Team of the week
Despite being younger than COVID-19, Mica Mountain made a statement on Friday, routing previously unbeaten Sabino 49-7.
It’s the Thunderbolts’ second full season of varsity play, while Sabino has made the state championship game nine times, winning three times.
Mica Mountain coach Pat Nugent chats with his team after its 49-7 win over Sabino on Sept. 8. It was the 150th career victory for Nugent.
Stat book I
Canyon del Oro senior Kayden Luke ran for 241 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries last week, good for an average of 20.1 yards per rush, in the 50-20 win over Desert View. He’s sixth on the AIA’s statewide (all classes/conferences) list in yards rushing with 542.
Recruiting trail
Salpointe Catholic hosts Surprise Valley Vista. In addition to Salpointe’s growing list of college prospects, Beloit College has offered Valley Vista (0-3 on the year) senior quarterback Miles Pringle a scholarship. According to arizonavarsity.com, the Wisconsin school has offered 38 players in Arizona.
Quotable
“I wouldn’t say it’s a good thing but, for some reason, after second half we get a little more focused, realize we’re in a football game. But that is something we should change because we’ve got to pop off first play, first snap,” Catalina sophomore QB Eli Gurnett told azpreps365.com.
Still, the Trojans, thanks in part to senior running back Sage Antone‘s 251 yards on 18 carries, beat Florence ALA-Anthem South 30-20 at home Friday to secure Catalina’s first 3-0 start since 2005 and fifth ever (a history that goes back to 1955). Catalina went 1-9 in 2022 and 1-9 in 2021 — their only win both seasons by forfeit. They didn’t play in 2020 and went 1-9 in 2019, beating Tanque Verde 14-12.
The last time Catalina won three or more games was 2018, when it went 3-7. According to azpreps365.com, it’s Catalina’s fifth 3-0 start, a history that goes back to 1955.
Catalina plays at Bisbee (1-2) Friday night.
Stat book IIMarana senior quarterback Jason Wood passed for 419 yards, going 36 for 57, in the Tigers’ 29-24 loss at Gilbert Higley. Marana junior receiver Dezmen Roebuck had 14 catches for 200 yards.
Going social
“My favorite stat of the season so far: Academic eligibility got ran for Pueblo football this morning and we had 100 academically eligible athletes in the football program. Only 1 out of 44 varsity athletes was ineligible. Massive improvement from where we started 3 years ago!!”
— Jake Allen, Pueblo head coach, via X(Twitter) On the field, the Warriors are 2-1 following their 27-0 win over west-side rival Cholla last week.
Next level
UA added Sabino alum and defensive back Nezayah Stubblefield and defensive lineman To’afiaoalii Fruean, a Sierra Vista Buena alumnus, to the roster as walk-ons this season (as reported by Jason Scheer of WildcatAuthority.com). Stubblefield transferred from Ottawa University (AZ) but did not play last year in his first in college. Fruean is a true freshman.
Stat book III
Buena sophomore running back
Michael Lujan ran for 136 on 16 carries in the Colts’ 33-28 win over Catalina Foothills. Meanwhile, Buena junior running back Andres Bonilla rushed for 121 on 14 attempts.
Buena’s Michael Lujan (21) muscles his way to the end zone through Ironwood Ridge's Jose Sanchez (37) during the third quarter of their high school game at Ironwood Ridge High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 1, 2023.
