The AIA Football Committee met this morning to place teams within the six conferences that make up football competition for Arizona. The deadline to appeal the decision is Dec. 19 and the conferences will be finalized on Jan. 21, 2020. Conferences can then set regions on the Jan.22.
There are a few changes proposed for teams from Southern Arizona:
1: Salpointe was moved up to 5A (along with Scottsdale Saguaro).
2: Mica Mountain is the new school from the Vail school district and it will compete in 4A.
3: Catalina and Tanque Verde have moved to the 2A level leaving Sabino, Pusch Ridge and Sahuarita as the only Southern Arizona teams in 3A.
4: San Manual is moved to the 1A level (8-man football).
5: the 5A level will have an odd number of teams at 13.
Placements will be subject to change every year and will not reflect attendance numbers. Placements are based on the success of the previous three seasons. As of now, Empire is planning an appeal.
6A CONFERENCE (1)
Tucson
5A CONFERENCE (13)
Buena
Cholla
Cienega
Desert View
Empire
Flowing Wells
Ironwood Ridge
Marana
Mountain View
Nogales
Rincon/University
Salpointe
Sunnyside
4A CONFERENCE (10)
Amphitheater
Canyon Del Oro
Catalina Foothills
Douglas
Mica Mountain
Palo Verde
Pueblo
Rio Rico
Sahuaro
Walden Grove
3A CONFERENCE (3)
Pusch Ridge
Sabino
Sahuarita
2A CONFERENCE (8)
Benson
Bisbee
Catalina
Santa Cruz
Santa Rita
Tanque Verde
Tombstone
Willcox
1A CONFERENCE (4)
Baboquivari
San Manuel
St. David
Valley Union
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017, a 2019 AZ Education News award winner 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. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
