FEATURED GAMES
INTERCONFERENCE
5A SUNNYSIDE (1-2) AT 4A MICA MOUNTAIN (3-0)
Because Sunnyside handed Mica Mountain one of its two losses last season, the undefeated Thunderbolts (3-0) enter this game looking to defend their home turf and settle the score against the Blue Devils (1-2). Mica Mountain has won 13 straight games and and earned the 4A title in the process after last year’s loss at Sunnyside. … Mica Mountain sophomore QB Adam Becker has completed all 11 of his attempts this season for 208 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
5A VISTA GRANDE (3-0) AT 4A WALDEN GROVE (1-2)
Walden Grove’s two losses to Mesa Eastmark and Tucson High are by a combined seven points. The Red Wolves will try to give visiting Vista Grande its first loss of the season. The Spartans have already matched their win total from last year when they finished 3-7.
6A
PHOENIX O’CONNOR (2-1) AT SALPOINTE (2-1)
Salpointe is ranked No. 15 in Arizona by MaxPreps while O’Connor is No. 17. Salpointe senior OLB/TE/RB OJ Flores leads the Lancers with five sacks and three total touchdowns as a running back. Senior ILB Elijah Valencia is averaging nine tackles per game.
5A SOUTHERN
MARANA (1-2) AT CANYON DEL ORO (2-1)
Both teams are coming big rebound wins from previous losses. Marana trailed visiting Yuma Catholic 38-32 before Isaac Flores connected with Jaxsun Sharp for a tying touchdown with 11.6 seconds left, followed by Jacob Cards’ extra point. CDO opened with a 41-0 win over Phoenix Browne, lost 30-0 to Mica Mountain and bounced back with a 42-6 victory over Phoenix South Mountain. The Dorados’ defense will be tested after allowing only 36 points through the first three games.
BUENA (2-1) AT TUCSON (2-1)
In last week’s 35-31 win over visiting Walden Grove, Tucson produced 230 passing yards and 201 rushing yards. Buena struggled at ALA-Gilbert North in a 49-13 loss with 93 passing yards and 92 rushing yards. Tucson High junior safety/receiver Ezra Spivey is in search of his first interception after tallying 12 in his first two season at the varsity level, but he has 15 receptions for 311 yards and five touchdowns. That’s 10 more yards and three more touchdowns than he had last season. Buena senior linebacker James Lesueur leads Buena in rushing at 58.3 yards per game and also leads the Colts with 27 tackles. He’s averaging 9 tackles per game.
5A SONORAN
MOUNTAIN VIEW (1-2) AT DESERT VIEW (3-0)
Desert View’s regular-season winning streak is at 14 games stretching to the 2024 season. Desert View senior QB/FS Andrew Godoy is averaging 208.7 passing yards per game, while sophomore WR/DB Anthony Rodarte is averaging 93 receiving yards per game — a tall task for a Mountain View team that gave up 65 points last week to Scottsdale Desert Mountain at home in a 65-0 loss.
4A
SAHUARITA (2-1) AT SAHUARO (1-2)
The annual Rick Botkin Memorial Game is one of the longest of its kind in the country. Rick Botkin was a Sahuaro senior and football star in 1977. He was an All-State selection at quarterback and free safety, served as team captain, and was also an outstanding special-teams player. He was only 17 years old when he was killed in an automobile accident on Oct. 15, 1977, shortly after leading Sahuaro to a victory over Palo Verde. His younger brother Steve Botkin, who was only 8 when Rick died, later became Sahuaro’s longtime athletic director and a prominent girls basketball coach. Steve has remained deeply involved with keeping the memorial tradition alive by annually planning the game.
SOMERTON (0-3) AT RINCON/UNIVERSITY (0-3)
Rincon/University will play its first game under new head coach Dan Williams after the school parted ways with David Nunez this week.
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