After a brief appetizer last week, high school football returns to Southern Arizona this week will a full helping.
The Tucson-area teams are mostly playing schools from the greater Phoenix area but there’s some big local match-ups including Salpointe Catholic at Marana and Sahuaro at Sabino.
Friday also is slated to give us the return of varsity football to Santa Rita and the gridiron debut of Desert Christian.
Games are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Thursday
Classes 5A/4A
Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (2-8)* at Ironwood Ridge (8-3)*
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 2475 W. Naranja Drive
Notable: The Nighthawks crushed the Sentinels 59-30 last season on the road.
Class 4A
San Tan Valley Combs (2-8)* at Catalina Foothills (4-6)*
Location: 4300 E. Sunrise Drive
Notable: Last season’s 4-6 mark was Foothills’ first below .500 record since 2019.
Cholla (4-6)* at Glendale Copper Canyon (2-8)*
Location: 9126 W. Camelback Road, Glendale
Notable: In June Cholla hosted 7-on-7 games and a Big Man competition for the first time.
Phoenix Sierra Linda (4-6)* at Empire (6-4)*
Location: 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way
Notable: Empire finished last season with a five-game winning streak.
Friday
Classes 6A/5A
Phoenix Desert Vista (2-8)* at Cienega (5-5)*
Location: 12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way
Notable: Cienega is 1-1 all-time against DV, according to azfootballarchives.com, beating the Thunder in 2014 27-18 and losing 47-21 in 2013.
Salpointe Catholic (10-3)* at Marana (5-5)*
Location: 12000 W. Emigh Road
Notable: Tiger junior quarterback Colten Meyer is the cousin of Marana alumnus Trenton Bourguet and Salpointe alumni Coben Bourguet and Treyson Bourguet, according to All Sports Tucson.
Class 5A
Buena (7-4)* at Phoenix Betty H. Fairfax (0-10)*
Location: 8225 S. 59th Ave., Laveen Village
Notable: Last year Buena reached the state tournament for the first time since 2019.
Avondale Agua Fria (6-4)* at Flowing Wells (3-7)*
Location: 3725 N. Flowing Wells Road
Notable: After starting the season 1-7, the Cabs won their last two games, 42-0 over Nogales and 42-26 over Maricopa.
Tucson High (5-5)* at Phoenix South Mountain (2-8)*
Location: 5401 S. 7th St., Phoenix
Notable: After beating South Mountain in the season opener, the Badgers won their last four games to finish .500.
Glendale Apollo (11-2)* at Sunnyside (5-5)*
Location: 1725 E. Bilby Road
Notable: It’s always sunny in Apollo: the Hawks face Sunnyside and Phoenix Sunnyslope in back to back weeks.
Gilbert (3-7)* at Mountain View (4-6)*
Location: 3901 W. Linda Vista Blvd.
Notable: Mountain View has gone 4-6 in every season since 2020 when they were 1-1.
Desert View (3-7)* at Surprise Willow Canyon (2-8)*
Location: 17901 W. Lundberg St., Surprise
Notable: DV started last season 3-1, including a 26-25 win over Willow Canyon but closed the season on a six-game losing streak.
Class 4A
Phoenix Maryvale (3-7)* at Amphitheater (7-3)*
Location: 125 W. Yavapai Road
Notable: Amphi won the battle of the Panthers 49-28, a rematch of the 1975 AAA state championship game, won by Amphitheater 23-22.
Rio Rico (4-6)* at Maricopa Desert Sunrise (1-9)*
Location: 16200 N. Murphy Road, Maricopa
Notable: Desert Sunrise opened in 2022 and this is their first game against a Southern Arizona team.
Canyon del Oro (14-0)* at Mesa Eastmark (9-3)*
Location: 9560 E. Ray Road, Mesa
Notable: Eastmark opened in 2019 and won the 3A state championship in 2022, beating Sabino and Pusch Ridge in the playoffs.
San Tan Valley Poston Butte (6-5)* at Mica Mountain (11-2)*
Location: 10800 E. Valencia Road
Notable: Poston Butte opened last season with a loss to Mica Mountain and closed it with a loss to CDO, the only team to beat MM last year.
Phoenix Washington (4-6)* at Rincon/University (2-8)*
Location: 421 N. Arcadia Ave.
Notable: Last season Rincon/University opened the season with a 24-18 win over Washington and a 20-6 triumph over Palo Verde but then lost eight in a row.
Phoenix Alhambra (2-8)* at Sahuarita (2-8)*
Location: 350 Sahuarita Road
Notable: New Sahuarita head coach Jake Allen continues moving south, the Ironwood Ridge alum was Pueblo’s head coach.
Phoenix Northwest Christian (9-3)* at Walden Grove (6-5)*
Location: 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road
Notable: Northwest Christian beat Walden Grove twice last season, in the season opener and in the first round of the state tournament.
Classes 4A/3A
Sahuaro (3-7)* at Sabino (1-0)^
Location: 5000 N. Bowes Road
Notable: According to azfootballarchives.com, the east side rivals first met in 1974, a 21-15 Sahuaro win. The Cougars won four in a row before Sabino got their first win in the series, 35-14 in 1978.
