2024 High School Football

PODCAST: Sonoran House Football Week 10 Preview

By Javier Morales

Posted on October 25, 2024

*Desert Christian will play its first playoff game in its first season of varsity football (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)*

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WEEK 10 (All games start at 7 p.m. unless noted)

BYES: 4A Gila No. 23 Douglas (4-4, 4-0) and 3A South No. 17 Safford (4-5, 2-1)

FRIDAY

6A CENTRAL

No. 14 Salpointe (4-2, 2-0) at No. 12 Mountain Pointe (5-2, 1-0) … A victory by Salpointe can set up a showdown for the region title with Brophy Prep in two weeks at Ed Doherty Stadium. With five 6A teams currently in the Open Division, the Lancers would be No. 9 in the conference tournament if the season ended today. That means they would play on the road to start the postseason and potentially face the No. 1 team on the road the following week.

5A SOUTHERN REGION

No. 10 Buena (6-1, 2-0) at No. 1 Marana (8-0, 3-0) … Marana can win the region title with a victory. Buena can make a statement either playing the Tigers close or pulling off the upset. This is the biggest game in the Joe Thomas Era at Buena, extending the last 10 years. Thomas is 55-68 in his tenure at Buena after starting 0-21. Marana receiver sensation Dezmen Roebuck is only 123 receiving yards from becoming the second player in the state’s history to reach 4,000 career receiving yards. Arizona freshman receiver Brandon Phelps owns the state record with a phenomenal 4,971 yards amassed at ALA-Gilbert North from 2020 to 2023.

No. 24 Sunnyside (3-4, 0-2) at No. 20 Cienega (3-4, 1-1) … A victory is needed by either team to keep their 5A playoff hopes alive. Right now, Cienega is theoretically the No. 17 team in the 5A with three 5A teams in the Open Division. Sunnyside is at No. 21. In addition to that, both teams are competing for a winning season.

No. 37 Desert View (2-5, 0-2) at No. 16 Casa Grande (5-3, 1-2) … Casa Grande has a good shot at making the state playoffs if it can beat Desert View at home and win at Cienega next week. A loss in either game may knock them out, especially if it is at the hands of the No. 37 Jaguars.

5A SONORAN REGION

No. 44 Nogales (0-7, 0-2) at No. 5 Ironwood Ridge (6-1, 2-0) … Ironwood Ridge returns after a bye week to face the winless Apaches. Nighthawks’ coach Dale Stott will look for the Nighthawks to remain sharp despite being decided favorites. Ironwood Ridge would be No. 2 in the 5A playoffs if the season ended today. The Nighthawks may fall a bit after playing this game.

No. 26 Flowing Wells (3-4, 0-2) at No. 8 Tucson (5-2, 1-1) … Tucson High coach Zach Neveleff and his staff have done a remarkable job awakening the sleeping-giant program. The Badgers have gone from 3-7 two seasons ago to 10-7 since Neveleff’s hire. The Badgers, led multi-talented Noah Chanez, would be No. 5 in the 5A state playoffs if the season ended today.

No. 18 Mountain View (4-3, 2-0) at No. 23 Maricopa (4-3. 1-1) … Mountain View, with one of the best young defenses in Southern Arizona, needs a victory in this game to have a chance to be a darkhorse for the 5A Sonoran title down the stretch. The Mountain Lions host Tucson High and Ironwood Ridge to close the regular season.

4A KINO REGION

No. 5 Mica Mountain (7-0, 2-0) at No. 27 Sahuaro (3-4, 0-2) … Mica Mountain coach Pat Nugent said last week that the Thunderbolts have improved week to week in the last three weeks. The Thunderbolts need to keep steamrolling with showdown at No. 10 Walden Grove scheduled next week.

No. 33 Catalina Foothills (1-6, 1-1) at No. 10 Walden Grove (5-2, 2-0) … Walden Grove, on a five-game winning streak, is in the same situation as Mica Mountain is at Sahuaro. The Red Wolves need to keep the momentum going heading into one of the state’s top games next week.

No. 40 Pueblo (2-5, 0-2) at No. 15 Canyon del Oro (4-3, 1-1) … How remarkable would it be if CDO lost 28 seniors off last year’s state championship and its longtime coach Dustin Peace and still make the playoffs the next season? The Dorados and new coach Scott McKee have that opportunity.

4A GILA REGION

No. 32 Sahuarita (4-3, 3-0) at No. 46 Rincon/UHS (2-5, 1-2) … Sahuarita coach Jake Allen’s team amazingly can start 4-0 in the 4A Gila with a win at Rincon/University and be in a position to win the region title when Douglas visits in the season finale in two weeks.

No. 39 Rio Rico (3-4, 1-2) at No. 34 Amphitheater (4-4, 3-1) … Amphi is in position to finish two years consecutively with a winning season and an opportunity to capture the region title despite enduring significant injuries this season.

No. 53 Cholla (1-7, 0-4) at No. 36 Empire (3-4, 0-3) … Both teams are in search of winning their first region game while ending extended losing streaks — Cholla is at six straight while Empire is at three consecutive losses after starting 3-1.

3A SOUTH REGION

No. 7 Pusch Ridge (7-1, 2-0) at No. 1 Thatcher (7-1, 2-0) … Thatcher can win the region title with a victory in one of the top games in the state. The key for Pusch Ridge is if the Lions’ defense rises to the occasion. The offense is clicking is behind quarterback Jacob Newborn, who has replaced the graduated Bubba Mustain admirably.

No. 20 Morenci (2-5, 0-2) at No. 25 Sabino (2-6, 0-3) … Sabino plays its last home game of the season before ending at Mohave next week. After losing more than 20 players from last year’s state title team, coach Ryan McBrayer’s team is reloading this year with young talent and should be back on top in 2025 and/or 2026.

2A SAN PEDRO REGION

No. 6 Bisbee (7-1, 5-0) at No. 23 Tombstone (5-3, 3-2) … Bisbee can win the region title and automatic berth to the 2A state playoffs with a victory against a tough Tombstone team on the road. If Bisbee quarterback Sebastian Lopez played in the Class 4A-6A his name would be high on the state player of the year ballots. He is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the state.

No. 11 Willcox (5-3, 4-1) at No. 16 Benson (5-3, 4-1) … This game features two new coaches — Willcox’s Jeston Lotts and Benson’s Chris Rasmussen — who have led their teams tremendously with each 4-1 in the region. Both have a realistic shot at making the 2A state playoffs.

No. 19 Tanque Verde (4-4, 2-3) at No. 50 Santa Rita (0-8, 0-5) … Tanque Verde, on a three-game losing streak, will not be helped in power points with this game. The Hawks can finish with a winning record if they take care of Santa Rita and beat visiting Benson last week. That would be a heck of an accomplishment for second-year coach Jeff Bollnow, who lost more than 20 seniors from last year’s team.

No. 34 Palo Verde (3-5, 1-4) at No. 44 Catalina (1-7, 1-4) … Palo Verde associate head coach Keith Smith Jr., respected by many in his profession locally, will coach the Titans in this game with Jamal Chatman tending to personal matters. The likelihood exists that Smith may coach this game and Palo Verde’s last of the season next week against Tombstone at home.

1A CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND

No. 4 St. David (8-1) BYE … The Tigers will play the winner of the No. 12 Mohave at No. 5 Mohave Accelerated matchup next week at home.

No. 9 Williams (4-5) at No. 8 Desert Christian (5-3), 6 p.m. … First playoff game at Desert Christian in its first year of existence. The winner of this game faces the daunting task of playing at No. 1 Hayden next week but that does not matter. A win in this game against Williams is like a championship for the Crusaders.