The Arizona high school football season has now come to a close. The Star's final "rundown" of the 2023 season includes a look back at Canyon del Oro's Class 4A championship β finishing off the Tucson two-fer after Sabino won the Class 3A title a week earlier.
Team of the week
Who else? The Canyon del Oro high school football team completed the Tucson areaβs first 14-0 season in 10 years.
CDO topped No. 1 seed Yuma Catholic (13-1) last week to win the state championship.
The Dorados were the Class 4A preseason No. 1 according to the Arizona Republic and Sollenbergerβs AZ Football Prep Magazine β and they lived up to the hype. They were so good they even flirted with making Open bracket, which was won eventually won by Peoria Liberty; Liberty ended up ranked No. 16 in the country.
Canyon del Oro's Chase Laux (14) out runs Yuma Catholic's Sir Stokes (2), left, and Dagen Dunn (12) to the end zone scoring in the second quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Stat book
CDO senior Kayden Luke ran the ball 31 times for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the 4A state championship game. Luke finished the season with 2,307 yards, 164.8 per game.
CDO senior Chase Laux ran the ball 4 times for 92 yards and two touchdowns against Yuma Catholic.
Throwback
At halftime of the 4A state championship game, the AIA honored the 1998 Sabino 4A state champions on the 25th anniversary of that achievement, as well as the 1973 Flagstaff Coconino state champions. Current Sabino coaches were there with the β90s Sabercats. The Coco squad from 50 years ago topped Flowing Wells 14-3 in that yearβs AA state title game.
Recruiting trail
Among those to go to the state championship games at ASU last week were UA football coaches Jedd Fisch, Brennan Carroll, Jimmy Dougherty and Chuck Cecil. Several NAU coaches were also on site.
Next level
β1K Bijan (dashing away emoji),β is how a post from @AtlantaFalcons read on X (Twitter). Salpointe Catholic alum Bijan Robinson tied Williams Andrews as the fastest Atlanta Falcon to reach 1,000 yards from scrimmage on Sunday.
On the Hill
Last week Tucson congressman Juan Ciscomani recognized Sabinoβs 2023 state championship team at the U.S. House of Representatives with an address during the general speeches segment and with a team photo.
βThis title is a testament to the dedication of the players and the coaches, an incredible accomplishment they wonβt soon forget,β Ciscomani said.
Canyon del Oro's Grant Young (33) celebrates with teammate Canyon del Oro's Chase Laux (14) after his pick-six in the third quarter against Yuma Catholic in the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Quotable
βKnowing the quarterback, just read his eyes,β CDO senior Grant Young told the Arizona Republic about his pick six in the state championship game. βI saw him look over, I took off coverage and next thing you know, the ballβs in my hand.β
Young had a 50-yard touchdown after an interception, giving the Dorados a sizable lead late in what ended up as their 35-27 win.
Going social
βCoach Peace you just won the state championship. What are you gonna do nextβ¦. I am gonna go to Disneyland!!!β Thatβs how @cdo_football celebrated the win with a post on X (Twitter). The post was accompanied by a video of CDO head coach Dustin Peace with one of his sons interviewing him asking βcoach Peace, how does it feel after winning a state championship and where are you going to go next?β The post also had a family photo at Disneyland. After the state championship game Peace thanked his wife for her support.
Canyon del Oro High School football head coach Dustin Peace greets star running back Kayden Luke (30) returning to the sidelines after scoring against Yuma Catholic in the second quarter of the Arizona Class 4A State Football Championship game Friday in Tempe.
Video Vault
Some key plays from CDO's championship-game victory:
VIDEO:Β Canyon del Oro High School senior Kayden Luke scores on a 5-yard TD run during the Doradosβ 35-27 victory over Yuma Catholic on Dec. 1, 2023 in the Arizona Class 4A high school state championship game in Tempe. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO:Β Canyon del Oro High School senior Grant Young returns a second-half interception for a touchdown during the Doradosβ 35-27 victory over Yuma Catholic on Dec. 1, 2023 in the Arizona Class 4A high school state championship game in Tempe. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO:Β Canyon del Oro High School football players celebrate after the final snap of their 35-27 victory over Yuma Catholic in the Arizona Class 4A high school state championship game on Dec. 1, 2023 in Tempe. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO:Β Canyon del Oro High School senior Chase Laux scores on a 9-yard TD run during the Doradosβ 35-27 victory over Yuma Catholic on Dec. 1, 2023 in the Arizona Class 4A high school state championship game in Tempe. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO:Β Canyon del Oro High School senior Chase Laux scores on an 80-yard TD run during the Doradosβ 35-27 victory over Yuma Catholic on Dec. 1, 2023 in the Arizona Class 4A high school state championship game in Tempe. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO:Β Canyon del Oro High School football players and fans sing the school fight song in celebration of their 35-27 victory over Yuma Catholic in the Arizona Class 4A high school state championship game on Dec. 1, 2023 in Tempe. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO:Β Canyon del Oro High School senior Kayden Luke scores on an 11-yard TD run during the Doradosβ 35-27 victory over Yuma Catholic on Dec. 1, 2023 in the Arizona Class 4A high school state championship game in Tempe. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO:Β With Canyon del Oro leading 35-27 in the Arizona Class 4A high school state championship game on Dec. 1, 2023, CDO stops Yuma Catholic on a late-game effort to tie the game. The Dorados won their first championship since 2009. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Picture this
Photos from the title tilt in Tempe:
Photos: Canyon del Oro holds off Yuma Catholic 35-27 to win the 4A state football championship game
Canyon del Oro football coach Dustin Peace gets mobbed by his players as he holds up the championship trophy the Dorados just won in a 35-27 win over Yuma Catholic for the Arizona Class 4A high school football state championship last month at ASUβs Mountain America Stadium in Tempe.
