Flowing Wells, Mountain View and Walden Grove were three of four teams from Tucson and surrounding communities to enter Friday night winless through four weeks of the 2023 local high school football season.
But the Caballeros, Mountain Lions and Red Wolves each finished Week 5 in the “W” column, giving all three, at the very least, a small bit of momentum heading into the midway point of their seasons next week.
At Walden Grove (1-3), Eli White and Jayvon Coleman had touchdown receptions, while Carlos Montoya Jr. and Robert Cash III scored on the ground in a 26-7 win over Cienega.
Walden Grove's Buddy Davis (6) makes a seat-of-the-pants interception after defecting the pass in the second quarter of the Red Wolves home win over Cienega Friday night.
At Flowing Wells (1-3), sophomore running back Jayden Simmons rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-7 home win over Sahuarita (1-3).
Friday was Simmons’ 16th birthday; how did he plan to celebrate postgame?
“Probably go out, Waffle House,” he said in a video posted to the team’s X(Twitter) account. “Get a whole lot of waffles.”
In addition to Simmons’ three scores, Alfredo Guzman had a 2-yard touchdown run, while Tanner Kennedy’s tackle in the end zone gave the Cabs two points via a safety.
At Mountain View, the host Mountain Lions trailed by two touchdowns in the third quarter but battled back for a 42-35 over Marana for their first win of 2023.
Mountain View reportedly started its third-string quarterback to open the game, and coach Matt Johnson ended up playing his fourth and fifth options.
“I have never had a big win with so many injuries,” Johnson said, as reported by AllSportsTucson.com. “The kids could have hung their heads, but they kept the faith.”
On the other end of the win/loss balance sheet going into this week’s games, Salpointe Catholic, Mica Mountain, Buena, Canyon del Oro, and Pusch Ridge Christian Academy all stayed unbeaten at 4-0 as they approach next week’s midway point. The only previously unbeaten to lose this week was Catalina (3-1), which was blanked on the road at Bisbee.
The entire scoreboard involving local teams (scores compiled from the Arizona Republic and other sources):
- Salpointe (4-0) 50, Surprise Valley Vista (0-4), 6
- Flowing Wells (1-3) 35, Sahuarita (1-3) 7
- Ironwood Ridge (3-1) 47, Douglas (1-3) 14
- Mountain View (1-3) 42, Marana (1-3) 35
- Desert View (3-1) 49, Nogales (0-4) 13
- Mica Mountain (4-0) 35, Sunnyside (1-3) 7
- Buena (4-0) 21, Tucson (1-3) 13
- Walden Grove (1-3) 26, Cienega (2-2) 7
- Pusch Ridge (4-0) 28, Catalina Foothills (1-3) 13 (Thu.)
- Canyon del Oro (4-0) 41, Amphitheater (2-2) 0
- Pueblo (3-1) 31, Empire (1-3) 6
- Florence (4-1) 35, Rio Rico (1-3) 8
- Sahuaro (2-2) 29, Cholla (2-2) 10
- Sabino (4-1) 50, Safford (2-3) 21
- Bisbee (2-2) 39, Catalina (3-1) 0
- Tanque Verde (3-1) 42, Palo Verde (2-2) 6
Additional highlights:
Walden Grove 26, Cienega 7:
In defeat, Cienega’s Ari Dubin hauled in a 16-yard touchdown reception for the Bobcats’ only score against Walden Grove Friday:
VIDEO: Cienega's Ari Dubin scores on a 16-yard touchdown reception, but the Bobcats still fell 26-7 at Walden Grove on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in local high school football action. Video by James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Coleman’s touchdown in the second quarter for the Red Wolves elicited WG assistant coach Jacob Montano to say on X(Twitter) that Coleman “is the real deal! Electric athletes make plays all over the field. Fantastic young man.”
VIDEO: Walden Grove's Jayvon Coleman hauls in a 14-yard touchdown reception during the Red Wolves' 26-7 home win over Cienega on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in local high school football action. Video by James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Montoya’s second-quarter score for the Red Wolves:
ABOVE: During a matchup last season, Walden Grove’s Carlos Montoya Jr (20) slips by Cienega’s Liam Moore (80) on his way to the end zone for a score in the second quarter a Sept. 15, 2023, game at Walden Grove High School. BELOW: Montoya Jr gets wrapped up by Cienega’s Kadin Thomas.
For more images, a full photo gallery from Walden Grove’s first win of 2023 by Star photographer Kelly Presnell:
Walden Grove High School notches its first win of the 2023 high school football season, scoring first and last on visiting Cienega on Friday, …
Salpointe Catholic 50, Valley Vista 0:
Salpointe Catholic led 28-0 at halftime en route to the Lancers’ 50-6 win over visiting Surprise Valley Vista. Salpointe’s scoring included a reach over the goal line by quarterback Taylor Nagore:
Salpointe quarterback Taylor Nagore (10) extends his arm into the end zone for a touchdown during the Lancers’ home win over Valley Vista High School on Sept. 15, 2023.
The Lancers also had a touchdown on the ground from Jaylin Willis Dennard:
Salpointe’s Jaylin Willis Dennard (4) runs the ball into the in zone for a touchdown as Valley Vista’s Sawyer Oliver (2) tries to tackle him in their matchup at Salpointe Catholic High School, 1545 E. Copper Street, Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 15, 2023.
For more images, a full photo gallery from Salpointe’s fourth win in four games in 2023 by Star photographer Grace Trejo:
Salpointe Catholic (4-0) remains unbeaten in 2023 after a 50-6 home win over Surprise Valley Vista (0-4) on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 at Salpoint…
