As the big schools move on to Week 4 and the smaller schools enter Week 5, four Tucson-area teams are putting their perfect records on the line on Friday.
Pusch Ridge Christian has started 4-0, while Salpointe Catholic, Flowing Wells and Desert View are all 3-0.
Desert View's Fernando Soto (88) swims past Sahuaro's Mariano Blackwell (1) on his way to the end zone after making a catch over the middle during the third quarter of their game, Sept. 5, 2025, in Tucson.
Plus, some familiar foes lock horns like Tucson High against Buena and Canyon del Oro vs. Marana in another packed week of high school tackle football.
All games are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
FRIDAY
6A
Salpointe (3-0) at Mesa Red Mountain (3-0)
Salpointe's Charles Chaney (5) gets a congratulatory salute from Noah Banhie (0) after threading his way into the end zone in the second quarter of their game against Marana on Aug. 29, 2025, in Tucson.
Location: 7301 E. Brown Road, Mesa
Notable: Salpointe is off to a 3-0 start for the seventh time in the last nine years.
5A
Tucson High (1-2) at Buena (2-1)
Location: 5225 E. Buena School Blvd., Sierra Vista
Notable: According to azfootballarchives.com, the Badgers and Colts first met in 1976, a 2-0 Tucson High win.
Ironwood Ridge (0-3) at Casa Grande (1-2)
Location: 2730 N. Trekell Road, Casa Grande
Notable: The last time the Nighthawks started 0-3 was 2022, but Ironwood Ridge went 8-3 last year and in 2023 and 6-5 in 2021.
Nogales (2-1) at Cienega (1-2)
Location: 12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way
Notable: The Bobcats have won 11 in a row against Nogales, dating back to a 42-13 win in 2008. They haven’t played since 2021, a 56-0 game.
Maricopa (2-1) at Flowing Wells (3-0)
Location: 3725 N. Flowing Wells Road
Notable: The Cabs are looking for their first 4-0 start since 2015 when they went 9-2. Last year, Flowing Wells was 5-5.
Canyon del Oro (2-1) at Marana (2-1)
Marana's Jaxsun Sharp (12) gets surrounded by Tigers after he grabbed a desperation heave to score in the second quarter of their game at Salpointe, Aug. 29, 2025, in Tucson.
Location: 12000 W. Emigh Road
Notable: Although CDO moved up to Class 5A this year, the Dorados and Marana have played the last three years with the Tigers going 2-1, including winning 48-0 last year.
Desert View (3-0) at Mountain View (2-1)
Location: 3901 W. Linda Vista Blvd.
Notable: Desert View has won two in a row against Mountain View (in 2022 and 2021) after dropping 16 in a row to the Mountain Lions, according to azfootballarchives.com.
5A/4A
Mica Mountain (2-1) at Sunnyside (2-1)
Location: 1725 E. Bilby Road
Notable: The schools face off for the third time. Mica Mountain won the first game 35-7 in 2023 and 28-0 last year.
Walden Grove (1-2) at Casa Grande Vista Grande (2-1)
Location: 1556 N. Arizola Road, Casa Grande
Notable: Vista Grande is 0-1 against Southern Arizona schools so far this year, having lost 27-16 to Sunnyside in the season opener. Vista Grande also plays Tucson High, CDO, Buena, Ironwood Ridge and Marana.
4A
Rio Rico (0-3) at Amphitheater (1-2)
Location: 125 W. Yavapai Road
Notable: New Amphi head coach Stanley Richardson got his first win last week, 15-7 at Somerton. Will this be the week new Rio Rico head coach Dominik Bonilla gets his first victory?
Yuma Kofa (1-2) at Cholla (2-1)
Location: 2001 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
Notable: Last week, Kofa snapped a 27-game losing streak by beating Phoenix Alhambra 51-20.
Douglas (2-1) at Empire (0-3)
Location: 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way
Notable: Empire leads the all-time series with Douglas 6-5, but the Bulldogs have won the last three and four of the last six.
Glendale Copper Canyon (1-2) at Pueblo (0-3)
Location: 3500 S. 12th Ave.
Notable: Pueblo debuts its new artificial turf field against the Aztecs, and the Warriors have declared it to be a “blue out.”
Sahuaro (2-1) at Sahuarita (1-2)
Location: 350 Sahuarita Road
Notable: Sahuaro leads the rivalry 2-0 all-time, with wins in 2015 and 2022. According to the latest AIA enrollment figures, Sahuaro is bigger with 1,430 students compared to Sahuarita’s 1,188.
Catalina Foothills (2-1) at Snowflake (3-0)
Location: 190 S. 2nd West, Snowflake
Notable: The town of Snowflake is named after its founders Erastus Snow and William Flake. Former U.S. Senator Jeff Flake went to Snowflake High.
Rincon/University (1-2) at Somerton (0-3)
Location: 1093 W. Jefferson St., Somerton
Notable: The Toros host their second straight Tucson team after losing 15-7 to Amphi.
3A
Florence (1-3) at Pusch Ridge Christian (4-0)
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 9500 N. Oracle Road
Notable: The Lions have won nine straight home games and 16 in a row overall.
2A
Peridot San Carlos (2-1) at Desert Christian (3-1)
Location: 7525 E. Speedway
Notable: Since losing 24-12 to Heritage Academy Laveen in Week 2, Desert Christian outscored Santa Rita and Catalina 108-6.
Phoenix Veritas Prep (4-0) at Benson (3-1)
Location: 360 S. Patagonia St., Benson
Notable: The Bobcats are 3-0 all-time against Veritas Prep, with those wins coming in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Santa Rita (0-4) at Bisbee (1-3)
Location: 99 Arizona Street #73, Bisbee
Notable: Santa Rita’s 42-0 loss to Winterhaven (Calif.) San Pasqual at home last week was called at the half.
Chandler Lincoln Prep (1-3) at Catalina (2-1)
Location: 3645 E. Pima St.
Notable: This is Lincoln Prep’s first season playing 11-person football. The school was 1A from 2019-24.
Scottsdale Coronado (0-3) at Palo Verde (1-3)
Location: 1302 S. Avenida Vega
Notable: Coronado is in 3A in other sports. Its enrollment is 747, while Palo Verde’s is 699.
Tombstone (0-3) at Willcox (3-1)
Location: 240 N. Bisbee Ave., Willcox
Notable: The Cowboys have won seven in a row against Tombstone.
1A
Baboquivari (0-4) at Valley Union (2-2)
Location: 4088 W. Jefferson Road, Elfrida
Notable: Valley Union has won three of the last four against Baboquivari, including 24-13 last year.
