FRIDAY
INTERCONFERENCE
6A No. 23 Phoenix Desert Vista (4-4) at 5A No. 45 Nogales (2-7)
The Apaches will attempt to end a seven-game losing streak after winning their first two games against Amphi and Rio Rico. The same situation occurred last season when Nogales beat Amphi and Rio Rico to start the season but then lost its last eight games, including 61-0 at Desert Vista to conclude the season.
5A NON-REGION
No. 9 Cave Creek Cactus Shadows (3-6) at No. 22 Tucson (5-4)
Because the Badgers are ending the regular season against a top 10 team, they stand a good chance of making the 24-team field in the 5A playoffs. A victory for Tucson, which is on a three-game losing streak, would go a long way to help the Badgers advance to the postseason for the third consecutive year. Believe it or not, that has not happened since the glory years of 1969, 1970 and 1971 of coach Ollie Mayfield, when the Badgers won the state championship in 1970 and 1971. … Cactus Shadows has a lofty ranking at 3-6 because it has played the top 5-rated 5A teams — No. 1 Scottsdale Desert Mountain (42-16 loss), No. 2 Scottsdale Horizon (34-21 loss), No. 3 Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep (17-7 win), No. 4 ALA-Gilbert North (44-20 loss), and No. 5 Goodyear Desert Edge (20-0 loss). They have also lost to No. 13 Scottsdale Chaparral 31-24 and to 4A No. 11 school Mesa Eastmark 13-0.
3A NON-REGION
No. 5 Pusch Ridge (8-1) at No. 1 Queen Creek Franklin (9-0)
Pusch Ridge and Benjamin Franklin continue their regular-season series that started in 2023. The Lions are 2-2 against the Chargers, including a victory in the 2024 3A semifinal before capturing the state championship. Benjamin Franklin avenged that loss with a 35-7 win at Pusch Ridge to conclude the regular season and then a 47-14 win over the Lions in the semifinal round last year.
6A SOUTHERN
No. 4 Chandler Basha (6-2, 2-0) at No. 19 Salpointe (3-5, 0-2)
This game will make the return of former Salpointe quarterback Jake Rogers, who transferred to Basha following his freshman season after his father, Eric, was not retained as the Lancers’ head coach. The younger Rogers, a senior who has committed to Princeton, has thrown for 2,954 yards in his two varsity seasons. He has completed 205 of 326 pass attempts (62.9%) in his varsity career with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
5A SOUTHERN
No. 7 Desert View (9-0, 5-0) at No. 41 Flowing Wells (4-5, 1-4)
Desert View has already clinched its second consecutive region title and now the Jaguars are trying to go unbeaten for the second consecutive year in the regular season — a rare feat in Southern Arizona. Desert View coach Robert Bonillas can be in the same sentence with Southern Arizona’s most legendary coaches — Don Hawkins of Marana, Ollie Mayfield of Tucson High, Larry Hart of Flowing Wells, Vern Friedli of Amphi and Jeff Scurran of Sabino. Hawkins, Mayfield, Hart, Friedli and Scurran are the only coaches to lead their program to consecutive unbeaten records in the regular season in Southern Arizona since the AIA sanctioned the sport in 1959. … A consecutive unbeaten regular season for Desert View would match Marana, Amphi, Tucson, Flowing Wells and Sabino. Marana was 8-0-1 in 1967 and 9-0 in 1968 under Hawkins before winning state titles in both of those seasons (finishing 10-0-1 in 1967 and 11-0 in 1968). Tucson High went 9-0 in 1960 before finishing 10-1 and the Badgers went unbeaten with a 12-0 record and state title in 1970 under Mayfield. Flowing Wells actually went a Southern Arizona-record three straight regular seasons without a loss under Hart, going 8-0-1 in 1970, 9-0 in 1971 and 9-0 in 1972. The Caballeros were unable to win a state title in any of those seasons. Friedli’s 1984 Amphi team was 10-0 in 1984 before finishing 11-1 and the Panthers were 10-0 under him in 1985 before losing to Sahuaro and Howard Breinig in the first round. Scurran unbelievably coached Sabino to consecutive unbeaten regular seasons two different times — 10-0 in 1989 (finished 12-1) and 10-0 in 1990 (won the state title at 14-0) and 10-0 in 1996 (before a 12-1 finish) and 10-0 in 1997 (losing in the state title game and finishing 13-1).
