St. David (10-1) is back in the 1A state football championship game for the first time since winning it all in 2000 and 2001. The Tigers also won championships in 1960, 1972, 1977, 1979, 1997 and 1998.
No. 1 Mogollon (11-0) beat No. 2 St. David 48-26 at home in September. The Mustangs are on a 25-1 win streak dating back to October of 2019. The streak includes a loss in the state final that year but a championship last year. The Mustangs have won their last 20 games in a row.
In volleyball, No. 6 Empire survived an opening round scare at the 3A volleyball championships held at Tempe Marcos de Niza High School on Saturday. Down 0-2 to No. 11 AZ College Prep, the Ravens won three sets in a row to advance to the quarterfinal round held later that night.
Empire pulled off an upset over No. 3 Thatcher in five sets with a slim 15-13 win the deciding fifth set. The reward will be a match against No. 2 Valley Christian next Friday night at Mesa Skyline High School.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6
1A FOOTBALL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
No. 2 St. David 50, No. 3 Williams 38
3A VOLLEYBALL FIRST ROUND
No. 6 Empire over No. 11 AZ College Prep, 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-5)
No. 4 Monument Valley over No. 13 Tanque Verde, 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-14)
No. 2 Valley Christian over No. 15 Pusch Ridge, 3-0 (25-6, 25-21, 25-16)
3A VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
No. 6 Empire over No. 3 Thatcher, 3-2 (21-25, 27-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-13)
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9
4A VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
No. 10 Bradshaw Mountain at No. 2 Canyon del Oro, 6:30 p.m.
No. 12 Cactus at No. 4 Salpointe, 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12
3A FOOTBALL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
No. 9 Sabino at No. 1 ALA-Gilbert North, 7 p.m.
2A FOOTBALL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
No. 11 St. Johns at No. 3 Benson, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Willcox at No. 1 Parker, 7 p.m.
3A VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
No. 6 Empire vs. No. 2 Valley Christian at Skyline, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13
1A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Mogollon vs. No. 2 St. David at Coronado, 6 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Cave Creek Golf Course
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017, a 2019 AZ Education News award winner and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019, became a member of the Sunnyside Los Mezquites Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2021 and he was a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee and he earned a Distinguished Service Award from Amphitheater. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
