmark High School on Sept. 4, 2025, in Mesa.
Location: 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road
Notable: This is the first-ever matchup between Tucson High, which opened in 1906, and Walden Grove, which opened in 2011.
4A
Mica Mountain (2-0) at ALA - West Foothills (1-1)
Location: 17608 W. Olive Ave., Waddell
Notable:Â Waddell's ALA - West Foothills lost the 3A state championship game to Pusch Ridge 26-7 last year, but moved up to 4A.
Combs (2-0) at Cholla (2-0)
Location: 2001 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
Notable: After beating Rio Rico 56-0 and Rincon/University 52-0, San Tan Valley's Combs plays one more Southern Arizona side.
Pueblo (0-2) at Douglas (1-1)
Location: 1550 15th St., Douglas
Notable: Pueblo and Douglas first met in 1960, a 35-14 Bulldogs win, according to azfootballarchives.com.
Peoria (1-1) at Sahuaro (1-1)
Location: 545 N. Camino Seco
Notable: Itâs a rematch of the 1994 state championship, which the Panthers and Cougars tied 17-17.
Rio Rico (0-2) at Sierra Linda (2-0)
Location: 3434 S. 67th Ave., Phoenix
Notable: Rio Rico plays Phoenix's Sierra Linda for the first time.
Amphitheater (0-2) at Somerton (0-2)
Location: 1093 W. Jefferson St., Somerton
Notable: Somerton, which is southwest of Yuma, lost 48-0 to Calexico (Calif.) after falling 48-0 to Glendale's Copper Canyon, as well.
Empire (0-2) at St. Maryâs (2-0)
Location: 2217 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix
Notable: After beating a couple of northern schools (Cottonwood's Mingus and Flagstaff's Coconino), Phoenix's Knights host their home opener against a Southern Arizona school.
4A/2A
Palo Verde (1-2) at Rincon/University (0-2)
Location: 421 N. Arcadia Ave.
Notable: Palo Verdeâs enrollment is 699, and Rincon/Universityâs enrollment is 2,232 combined, so in terms of size, it is 3A vs. 6A.
3A
Coolidge (2-1) at Sabino (1-2)
Location: 5000 N. Bowes Road
Notable: Last week, the Sabercats celebrated the debut of their new field, lights and scoreboard with their first win of the season, 38-24 over El Mirage's Dysart.
2A
Catalina (2-0) at Desert Christian (2-1)
Location: 7525 E. Speedway
Notable: The Trojans put their perfect record on the line at Desert Christian, which rebounded from its first 11-person football loss to beat Santa Rita 64-0 last week.
Tanque Verde (2-1) at Benson (2-1)
Location: 360 S. Patagonia St., Benson
Notable: Since recording seven points in its first game, Tanque Verde has scored 93.
Bisbee (1-2) at Morenci (1-2)
Location: 473 Stadium Drive, Morenci
Notable: The Wildcats have won six in a row against Bisbee, dating back to 2013.
Willcox (2-1) at Pima (1-2)
Location: 38 E. 200 South, Pima
Notable: Last season, Pima reached the state championship game, losing 28-27 to Scottsdale Christian.
Santa Cruz Valley (2-1) at Tombstone (0-2)
Location: 1211 N. Yellow Jacket Way, Tombstone
Notable:Â Eloy's Dust Devil is 3-0 all-time against Tombstone, most recently beating the Yellow Jackets 49-14 in the first round of the playoffs in 2023.
1A
Superior (2-1) at Baboquivari (0-3)
Location: Highway 86 and Route 19, Topawa
Notable:Â Topawa's Baboquivari has been outscored 153-6 this season.
Valley Union (2-1) at Kearny Ray (2-1)
Location: 701 N. Highway 177, Kearny
Notable:Â Elfrida's Valley Union, which beat the Duncan Wildkats 52-6 last week, play Kearny's Ray Bearcats this week and the Mayer Wildcats on Oct. 10.
Duncan (1-2) at St. David (3-0)
Location: 70 E. Patton St., St. David
Notable: St. David has outscored opponents 180-6.
