2024 High School Football

2024 Southern Arizona high school football schedules: 4A Gila



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.

Amphi coach Jorge Mendivil is entering his 23rd season as a head coach, 11th with the Panthers, after leading the program to 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the 4A Gila last season (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

4A GILA SCHEDULING NOTES:

— Amphi, under one of the most successful coaches in Southern Arizona — Jorge Mendivil (121 career wins), plays the same schedule as last year when it finished 7-3 and 5-1 in the 4A Gila. A majority of the schools play the same schedule as a year ago with the sites flipped. The Panthers host Flowing Wells in the Prince Road Rivalry on Sept. 13 and travel to Amphitheater School District rival CDO the next week.

— The Paul Tripp Era at Cholla begins with a road game against Glendale Copper Canyon, a team the Chargers beat 7-0 at home to start the season last year. The Chargers play traditional rivals Pueblo on the road and Sahuaro at home in non-regional games in the third and fourth weeks of the season, respectively.

— Douglas, under sixth-year coach Hunter Long (an alum who was part of Arizona’s 2014 Pac-12 South championship team), have a tough non-region schedule hosting ALA-Ironwood (3A playoff team last year) in the opener followed by road games at historic rival Bisbee and Sahuaro before hosting 5A school Ironwood Ridge.

— Empire also has a long-term coach in George Kelly (sixth year) and the Ravens face the challenge of opening at home with Phoenix Sierra Linda (a 5A school that reclassifed to 4A this year). The Ravens lost 13-7 at Sierra Linda to open last year. The Ravens then play at Avondale La Joya and Ironwood Ridge before hosting Pueblo in the non-region schedule.

Johnny Chan begins his head coaching career at Rincon/University at home with games with Phoenix Washington and Palo Verde at home before playing at Safford (a tough 3A team that won at RIncon/University 49-17. The promising news is the Rangers started 2-0 last year with wins at Washington and Palo Verde. A game at Casa Grande Vista Grande is scheduled in the middle of the 4A Gila schedule.

— Rio Rico will start the Carlos Duran era at Maricopa Desert Sunrise followed by home games against Glendale and rival Nogales before playing at Florence. The Ravens won the last two games against Nogales under legendary coach Jeff Scurran after going without a win in the I-19 Rivalry in the previous 12 meetings.

Jake Allen takes his introduction into head coaching at Pueblo the last four years into his new position at Sahuarita facing the challenge of playing a similar schedule that resulted in a 2-8 record for the Mustangs last year. Sahuarita’s non-region schedule does not include a game with nearby rival Walden Grove for the second consecutive season after the Red Wolves won 56-7 over the Mustangs in 2022 — the first game between the teams since an on-field fight in 2015.

4A GILA SCHEDULES

AMPHI

Head coach: Jorge Mendivil (40-54, 11th season at Amphi and 121-101 overall in 23rd season overall).

Panthers compete in the 4A Gila. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30Maryvale------
9/6at Independence------
9/13Flowing Wells------
9/20at Canyon del Oro------
9/27Cholla*------
10/4at Douglas*------
10/11Empire*------
10/18at Rincon/University*------
10/25Rio Rico*------
11/1at Sahuarita*------

CHOLLA

Head coach: Paul Tripp (first year at Cholla and overall)

Chargers compete in the 4A Gila. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/29at Copper Canyon------
9/6Maryvale------
9/13at Pueblo------
9/20Sahuaro------
9/27at Amphi*------
10/4Rincon/University*------
10/11Douglas *------
10/18at Sahuarita*------
10/25at Empire*------
11/1Rio Rico*------

DOUGLAS

Head coach: Hunter Long (15-24, sixth year at Douglas and overall)

Bulldogs compete in the 4A Gila. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30ALA - Ironwood------
9/6at Bisbee------
9/13at Sahuaro------
9/20Ironwood Ridge------
9/27Empire*------
10/4Amphi*------
10/11at Cholla*------
10/18at Rio Rico*------
11/1Rincon/University*------
11/8at Sahuarita*------

EMPIRE

Head coach: George Kelly (15-27, sixth season at Empire and overall)

Ravens compete in the 4A Gila. *Region game. Games are at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30Sierra Linda------
9/6at La Joya------
9/13at Ironwood Ridge------
9/20Pueblo------
9/27at Douglas*------
10/4Sahuarita*------
10/11at Amphi*------
10/25Cholla*------
11/1at Rio Rico*------
11/8Rincon/University*------

RINCON/UNIVERSITY

Head coach: Johnny Chan (first year at Rincon/University and overall)

Rangers compete in the 4A Gila. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30Washington------
9/6Palo Verde------
9/13at Safford------
9/27Rio Rico*------
10/4at Cholla*------
10/11at Vista Grande------
10/18Amphi*------
10/25Sahuarita*------
11/1at Douglas*------
11/8at Empire*------

RIO RICO

Head coach: Carlos Duran (first year at Rio Rico and overall)

Hawks compete in the 4A Gila. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.

DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30at Desert Sunrise------
9/5Glendale------
9/13Nogales------
9/19at Florence------
9/27at Rincon/University*------
10/11Sahuarita*------
10/18Douglas*------
10/25at Amphi*------
11/1Empire*------
11/8at Cholla*------

SAHUARITA

Head coach: Jake Allen (first year at Sahuarita, 15-15, fifth year overall).

Mustangs compete in the 4A Gila. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30Alhambra------
9/6at Deer Valley------
9/13at Maricopa------
9/20Flowing Wells------
10/4at Empire*------
10/11at Rio Rico*------
10/18Cholla*------
10/25at Rincon/University*------
11/1Amphi*------
11/8Douglas*------

2024 SOUTHERN ARIZONA COACHING CHANGES

SchoolClassFormer coachNew coach
Benson2ADustin CluffChris Rasmussen
Bisbee2AShawn HolleyCarlos Lopez
Canyon del Oro4ADustin PeaceScott McKee
Catalina 2AGreg McKinstry IIIAndy Fetsis
Catalina Foothills4ADaniel SainzGreg McKinstry III
Cholla4AVirgil HendersonPaul Tripp
Desert Christian1A(New program)Jason McKibben
Morenci3ARishard DavisFrankie Gonzalez
Pueblo4AJake AllenSly Lewis
Rincon/University4AKhyree CopelandJohnny Chan
Rio Rico4AJeff ScurranCarlos Duran
Sahuarita4AJake PriceJake Allen
Salpointe6AEric RogersPat Ryden
Willcox2AEric HjalmarsonJeston Lotts
Rasmussen, Lopez, Fetsis, Tripp, McKibben, Gonzalez, Lewis, Chan, Duran and Ryden are in their first stints as head coaches in football.

3A SOUTH

MORENCI

Head coach: Frankie Gonzalez (first year at Morenci and overall).

Wildcats compete in the 3A South. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23ALA - Ironwood------
8/30Round Valley------
9/6Benson------
9/13Pima------
9/20at Blue Ridge------
10/4at Safford*------
10/11Pusch Ridge*------
10/18at Fountain Hills------
10/25at Sabino*------
11/1Thatcher*------

PUSCH RIDGE

Head coach: Kent Middleton (34-11, fifth year at Pusch Ridge and overall)

Lions compete in the 3A South. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30at Show Low------
9/6at Benjamin Franklin------
9/13Yuma------
9/20at Catalina Foothills------
9/27San Tan Foothills------
10/4Sabino*------
10/11at Morenci*------
10/18Coolidge------
10/25at Thatcher*------
11/1Safford*------

SABINO

Head coach: Ryan McBrayer (56-20, eighth year at Sabino and overall)

Sabercats compete in the 3A South. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23Coolidge------
8/30Sahuaro------
9/6at Crismon------
9/13Mica Mountain------
9/20Safford*------
10/4at Pusch Ridge*------
10/11at Thatcher*------
10/18at ALA-West Foothills------
10/25Morenci*------
11/1at Mohave------

SAFFORD

Head coach: Robert Park (14-18, fourth season at Safford and overall)

Bulldogs compete in the 3A South. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23Payson------
8/30at Pima------
9/6Florence------
9/13Rincon/University------
9/20at Sabino*------
9/27at Blue Ridge------
10/4Morenci*------
10/11at Round Valley------
10/18Thatcher*------
11/1at Pusch Ridge*------

THATCHER

Head coach: Daniel Jones (33-14, fifth season at Thatcher and overall.)

Eagles compete in the 3A South. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23Paradise Honors------
8/30at Crismon------
9/6Valley Christian------
9/13at Round Valley------
9/20Yuma Catholic------
10/4at Show Low------
10/11Sabino*------
10/18at Safford*------
10/25Pusch Ridge*------
11/1at Morenci*------

2024 SOUTHERN ARIZONA COACHING CHANGES

SchoolClassFormer coachNew coach
Benson2ADustin CluffChris Rasmussen
Bisbee2AShawn HolleyCarlos Lopez
Canyon del Oro4ADustin PeaceScott McKee
Catalina 2AGreg McKinstry IIIAndy Fetsis
Catalina Foothills4ADaniel SainzGreg McKinstry III
Cholla4AVirgil HendersonPaul Tripp
Desert Christian1A(New program)Jason McKibben
Morenci3ARishard DavisFrankie Gonzalez
Pueblo4AJake AllenSly Lewis
Rincon/University4AKhyree CopelandJohnny Chan
Rio Rico4AJeff ScurranCarlos Duran
Sahuarita4AJake PriceJake Allen
Salpointe6AEric RogersPat Ryden
Willcox2AEric HjalmarsonJeston Lotts
Rasmussen, Lopez, Fetsis, Tripp, McKibben, Gonzalez, Lewis, Chan, Duran and Ryden are in their first stints as head coaches in football.

