We have 80 days until the high school football season gets underway in Southern Arizona and we will attempt to relive the state championship teams over the last 80 days starting with 1944. The AIA started to recognize state champions in 1959 but teams like Tucson High claimed ten “mythical” state championships before then, starting in 1911 under Pop McKale.
Like last year, the season will roll out with 1A, 2A and 3A starting early on Aug. 23 and the bigger school will start a week later. Flag Football will start on Sept. 17 with Sunnyside, Buena, Tucson, Mountain View and Palo Verde playing on that Tuesday.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23
3A CONFERENCE
Coolidge at Sabino, 7 p.m.
2A CONFERENCE
Phoenix Christian at Tanque Verde, 7 p.m.
Willcox at Arizona Lutheran, 7 p.m.
Catalina at Highland Prep, 7 p.m.
Benson at Shadow Mountain, 7 p.m.
1A CONFERENCE
Lincoln Prep at San Manuel, 7 p.m.
Fort Thomas at Baboquivari, 7 p.m.
Desert Christian at Bagdad, 7 p.m.
St. David at Cicero Prep, 7 p.m.
1944: TUCSON (11-0)
CHAMPIONSHIP: NOVEMBER 23 AT ARIZONA STADIUM
News of the Day: Successful B-29 Superfortress attack on Tokyo.
Notable: Future astronaut Frank Borman was on the team as was future Arizona QB Sol Ahee, future Arizona kicker Frank Goff and future Arizona baseball player Frank Ganem.
SCHEDULE
Phoenix (28-6)
Bisbee (26-14)
St Mary’s (42-7)
Bisbee (40-12)
North (34-13)
Mesa (35-6)
St Mary’s (32-6)
Douglas (26-0)
Phoenix (41-7)
Glendale (21-6)
Mesa (20-7)
Rollin Gridley earned his fourth state championship by securing a 20-7 victory over Mesa to end the regular season on Thursday, Nov. 23.
TUCSON SCORES
TD: Lee “Legs” Carey (26 yards-no good)
TD: Joe “The Toe” Goff (70 yards-Goff)
TD: Frank Ganem (29 yards-Goff)’
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