NOTE: With the AIA officially releasing the 2024 football schedules last week, AllSportsTucson.com will take a look at the schedules of each region 1A-6A in Southern Arizona in a series of posts.
The 1A South eight-man football league is intact with Southern Arizona schools such as Baboquivari, San Manuel, St. David and Valley Union, but this area will welcome a new 1A football program in 2024.
Desert Christian will begin its operations as a 1A independent this season at its Speedway Campus.
A football and soccer field, with a track around it, is ready for competition.
Two new academic buildings are under construction in addition to a softball field, pickleball courts, and outdoor basketball courts.
The head coach is pastor and educator Jason McKibben, who is experiencing high school football coaching for the first time.
1A football scheduling notes:
— Desert Chrisitian will play only one 1A South program this season — St. David to conclude the regular season on Oct. 18. The Eagles will likely join the 1A South next season.
— Baboquivari, coming off its first winning season since 2005 (5-4 under first-year coach Cody Garcia), has only seven games scheduled. The last two games are tough on the road against Hayden and San Manuel and the Warriors must also play at St. David in Week Two.
— San Manuel has nine games scheduled with five on the road, including the always anticipated game with St. David on Oct. 4.
— St. David does not play 1A power Hayden this season but has traditionally strong Mogollon visiting Sept. 20.
— Valley Union looks to build off last year’s 5-4 season under coach Skyler Hill with a schedule that includes both San Manuel and St. David at home Sept. 20 and 27, respectively.
BABOQUIVARI
Head coach: Cody Garcia (5-4, second year at Baboquivari and overall)Warriors compete in the 1A South (8-man football). *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | Fort Thomas* | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | at St. David* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Valley Union* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Ray* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Duncan* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Hayden | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at San Manuel* | -- | -- | -- |
DESERT CHRISTIAN
Head coach: Jason McKibben (first year at Desert Christian and overall)Eagles are a 1A independent team (8-man football). Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | at Bagdad | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | Anthem Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Desert Heights | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Maryvale Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Cicero Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Salome | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Mohave Accelerated | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at St. David | -- | -- | -- |
SAN MANUEL
Head coach: Ernest Ivy (29-17, sixth year at San Manuel and overall)Miners compete in the 1A South (8-man football). *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | Lincoln Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | at Ray* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Duncan* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Fort Thomas* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Valley Union* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Cicero Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at St. David* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Desert Heights | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Baboquivari* | -- | -- | -- |
ST. DAVID
Head coach: Braden Davis (41-25, eighth year at St. David and overall)Tigers compete in the 1A South (8-man football). *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | at Cicero Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | Baboquivari* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Ray* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Duncan* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Mogollon | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Valley Union* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | San Manuel* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/10 | at Fort Thomas* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Desert Christian | -- | -- | -- |
VALLEY UNION
Head coach: Skyler Hill (6-11, third year at Valley Union and overall)Blue Devils compete in the 1A South (8-man football). *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Desert Heights | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Baboquivari* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Ray* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | San Manuel* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | St. David* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Fort Thomas* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Duncan* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Superior | -- | -- | -- |
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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