No. 27 Maricopa (6-3, 3-2) at No. 24 Cienega (4-5, 4-1)
This is essentially a playoff game to get into the 24-team field of the 5A playoffs, although Cienega stands a better opportunity than Maricopa based on the Bobcats are already at No. 24.
No. 26 Sunnyside (4-5, 3-2) at No. 29 Mountain View (3-6, 2-3)
Sunnyside can end the regular season on a three-game winning streak and a earn potential playoff berth with a convincing win. The Blue Devils, who shut out their last two opponents — Maricopa and Flowing Wells, will play a Mountain View offense that features one of the best Class of 2028 running backs in the state. Drake Davis has rushed for 1,140 yards on 150 carries with 11 touchdowns.
5A SONORAN
No. 38 Vista Grande (4-5, 1-4) at No. 16 Marana (5-3, 4-1)
With the top eight seeds earning a bye, Marana is presently the eighth team after that which must play in the first round. That will allow the Tigers to be a host in the first round. They can’t afford to slip one spot or else they will play on the road to open the 5A state playoffs.
No. 23 Ironwood Ridge (6-3, 4-1) at No. 20 Buena (6-3, 4-1)
Buena can earn its first regional title since 1978, when Truman Williamson coached the Colts to a 9-2 record and a 5-0 mark in the Class AAA Southern Division. Neither team can ill-afford a loss so close to the No. 24 cutoff to make the playoff field. This is another game that is essentially a playoff game.
No. 25 Canyon del Oro (4-5, 2-3) at No. 42 Casa Grande (1-8, 0-5)
Canyon del Oro needs a victory and a lot of help to make the playoff field. A convincing win over Casa Grande is likely the only way the Dorados have a chance.
4A KINO
No. 8 Walden Grove (7-2, 4-0) at No. 53 Amphitheater (1-8, 0-4)
Walden Grove is at the last spot, No. 8, to get a bye past the first round of the playoffs that start next week. Playing No. 53 Amphi will not help the Red Wolves get at least that No. 8 spot. The Red Wolves will need negative shuffling of teams around them to stay at least No. 8.
No. 35 Catalina Foothills (2-7, 1-3) at No. 36 Douglas (5-4, 1-3)
This game is for pride pitting two of the most classy and respectable coaches in Southern Arizona matching wits against each other — Catalina Foothills’ Daniel Saenz, and Douglas’ Hunter Long.
3A EAST
No. 13 Coolidge (5-4, 2-2) at No. 4 Thatcher (7-2, 4-1)
The top four seeds in the 3A state playoffs earn home-field advantage for at least Round 2 and the quarterfinals, provided they go that far. Thatcher is on the positive side of that and a win over an improving Coolidge team will help.
No. 27 San Tan Foothills (1-8, 0-5) at No. 9 Florence (4-5, 3-2)
Florence is on a roll late in the season, much like last year. The Gophers are on a four-game winning streak after starting 0-5. Last year, the Gophers started 1-4 and then went on a six-game winning streak, including an upset victory at Thatcher in the first round of the playoffs.
2A FIRST ROUND
No. 19 Phoenix Cortez (6-4) at No. 14 Tanque Verde (6-4)
Tanque Verde reached the 2A semifinals last season. It will take a victory against Cortez, a win at No. 3 Willcox next week, and finally, a victory at potentially No. 6 Benson the following week to return to the semifinals. One week at a time, as they say. … Cortez is making its first playoff appearance in 21 years. … Tanque Verde needs to return to its dominant ways rushing the ball. The Hawks average 233.3 rushing yards per game and 289.2 total yards. They had a season-low 42 yards rushing last week in the 34-7 loss at Willcox while the Cowboys amassed 327 on the ground.
1A QUARTERFINAL
No. 5 Mogollon (7-3) at No. 4 St. David (7-2)
This could be the year St. David reaches the championship game and has a solid opportunity of taking home the trophy. The Tigers have been one of the most productive offensive teams in 1A, averaging 51.7 points per game and 344.4 yards of total offense. St. David has been particularly effective running the football, averaging 232.3 rushing yards per game. … WR/S Keston Richardson is one of the top athletes in 1A. He is coming off having three interceptions in the regular-season finale against Bagdad.
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