Raul Soto-Romero of Jet Sports Network talked with legendary coach Jeff Scurran and me about this week’s matchups in the Southern Arizona high school football season in our weekly video podcast show.
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SOUTHERN ARIZONA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
6A SOUTHERN
Friday at 7 p.m.
No. 14 Salpointe (5-4, 1-3) at No. 8 Phoenix Pinnacle (6-3, 2-2)
Salpointe enters its last game of the regular season with uncertainty of what could happen in the postseason. The Lancers could either be in the Open Division playoffs or 6A state tournament next week. The Lancers’ two-quarterback system has been on and off this season with Matthew Avelar or Rayce Alvarez taking snaps for most of a game. Chris Chaney, a junior running back, has been a constant force for the Lancers, rushing for 694 yards on 126 carries with seven touchdowns.
5A STATE PLAYOFFS
SOUTHERN ARIZONA SCHOOLS
Round 1
Friday at 7 p.m.
No. 17 Cienega (6-4) at No. 16 Phoenix Sunnyslope (8-2)
Series record: Cienega leads 2-1 with the last meeting a first-round win in the 2019 playoffs at Cienega, a 27-24 victory.
CIENEGA
Top passer: Julian Hainley, Sr., 116 of 227 attempts for 2,143 yards with 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions
Top rusher: Jalen Horn, Sr., 50 rushes for 348 yards and three touchdowns
Top receiver: Jaden Rodgers, Sr., 38 receptions for 814 yards with nine touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Davion Ross, Sr., 95 tackles, 12 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: DE Andrei Davis-Lopez, Sr., 21
Leader in interceptions: Ross, 2
SUNNYSLOPE
Top passer: Royce Vanacore, Jr., 109 of 182 attempts for 1,682 yards with 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions
Top rusher: Kelton Rogers, Jr., 141 rushes for 1,131 yards and 18 touchdowns
Top receiver: Cameron Holeva, Sr., 23 receptions for 435 yards with seven touchdowns
Leading tackler: DB Joseph Lee, Sr., 71 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: LB Anthony Teran, Sr., 4
Leader in interceptions: DB Brendon Camp, 6
No. 21 Maricopa (6-4) at No. 12 Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep (5-5)
Series record: Maricopa is 0-4 against Notre Dame with the last game a 49-0 loss in 2021 at Maricopa.
MARICOPA
Top passer: Jose Cardona Jr., Sr., 98 of 189 attempts for 1,208 yards with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions
Top rusher: Nate Hearn, Jr., 87 rushes for 367 yards and three touchdowns
Top receiver: Fabian Marrufo, Jr., 18 receptions for 283 yards with five touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Clayton Neal, Sr., 106 tackles, 19 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: DE Tayeshawn Hester, Sr., 7
Leader in interceptions: Marrufo, 5
NOTRE DAME
Top passer: Luke Jacobs, Jr., 59 of 113 attempts for 647 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions
Top rusher: Decker Haskins-Smith, Jr., 139 rushes for 989 yards and seven touchdowns
Top receiver: Jayce Wright, Jr., 42 receptions for 459 yards with four touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Gunner Perry, Jr., 105 tackles, 3 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: DE Nate Jones, Jr., 11.5
Leader in interceptions: CB Matthew Higby, and CB Peyton Patrassi, each with 4
No. 19 Flowing Wells (7-3) at No. 14 Phoenix Mountain Pointe (6-4)
Series record: First meeting.
FLOWING WELLS
Top passer: Benicio Ruiz, Sr., 31 of 51 attempts for 680 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions
Top rusher: Jayden Simmons, Sr., 124 rushes for 1,173 yards and 19 touchdowns
Top receiver: Jack Youmans, Sr., 14 receptions for 339 yards with four touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Marcus Devoy, Sr., 92 tackles, 19 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: DE Xavier Galligan, Jr., 7
Leader in interceptions: Youmans, 5
MOUNTAIN POINTE
Top passer: Jordan Munoz, Jr., 65 of 105 attempts for 805 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions
Top rusher: Sonny Norwood, Fr., 54 rushes for 478 yards and nine touchdowns
Top receiver: Aiden Rodriguez, Soph., 21 receptions for 524 yards with five touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Jaylyn Colter, Sr., 107 tackles, 12 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: Colter, 10
Leader in interceptions: LB Andrew Burnside, Jr., 3
No. 23 Tucson (5-5) at No. 10 Cave Creek Cactus Shadows (6-4)
Series record: Tucson is 0-1 against Cactus Shadows, losing 48-40 last week at Cactus Shadows.
