Canyon de Oro's Kayden Luke (30), left, slams into Mica Mountain's Kason Colbert (44) on a carry up the middle during their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Sabino High School quarterback Cameron Hackworth throws the ball during practice on Aug. 14. The Sabercats entered the 2023 season among the favorites to win the 3A state title.
Walden Grove's Gabriel Smith (7) drops a pass over the head of Cienega's Ledainean Moore (4) at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Sunnyside's Samario Garcia (5) high steps past Rincon's Gabe Diochea (18) and Abdullah Jassim (34) on his way to the end zone during their high school football game at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., October 14, 2022.
Cienega's Jamarye Joiner (11) muscles his way through Ironwood Ridge's Kyle Nicolai (14) on the Bobcats first play in overtime to score what with the extra point was the winner in overtime at Cienega High School, Friday, October 20, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
Mica Mountain's head coach Pat Nugent, left, has a laugh with his former player and assistant and current head coach at Canyon del Oro, Dustin Peace, before their game at CDO Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Salpointeβs varsity football team runs on to the field before the Lancersβ game against Valley Vista High School at Salpointe Catholic High School on Sept. 15.
Pusch Ridge's Bubba Mustain (2) scrambles up the middle between Catalina Foothills's Tanner Montijo (11), left, and Rey Vasquez (9) in the third quarter of their game at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, Tucson, Ariz., September 14, 2023.
As the Arizona high school football season enters Week 10, the Star presents our weekly look back at the best of last week while charging ahead toward what we might be able to expect from programs across Tucson and surrounding communities this Thursday or Friday night.
Team of the week
For the most part, last week was a good one in Southern Arizona football, so there was tough competition for "team of the week" designation.
However, Sabino (6-2) picked up probably the most significant win, beating then No. 3 Waddell ALA-West Foothills 42-21. The Sabercats were coming off a 27-20 home loss to Thatcher and ALA-West Foothillsβ only loss was 28-20 at No. 1 Bullhead City Mohave.
Sabino senior quarterback Cameron Hackworth passed for 325 yards and moved into fourth on the all-time Southern Arizona passing chart with 7,301 yards according to AllSportsTucson.com. AndrewCota, of Sunnyside and Salpointe Catholic is third with 7,554 yard from 2010 to 2013.
Stat book
Walden Grove senior quarterback Gabriel Smith passed for 297 yards and five touchdowns in WG’s 42-7 win over Pueblo on Friday. According to AllSportsTucson.com, Smith moved onto 13th on the all-time Southern Arizona passing chart when he passed the 5,000 passing yard plateau.
Cholla had two 100-yard rushers in the Chargers' 31-15 win over Sahuarita. Junior Francisco Javier Mendivil had 119 on 17 carries and on 18 carries senior Rocco Sotelo had 154.
Two Sunnyside backs ran for over 120 yards in Blue Devils' 12-3 win over Cienega. Senior Samario Garcia gained 123 yards on 20 carries and senior Victor Gonzalez had 163 yards on 20 carries as well.
Recruiting trail
Gilbert ALA Gilbert North senior receiver Brandon Phelps broke another state record on Friday, getting the all-time receptions mark. The UA commit broke the career receiving yards record and the career receiving touchdown standard previously. He had seven catches for 138 yards against Scottsdale Cactus Shadows last week.
Next level
Senior receiver Jamarye Joiner had two catches for 23 yards in Jacksonville Stateβs 31-13 loss to Liberty. The Cienega alum and former UA player has seven catches for 72 yards this season playing under JSU coach Rich Rodriguez (formerly the head coach at Arizona).
Quoteable
βI told the kids βthanks,ββ Canyon del Oro head coach Dustin Peace said ofΒ beating his mentor, Mica Mountain'sΒ PatNugent. βIf I had to live my life 0-4, every time we go golfing or something, I couldnβt say anything else, no matter if we had state championships or not.β
Peace and CDO did win the 2009 4A-II title after Nugent went to coach Pima College.
Going social
"Sheesh! Nick is a stud. ... Fun Fact #1: Nick intercepted a pass and 4 plays later went out and boomed the 47-yarder. ... Fun Fact #2: Nick doesnβt use a kicking block. He kicks straight off the ground. ... [two frozen faces emojis] β¦ #hawkyeah
β Tanque Verde head coach Jeff Bollnow posted on X (Twitter) about TV senior kicker/defensive back Nicholas Coryell.
Notable: Salpointe, No. 12 in Class 6A, returns to Central Region play looking to rebound from last weekβs 49-0 loss at Open No. 2 Peoria Liberty. The Lancers lead the region with a 2-0 record as their focus shifts to 6A with the Open likely out of reach. Senior running back Christian Clark, a Texas commit, leads 6A No. 16 Mountain Pointe.
Thatcher (5-3) at Pusch Ridge Christian (6-2)
Location: 9500 North Oracle Road
Notable: Thatcher, No. 6 in Class 3A, returns to the Tucson area after upsetting Sabino on Oct. 6, 27-20. Meanwhile, 3A No. 8 Pusch Ridge is coming off a 31-20 win over No. 21 Coolidge, which ended the Lions' two-game slide. The game not only has playoff implications but Thatcher is atop the 3A South at 2-0 in region play; PRCA is 0-2.
PICTURE THIS
Last Friday: Canyon del Oro 17, Mica Mountain 15
There was no bigger game in Southern Arizona β likely statewide β last Friday night than the Dorados and Thunderbolts in Oro Valley.
These teams entered the season on a collision course to this Week 8 matchup, and may still be on a similar course with a possible Class 4A state playoff rematch hardly impossible (that is if CDO doesn't end up in the Open division).
For dozens of images from this game, aΒ full photo galleryΒ from Star photographer Kelly Presnell:
The Dorados hold on in the final seconds to go 7-0 and drop the visiting Bolts to 6-1, with a 17-15 home win, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 13, 2023.
VIDEO VAULT
Also from CDO, Mica Mountain, videos of scoring plays for both teams, and other big moments (like CDO's halfback pass that led to an all-important field goal, and Sa'Kylee Woodard's game-saving sack on a two-point conversion try) via Star sports correspondent James Kelley:
1st quarter:
3rd quarter:
4th quarter:
Photos: Canyon del Oro edges Mica Mountain in matchup of 4A high school football unbeatens