With one full week of high school football in the books the Star shares 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 Friday night.
Teams of the week
Last week a pair of local times shined on different sides of the high school football spectrum.
Meyer
At Marana High School, the Tigers opened the 2024 season with a 27-24 win over Salpointe Catholic, snapping the Lancers’ 23-game win streak against Tucson area teams that dated back to 2017.
Salpointe outscored local opponents 967-158 in that span and was so dominant the 4A-sized school was moved up to 6A for football.
Salpointe jumped ahead 15 points in the second half, but Marana rallied to avenge the Tigers' 35-14 loss at SCHS last year. Marana quarterback Colten Meyer passed for 264 yards and ran for the game-winning 2-point conversion. ...
Desert Christian's players, coaches and support staff gather for a group photo in celebration of the program's first-ever varsity football win, a 42-20 win over Desert Heights Prep of Glendale.
McKibben
Meanwhile, at a makeshift field at the K-8 campus because its new stadium wasn’t ready, coach Jason McKibben's Desert Christian Eagles won their first-ever varsity football game 42-20 over Glendale Desert Heights Prep. Desert Christian is the first 8-man football team in Tucson since 2009, when St. Augustine and Arizona State School for the Deaf and the Blind played together, according to azpreps365.com.
Desert Christian forfeited their first scheduled game due to injuries. DC junior quarterback Cooper Payne ran 69 yards to score the Eagles’ first touchdown.
Payne also had an interception, as did his brother Brock.
Play of the week
At around seven minutes left in the game, Sahuaro junior receiver Jayden Jansen had a 15-yard reception on 3rd-and-long to set up senior running back Jermarell Webb’s game-winning 1-yard touchdown run in the Cougars’ 15-14 win over Sabino.
Stat book
Empire senior running back Ngonkra Fuangunyi ran for 209 yards and a score on 24 carries in the Ravens’ 14-7 win over Phoenix Sierra Linda last week. Fuangunyi also had three tackles on defense.
Ransom
Next level
Ohio State senior safety Lathan Ransom made nine tackles (including two for a loss) and returned a fumble for a touchdown to earn OSU’s Defensive Player of the Game honors after the Buckeyes’ 52-6 win over Akron on Saturday. Ransom graduated from Salpointe in 2020.
Quotable
"Who’s back of the week? The Fullback! @PardonMyTake ... Save a spot on the Lowman Trophy watchlist for the freshman Kayden Luke! @PFTCommenter @BarstoolBigCat @KaydenLuke2"
Arizona Football raved about its local-product-turned-touchdown-blocking-fullback on X (Twitter) on Monday. The post included a video of freshman Kayden Luke’s highlights as well as praise from UA head coach Brent Brennan and senior running back running back Quali Conley with an instrumental version of the AC/DC song “Thunderstruck.” Luke led Canyon del Oro to the Class 4A state championship last season and had key blocks on three Wildcat touchdowns in his first college game Saturday night.
During this Sept. 1, 2023 matchup, Ironwood Ridge's Grant Dooling (11), left, and Buena's Latavis Walker (8) collide during a punt return in a very wet first quarter of their showdown at Ironwood Ridge High School in Oro Valley.
Games of the week
Marana (1-0) at Tucson High (1-0)
Location: 400 N. Second Ave.
Notable: Not only are both Marana and Tucson High 1-0 after the Tigers snapped Salpointe Catholic’s win streak over local teams and the Badgers routed Phoenix South Mountain 50-20 last week, both schools finished tied for first in their regions last year. Both went 4-1, Tucson High in the Class 5A Sonoran and Marana in the 5A Southern. Tucson High has won its last five in a row, and Marana has won four of its last five. They meet Friday at 7 p.m.
Ironwood Ridge (1-0) at Buena (1-0)
Location: 5225 E. Buena School Blvd; Sierra Vista
Notable: In 7 p.m. Friday match up of two of Southern Arizona’s more prominent coaches, it’s another 5A Sonoran-versus-5A Southern tilt. Buena head coach and Sierra Vista native Joe Thomas won his 50th game as a head coach last week in the Colts' 68-19 victory over Phoenix Betty H. Fairfax. Ironwood Ridge head coach Dale Stott is the reigning 5A Sonoran Coach of the Year. Both teams reached the playoffs in 2023.
Sahuaro High School's wait to beat Sabino is over, but the Cougars are looking for more. On Friday Sahuaro held on to beat the Sabercats 15-14, snapping a four-game losing streak to the school's east side rivals.
Tucson-area high school football: Sahuaro junior running back Isaac Lugo scores on a six-yard rushing touchdown during the Cougars' 15-14 win over rival Sabino on Aug. 30, 2024. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Tucson-area high school football: Sabino freshman quarterback Bodhi Sanford scores on an 11-yard rushing touchdown during the Sabercats' 15-14 loss to rival Sahuaro on Aug. 30, 2024. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Tucson-area high school football: Sahuaro senior running back Jermarell Webb scores on a one-yard rushing touchdown during the Cougars' 15-14 win over rival Sabino on Aug. 30, 2024. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Tucson-area high school football: Sabino senior receiver Max Trainer scores on a 26-yard touchdown reception during the Sabercats' 15-14 loss to rival Sahuaro on Aug. 30, 2024. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Tucson-area high school football: Sahuaro records a safety that proved much especially valuable in terms of the final score during the Cougars' 15-14 win over rival Sabino on Aug. 30, 2024. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Tucson-area high school football: Sabino senior defensive back Britt Robertson records an interception during the Sabercats' 15-14 loss to rival Sahuaro on Aug. 30, 2024. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Tucson-area high school football: Sabino junior defensive back Adrian Tellez records an interception during the Sabercats' 15-14 loss to rival Sahuaro on Aug. 30, 2024. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Photos: Marana edges visiting Salpointe in the last seconds 27-24 to open their seasons, high school football
Marana quarterback Colten Meyer’s (16) second-effort gets into the end zone on a two point conversion in the final seconds for the final points during the Tigers’ 27-24 win over Salpointe Catholic on Aug. 30 in Marana.
