Making the playoffs and winning a state title are goals for Marana and Mountain View each year, but the two teams also have a more personal goal, winning the “Battle of the Boot” trophy.
The “Battle of the Boot” pits Marana School District foes Marana High School and Mountain View High School against each other. The winner gets bragging rights and the “Boot” trophy to display at their school.
Friday night, in a loud and electric atmosphere on Mountain View’s Wayne Jones Field, the 22nd playing of the “Battle of the Boot” was held.
Marana (8-1 overall, 5-0 5A Sonoran) came out victorious in a 48-20 win over Mountain View to retain the “Boot” for another year.
“I’m just happy, one of our goals this season was win the ‘Boot’ so we came out here and we executed that. I’m just happy for all of the guys,” Colten Meyer said on keeping the “Boot” at Marana.
Marana defeated Mountain View 46-13 last year to gain possession of the “Boot”.
“We look forward to this game every year, it brings out the community, gives the opportunity to play in front of our home town fans, I mean the entire town of Marana comes out, so it’s a good time to play in front of them and keeping the “Boot” on top of that is just an A-plus,” Marana head coach Phillip Steward said.
Marana coach Phillip Steward, after his Gatorade bath, talks about what it means to keep the Boot in Marana, his under recognized defense, adjusting the game plan during the game from run heavy to keying on the passing game and adjustments that will be made heading into the… pic.twitter.com/DJD3db5zoz
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) October 25, 2025
“I’m just proud that our class was able to keep it home and we will be able to remember that.” Marana cornerback Wyatt Berry added.
The “Battle of the Boot” started back in 1988 when Mountain View head coach Wayne Jones wanted to create a tradition for the two Marana School District high schools. A trophy to pass between the two school to commemorate a win, similar to the” Old Oaken Bucket” that was passed between Purdue and Illinois when Jones was a quarterback at Purdue. Jones felt the Marana and Mountain View rivalry would benefit from something similar.
Jones found a boot, had it bronzed and the “Battle of the Boot” tradition was born.
The “Boot” came from Bob Honea, a former University of Arizona basketball standout who graduated in 1947.
In Marana’s first possession, Meyer hit Sean Roebuck in the left corner of the end zone putting the Tigers up 6-0 after the extra point was missed.
Mountain View’s Chris Nelson ran the ensuing kickoff back 70 yards to tie the game. The Mountain Lions took a 7-6 lead on the successful extra point.
As the final minute of the first quarter ticked down, Meyer sent a long ball to Jaxsun Sharp who was running down the left field line. Sharp grabbed the pass and did the rest, running into the end zone for a touchdown. Marana’s two point conversion try was good putting Marana up 14-7.
Colten Meyer sends a long ball to Jaxsun Sharp for the score. The Tigers completed the two point conversion when Meyer found Jesse Howell just inside the end zone.
Marana leads MV 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. @AllSportsTucson @MaranFB @MaranaAthletics pic.twitter.com/WS4hPlcWBQ
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) October 25, 2025
On the first play of the second quarter, Mountain View quarterback Ion Brin handed off to Drake Davis who took it to the house for a Mountain Lions touchdown. The extra point was blocked and Marana held a one point lead at 14-13.
First play of the second quarter.. Drake Davis to the house.
Marana blocked the extra point and the Tigers lead the Mountain Lions 14-13.@AllSportsTucson @recruit_theview pic.twitter.com/i6BWzaw0cd
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) October 25, 2025
With 8:32 left in the first half, Meyer threw a perfect pass to Sharp who was running down the middle of the field resulting in another Meyer-to-Sharp touchdown, giving Marana a 21-13 lead.
A Mountain View fumble in their own territory was recovered by Marana.
The Tigers capitalized on the turnover with a quick pass from Meyer to Roebuck who ran in for six.
After Mountain View fumbled in their own territory, Marana cashes in when Meyer found Sean Roebuck who scrambled for six.
At the half.. Marana leads Mountain View 34-13. @AllSportsTucson @MaranaFB @recruit_theview pic.twitter.com/xf26vobKwe
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) October 25, 2025
A big hit by Tigers’ defensive back Carter Meyer jarred the ball loose from Mountain View receiver Bryce Thomas.
