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The race for the 3A South Region might not be decided until someone with an expensive calculator sits down after the last game of the regular season to figure out the pecking order between Pusch Ridge, Sabino and Thatcher but does it really matter?
All three programs are safe bets for the state playoffs, along with Safford, but bragging rights are bragging rights and a region championship plaque would look nice hanging on a wall somewhere. Deciding which program will get the automatic playoff berth from the region became an issue thanks to a 41-14 win by No. 8 Pusch Ridge (7-2 overall, 3-1 in region play) over No. 9 Thatcher (6-3, 2-1) at home Friday night, coupled with a 49-14 win by No. 10 Sabino (6-2, 2-1) over No. 11 Safford (6-3, 1-2).
The actual rankings are sure to change come Tuesday afternoon when the latest AIA power rankings are scheduled to be released but none of the four programs are in danger of dropping out of the postseason. So, here are the scenarios…
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.@cdo_football wins its fifth straight game to improve to 5-3 and set up a huge 4A Kino matchup with unbeaten Casa Grande at home next week. Dorados beat Pueblo 47-0. pic.twitter.com/XolFOpqdWd
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) October 23, 2021
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21
5A No. 5 Salpointe 56, 4A NR Mica Mountain 5
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22
6A CONFERENCE
No. 24 Cesar Chavez 55, No. 37 Tucson 3
5A CONFERENCE
No. 3 Desert View 20, No. 26 Mountain View 14
No. 10 Marana 70, No. 42 Rincon/UHS 0
No. 24 Ironwood Ridge 24, No. 14 Sunnyside 7
No. 17 Cienega 56, No. 33 Nogales 0
No. 30 Buena 31, No. 28 Flowing Wells 3
Catalina Foothills @foothillsfb fans rush the field after a 29-22 win against Amphi. @AllSportsTucson pic.twitter.com/HhsN2Y7QSR
— Kevin Murphy (@KevinMurfee) October 23, 2021
4A CONFERENCE
No. 29 Catalina Foothills 29, No. 17 Amphitheater 22
No. 18 Canyon del Oro 47, No. 35 Pueblo 0
No. 7 Casa Grande 49, No. 31 Walden Grove 0
No. 32 Empire 50, No. 33 Douglas 19
No. 10 Buckeye 37, No. 41 Sahuaro 21
3A CONFERENCE
No. 8 Pusch Ridge 41, No. 9 Thatcher 14
No. 10 Sabino 49, No. 11 Safford 14
No. 23 Florence 48, No. 32 Sahuarita 7
Safford with their second touchdown of the night. This one a run up the gut by Armando Carrillo. Besides this one and the touchdown in the first quarter, Sabinos defense has been absolutely crisp. 49-14 with 3:35 left in the game. pic.twitter.com/aes3saJSrG
— Nathaniel Martinez (@NateMartTSports) October 23, 2021
2A CONFERENCE
No. 3 Benson 49, No. 29 Tombstone 6
No. 8 Morenci 27, No. 5 Willcox 10
No. 17 Tanque Verde 23, No. 21 Santa Cruz 6
No. 6 Pima 42, No. 26 Bisbee 13
No. 15 Sequoia Pathway 69, No. 37 Santa Rita 0
No. 22 Trivium Prep 55, No. 43 Catalina 0
FINAL:
Tanque Verde-23
Santa Cruz Valley-6Story for @AllSportsTucson later to come. pic.twitter.com/6tb29jLgPX
— Harrison Moreno (@HMorenoNews) October 23, 2021
1A CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS
No. 5 San Manuel 52, No. 12 Tempe Prep 32
No. 6 Hayden over No. 11 Valley Union (forfeit)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29
6A CONFERENCE
No. 37 Tucson (1-6) at No. 31 Mesa (2-5)
5A CONFERENCE
No. 3 Desert View (6-1) vs. No. 28 Flowing Wells (3-5) at THS
No. 30 Buena (2-4) at No. 5 Salpointe (5-2)
No. 10 Marana (6-1) at No. 33 Nogales (3-4)
No. 17 Cienega (4-3) at No. 14 Sunnyside (4-3)
No. 42 Rincon/UHS (1-6) at No. 24 Ironwood Ridge (3-4)
No. 40 Cholla (1-4) at No. 26 Mountain View (2-5)
4A CONFERENCE
No. 32 Empire (4-4) at No. 17 Amphitheater (4-2)
No. 7 Casa Grande (7-0) at No. 18 Canyon del Oro (5-3)
No. 29 Catalina Foothills (3-4) at No. 45 Rio Rico (0-5)
BYES: No. 31 Walden Grove (2-6); No. 33 Douglas (1-5)
3A CONFERENCE
No. 8 Pusch Ridge (7-2) at No. 21 AZ College Prep (5-4)
No. 10 Sabino (6-2) at No. 32 Sahuarita (1-7)
2A CONFERENCE
No. 3 Benson (6-2) at No. 5 Willcox (7-1)
No. 17 Tanque Verde (5-3) at No. 43 Catalina (1-8)
No. 37 Santa Rita (1-6) at No. 21 Santa Cruz (4-5)
No. 26 Bisbee (3-6) at No. 29 Tombstone (2-6)
1A CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
No. 7 Bagdad (7-3) at No. 2 St. David (8-1)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30
1A FOOTBALL QUARTERFINALS
No. 5 San Manuel (8-1) at No. 4 Mohave Accelerated (6-1), 3 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, became a member of the Sunnyside Los Mezquites Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2021 and he was a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee and he earned a Distinguished Service Award from Amphitheater. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
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