TUCSON
Top passer: Derek Mesa, Sr., 168 of 261 attempts for 2,374 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions
Top rusher: Noah Chanez, Sr., 128 rushes for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns
Top receiver: Chanez, 40 receptions for 657 yards with two touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Dominic Drow, Sr., 118 tackles, 5 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: DT Taysean Romero, Sr., 12.5
Leader in interceptions: CB Kenzy Couch, Sr., and S Ezra Spivey, Soph., 4 each
CACTUS SHADOWS
Top passer: Donovan Dixon, Sr., 181 of 259 attempts for 2,732 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions
Top rusher: Dixon, 102 rushes for 1,142 yards and 13 touchdowns
Top receiver: Alex Dafnis, Soph., 47 receptions for 677 yards with five touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Clayton Pfaff, Soph., 92 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: DT Dylan Malone, 3.5
Leader in interceptions: Three tied with 2
No. 18 Mountain View (6-4) at No. 15 Buena (7-3)
Series record: Mountain View leads 14-2, including the last three meetings.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Top passer: Ion Brin, Sr., 43 of 78 attempts for 413 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions
Top rusher: Drake Davis, 175 rushes for 1,239 yards and 10 touchdowns
Top receiver: Michael Davis, Sr., 13 receptions for 108 yards with a touchdown
Leading tackler: DE Caden Rudy, Sr., 67 tackles, 8 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: LB Jason Pogue, Sr., 5
Leader in interceptions: FS Mythias Holguin, 3
BUENA
Top passer: Kaleb Layton, Sr., 70 of 126 attempts for 1,338 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions
Top rusher: Michael Lujan, 199 rushes for 1,455 yards and 15 touchdowns
Top receiver: Jayden Thomas, Sr., 28 receptions for 703 yards with 12 touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Cooper Kraus, Sr., 157 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: Kraus, 5
Leader in interceptions: Thomas, 5
Round 2
November 14 at 7 p.m.
No. 20 Yuma Catholic-No. 13 Goodyear Millennium winner at No. 4 Marana (9-1)
No. 19 Flowing Wells-No. 14 Mountain Pointe winner at No. 3 Desert View (10-0)
4A STATE PLAYOFFS
SOUTHERN ARIZONA SCHOOLS
Round 1
Friday at 7 p.m.
No. 20 Phoenix Northwest Christian (6-4) at No. 13 Walden Grove (7-3)
Series record: Walden Grove is 1-3 against Northwest Christian including a split in two first-round games the last two years.
NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN
Top passer: Laki Wallwork, Sr., 188 of 281 attempts for 2,222 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions
Top rusher: Nathan Johannes, 168 rushes for 894 yards and nine touchdowns
Top receiver: Landon Beckman, Jr., 52 receptions for 770 yards with eight touchdowns
Leading tackler: No stats
Leader in sacks: No stats
Leader in interceptions: Two tied with 2
WALDEN GROVE
Top passer: Gauge Abalos, Jr., 85 of 165 attempts for 1,428 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions
Top rusher: Sebastian Gallardo, 107 rushes for 671 yards and 3 touchdowns
Top receiver: Jordan Dobson, Jr., 21 receptions for 429 yards with 4 touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Angel Armenta, Sr., 157 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: LB Trey Forbregd, Sr., 11, and DE Steven Michael Valdez Jr., Sr., 11
Leader in interceptions: Dobson, 4
No. 22 Goodyear Estrella Foothills (7-3) at No. 11 Sahuaro (7-3)
ESTRELLA FOOTHILLS
Top passer: Mickey Raftery, Jr., 100 of 159 attempts for 1,087 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions
Top rusher: Will Davis, 107 rushes for 576 yards and eight touchdowns
Top receiver: Jacob Rawls, Sr., 45 receptions for 589 yards with six touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Xander Teeter, 101 tackles, 16 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: LB Jacob Ludlow, Sr., 6.5
Leader in interceptions: Two tied with 2
SAHUARO
Top passer: Mario Blackwell, Sr., 70 of 119 attempts for 759 yards with six touchdowns and one interception
Top rusher: Julian Perez, Sr., 135 rushes for 653 yards and seven touchdowns
Top receiver: Xavier Shelton, Sr., 21 receptions for 338 yards with four touchdowns
Leading tackler: SS Jayvion Gilbert-Rojas, Jr., 96 tackles, 8 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: LB Jaxson Moore, Sr., 5
Leader in interceptions: CB Michael McCord, Sr., 3
Round 2
November 14 at 7 p.m.
