PREVIOUSLY IN OUR LOOK AT 2026 SCHEDULES
— Salpointe Catholic in the 6A Southern
— 4A Kino
— 4A Gila
COOLIDGE BEARS
Last year: 5-5
Head coach: Carlo Hernandez (97-34, 12th year at Coolidge; 127-66, 18th year overall)
— With seven region teams in the 3A East, only four games are freedom games and the rest are region games. That’s good for the power points for Coolidge and other region teams. The 3A East traditionally is one of the toughest in the state. Sabino (2023) and Pusch Ridge (2024) recently won state titles and Thatcher (2022) was runner-up. All three of those programs annually reach the playoffs. Coolidge figures to be in the mix at the end this year with Hernandez, a veteran coach with the most career wins (127) in the region, in his second year back to the program.
— Coolidge plays its first two games on the road, against Eloy Santa Cruz Valley and Heritage Academy Maricopa (which is in its first year in the AIA after competing in the Canyon Athletic Association, which includes charter schools, parochial schools, home school organizations, and small non-traditional prep schools). Coolidge also hosts the Heritage Academy Gateway of Queen Creek on Oct. 2 after that school also switched from the CAA to the AIA.
— Tucson-area schools Sabino and Pusch Ridge will each travel to Coolidge this season. The Bears lost big on the road against those teams last season with Sabino winning 60-12 and Pusch Ridge 45-6.
FLORENCE GOPHERS
Last year: 7-5, lost in 3A state quarterfinals 51-38 at Pusch Ridge
Head coach: Mike Carlin (7-5, second year at Florence; 22-31, sixth year overall)
— Florence, one of the surprise teams in the region last year, has the opportunity to finish strong as it did last year by playing three of their last four games at home.
— The Gophers have toughest opening schedule with their first two games on the road, freedom games against Show Low (8-4 last year) and defending 3A state champion Round Valley (13-1).
— Florence hosts Pusch Ridge on Sept. 18 and travels to Sabino on Oct. 16. The Gophers lost twice at Pusch Ridge, including 51-in the quarterfinal round of the 3A state playoffs last year. They beat Sabino at home 44-24.
PUSCH RIDGE LIONS
Last year: 10-3, lost in 3A state semifinals 47-14 to Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin
Head coach: Kent Middleton (57-15, seventh year at Pusch Ridge and overall)
— Pusch Ridge plays a Saturday-night (Aug. 22) region game to open the season, at San Tan Foothills, a program that went 0-10 last year but has undergone a coaching change. ALA-Ironwood, which was 2-8 last year, visits the following week. An upgrade in opposition comes in Week 3 with Mesa Crismon (7-5 last year) coming to Pusch Ridge. The Lions lost a 28-27 thriller at Crismon last season.
— The biggest freedom game by far as at Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (which won its first 13 games of last year — including two wins over Pusch Ridge — before losing in the state title game to Round Valley) to end the regular season. Pusch Ridge and Benjamin Franklin have played a series since 2023 with the Lions trailing 3-2. Pusch Ridge lost in the regular season at Benjamin Franklin in 2024 but then beat the Chargers in the semifinals before winning the state championship.
— The in-town rivalry game with Sabino is at home Oct. 2. Pusch Ridge is 4-5 in that series but has won in three of the last four meetings.
SABINO SABERCATS
Last year: 4-7, lost in first round of 3A state playoffs 47-18 at Chandler Valley Christian
Head coach: Ryan McBrayer (64-34, 10th year at Sabino and overall)
— Sabino routinely plays a very difficult freedom schedule under McBrayer, and this year is no different. Sabino opens at home against Chandler Valley Christian, a school that beat the Sabercats twice at home last year — in the season opener 18-14 and in the first round of the 3A state playoffs 47-18. Valley Christian finished 11-2 after advancing to the semifinal round.
— The Sabercats then go on the road to play Gilbert Christian (8-4 with a win at Sabino last year) and El Mirage Dysart (5-6 with a loss to the Sabercats a year ago) before playing at Coolidge in the first region game Sept. 11.
— The Eastside rivalry with Sahuaro takes place at home on Sept. 25. Sabino won three straight games in the series before Sahuaro pulled off a 15-14 win to open 2024 at Sabino and then won 44-6 last year at Sahuaro. Sabino has dominated Sahuaro this century with a 20-6 record after the series was tied 13-13 from 1974-99. Sabino has lost consecutive games to Sahuaro for the first time since 2018 and 2019. The previous time that happened was way back in 1988 and 1991.
SAFFORD BULLDOGS
Last year: 2-8
Head coach: Ishmael MacNeil (2-8, second year at Safford; 16-25, fifth year overall)
— Safford is the only region team to play its four freedom games to start the season. The Bulldogs host traditional power Morenci (7-5 last year including a win over Safford) in the opener before playing at Lakeside Blue Ridge (6-5 and a win at Safford) and Chandler Seton Catholic (4-7 and also a win at Safford). They wind up the freedom schedule at home Sept. 11 against Winslow (4-6 with a loss at home against Safford).
— Safford plays at Pusch Ridge on Oct. 16 and hosts Sabino in the regular-season finale Oct. 29. The Bulldogs lost 48-0 at home against Pusch Ridge and 40-0 at Sabino last season.
— Safford hosts rival Thatcher (9-3 with a 49-7 win at home over the Bulldogs last year) on Oct. 1. Since 1937, the schools have battled in one of the longest rivalries on record in the state. Safford holds a 35-32-5 advantage, but Thatcher has won 10 consecutive games in the series.
SAN TAN FOOTHILLS SABERCATS
Last year: 0-10
Head coach: Walter Sword (First year as head coach at San Tan Foothills and overall)
— San Tan Foothills is in search of its first victory since the 2024 season after going winless last year. It will be difficult to achieve that victory in the first three games with Pusch Ridge and Dysart visiting to start the season and then traveling to Payson (7-4 last year with a 46-0 win at San Tan Foothills). Phoenix Shadow Mountain (5-6 with a 24-21 win at home over the Sabercats) visits in Week 4.
— The Battle of the Sabercats — San Tan Foothills vs. Sabino — is on Sept. 18 at Sabino. Sabino beat San Tan Foothills 40-6 on the road last year. The only other meeting was in the first round of the 2022 3A state playoffs, when Sabino won 49-23 at home.
— The first game against Pusch Ridge follows last year’s season-opening 53-10 blowout loss on the road against the Lions. San Tan Foothills is 0-6 against Pusch Ridge dating to 2013, which was the fifth year of San Tan Foothills’ existence.
THATCHER EAGLES
Last year: 9-2, lost in the first round of the 3A state playoffs 14-6 at home against Florence
Head coach: Daniel Jones (52-19, seventh season at Thatcher and overall)
— Traditional power Thatcher hosts three of its first four games, including freedom games against Apache Junction (1-9 with a 47-0 loss at home to the Eagles) and Benjamin Franklin. They open at ALA-Ironwood (2-8 with a 41-29 loss at Thatcher).
— The region opener at home against Florence on Sept. 10 is much anticipated by Thatcher, which was upset 14-6 by the Gophers at home in the first round of the 3A playoffs last season. Thatcher won 21-18 at Florence during the regular season.
— Southern Arizona fans can watch Thatcher twice this season with the Eagles playing at Pusch Ridge on Sept. 25 and Sabino on Oct. 23. Thatcher overpowered both teams last year at home — 28-14 victory over Pusch Ridge and 40-0 against Sabino.
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