WEEK SIX REVIEW
4A Salpointe 27, 6A Tucson 3
The Lancers improved to 5-0 on the year setting up a regional game against a resurgent Sahuaro (5-1, 1-0) team next Friday at home. A region title in the 4A ranks still gets a team an automatic playoff berth but the Lancers are expecting a lot more than a region championship this year. The Badgers are 3-0 in the 6A Metro Region and will host region foe Cesar Chavez (3-3, 1-0) on Oct. 5 but power ranking is the name of the game in the 6A Conference. Only the top 16 teams will get into the playoffs, regardless of region standing. Still, winning the 6A Metro Region would be pretty impressive for a team from Southern Arizona. Hint: this is a “Phoenix” metro region.
5A Apollo 43, 5A Buena 42
The Colts fell to 3-2 on the year and will face Marana (4-1) next week in an almost must-win situation. The 5A Conference also falls under the Top-16 rule to make the playoffs.
5A Cienega 38, 5A Mountain View 21
The Bobcats are in an excellent position heading into region play with a game at home against Sunnyside (3-2) next Friday. The Mountain Lions fell to 0-5 on the year and, even if the team reeled off five wins a in a row to capture the 5A Sonoran title, it may not be enough to get in the playoffs.
4A Sahuaro 48, 5A Sunnyside 0
The Cougars are a few seconds away from being undefeated but the team enters region play in great shape as mentioned before. The road just gets more difficult for Sunnyside in the 5A Southern Region.
5A Empire 37, 5A Nogales18
This is the Ravens first victory over a 5A team in their new conference configuration. The team has to win out to make the playoffs because three losses has been the edge of the top 16. A big game with Flowing Wells (4-1) next Friday. The Apaches fell to 2-3 on the year and things are going to get tougher in region play.
5A Ironwood Ridge 48, 5A Desert View 15
In years past, the Nighthawks would still be sitting with a great shot to get in the playoffs with a region title but that’s not the case this year. Winning five in a row with victories over Cienega and Marana should overcome the three losses. The Jaguars fell to 1-4.
5A Rincon/UHS 51, 4A Palo Verde 45
This game had more effect on the Rangers and dropped the team to 1-4 but, even at 1-4, the Titans can still make the 4A playoffs with a region title.
4A Glendale 35, 4A Walden Grove 14
The Red Wolves fell to 3-2 but a wide open 4A Gila Region awaits them.
4A Douglas 7, 4A Silver City, NM 3
The Bulldogs are 5-0 for the first time since 1981 and for only the third time in school history. The 1961 team started out 9-0 before dropping their last game and the 1981 team saw their win streak end at the 5-0 mark. A game at Pueblo (1-4) next Friday is tougher than the record indicates.
4A Catalina Foothills 31, 4A Pueblo 12
At 2-3, the Falcons have their work cut out for them in the increasingly difficult 4A Kino Region that includes CDO, Salpointe, Sahuaro and Casa Grande. The Warriors can turn things around next Friday against Douglas.
4A Canyon del Oro 35, 4A Prescott 23
The Dorados are 4-1 for the first time since 2013 but, as mentioned before, the 4A Kino Region has land mines.
3A Sabino 14, 3A Ben Franklin 7
The Sabercats took out the supposed preseason best team in the 3A ranks and are now focused on the 3A South Region. Their 3-2 record includes losses to Casa Grande and Sahuaro. Those losses look great now.
3A Sahuarita 43, 3A San Tan Foothills 6
The Mustangs are 4-1 and are looking a bit like the 2014 12-1 version. Each game gets magnified now.
3A Coolidge 39, 3A Catalina 20
Even at 1-4, the Trojans still have the 3A South ahead of them.
3A Pusch Ridge 27, 3A Fountain Hills 3
Like everyone else in the 3A South Region, the Lions control their own destiny. Win the region and you are playoff bound.
3A Tanque Verde 35, 3A AZ College Prep 28
At 2-3, the Hawks need to beat Pusch Ridge next Friday to have a shot.
2A Benson 61, 2A Heritage 0
The 2A San Pedro Region is a logjam between Benson, Tombstone and Willcox. This is what “small school” football is supposed to look like.
2A Pima 52, 2A Tombstone 25
The Yellow Jackets travel to Benson next week. Each team needs to win to keep pace.
2A Morenci 64, 2A Bisbee 20
The Pumas are 2-3 but each loss was to powerful teams having great seasons.
2A AZ Lutheran 44, 2A Willcox 12
The Cowboys travel to play Bisbee next Friday. Every game is a must win situation.
2A San Manuel 47, 2A Santa Rita 28
The Miners got their first win of the year and the Eagles drop to 0-5.
2A Thatcher 48, 2A Santa Cruz 6
A rematch of the state championship game from last year but this isn’t the same Dust Devil squad. Santa Cruz has to regroup quickly.
1A Fort Thomas 58, 1A Valley Union 14
The Blue Devils can salvage their season with three wins down the stretch.
1A Duncan 44, 2A St. David 22
At 3-3 the Tigers need to win out to finish 6-3 with a shot at the playoffs. There may not be a Southern Arizona team in the 8-man playoffs this year.
1A Baboquivari 1, 1A Bowie/San Simon 0
The Warriors and Cougars are having a difficult time this year but Baboquivari could finish 4-4 with two more wins.
5A Marana (4-1) BYE
5A Flowing Wells (4-1) BYE
5A Cholla (0-5) BYE
4A Amphitheater (1-4) BYE
4A Rio Rico (1-4) BYE
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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 is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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