Traditionally an underdog, Marana High football enters Open tournament as No. 1 seed

Used to being the underdog, Marana enters the Open tournament as the top dog in the state.

After topping the rankings every week, the Class 5A Tigers (10-0) open the state’s Open tournament on Friday as the No. 1 seed.

“I’ve been telling the boys all year, this is something we started four years ago and for the state to recognize our hard work that we’ve been doing here for four years, it’s been great because we’re used to being the underdogs,” said Marana head coach Phillip Steward. “It felt good, because it shows the boys our hard work does pay off.”

The Open Division is an eight-team tournament featuring the top teams from 6A and 5A. The 6A usually dominates it because the higher-preforming programs get promoted to 6A and the criteria to select Open teams is the Max Preps rankings multiplied by 10 for the 6A and nine for the 5A.

Marana senior left tackle Tyler Evans said getting the top seed has been really good for the town.

“Getting the one seed, that meant a lot for us being a small town and being in Tucson — you know those Phoenix schools usually get the No. 1 seed, but us getting that it really proved something to our team,” said Marana junior quarterback Colten Meyer.

The Open debuted in 2019, and Salpointe, in 2019 and 2020, had been the only Southern Arizona team to qualify. The Open is considered the state champion, and winners of the 6A, 5A etc., are conference champions.

“Oh, it feels great, man,” Evans said. “We’re doing something that not a lot of people see, so it’s good for Southern Arizona, it’s really good.”

Marana opened the season with a 27-24 win over Salpointe, snapping the Lancers’ 23-game win streak against local opponents. Then the Tigers beat future 5A No. 2 seed Tucson High 56-7 on the road.

In their third game, they topped two-time defending 5A state champion Gilbert Higley 36-28. The Tigers went on to beat playoff teams Mountain View (46-13), Canyon del Oro (48-0), Casa Grande (45-0), Cienega (29-7) and Sierra Vista Buena (51-38).

Steward said he’s gotten text messages of support from opposing coaches.

“I think for a long time Marana, we have been on the bottom end of it down here,” Steward said. “So for us to be on the top end and represent Southern Arizona in the Open, it feels good and I think a lot of kids, a lot of schools are backing us.”

Steward noted that not only is the season special because of the undefeated regular season but also because they honored their first state champions on their 60th anniversary.

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Marana won state championships in 1964, 1967 and 1968.

Meyer is third in the state in passing with 3,330 yards.

In 5A, junior defensive end/linebacker Hayden Utley is second with 12 sacks, junior linebacker Greg Webb is tied for fourth with 10 sacks and senior receiver Dezmen Roebuck is fifth in with 1,002 yards.

Last year, Roebuck set the state single-season record with 121 receptions. This year he took over the career reception record that was 282. The University of Washington commit is second in state history with 4,110 career receiving yards.

In the quarterfinals, Marana faces No. 8 Chandler Hamilton (9-1), which is in 6A.

The Huskies have qualified for every Open tournament, reaching the title game in 2020.

The Tigers have 21 days off before the tourney because their bye was in the last week of the regular season, and the Open starts a week after the conference tournaments.

Some Marana coaches joked it’s like a bowl game.

“It’s kind of weird having that, but we’re just gonna get all the rest we need and we have two weeks to prepare,” Meyer said. “We’re gonna study them and we should know everything and we go out there and win the game.”

Reportedly, this may be the last Open tournament as the 5A could pull out like the 4A did last year.

“I keep telling the boys they’re gonna put their name in history books because there’s probably not going to be another Open … this season is just historical,” Steward said. “It is one of a kind, and I just tell the boys, if we can stay focused because we’re so close, I think we can do it all.”