2A SAN PEDRO

BENSON

Head coach: Chris Rasmussen (first year at Benson and overall)

Bobcats compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23at Shadow Mountain------
8/30Phoenix Christian------
9/6at Morenci------
9/20Tombstone*------
9/27at Bisbee*------
10/4Palo Verde*------
10/11Santa Rita------
10/18Catalina*------
10/25Willcox*------
11/1at Tanque Verde*------

BISBEE

Head coach: Carlos Lopez (first year at Bisbee and overall)

Pumas compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30at Madison Highland------
9/6Douglas------
9/13Santa Cruz Valley------
9/20at Catalina*------
9/27Benson*------
10/4Willcox*------
10/11at Palo Verde*------
10/18Tanque Verde*------
10/25at Tombstone*------
11/1at Santa Rita------

CATALINA

Head coach: Andy Fetsis (first year at Catalina and overall)

Trojans compete in the 2A San Pedro, *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23at Highland Prep------
8/30NFL Yet------
9/6at ALA-Anthem South------
9/20Bisbee*------
9/27at Tanque Verde*------
10/4Santa Rita------
10/11Tombstone*------
10/18at Benson*------
10/25Palo Verde*------
11/1at Willcox*------

PALO VERDE

Head coach: Jamal Chatman (4-16, third year at Palo Verde and overall)

Titans compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30Antelope Union------
9/6at Rincon/University------
9/13at Coronado------
9/20Tanque Verde*------
9/27Santa Rita------
10/4at Benson*------
10/11Bisbee*------
10/18at Willcox*------
10/25at Catalina*------
11/1Tombstone*------

SANTA RITA

Head coach: Douglas Smith (first year at Santa Rita and overall)

Eagles are in the 2A San Pedro but have no region games scheduled. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30Globe------
9/6at San Pasqual------
9/12at ALA-Anthem South------
9/20Willcox------
9/27at Palo Verde------
10/4at Catalina------
10/11at Benson------
10/18at Tombstone------
10/25Tanque Verde------
11/1Bisbee------

TANQUE VERDE

Head coach: Jeffrey Bollnow (9-3, second year at Tanque Verde and overall)

Hawks compete in the 2A San Pedro. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LTVOpp
8/23Phoenix Christian------
9/6Glendale Prep------
9/13at Cortez------
9/20at Palo Verde*------
9/27Catalina*------
10/4at Tombstone*------
10/11Willcox*------
10/18at Bisbee*------
10/25at Santa Rita------
11/1Benson*------

TOMBSTONE

Head coach: Dominik Bonilla (15-16, fourth year at Tombstone and overall)

Yellowjackets compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/29at Heritage Academy Laveen------
9/6San Carlos------
9/13Globe------
9/20at Benson*------
9/27at Willcox*------
10/4Tanque Verde*------
10/11at Catalina*------
10/18Santa Rita------
10/25Bisbee*------
11/1at Palo Verde*------

WILLCOX

Head coach: Jeston Lotts (first year at Willcox, 61-40, 10 years overall).

Cowboys compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23at Arizona Lutheran------
8/30Tonopah Valley------
9/6Show Low------
9/20at Santa Rita------
9/27Tombstone*------
10/4at Bisbee*------
10/11at Tanque Verde*------
10/18Palo Verde*------
10/25at Benson*------
11/1Catalina*------

1A CONFERENCE

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.

DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23Fort Thomas*------
8/30at St. David*------
9/6Valley Union*------
9/20at Ray*------
9/27Duncan*------
10/4at Hayden------
10/18at 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.

DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23at Bagdad------
8/30Anthem Prep------
9/6Desert Heights------
9/13at Maryvale Prep------
9/20Cicero Prep------
9/27Salome------
10/4Mohave Accelerated------
10/18at 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.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23Lincoln Prep------
8/30at Ray*------
9/6at Duncan*------
9/13Fort Thomas*------
9/20at Valley Union*------
9/27Cicero Prep------
10/4at St. David*------
10/11at Desert Heights------
10/18Baboquivari*------

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.
DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/23at Cicero Prep------
8/30Baboquivari*------
9/6Ray*------
9/13at Duncan*------
9/20Mogollon------
9/27at Valley Union*------
10/4San Manuel*------
10/10at Fort Thomas*------
10/18Desert 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.

DateOpponentW/LOvrReg
8/30Desert Heights------
9/6at Baboquivari*------
9/13Ray*------
9/20San Manuel*------
9/27St. David*------
10/4at Fort Thomas*------
10/11at Duncan*------
10/18Superior------

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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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