Class 3A
Pusch Ridge Christian (7-4)* at Show Low (3-7)*
Location: 1201 N. Cougar Lane, Show Low
Notable: Although 3A started play last week, both the Lions and Cougars opened the season with byes.
Class 2A
Phoenix NFL YET (0-1) at Catalina (0-1)^
Location: 3645 E. Pima St.
Notable: NFL Youth Education Town College Prep Academy is a charter school. The NFL also has set up YETs in North Texas, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Hawaii, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Fla., Los Angeles and New Orleans.
Wellton Antelope Union (1-0) at Palo Verde (2-8)*
Location: 1302 S. Avenida Vega
Notable: Other than the Nov. 14 season opener against Santa Rita in 2020, a 10-0 win, Palo Verde hasn’t won a season opener since a 31-27 win over Tanque Verde in 2017.
Globe (0-1) at Santa Rita
Location: 3951 S. Pantano Road
Notable: Santa Rita returns to varsity play for the first time since the 2022 season ended halfway through due to a lack of players.
Class 1A
Phoenix Desert Heights Prep (1-0) at Desert Christian (0-1)
Location: 7525 E. Speedway Blvd.
Notable: After forfeiting last week (the Arizona Republic reported it was due to a lack of healthy players after the team's scrimmage), Desert Christian looks to make its football debut at home.
Saturday
Class 5A/4A
Nogales (0-10)* at Pueblo (3-7)*
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: 3500 S. 12th Ave.
Notable: While Nogales and Pueblo lost their Friday Night Lights this week, Tucson football fans gained the chance to catch a day-night high school and college football doubleheader with UA hosting New Mexico.
*last season’s record
^Sabino went 11-3 last season; Catalina was 3-7.
Tucson 10: Look out for these Southern Arizona players this high school football seasonThese 10 high school football players in Southern Arizona — representing Mica Mountain, Canyon del Oro, Salpointe, Buena, Marana, Walden Grove and Tanque Verde — should significantly impact their respective teams this season.
Last year, the preseason high school football chatter was about when Tucson-area high schools would halt a state championship drought. This year: it's about coaching changes, with defending champ Canyon del Oro, Salpointe, others under new leadership.
High school football across Tucson and surrounding communities — a look back at the first week of action (including games and high points by Tanque Verde, Sabino and others), and a peek at this week's first full slate of games of the 2024 season.
Photos: Tanque Verde loses 26-13 to Phoenix Christian in season opener, high school football
Rocco Haggard (14) leads the Hawks on to the field before the game against Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Jeff Bollnow, head coach of the Hawks speaks to his players after a 13-26 loss to Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde wide receiver Aiden Cooper (7) celebrates with Kasey Johnson (12) after he scores in the season opening game against Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde wide receiver Delon Harrison (24) runs the ball down the field during the season opening game against Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Phoenix Christian’s Michael Harmon (9) stares at the loose ball with Tanque Verde’s Hunter Scott (78) and Anthony Torgeson (10) during the season opening game at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Evelyn Nagle performs with the Tanque Verde pom team during halftime, Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Phoenix Christian’s Kevin Palafox (21) tackles Tanque Verde’s Delon Harrison (24) during the season opening game at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde’s Delon Harrison (24) and Aiden Cooper (7) sandwich Phoenix Christian’s Trey Ransom (12) during the season opening game at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
People from both teams swarm over Phoenix Christian’s Z’Yeon Rondan (14) during the season opening game at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Phoenix Christian’s Trey Ransom (12) runs the ball during the season opening game against Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Jeff Bollnow, head coach of the Tanque Verde Hawks prepares for kick off against Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Phoenix Christian’s Israel Torres (59) kicks off during the season opening game against Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde’s Anthony Torgeson (10) tackles Phoenix Christian’s Trey Ransom (12) during the season opening game at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Phoenix Christian’s Trey Ransom (12) avoids Tanque Verde’s Carter Flip (64) during the season opening game at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Shannon Martinez plays with the Tanque Verde High School band during halftime in the football game against Phoenix Christian, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde’s Jacob Dickens (1) celebrates his touchdown with Kasey Johnson (12) in the inzone during the season opening game against Phoenix Christian, Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde’s Rocco Haggard (14) receives the snap during the season opening game against Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Jeff Bollnow, head coach of the Tanque Verde Hawks talks to his players after a 13-26 loss to Phoenix Christian High School at home, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde’s Rocco Haggard (14) receives the snap during the season opening game against Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde’s Aiden Cooper (7) scores a touchdown during the season opening game against Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde High School band walks on to the field before the football game against Phoenix Christian, Aug. 23, 2024.
A swarm of Phoenix Christian defenders tackle Tanque Verde’s Sebastian Blakeman (22) during the season opening game at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde’s Rocco Haggard (14) calls out a play during the season opening game against Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde wide receiver Aiden Cooper (7) celebrates his touchdown alongside Kasey Johnson (12) during their season opening game against Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde wide receiver Delon Harrison (24) runs the ball during the season opening game against Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
Tanque Verde’s Ike Johnson (35) tackles Phoenix Christian’s Z’Yeon Rondan (14 ) during the season opening game at Tanque Verde High School, Aug. 23, 2024.