Canyon del Oro's Kayden Luke, right, batters his way into the end zone to open the scoring in the first quarter against Yuma Catholic in the 4A State Football Championship Game in Tempe on Dec. 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Grant Young (33) gets a piece of Yuma Catholic's Nash Ott (11) but not enough to keep him from completing the pass in the Dorado red zone in the first quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Chase Laux (14) out runs Yuma Catholic's Sir Stokes (2), left, and Dagen Dunn (12) to the end zone scoring in the second quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Sa'Kylee Woodard (55) hoists Chase Laux (14) overhead celebrating Lauxβs mazy run for pay dirt against Yuma Catholic in the second quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Kayden Luke (30) dives into the end zone over Yuma Catholic's Sir Stokes (2) scoring in the second quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Yuma Catholic's Darryl Coleman (13) gets a half step inside of Canyon del Oro's Austin Greer (11) to pick up a catch early in the first quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Grant Young (33) nearly rips the ball out of the grip of Yuma Catholic's Rocky Stallworth (44) while putting a stop to his rush of the middle in the second quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Nick Mondragon (22) and the Dorados celebrate, shouting into the stands after holding off a last gasp challenge by Yuma Catholic to win the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oroβs Kayden Luke (30) hugs head coach Dustin Peace shortly after the Dorados fended off Yuma Catholic for the 4A State Football Championship, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Izaiah Lucero (2) wraps himself in the championship banner as he leaves the field following the Dorados win against Yuma Catholic in the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oroβs Kayden Luke (30) steps out of the reach of Yuma Catholicβs Hunter Hancock (8) in the fourth quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game in Tempe in December 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Grant Young (33) gets a good grip on Yuma Catholic's Nash Ott (11) for a sack in the third quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Grant Young (33) gives a big wave after getting a sack against Yuma Catholic in the third quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Austin Greer (11) gets high enough to deny Yuma Catholic's Darryl Coleman (13) a catch as the Shamrocks try desperately for a score trailing late in the fourth quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Izaiah Lucero (2) makes a stand against Yuma Catholic's Tayt Ford (24), temporarily keeping the Shamrocks out of the end zone in the fourth quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Everybody chases the loose ball on an onside kick that Yuma Catholic eventually recovered in the fourth quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Evan Greer (8) holds on to drop Yuma Catholic's Nash Ott (11) for a sack in the fourth quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Chase Laux (14) gets fingertips to the ball, enough to keep Yuma Catholic's Sir Stokes (2) from making a touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Chance Cassel (10), top, gets up over teammate Austin Greer (11) to deflect a ball intended for Yuma Catholic's Sir Stokes (2) in the fourth quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's head coach Dustin Peace greets Kayden Luke (30) returning to the sidelines after scoring against Yuma Catholic in the second quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Gattlin Miles (0) comes back out to kneel on the field by himself for a few minutes after the Doradosβ win against Yuma Catholic in the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's players celebrate with the fans after defeating Yuma Catholic in the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Grant Young (33) celebrates with teammate Canyon del Oro's Chase Laux (14) after his pick-six in the third quarter against Yuma Catholic in the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Tristen Mcclelland (17) breaks away from Yuma Catholic's Gustavo De Los Reyes (71) and into the defensive backfield scrambling in the second quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Kayden Luke (30) high steps through the Yuma Catholic defense on his way to scoring in the second quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oro's Vijay King (21) drags Yuma Catholic's Haiden Deter (60) with him as he backpedals for more yards in the second quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game, Tempe, Ariz., December 1, 2023.
Canyon del Oroβs Aaron Ramirez (32), left, and SaβKylee Woodard (55) wait for the defensive assignments as the sun sets during the 4A State Football Championship game against Yuma Catholic on Dec. 1, 2023, in Tempe.