No. 23 Sierra Linda-No. 10 Lake Havasu winner at No. 7 Mica Mountain (8-2)
3A STATE PLAYOFFS
SOUTHERN ARIZONA SCHOOLS
Round 1
Friday at 7 p.m.
No. 12 Page (8-2) at No. 5 Pusch Ridge (8-2)
Series record: Pusch Ridge is 0-1 against Page with the 48-2 loss coming in the first round of the 2018 playoffs at Page.
PAGE
Top passer: Joseph Benally, Sr., 113 of 184 attempts for 1,559 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions
Top rusher: Benally, 56 rushes for 716 yards and eight touchdowns
Top receiver: Lorin John, Jr., 38 receptions for 601 yards with eight touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Hunter Billah, Sr., 62 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: DE Mason Hansen, Fr., 7
Leader in interceptions: John, 6
PUSCH RIDGE
Top passer: Race Pinneo, Jr., 106 of 151 attempts for 1,230 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions
Top rusher: Dylan Shoaff, 81 rushes for 463 yards and four touchdowns
Top receiver: Dominic Painter, Sr., 47 receptions for 766 yards with eight touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Cameron Shoaff, Soph., 80 tackles, 11 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: DE Aaron Kenworthy, Sr., 9
Leader in interceptions: LB Levi Adcock, Jr., 3
No. 13 Florence (6-4) at No. 4 Thatcher (9-1)
Series record: Thatcher leads 11-5-2 with the the Eagles eliminating Florence the last two years in the playoffs and 3-1 in the playoffs against the Gophers (Florence beat Thatcher in the 1989 state title game).
FLORENCE
Top passer: Brody Ramirez, Jr., 73 of 117 attempts for 1,407 yards with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions
Top rusher: Dayron Neal, Soph., 52 rushes for 428 yards and two touchdowns
Top receiver: Wyatt Stenson, Sr., 29 receptions for 713 yards with seven touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Zayne Cundiff, Sr., 141 tackles, 22 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: DE Kaidin Valle, Sr., 8
Leader in interceptions: Stenson, 9
THATCHER
Top passer: Chad Johnson, Sr., 78 of 116 attempts for 1,189 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions
Top rusher: Ryan Jones, 63 rushes for 509 yards and nine touchdowns
Top receiver: Dylan Riney, Sr., 17 receptions for 349 yards with one touchdown
Leading tackler: Jones, 83 tackles, 7 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: Two tied with 3
Leader in interceptions: Johnson, 6
No. 15 Sabino (5-5) at No. 2 Chandler Valley Christian (9-1)
Series record: Sabino is 0-1 against Valley Christian, losing 18-14 in this year’s season opener at Valley Christian.
SABINO
Top passer: Bodhi Sanford, Soph., 143 of 259 attempts for 2,188 yards with 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions
Top rusher: Zachari Haley, Sr., 117 rushes for 950 yards and nine touchdowns
Top receiver: Haley, 28 receptions for 610 yards with nine touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Christopher Yslas, Jr., 64 tackles
Leader in sacks: LB Gabe Warren, Jr., 7.5
Leader in interceptions: FS Anthony Dimas, Jr., 4
VALLEY CHRISTIAN
Top passer: Austin Schruder, Jr., 96 of 161 attempts for 1,595 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions
Top rusher: Caleb Goldman, Sr., 157 rushes for 1,107 yards and 12 touchdowns
Top receiver: Asher Hanzal, Sr., 31 receptions for 665 yards with 11 touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Hudson Pickett, Sr., 70 tackles, 16 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: Two tied with 1
Leader in interceptions: FS Kristian Schoenhals, Sr., 4, and CB Nick Lewis, Jr., 4
2A STATE PLAYOFFS
SOUTHERN ARIZONA SCHOOLS
Round 2
Friday at 7 p.m.
No. 17 Eloy Santa Cruz Valley (6-5) at No. 1 Phoenix Veritas Prep (10-0)
Series record: Santa Cruz Valley is 2-0 against Veritas Prep, including a 60-6 win the first round of the 2020 state playoffs.