Hayden Utley recovered the fumble for Marana setting up a Meyer-to-Jesse Howell touchdown.
At the half, Marana held a 34-13 lead over Mountain View.
After a running into the kicker call on Marana, Mountain View (5-4, 3-2 5A Southern) capitalized with a Brin pass to Jason Pogue for the touchdown. The extra point was no good and the Mountain Lions were within 14-points of the Tigers at 34-20.
On Mountain View’s next possession, the Mountain Lions went for it on fourth and one. The ball was fumbled and recovered by Roebuck for Marana.
With the ball just outside the red zone, Marana running back Jeffrey Smith lll caught a short pass from Meyer, then ran the ball three consecutive times with the last run breaking the goal line for the score.
On 4th and one Mountain View goes for it.. and fumbles. The ball is recovered by Sean Roebuck. A catch and back-to-back-to-back runs by Jeffrey Smith lll ended with a Smith TD.
Marana leads Mountain View 41-20 with 8:32 left in the third quarter. @AllSportsTucson @MaranaFB pic.twitter.com/nUGCuLndOK
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) October 25, 2025
With 49.55 seconds to go in the game, Marana notched their final touchdown when Meyer found Remy McKinnon hiding in the back of the end zone. McKinnon was able to catch the ball and keep his feet inbounds.
“Remy is a big target, I don’t know how he (Meyer) did that,” Steward said of Meyer finding McKinnon in the back of the end zone.
“I always have my eyes downfield, even when I’m rolling out so having your eyes downfield is a big factor and I found him in the end zone so it was great,” Meyer added.
49.55 seconds left in the game.. Colten Meyer scrambled, then scrambled some more finding Remy McKinnon hiding at the back of the end zone.. McKinnon kept his feet inbounds resulting in a Tiger TD.
Marana leads Mountain View 48-20. @AllSportsTucson @MaranaFB pic.twitter.com/SOeqbBN1jf
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) October 25, 2025
Mountain View’s defense keyed on Marana’s run game and was effective, not allowing the Tigers to break free for big runs. This made the Tigers more dependent on the passing game.
The Marana coaching staff was able to switch up the game plan which allowed Meyer to run more pass plays. Meyer took full advantage of the opportunity throwing for six touchdowns.
“Colten did a really, really good job of finding his receivers all night,” Steward said.
Marana’s defense played havoc in Mountain Views back field putting pressure on the quarterback and created three fumbles, all recovered by the Tigers.
“We knew coming in they were going to try to run the ball and I told our defense in the playoffs teams are going to try to run the ball so if we can establish a good defense to stop the run now I think we will be ok later,” Steward said. “I talk about my defense every week man, they are really, really good and they don’t get a lot of respect but they are really good. That front seven is scary. Quarterbacks, they don’t have time to even throw it off or run the ball.”
“They ran, they ran the ball that’s what they did,” Berry added. “When you’ve got running backs just carrying it and carrying it they are bound to get tired and fumble so we just took advantage of it and kept hitting it with the same force every play.”
Marana QB Colten Meyer and CB Wyatt Berry talk about what it means to win Battle of the Boot keeping the Boot in Marana, what the defense was seeing from Mountain View’s offense and what the offense was able accomplish against the Mountain Lions’ defense. @AllSportsTucson… pic.twitter.com/l22odiPdrF
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) October 25, 2025
One area that Marana struggled in during the game was penalties, specifically multiple off-side penalties.
Steward touched on what the Tigers need to do to clean up mental mistakes: “The season’s long and when the season gets long a lot of them physically I think we ready but mentally, that’s what those penalties are mental busts and I told them the team that can stay focused the longest will go the furthest that is the one message I give them every week.”
The Battle of the Boot final from Wayne Jones Field:
Marana defeats Mountain View 48-20.
The Boot remains in Marana for the second year in a row. @AllSportsTucson @MaranaFB @MaranaAthletics pic.twitter.com/66p3uMupnJ
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) October 25, 2025
Marana ends the regular season at Vista Grande (3-6, 1-4 5A Sonoran) on Friday, while Mountain View will travel to Sunnyside (4-5, 1-4 5A Southern) on Thursday.
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