Catching up after a brief vacation. Tucson High won two more state championships in 1951 (8-2) and 1952 (10-0) under Jason Greer, St. David (8-0) won its fourth 6-man title, this time under Lot Christenson in 1953, Bisbee won the Class A championship (9-0-1) under Max Spilsbury in 1954 and Benson won the Class C title in 1954 (9-0) and 1955 (9-0) under Jack Wilson.
1951: Tucson High
1952: Tucson High
1953: St. David
1954: Benson and Bisbee
1955: Benson
We have 69 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.
NOV. 23 1955: BENSON 44, WICKENBURG 24
Wickenburg (5-2) was 5-0 in games against teams from Arizona so a six-man championship game was set up between Wickenburg and Benson (8-0) in Benson on Nov. 10 to decide the state Class C championship but tragedy struck when a car driven by Arthur Sloane collided with the Wickenburg bus, killing a passenger in the car, Patsy Weining. Four players and a coach were injured, delaying the contest until Nov. 20 after the Benson community raised $215 (around $2,500 today) to help finance another trip for Wickenburg. Benson won 44-24 to go 9-0 for the second year in a row.
News of the Day: Tucson bus drivers went on strike to increase their $1.45 per-hour ($17 today) wage by 20 cents but the City turned it down in favor of 10 cents.
Notable: Benson players James Hanson, Jerry Treu, Ernie Hanson and Don Lewis were named All-State along with Orland Merrill of St. David. Guy Smith of St. David and Don Fenn of Benson were honorable mention.
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