TOP RETURNERS AND COACHES WITH HONORS
BUENA
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
QB/WR/CB Aliaz Dyson, Sr., 5-8, 160
TE/DE Trenton Williams, Jr., 6-2, 200
LB Cooper Kraus, Jr., 6-0, 180
DT/G Shawn Bookman, Sr., 6-1, 230
RB/LB Andres Bonilla, Sr., 5-9, 190
CB/WR Jayden Thomas, Jr., 5-10, 165
CASA GRANDE
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
WR/FS Kendale Cade, Sr., 5-11, 160
G/DT Carson Galle, Sr., 5-7, 220
C/DT Lelend Cevedia, Sr., 6-1, 294
RB/PR Cameron Armstrong, Soph., 5-3, 155
LB/RB/DE Johnathon Marley, Sr., 5-10, 200
TE/DE Aveon Williams, Jr., 6-6, 240
CIENEGA
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
OL/LB Matt Feibush, Sr., 5-10, 185
K Zane Colson, Sr., 5-10, 165
DE/T Manuel Griego, Sr., 6-3, 218
RB LeDainean Moore, Sr., 5-11, 212
LB/RB/WR Davion Ross, Jr., 6-1, 170
WR/SS Logan Welsh, Jr., 6-1, 165
DESERT VIEW
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
WR/LB Junior Garnett, Jr., 5-10, 155
RB/CB Kevin Zleh, Sr., 5-7, 170
WR/FS Matthew Bramlett, Jr., 5-9, 160
WR/DB Josiah Lugo, Sr., 5-8, 145
WR/DB DeAngelo Mada-Montes, Jr., 5-7, 150
DE/G Guillermo Ruiz, Jr., 5-10, 200
RB/LB Christian Teah, Jr., 5-11, 180
WR/DB Emiliano Yrigolla, Sr., 5-11, 140
TE/LB Isaac Zazueta, Jr., 6-1, 195
MARANA
REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Phillip Steward
REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR
WR Dezmen Roebuck, Sr., 6-0, 165
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
LB/DE Hayden Utley, Jr., 6-1, 238
RB/LB Christian Berrios, Sr., 5-10, 190
T/G Tyler Evans, Sr., 6-4, 295
QB Colton Meyer, Jr., 5-11, 160
RB/LB Greg Webb, Jr., 6-0, 180
NG Adyn Bixby, Sr., 5-6, 200
WR Dermain Linen, Sr., 6=1, 178
RB Darian DeWitt, Jr., 5-4, 140
WR Dominic Cillitto, Jr., 6-1, 165
WR/SS Moses Miller, Sr., 6-0, 170
RB/LB Dominic Olivas, Sr., 5-9, 175
SUNNYSIDE
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
WR/DB Antonio Ochoa, Sr. 6-0, 150
CB/WR Mike Hernandez, Sr., 5-7, 125
WR/SS Adrian Lopez, Sr., 5-10, 160
LB/RB Alex Yourgulez, Sr.
A LOOK AT …
4A Kino
4A Gila
3A South
2A San Pedro
1A South
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Marana wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck
Marana Class of 2025 receiver Dezmen Roebuck, who commited to Washington and former Arizona coach Jedd Fisch in June, is a 6-foot and 175-pound prospect who has amassed 3,108 yards receiving with 26 touchdowns on 257 catches in his career. His 121 receptions last season is a state record. He already holds the 5A record with his 257 career receptions. For the state record, he trails Arizona freshman Brandon Phelps, who had 282 in his career with ALA-Gilbert North. Roebuck is also in position to break the state record in career receiving yards of 4,971 held by Phelps. Marana opens its season hosting Salpointe Catholic on Aug. 30.
Buena running back/linebacker Andres Bonilla
Bonilla, 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds, has the opportunity to rush for more than 4,000 yards in his career. He is presently at 2,866 yards on 412 carries with 27 touchdowns as a starter since he was a freshman in 2021. Last season, he gained 821 yards on 121 rushes with nine touchdowns in a season that was marred by injuries. As a sophomore in 2022, he had a breakout year with 1,546 yards on the ground on 187 carries with 16 touchdowns. Reports are that Bonilla spent a lot of time in the weight room to become stronger following last season. He is ready for another season of at least 1,000 yards on the ground as a senior.
5A SOUTHERN NOTES
— The 5A Southern and 5A Sonoran are the only Southern Arizona regions that do not have new coaches leading a program. The 5A Southern has three coaches who are at least in their 13th year as a head coach — Buena’s Joe Thomas (13th year), Desert View’s Robert Bonillas (15th) and Cienega’s Justin Argraves (15th).
