The 2026 high school football season is upon us.
Every year story lines emerge as teams and athletes begin showcasing their talents.
For Marana High School, its story line emerged a few weeks before the start of the season with the news of senior star wide receiver Sean Roebuck Jr.’s horrific single-car rollover accident.
From all accounts, an accident that Roebuck should not have survived. But, Roebuck not only survived, he is making a miraculous recovery.
On Wednesday night, as Marana’s scrimmage against Horizon was about to begin, with his arm in a sling to support a healing broken collarbone, a freshly placed plate in his orbital cavity and lots of still visible road rash, Roebuck walked, unassisted, onto Tiger Field.
A true walking miracle.
Roebuck was immediately surrounded by teammates, students, school staff, parents and coaches who gave him careful hugs and fist bumps. His parents Sean Sr. and Monica were also on hand.
On being back on the football field, Sean Jr. said, “It feels good, it feels like I’m back with my family and they’re all looking good and they’re all showing me how hard they’ve been working since my accident.”
When asked how his recover is progressing, he said, “I’m feeling amazing, every day just growing inch by inch about the smaller stuff and the bigger stuff. It’s just a blessing to be here.”
On his team’s response to facing adversity, Marana head coach Phillip Steward said, “The way they came closer was big for me because that’s what we’ve been teaching them here. When things don’t go your way you don’t split apart, we come closer and we try to figure it out together.
“With the Sean injury, some of them took it harder than others and so they had to lean on each other.”
Caught up with Marana football coach Phillip Steward prior to the start of @MaranaFB scrimmage with Horizon. He talks about his team getting to play some contact football and how his team came together through the challenges including Sean Roebuck Jr.’s accident. @AllSportsTucson pic.twitter.com/Tmo0rnF4Wf
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 20, 2026
“Let me just start off by saying it makes my heart so happy to see not only my best friend but my brother back,” junior running back/linebacker Jeffrey Smith III said. “Not very many people make it out of that situation.
“It’s a very scary, dangerous crash accident he was in and we are just so grateful to have him back, to see Sean be Sean have a smile on his face and just bring that energy to the team.”
Marana’s scrimmage with Horizon was cut short due storms in the area, but that didn’t dampen the joy of having Sean on the sidelines with the team.
While his on-going recovery will keep him off the field as a player for the season he is still a very big part of the Marana football family.
Marana opens its regular season next Thursday at 7 p.m. against Salpointe at Tiger Stadium.
The matchup is the AIA/Arizona’s Family Football Game of the Week.
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