2024 High School Football

PODCAST: Sonoran House Football Week 12 Preview

By Javier Morales

Posted on November 8, 2024

The Duel in the District between Sunnyside and Desert View will be played for the 22nd time Friday night with the Blue Devils trying to build their streak to three straight wins against their rivals (Gilbert Alcaraz/AllSportsTucson.com)

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WEEK 12 (All games start at 7 p.m.)

BYES: 5A Southern No. 1 Marana (10-0, 5-0), 5A Southern No. 18 Casa Grande (6-4, 2-3) and 4A Gila No. 35 Amphitheater (5-5, 4-2).

FRIDAY

6A CENTRAL REGION
No. 4 Brophy (8-1, 3-0) at No. 11 Salpointe (6-2, 3-0) … Salpointe coach Pat Ryden can win a region title in his first season if the Lancers pull off the mild upset at home against Brophy. Former Arizona player Victor Yates is an assistant with Brophy. A victory by Salpointe will also go a long way toward it hosting a first-round game in next week’s start of the 6A state playoffs.

5A SOUTHERN REGION: MARANA CHAMPION
No. 19 Cienega (5-4, 3-1) at No. 7 Buena (7-2, 3-1) … This game has a playoff atmosphere with Cienega needing a win to strengthen its playoff hopes while the Colts need a victory to improve their chances of hosting in the first round and possibly also in the quarterfinal round of the 5A state playoffs.
No. 34 Desert View (2-7, 0-4) at No. 32 Sunnyside (3-6, 0-4) … The renewal of the Duel in the District happens for the second straight year as a region game to conclude the regular season. Sunnyside leads the series 16-5 and has won the last two meetings. Both teams are playing for pride and bragging rights.

DUEL IN THE DISTRICT SERIES

The series between Desert View and Sunnyside in football (home team in CAPS). The schools did not play between 1995 and 2010 because of being in different regions and classifications. The 2023 game was the first time both schools ended the regular season against each other. Sunnyside leads the series 16-5.
* Game at Kino North Stadium.

Year	Winner	Score	Loser	Score
1985	SUNNYSIDE	51	Desert View	0
1986	Sunnyside	40	DESERT VIEW	7
1987	SUNNYSIDE	14	Desert View	13
1988	SUNNYSIDE	23	Desert View	12
1989	DESERT VIEW	19	Sunnyside	0
1990	SUNNYSIDE	21	Desert View	0
1991	Sunnyside	14	DESERT VIEW	6
1992	SUNNYSIDE	18	Desert VIew	16
1993	Sunnyside	34	DESERT VIEW	0
1994	SUNNYSIDE	39	Desert View	0
2011	SUNNYSIDE	49	Desert View	0
2012	Sunnyside	42	DESERT VIEW	6
2013	SUNNYSIDE	34	Desert View	27
2014	Sunnyside	53	DESERT VIEW	0
2016	DESERT VIEW	42	Sunnyside	20
2017	Desert View	10	SUNNYSIDE	7
2018*	Sunnyside	20	Desert View	13
2019	DESERT VIEW	20	Sunnyside	6
2021	Desert View	29	SUNNYSIDE	21
2022*	Sunnyside	16	Desert View	6
2023	Sunnyside	35	DESERT VIEW	14

5A SONORAN REGION
No. 5 Tucson (7-2, 3-1) at No. 45 Nogales (0-9, 0-4) … Tucson is hoping playing the low-seeded Apaches does not adversely affect its power rating heading into next week’s playoffs. The Badgers would be the No. 2 seed in the 5A state tournament if the season ended today because three 5A teams are in the Open Division.
No. 6 Ironwood Ridge (8-1, 4-0) at No. 17 Mountain View (5-4, 3-1) … With a victory, Ironwood Ridge wins the 5A Sonoran region title for the second straight season under third-year coach Dale Stott. If Mountain View pulls the upset, it will likely force a three-way tie for first place. The tie-breaker would go down to the power ratings of each team so it would come down to how Tucson and Ironwood Ridge are rated. A Mountain View victory would likely clinch a playoff berth for the Mountain Lions.
No. 29 Flowing Wells (4-5, 1-3) at No. 23 Maricopa (4-5, 1-3) … Flowing Wells can finish with a non-losing season for the first time since 2018, when Mark Brunenkant coached the Caballeros to an 8-3 record.

