2024 High School Football

Mica Mountain’s Jimmy Leon Ed Doherty Award finalist; 18 from Southern Arizona nominees

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PHOENIX — Mica Mountain senior tight end/defensive end Jimmy Leon, who led the Thunderbolts to a 14-0 record and 4A state title, joined Ed Doherty Award winner Dezmen Roebuck of Marana as one of the five finalists for the award announced Saturday at the Chateaux Luxe.

Leon led Mica Mountain in receiving (32 catches for 463 yards with 14 touchdowns) and was No. 1 in the state in sacks (16) among players in 4A to 6A schools. He had 64 tackles, 23.5 for loss.

“It means everything to be considered one of the top athletes and top football players in Arizona,” Leon said. “I am very grateful and blessed. It’s an honor to be among all these great other football players and to be recognized.”

Although Mica Mountain is in its fourth year overall, third playing a full varsity schedule, Leon and the 30 other seniors have left a legacy after winning the state title under legendary coach Pat Nugent.

“We won a state championship; that’s going to go down in the record books,” Leon said. “People will realize that Mica Mountain is the real deal. We have players coming. We have great coaches. We have a great community out in Vail.

“This is not the end for Mica Mountain.”

The other finalists for the Ed Doherty Award aside from Roebuck and Leon were Phoenix Pinnacle senior quarterback Wyatt Horton, Tempe McClintock senior quarterback Jaxon Knutson and Queen Creek junior quarterback Tait Reynolds.

The following are the weeks the Southern Arizona players earned the Ed Doherty Award nomination with interviews of those who were in attendance at the ceremony Saturday:

Week 12

Andres Bonilla — RB, Buena, Sr.
In a 32-15 win over Cienega, Bonilla had 18 carries for 225 yards with a touchdown. Bonilla finished his career with a school-record 4,371 yards rushing and 44 touchdowns. He had 1,505 yards rushing this season on 150 carries with 17 touchdowns.

Carlos Montoya Jr. — RB/LB, Walden Grove, Sr.
Montoya, Jr., had 13 total tackles (five solo), 5.5 tackles for a loss, and 10 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown in a 37-21 win over Canyon del Oro. He finished with 38 tackles for a loss on the season, 80 in his career.

Xavier Owens — DE, Safford, Sr.
Owens finished the regular season fourth in the state at all levels with 13 sacks.

Week 11

Colten Meyer — QB, Marana, Jr.
Meyer broke Marana’s season passing yards record when he completed 26 of 30 passes for 353 yards and four touchdowns in a 54-12 win over Desert View. The Tigers’ top three in passing yards in a season:

  1. Colten Meyer — 3,687 yards this season
  2. Elijah Joplin — 2,987 yards in 2022
  3. Trenton Bourguet — 2,984 in 2017

Cash Dickey — WR/DB, Canyon del Oro, Jr.
In a 25-8 win over Sahuaro, Dickey had four catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns, with six solo tackles (seven total) and one pass breakup.

Remington Todd — RB/LB, Willcox, Sr.
In a 62-0 shutout of Catalina, Todd had four carries for 79 yards and three TDs, along with two interceptions.

Week 10

Jacob Newborn — QB, Pusch Ridge, Sr.
In a 22-7 upset on the road of then-No. 1 2A school Thatcher, Newborn completed 20-of-28 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns. He want on to lead the Lions to the 3A state championship.

Landon Ward – RB/DB, Willcox, Sr.
Ward had 313 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns, along with four solo tackles, in a 39-21 victory over Benson.

Week 9

Cedar Haynie — RB/LB, St. David, Jr.
In a 66-14 win over Desert Christian, Haynie had 156 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. He also
recorded two kickoff returns for 125 yards and 10 total tackles (including two for a loss).

Week 8

Nathan Spivey — SS/ATH, Salpointe Catholic, Sr.
In a 43-14 win over Corona del Sol, Spivey had a 54-yard punt return for a TD and a 77-yard
kickoff return for another score. He also rushed five times for 32 yards and had five tackles.

Kody Bingham – RB/DB, Thatcher, Sr.
In a 41-12 win over defending 3A state champion Sabino, Bingham rushed for 177 yards on 10
carries with four touchdowns. He also recorded six total tackles (four solo).

Kaleb Layton – QB, Walden Grove, Jr.
Layton was 22-of-26 in passing for 452 yards and six touchdowns in a 72-27 win over Sahuaro.

Week 7

Nash Moore — QB, Buena, Sr.
Moore had a 264-yard, six-touchdown performance in a 66-42 win at Casa Grande. He completed 16 of 21 pass attempts.

Week 6

Jimmy Leon – TE/DE, Mica Mountain, Sr.
Leon caught two touchdown passes, adding three sacks along with a forced fumble, in the Thunderbolts’ 41-7 win over Casa Grande.

Week 5

Kyah Francone – PK/P, Salpointe Catholic, Sr.
Francone hit two field goals of 51 and 50 yards, added three extra points on three attempts and averaged 40 yards per punt in the Lancers’ 27-23 victory over Centennial.

Matthew Kroner – WR/DB, Ironwood Ridge, Sr.
Kroner had eight catches for 214 yards and three touchdowns, along with 10 total tackles (seven solo), in the Nighthawks’ 35-9 win over Douglas.

Sebastian Lopez – QB/DB, Bisbee, Sr.
Lopez completed 17 of 27 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown, rushed 12 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns, while adding an interception and six total tackles in a 26-0 shutout of Catalina.

Week 4

Dezmen Roebuck – WR/S, Marana, Sr.
Roebuck had 10 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-28 win over two-time defending 5A champion Higley, setting a state record for career catches with 288.

The Ed Doherty Award nominations started in Week 3.

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