Jerry Harris has Pusch Ridge in another semifinal appearance. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

3A CONFERENCE

SEMIFINALS: Saturday, Nov. 18
No. 1 Pusch Ridge (12-0) vs. No. 4 Franklin (11-1), 6:30 p.m.
(Salpointe Catholic)

PUSCH RIDGE PREVIEW AT AZPreps365.com

2A CONFERENCE

SEMIFINALS: Saturday, Nov. 18
No. 4 Santa Cruz (11-0) vs. No. 1 Round Valley (12-0), 6:30 p.m.
(Fountain Hills High School)

The Dust Devils and Elks have only met once on the football field and that was 14 years ago. The 33-0 win by Santa Cruz is a distant memory and both squads are hoping to build new ones.

The Elks have six state championships to their name, but the team came up short last year, a 33-28 loss to Thatcher in the 2A state championship game. Like this year, Round Valley was the No. 1 seed. In fact, the program has done no worse than a 5-seed over the last five years and it’s a span that includes two runner-up finishes and three semifinal appearances.

The Elks are led by former University of Arizona standout Marcus Bell (68-20).

The Dust Devils have seven state titles, but the last state championship final was in 1990. Like Round Valley, Santa Cruz came up short against Thatcher last year. It took overtime but Thatcher survived 27-26 in the 2A semifinals.

The Dust Devils had basically fallen off the radar with a 29 ranking in 2014 but that moved to a 12th seed a year later and a No. 2 seed last year. Rishard Davis took over in 2014 and he has Santa Cruz riding a 22-1 streak heading into the game against Round Valley.

4A VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS

3A VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS

2A VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS

1A FOOTBALL ALL-STARS

1A VOLLEYBALL

GIRLS SWIM & DIVE

BOYS SWIM & DIVE

FALL SOCCER ALL-STARS

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY ALL-STARS

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY ALL-STARS

BOYS GOLF ALL-STARS

GIRLS GOLF ALL-STARS

FRESHMAN ALL-STARS

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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com