There are eight teams from Southern Arizona playing on Friday, October 2 with seven games taking place in Southern Arizona and two games in the Tucson area. Here is a brief preview of each game from 5A Salpointe to 1A Elfrida Valley Union. As of this weekend, nine teams from Southern Arizona are scheduled to play on Oct. 9:
FRIDAY, OCT. 2
4A Casa Grande at 5A Salpointe, 7 p.m.
Salpointe holds a 9-1 record over Casa Grande dating back to 1999. The Lancers beat Casa Grande 59-21 last year. Eric Rogers makes his head coaching debut for the Lancers.
3A Mesa Eastmark at 3A Pusch Ridge, 7 p.m.
This is the first varsity game in Eastmark history and the first game for Pusch Ridge head coach Kent Middleton who replaced Jerry Harris.
2A Phoenix Veritas Prep at 2A Benson, 7 p.m.
Benson beat Veritas Prep 63-19 in the first round of the 2A state playoffs last year. It was the only meeting between the two schools.
2A Maricopa Sequoia Pathway at 2A Bisbee, 7 p.m.
The first AIA game for Sequoia Pathway.
2A Gilbert San Tan Charter at 2A Santa Cruz, 7 p.m.
The first AIA game for San Tan Charter.
2A Scottsdale Prep at 2A Tombstone, 7 p.m.
The first meeting between the two schools.
1A St. David at 1A Chandler Lincoln Prep, 6 p.m.
The first meeting between the two schools.
1A Superior at 1A Valley Union, 6 p.m.
The two teams are tied up at 2-2 but Superior has back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019 by a combined score of 116-0.
FRIDAY, OCT. 9
5A Buena at 5A Salpointe, 7 p.m.
3A Pusch Ridge at 3A Yuma Catholic, 7 p.m.
3A Coolidge at 2A Santa Cruz, 7 p.m.
2A Miami at 2 Benson, 7 p.m.
2A Bisbee at 2A Globe, 7 p.m.
2A Valley Lutheran at 2A Willcox, 7 p.m.
1A St. David at 1A Valley Union, 6 p.m.
1A San Manuel at 1A Duncan, 6 p.m.
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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. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling. 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 and he was a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee and was given the Amphi Distinguished Service Award. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
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