The high school football regular season has wrapped up in Southern Arizona. 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, as the playoffs continue for Classes 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A, while starting for the Open Division.
Team of the week
Not only did Walden Grove get over its Phoenix Northwest Christian hump, the Red Wolves won their first-ever playoff game.
Walden Grove, which opened in 2011, had been 0-5 in the postseason since it began playing a full varsity schedule in 2012.
Its most recent playoff loss was 40-12 at Northwest Christian. Northwest Christian had won three games against Walden Grove since August 2023 though three of the four times they have played the Red Wolves had been at home.
No. 9 Walden Grove beat No. 8 Northwest Christian 30-20 on the road on Friday.
Walden Grove senior running back Carlos Montoya Jr. rushed 12 times for 129 yards, senior running back Robert Cash III ran for 141 yards on 24 carries and senior Jayvon Coleman caught three balls for 104 yards.
Red Wolves junior quarterback Kaleb Layton was 7 for 13 for 164 yards, and junior cornerback Jaxsen Philistine had 11 tackles.
Play of the week
Tucson High senior receiver Kevin Bruns ran in the game-winning touchdown from a yard out with 3:13 to go in the Badgers’ 14-7 win over Cienega on Friday. It was Tucson High’s first playoff win since 1971. Bruns also ran for 91 yards on 17 carries and had an interception.
Stat book
Sierra Vista Buena senior running back Andres Bonilla ran for 221 yards and three touchdowns on 15 rushes in the Colts’ 65-28 win over Casa Grande last week. Buena junior running back Michael Lujan added 107 yards rushing.
Mica Mountain senior quarterback Jayden Thoreson ran for 135 yards on 16 carries and passed for 91, going 7 for 14 with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Thunderbolts’ 45-10 win over Flagstaff Coconino on Friday.
Salpointe Catholic sophomore receiver R.J. Gory caught nine passes for 132 yards in the Lancers’ 31-28 win over Gilbert Williams Field last week.
Next level
Minot State junior running back Evan Lovett ran 25 times for 255 yards and four touchdowns in the Beavers’ 56-23 win over Winona State. The Pusch Ridge Christian alumnus won Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday.
Quotable
"Honored to be a member of the @BuenaColtsFB, we won our first playoff game since 1983! We worked hard for this, proud of my teammates and coaches! Next week, we play Verrado High School in the second round of the playoffs at home." — Buena junior tight end/defensive end Trenton Williams posted on X (Twitter)
Games of the week
5A State Quarterfinals
No. 7 Goodyear Desert Edge (7-4) at No. 2 Tucson High (9-2)
Location: 400 N. Second Ave. (7 p.m.)
Notable: Fresh from their first playoff win since 1971 the Badgers host Desert Edge. While Tucson High has made the postseason eight times since the ’70s, Desert Edge has made it 15 years in a row, according to azfootballarchives.com. Desert Edge reached the state championship game last year, losing 42-41 to Gilbert Higley after 16 Desert Edge players were ejected after a brawl.
4A State Quarterfinals
No. 5 Phoenix Thunderbird (10-1) at No. 4 Mica Mountain (11-0)
Location: 10800 E. Valencia Road (7 p.m.)
Notable: Mica Mountain looks for the school’s first team state championship as it welcomes Thunderbird to Vail. Mica Mountain is 3-0 all-time in the playoffs and has won 27 of its last 29 games. Meanwhile, the Titans have won four in a row and 14 of their last 16. Thunderbird’s only loss this season came to No. 1 Yuma Catholic, 45-14.