4A KINO REGION: MICA MOUNTAIN CHAMPION
No. 28 Catalina Foothills (2-7, 2-2) at No. 3 Mica Mountain (9-0, 4-0) … Catalina Foothills started the season 0-5 and has been competitive in the region with a 2-2 record, including almost winning at CDO last month on the road. The Falcons led the Dorados 17-0 in the fourth quarter before a collapse. Otherwise, Greg McKinstry’s team would 3-1 in region play heading into this game. Catalina Foothills also stayed close with Walden Grove into the fourth quarter before losing 28-21. Mica Mountain can finish undefeated for the first time in its four-year history as a varsity program (third full year).
No. 13 Canyon del Oro (6-3, 3-1) at No. 10 Walden Grove (6-3, 3-1) … Good matchup of two teams likely headed to the playoffs. Walden Grove is playing for the opportunity to be a host in a first-round game. The Dorados, the defending state champions, can solidify a spot in the playoffs with a victory. The Red Wolves are looking for their first win over a top 15 team after coming close against No. 8 Northwest Christian (21-16 loss), No. 5 Arcadia (24-21) and No. 3 Mica Mountain (16-6).
No. 29 Sahuaro (3-6, 0-4) at No. 41 Pueblo (2-7, 0-4) … These programs from the eastside and westside conclude their season wanting to end with a win for momentum into the off-season.

4A GILA REGION
No. 26 Douglas (5-4, 5-0) at No. 27 Sahuarita (6-3, 5-0) … This has the meaning of a state championship game but it’s for the region title. Because the region champion does not automatically qualify for the state playoffs, this is the last game of the season for both teams that are each entering with a five-game winning streak.
No. 50 Rincon/UHS (2-7, 1-4) at No. 32 Empire (5-4, 2-3) … Empire will try to finish with a winning record at 6-4 for the second consecutive season.
No. 44 Rio Rico (3-6, 1-4) at No. 53 Cholla (1-8, 0-5) … Cholla will try to end the season earning its first victory in region play while Rio Rico will attempt to snap a four-game losing streak and end the season with a win.

PLAYOFFS

3A FOOTBALL FIRST ROUND
No. 13 Blue Ridge (7-3) at No. 4 Pusch Ridge (9-1) … Former Safford and Willcox coach Eric Hjalmarson, who played at Arizona under Dick Tomey, makes a return to Tucson as the head coach of his alma mater, Blue Ridge. Pusch Ridge is trying to reach 10 wins in a season for the second time in four years under fifth-year coach Kent Middleton.

2A FOOTBALL FIRST ROUND
No. 11 Camp Verde (7-3) at No. 6 Bisbee (9-1) … Bisbee, with one of the best defenses at the 2A level and potent QB Sebastian Lopez engineering the offense, will try to win its first playoff game since 2015.
No. 9 Willcox (7-3) at No. 8 Scottsdale Prep (9-1) … Willcox must travel to open the 2A state playoffs behind one of the most potent running games in the state. Landon Ward, a senior running back, averages an incredible 16.4 yards per run (1,442 yards on 88 carries).

1A FOOTBALL: SEMIFINAL AT CORONADO HIGH
No. 4 St. David (9-1) vs. No. 1 Hayden (10-0) … Hayden beat St. David twice last season by a combined score of 124-0. The Tigers have an uphill climb to make at Hayden with a freshman at quarterback who has proven to be capable. Vincent Ciccariello has completed 83 of 140 pass attempts for 1,342 yards with 28 touchdowns and only three interceptions.