SANTA CRUZ VALLEY
Top passer: Richard Reyes Jr., Soph., 45 of 66 attempts for 551 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions
Top rusher: Diego Ibarra, Soph., 129 rushes for 1,282 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Top receiver: Daniel Contreras, Sr., 27 receptions for 376 yards with five touchdowns.
Leading tackler: DE Laney James, Fr., 114 tackles, 20 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: James, 4, and LB Ruben Ibarra, Jr., 4
Leader in interceptions: Two tied with two
VERITAS PREP
Top passer: Rocco Guido, Sr., 113 of 181 attempts for 1,857 yards with 27 touchdowns and two interceptions
Top rusher: Will Young, Jr., 62 rushes for 345 yards and three touchdowns
Top receiver: Baylor Arnold, Sr., 35 receptions for 594 yards with seven touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Anthony Sanfratello, Sr., 43 tackles, 5 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: LB Will Barrett, Sr., 13
Leader in interceptions: Arnold, 8
No. 9 Tanque Verde (9-2) at No. 8 Camp Verde (7-3)
Series record: First meeting
TANQUE VERDE
Top passer: Rocco Haggard, Sr., 68 of 129 attempts for 1,217 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions
Top rusher: Sebastian Blakeman, Sr., 74 rushes for 546 yards and 11 touchdowns
Top receiver: Aiden Cooper, Sr., 27 receptions for 563 yards and eight touchdowns
Leading tackler: DE Bricyn Bumguardner, Sr., 61 tackles, 13 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: Bumguardner, 4, and DE Alex Page, 4
Leader in interceptions: Haggard 4
CAMP VERDE
Top passer: Braden Walsworth, Jr., 156 of 253 attempts for 1,586 yards with 21 touchdowns and four interceptions
Top rusher: Justin Smith, Jr., 159 rushes for 1,038 yards and 13 touchdowns
Top receiver: Tristan Clarke, Sr., 22 receptions for 311 yards with three touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Chase Dugan, 49 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: Dugan, 6.5
Leader in interceptions: CB Jace Seekins, Sr., 4
No. 14 Benson (7-4) at No. 3 Phoenix Christian (8-2)
Series record: Benson is 5-16-1 against Phoenix Christian, including a 42-12 loss this season at Phoenix Christian. The Cougars are 3-0 in the postseason against Benson.
BENSON
Top passer: Dawson Judd, Sr., 166 of 247 attempts for 2,433 yards with 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions
Top rusher: Rene Lorta, Sr., 123 rushes for 735 yards and eight touchdowns
Top receiver: Rawley Evans, Sr., 45 receptions for 605 yards with four touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Andrew Workman, Sr., 83 tackles, 6 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: DE Tyson Kilpatrick, Jr., 4, and DE Abraham Figuroa, Jr., 4
Leader in interceptions: Judd, 5
PHOENIX CHRISTIAN
Top passer: Joel Fajardo, Jr., 28 of 65 attempts for 628 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions
Top rusher: Aaron Whitten, Soph., 112 rushes for 960 yards and 15 touchdowns
Top receiver: Cashis Grimwade, Sr., 14 receptions for 427 yards with 11 touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Damignon Danger, Soph., 65 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
Leader in sacks: Whitten, 13
Leader in interceptions: CB Jude House, Jr., 7
No. 11 Goodyear Trivium Prep (8-3) at No. 6 Willcox (8-2)
Series record: First meeting
TRIVIUM PREP
Top passer: Carson Aaron, Jr., 35 of 87 attempts for 529 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions
Top rusher: Benjamin Wolfley, Jr., 152 rushes for 1,774 yards and 21 touchdowns
Top receiver: Ezra Hall, Jr., 11 receptions for 194 yards with three touchdowns
Leading tackler: Wolfley, 92 tackles, one for loss yards
Leader in sacks: LB David Mendoza, Jr., 4, and DE Xander Lecky, 4
Leader in interceptions: Wolfley, 5
WILLCOX
Top passer: Robert Hill Jr.., 36 of 80 attempts for 762 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions
Top rusher: Kaleb Cooke, Sr., 96 rushes for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns
Top receiver: Damarion Jackson, Jr., 17 receptions for 401 yards with six touchdowns
Leading tackler: LB Ismael Cuevas, Sr., 85 tackles, 3 tackles for loss
Leader in sacks: Cooke, 6
Leader in interceptions: LB Asher Ward, Soph., 4
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