Raul Soto-Romero of Jet Sports Network talked with me about this week’s matchups in the Southern Arizona high school football season in our weekly video podcast show.
VIDEO PODCAST
Interviews with Sunnyside coach Thomas Romack and Desert View coach Robert Bonillas about the Duel in the District rivalry game included:
AUDIO PODCAST
TACKLE WEEK SEVEN SCHEDULE
Games at 7 p.m. unless noted
THURSDAY
5A SOUTHERN
Sunnyside (4-1, 1-0) at Desert View (5-0, 2-0)
After pulling off a thrilling 29-28 win in overtime at Sunnyside last year in the Duel in the District, Desert View will host the Blue Devils in the 23rd meeting between the Sunnyside Unified School District. It was the first time the rivals played into overtime. Last year’s game was played in the regular-season finale, when most rivalry games are played. This game falls in the middle of the season. After Sunnyside built a 13-1 advantage in the series, Desert View has won five of the last eight meetings.
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 16-7.* 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 |
| 2024 | Desert View | 29 | SUNNYSIDE | 28 (OT) |
| 2025 | DESERT VIEW | 35 | Sunnyside | 14 |
FRIDAY
6A SOUTHERN
Mesa (2-3, 0-0) at Salpointe (4-1, 0-0)
5A SONORAN
Marana (4-1, 2-0) at Ironwood Ridge (1-4, 1-1)
The Nighthawks and Tigers are not too far from each other on the northwest side, which adds to a potential rivalry with both now in the 5A Sonoran. Ironwood Ridge leads the series 10-2, but the programs have not played each other since 2021. An interesting plot is emerging Ironwood Ridge sophomore quarterback Maximus Harder sharing the field with Marana prolific-passing senior Colten Meyer.
Vista Grande (2-3, 0-1) at Canyon del Oro (2-3, 0-2)
Casa Grande (2-3, 1-0) at Tucson (2-3, 1-1)
5A SOUTHERN
Flowing Wells (5-0, 1-0) at Nogales (2-3, 0-2)
The Caballeros are off to their best start since 2015 when they began the year 7-0 under Mark Brunenkant.
Mountain View (3-2, 1-1) at Maricopa (2-3, 0-2)
Mountain View’s talented linebacker Jason Pogue is slated to return after missing the last three games because of an injury.
4A KINO
Sahuaro (4-1, 0-0) at Walden Grove (3-2, 0-0)
Douglas (3-1, 0-0) at Mica Mountain (3-2, 0-0)
Amphitheater (2-3, 0-0) at Catalina Foothills (2-3, 0-0)
4A GILA
Pueblo (2-3, 0-0) at Rincon/UHS (2-2, 0-0)
Cholla (2-3, 0-0) at Empire (0-5, 0-0)
Rio Rico (1-4, 0-0) at Sahuarita (1-4, 0-0)
3A EAST
Pusch Ridge (4-1, 2-1) at Sabino (3-3, 2-0)
This is a game between the last two 3A state champions. Pusch Ridge, which had a school-record 17-game winning streak snapped last week at Thatcher, is the defending champ. The Sabercats suffered tough losses last year in their 3-7 season after losing almost 30 seniors from the 2023 state championship team. One of the defeats was against rival Pusch Ridge, who beat Sabino 42-14 at its Oro Valley home. Sabino holds a 5-3 lead in the series that dates to 2016. The Sabercats are 4-0 at home against Pusch Ridge.
Safford (2-4, 1-1) at Thatcher (4-1, 2-0)
2A SOUTH I
Bisbee (2-4, 1-0) at Tanque Verde (4-2, 2-0)
After starting 0-5 in the series that dates to 2011, Tanque Verde won games in convincing fashion against Bisbee in 2022 (57-0 score at home) and 2023 (26-8) before losing at Bisbee 35-21 last season. The loss to the Pumas last season essentially knocked Tanque Verde out of playoff contention (the Hawks’ third consecutive loss). Tanque Verde will want to avenge that loss before hosting Highland Prep and traveling to Tombstone to close the regular season.
Santa Rita (0-6, 0-2) at Tombstone (0-5, 0-1)
2A SOUTH II
Benson (3-3, 0-0) at Eloy Santa Cruz Valley (3-3, 0-0)
Desert Christian (3-2, 0-0) at Willcox (5-1, 0-0)
1A EAST
San Manuel (2-4, 1-2) at Superior (4-2, 0-1)
1A SOUTH
Fort Thomas (1-5, 1-1) at Valley Union (3-2, 2-1)
Valley Union has the opportunity to run the table against region teams other than St. David — Duncan, Baboquivari and Fort Thomas — because those games are all at home. This is the Blue Devils’ last region meeting. Fort Thomas has lost the last four meetings against Valley Union. Earning at least a 3-1 record in the 1A South should help Valley Union reach the state playoffs.
NON-REGION
5A Cienega (2-3) at 6A Mesa Desert Ridge (0-4)
5A Mesa Mountain View (3-2) at Buena (3-2)
The Colts, playing the toughest schedule in the history of the program, and this game against the Toros is extra special. The 6A power, coached by former Marana coach Andy Litten, was 12-2 last season with a loss in the 6A state championship to Peoria Centennial. The Toros are 3-2 with the losses to Peoria Liberty and Chandler Basha. This game is in the midst of a murderer’s row of games for the Colts — hosting ALA-Gilbert North and Tucson and playing at Marana last week. The losses to ALA-Gilbert North (42-14) and Marana (52-25) were by a wide margin, but the fact the Colts are playing these teams is very meaningful and will be a huge advantage with power points.
3A Coolidge (3-3) at ALA-Mesa North (3-3)
2A Palo Verde (3-3) at Catalina (2-3)
The off-season realignment of schools forced Catalina into independent status, aligned with other struggling 2A programs in the state. That means the Trojans, under Virgil Henderson, in his first year leading his alma mater, will play only three Tucson-area teams (Santa Rita, Desert Christian and Palo Verde). The game against the Titans is their lone home game scheduled against any of them. It is also the first of three straight home games coming down the stretch, a good opportunity to begin a promising conclusion to Henderson’s welcome-back season. Catalina is chasing its first winning season since 2007. Palo Verde is in position for its first winning season since 2009.
1A Hayden (6-0) at St. David (6-0)
After starting 4-1 in the series that started in 2011 against Hayden, the Tigers are on a 0-4 stretch against the Lobos, including two blowout losses in the playoffs the last two seasons. The Lobos have won 30 straight games entering the season, including championship victories in the last two years. St. David lost 53-6 against Hayden in the semifinals last year and 68-0 in the quarterfinals in 2023. Hayden’s average margin of victory this year is 43.2 points, and for St. David it’s 56.1.
1A Glendale Desert Heights (4-2) at Baboquivari (0-6)
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