Raul Soto-Romero of Jet Sports Network and I talked about Week 2 matches in the Southern Arizona high school football season in what will be a weekly video podcast show from the Jet Sports Studio.
VIDEO PODCAST
AUDIO PODCAST
ALL GAMES ARE AT 7 P.M.
THURSDAY
5A: Ironwood Ridge at 4A Catalina Foothills
This will be the fifth meeting between the programs. Ironwood Ridge is 4-0 against the Falcons, and the last three meetings were blowout shutouts (30-0 in 2004, 45-0 in 2011, and 56-0 in 2012). … Daniel Sainz has returned to coaching Catalina Foothills after a one-year absence to devote time to his National Guard duties, and previously served as the head coach from 2021 to 2023. He served as Cienega’s offensive coordinator last season. Seniors Zac Mendola (safety/cornerback) and Raygan King (outside linebacker/cornerback) are expected to be key contributors. Senior Isai Valenzuela and junior Alexander Wilkerson are listed as key players on the offensive and defensive lines. … Senior Jaiden Martinez returns at quarterback. A new target is Tombstone transfer Jabari Thomas, who had 539 yards receiving (24 receptions) with eight touchdowns last year.
4A: Poston Butte at Mica Mountain
Mica Mountain has won the previous two season-opening games against Poston Butte, including last year at home. … Pat Nugent, who led the team to a 14-0 record and the state title in just its fourth year of existence, retired after the 2024 season, paving the way for Jay Campos to return to coaching after previously serving as head coach at Sabino from 2003 to 2016. He led the Sabercats to four state championship games. Despite the significant personnel losses, the program has established itself as a team that reloads with talent, including all-purpose athlete Riley Carson, linebacker Broden Schmidt, and quarterback Jaidyn Crist.
4A: Sahuarita at Walden Grove (Kickoff Classic)
Sahuarita is coming off a successful 2024 season, when it won a region title for the first time since 2013. The Mustangs (8-2 overall, 6-0 in the 4A Gila a year ago) are aiming for a playoff appearance in 2025 and have purposely scheduled a tougher non-region schedule, which includes both Walden Grove and the defending state champions, Mica Mountain … QB Rasheed Martin, a junior, returns after anchoring the offense during the Mustangs’ six-game winning streak to end last season. Senior RB/LB/S Will Thwaits is expected to be a major impact player on both sides of the ball. LB Sergio Burgos Jr., a junior, earned first-team all-region honors last season. … Walden Grove has a new quarterback — Gauge Abalos — a junior who has impressed coach Corey Noble with his leadership. DT Steven Michael Valdez Jr. is the first Walden Grove football player to commit to an FBS program on a full scholarship (New Mexico State).
Other games Thursday –
3A: Thatcher (1-0) at Apache Junction (0-1)
3A: Round Valley (1-0) at Florence (0-1)
FRIDAY
5A: Marana at 6A Salpointe
The Marana Tigers are coming off a strong 2024 season that saw them snap Salpointe’s 27-game winning streak against Southern Arizona opponents with a dramatic 27-24 comeback victory at Marana. Phillip Steward’s program eventually went 10-0 and was the No. 1 team in the Open Division. QB Colten Meyer is a senior who returns after a stellar 2024 season, in which he was named to the all-conference and all-region teams. He was the hero in last year’s win over Salpointe, throwing for 297 yards and a late touchdown, and scoring the game-winning two-point conversion. … Senior DT Hayden Utley and LB Greg Webb anchor a stout defense. … Salpointe finished its 2024 season with an 8-3 record and a league title. Salpointe’s two-quarterback system includes junior Matthew Avelar, who threw for more than 200 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing score in last year’s game against Marana. Rayce Alvarez is a senior QB who throws out of the pocket. He threw for more than 1,100 yards last season. Junior receiver RJ Gory is listed as a 3-star prospect by 247 Sports and is an Arizona recruiting target. … Senior DT Noah Banhie is a returning all-conference selection.
5A: Buena at Cienega
Buena senior QB Kaleb Layton matched against Cienega’s Julian Hainley should be entertaining. Layton, a transfer from Walden Grove, threw for almost 2,000 yards last year with 19 touchdowns. Hainley passed for more than 1,600 yards with 13 touchdowns. … The Colts have plenty of talent around Layton, including seniors Tyler Gjerde (lineman), Michael Lujan (running back) and receiver Jayden Thomas. On defense, senior LB Cooper Kraus is a prospect to watch. … Hainley has talented target Jaden Rodgers (who committed to Idaho State on Wednesday) and a defense that includes stellar prospects in LB Davion Ross and DE Andrei Davis-Lopez.
5A: Mountain View at Tucson
Mica Mountain has plenty of contributors on defense returning with six players recording at least 38 tackles last year, led by senior LB Jason Pogue (63 tackles, 10 for loss). DE Caden Rudy had 17 tackles for loss last season. …Tucson High had a historic season last year under coach Zach Neveleff, winning its first playoff game in 53 years. The Badgers’ last playoff win before that came when Tucson beat Tempe in the 3A state championship game in 1971 to claim back-to-back titles under legendary Tucson coach Ollie Mayfield. Tucson’s nine wins were the program’s most since the 1971 championship season when the Badgers went 11-1. Some of Tucson’s top players include senior QB Derek Mesa, senior athlete Noah Chanez, senior linebacker Dominic Drow, and sophomore defensive back Ezra Spivey.
The rest of the slate Friday –
5A: Desert View at Sunrise Mountain
5A: Sunnyside at Vista Grande
5A: Canyon del Oro at Browne
5A: Maricopa at Mountain Pointe
4A: Douglas at 5A Flowing Wells
4A: Amphitheater at 5A Nogales
4A: Rio Rico at Combs
4A: Cibola at Rincon/University
4A: Pueblo at Youngker
4A: Sahuaro at Empire
4A: Cholla at Yuma
3A: Pusch Ridge (1-0) at ALA-Ironwood (0-1)
3A: Gilbert Christian (1-0) at Sabino (0-1)
3A: San Tan Foothills (0-1) at Dysart (0-1)
3A: Chinle (0-1) at Coolidge (0-1)
3A: Blue Ridge (1-0) at Safford (0-1)
2A: Palo Verde (0-1) at ALA -Anthem South (0-1)
2A: Willcox (1-0) at Arizona Lutheran (1-0)
2A: Bisbee (0-1) at Cortez (0-1)
2A: Heritage Academy Laveen (1-0) at Desert Christian (1-0)
2A: Santa Rita (0-1) at Miami (1-0)
2A: Tanque Verde (0-1) at Morenci (1-0)
2A: Benson (1-0) at Phoenix Christian (1-0)
2A: Globe (1-0) at Santa Cruz (1-0)
1A: St. David (1-0) at Baboquivari (0-1)
1A: Valley Union (0-1) at Desert Heights (1-0)
1A: Ray (0-1) at San Manuel (1-0)
(BYE) 2A Catalina (1-0)
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