— Thomas will earn his 50th career win with a victory. He is 49-66 after starting his career at 0-21 at Buena after going 11-19 in three years at his alma mater Tombstone. So, after being 11-40 in the sixth year of his coaching career, he is 38-26 since. Buena has tough region games on the road against Casa Grande and Marana but close the season with three of its last four games at home. The Colts’ lone game against a team outside of Southern Arizona is at Fairfax in Phoenix to start the season. The Stampede went 0-10 last season.
— Casa Grande, in its third season under coach Mark Luna, suffered the signifcant loss of 5A Southern Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Eltorna Gant, transferring to crosstown school Vista Grande after last school year. Casa Grande hosts 4A juggernaut Mica Mountain before starting its region schedule begins at home against Buena on Oct. 4. The Cougars must play at region foes Marana and Sunnyside but end the season with home games against Desert View and Cienega.
— The AIA schedulers did not give Cienega any favors in 2024. Argraves must get through a schedule with the Bobcats that includes only four home games and three sets of back-to-back road games. Three of Cienega’s five region games are on the road, including the last two with extended trips to Buena and Casa Grande. Cienega hosts 6A team Desert Vista (that went 2-8 last year) in the season opener. The Bobcats opened at Desert Ridge last year but won’t get a return visit.
— Bonillas can reach his 50th win at Desert View with two victories. After playing the first two games in the Phoenix area against Willow Canyon and North, Desert View will play four consecutive home games from Sept. 13 to Oct. 11. The Jaguars play three of their last four games on the road with the lone home game in that stretch against Marana. The season concludes at district rival Sunnyside, which has won the last two meetings and leads the series 16-5.
— One of the most anticipated games in Southern Arizona includes Marana, with fourth-year coach Phillip Steward, facing perennial power Salpointe at home in the season-opener Aug. 30. The Lancers won last year’s game 35-14 at Doherty Stadium after a lightning delay of almost two hours. Marana then plays a tough game at Tucson High followed by a home game with defending 5A state champion Higley on Sept. 13. The Boot rivalry game with Mountain View at home follows with the Tigers looking to avenge last year’s 42-35 loss to the Mountain Lions. Marana nearly won at Higley last year. The Tigers lost 29-24. Four of the last six games for Marana are on the road.
— Sunnyside coach Thomas Romack starts his third season with finally no scheduling concerns involving home games. The Blue Devils did not play a game at home in the 2022 season, Romack’s first year, because of delays installing turf on the field. Last season, Sunnyside played its first three games on the road. This season, Sunnyside gets a reprieve playing its first three games at home and the Blue Devils play three of their region games at home, including against rival Desert View to end the regular season. Sunnyside at Mica Mountain in a non-region game Sept. 20 is one to watch. The Thunderbolts won 35-7 at Sunnyside last year.
5A SOUTHERN SCHEDULES
BUENA
Head coach: Joe Thomas (38-47, 10th year at Buena; 49-66, 13th year overall)Colts compete in the 5A Southern. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Bue | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | at Fairfax | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Ironwood Ridge | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Catalina Foothills | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Tucson | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Pueblo | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Casa Grande* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Desert View* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Marana* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Sunnyside* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | Cienega* | -- | -- | -- |
CASA GRANDE
Head coach: Mark Luna (11-10, second year at Casa Grande and overall)Cougars compete in the 5A Southern. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Corona del Sol | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Nogales | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Paradise Valley | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Maricopa | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Mica Mountain | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Buena* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Marana* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at Sunnyside* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | Desert View* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Cienega* | -- | -- | -- |
CIENEGA
Head coach: Justin Argraves (18-14, fourth season at Cienega; 74-64, 15th season overall)Bobcats compete in the 5A Southern. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Desert Vista | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Paradise Valley | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Tucson | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Walden Grove | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/26 | at McClintock | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Desert View* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Marana* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | Sunnyside* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Casa Grande* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | at Buena* | -- | -- | -- |
DESERT VIEW
Head coach: Robert Bonillas (48-66, 13th season at Desert View; 54-80, 15th season overall)Jaguars compete in the 5A Southern. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | at Willow Canyon | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at North | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Canyon del Oro | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Walden Grove | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Nogales | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Cienega* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at Buena* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Casa Grande* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Marana* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | at Sunnyside* | -- | -- | -- |
MARANA
Head coach: Phillip Steward (22-11, fourth year at Marana and overall)Tigers compete in the 5A Southern. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Mar | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Salpointe | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Tucson | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Higley | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Mountain View | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Canyon del Oro | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Sunnyside* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Casa Grande* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at Cienega* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | Buena* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Desert View* | -- | -- | -- |
SUNNYSIDE
Head coach: Thomas Romack (12-8, third year at Sunnyside and overall)Blue Devils compete in the 5A Southern. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Apollo | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Flowing Wells | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Cactus Shadows | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Mica Mountain* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Nogales | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Marana* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Casa Grande* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Cienega* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Buena* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | Desert View* | -- | -- | -- |
FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
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.
Recommended for you