Marana's Jeffrey Smith III (33) takes a poke in the eye turning the corner on Salpointe's Thomas Regina (22) in the first quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana quarterback Colten Meyer (16) throws the game-winning pass over the rush from Salpointe Catholic’s Dinos Drossos (15) in the waning seconds of the the Tigers victory over the Lancers on Aug. 30 in Marana.
Marana's Dominic Cillitto (6) cradles the game-winning touchdown throw alone in the end zone in the fourth quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's quarterback Matthew Avelar (2) beats Marana's Wyatt Berry (10) to the pylon and score in the third quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's Cade Paglinawan (9) celebrates after the Lancers made a goal line stand against Marana in the fourth quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana's Dezmen Roebuck (1) drags down Salpointe's quarterback Matthew Avelar (2) for a sack in the third quarter at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana's Jeffrey Smith III (33) pushes his way past Salpointe's Richard Archuleta (5) on a first quarter sweep, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's Axel Martinez (26) trots in untouched after scooping up a Lancer fumble against Marana in the first quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's quarterback Matthew Avelar (2) goes down for a sack in the arms of Marana's Christian Berrios (8), left, Justin Elder (56) and Javi Muro (44) in the first quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's RJ Gory (87) slips the grip of Marana's Wyatt Berry (10) and eventually ends up in the end zone after a catch and run TD in the quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana's Jaxsun Sharp (12) gains ground while being pursued by Salpointe's Thomas Regina (22), left, and Salpointe's Dinos Drossos (15) at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana's Dermain Linen Jr (2) does just enough to spoil the reception for Salpointe's Morgan Quiri (14) on a deep throw in the second quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana's Dezmen Roebuck (1) batters Salpointe's Matthew Avelar (2) out of bounds in the second quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's Axel Martinez (26) lunges for a final yard in the arms of Marana's Dezmen Roebuck (1), top and Dominic Olivas (9) during the second quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana's Dezmen Roebuck (1) wraps up Salpointe's RJ Gory (87) after a catch at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's Nathan Spivey (8) loses his grip on the ball trying to get up the middle against Marana in the second quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's Cade Paglinawan (9) and Salpointe's Noah Banhie (99) sack Marana's quarterback Colten Meyer (16) in the early going of the third quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's quarterback Matthew Avelar (2) swings a pass to Salpointe's Axel Martinez (26) against Marana in the third quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana's Dezmen Roebuck (1) takes advantage of a slip by Salpointe's Alon Deon (17) in the third quarter in Marana on Aug. 30, 2024.
Salpointe's Richard Archuleta (5), left, and Alon Deon (17) drag down Marana's Jaxsun Sharp (12) after his catch in the third quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana’s Greg Webb (11) puts the hit on a Salpointe running back for what was eventually ruled a fourth-quarter safety — the second Tiger safety on the night in a win over the Lancers on Aug. 30 in Marana.
Marana's Greg Webb (11) asks the official for a safety call after his tackle late in the fourth quarter in their high school football game against Salpointe, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's Morgan Quiri (14) brings down a catch despite being the arms of Marana's Dermain Linen Jr (2) in the fourth quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe’s Magnus Goodman gets enough fingers on the ball to keep Marana’s Dezmen Roebuck from hauling in a catch in the fourth quarter on Aug. 30.
Salpointe’s Dinos Drossos stretches the jersey of Marana’s Sean Roebuck, stopping him after a catch in the fourth quarter of their Aug. 30, 2024, game.
Marana receiver Dezmen Roebuck (1), left, and quarterback Colten Meyer (16) celebrate Meyer’s two-point conversion run in the final seconds of the fourth quarter of the Tigers’ win over Salpointe Catholic on Aug. 30, 2024, in Marana.
Marana's Dezmen Roebuck (1) jumps for joy after making the game icing interception in the last seconds of the fourth quarter against Salpointe in Marana on Aug. 30, 2024.
The Tigers run onto the field in the last of the day’s light to take on Salpointe at Marana High School, the opener for both teams, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
London Sharp tries to get a high pressure drink from the Marana team water tank just before the Tigers kick off against Salpointe, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana's Andres Taylor (7) gets a hug in the aftermath of the Tigers 27-24 upset of visiting Salpointe, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's head coach Pat Ryder and the bench call in an offensive play in the third quarter at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's head coach Pat Ryder/ waits to give an interview as the his Lancers prepare to take on Marana, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Marana head coach Phillip Steward waits to give a pre-game interview as the Tigers get ready to face Salpointe in Marana on Aug. 30. The Tigers won that game, and every one since, jumping out to a 6-0 record and the state’s No. 1 spot in both the Class 5A and ‘Open’ rankings.
Marana's head coach Phillip Steward calls in the offensive set in a goal line situation during the first quarter against Salpointe, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's head coach Pat Ryder and the Lancers make their way to the bench to get ready for the third quarter at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
Salpointe's head coach Pat Ryder awaits the damage on a penalty call against his Lancers late in the fourth quarter at Marana High School, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
The Salpointe bench and staff reacts after the Lancers picked up a penalty on fourth down, pushing them back on a field goal attempt against Marana in the fourth quarter in their high school football game, Marana, Ariz., August 30, 2024.
