THURSDAY FINAL SCORES
3A EAST
No. 7 Thatcher 44, No. 29 San Tan Foothills 7 … The Eagles improve to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the 3A East. San Tan Foothills is 0-7 and 0-4.
3A NON-REGION
No. 19 Safford 47, No. 27 Winslow 0 … Safford is 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the 3A East heading into its game next week at Pusch Ridge.
2A SOUTH 1
No. 31 Palo Verde 19, No. 53 Santa Rita 0 … Palo Verde improves to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in region play. The Titans can clinch their second consecutive winning season next Thursday night at Bisbee with a victory. That has not happened for the Eagles since 2008 and 2009.
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
Games at 7 p.m.
6A
No. 18 Salpointe (2-4), bye
5A SOUTHERN
No. 9 Desert View (6-0, 3-0) at No. 45 Nogales (2-4, 0-3)
No. 28 Cienega (2-4, 2-0) at No. 27 Sunnyside (2-4, 1-1)
No. 29 Mountain View (1-5, 0-3) at No. 35 Flowing Wells (4-2, 1-1)
NOTES: The unbeaten Jaguars look to extend their winning streak, which stands at 17 straight victories in the regular season dating to the 2024 season. Desert View has outscored its first six opponents 271-34, an average margin of nearly 40 points per game. … QB Andrew Godoy has thrown for 1,148 yards, while WR Anthony Rodarte has 522 receiving yards. … Nogales has scored only six points in its three region losses. … Cienega can keep pace with Desert View as the only other unbeaten team in the region with a win at Sunnyside. The Bobcats play at Desert View on Oct. 23. … Mountain View RB Drake Davis leads the region in rushing with 624 yards. … Flowing Wells can clinch its third straight season with at least five wins (avoiding a losing record) with a win over the Mountain Lions. The last time that happened was from 2014 to 2016 under Mark Brunenkant.
5A SONORAN
No. 19 Buena (3-3, 1-1) at No. 39 Vista Grande (3-3, 0-2)
No. 21 Tucson (5-1, 3-0) at No. 25 Canyon del Oro (3-3, 1-2)
No. 15 Marana (3-3, 2-1) at No. 42 Casa Grande (1-5, 0-2)
NOTES: Buena is coming off a 52-7 loss at Gilbert Highland while the Spartans have lost consecutive region games to Tucson, 42-0, and Canyon del Oro, 27-0. It is the first time since 2016 Vista Grande has Ben=… Vista Grande senior RB Dmarco Decastro leads the team with 113 rushing yards per game and also contributes as a defensive back and kick returner. … Tucson is showing fortitude winning the close ones: The Badgers edged Buena 24-23 on Sept. 18 and beat Casa Grande 21-20 last week. WR/RB/P/PR/KOR Ezra Spivey does it all for Tucson. He is at 852 all-purpose yards (including 276 yards rushing and 508 receiving). …The Dorados defeated Vista Grande 27-0 last week, bouncing back after a narrow 24-21 loss to Ironwood Ridge on Sept. 25. CDO QB Peyhton Strang threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns without an interception against Vista Grande. Receiver Jayden Smith had 90 receiving yards and a touchdown. … Marana has been rolling in region play: The Tigers routed Ironwood Ridge 48-3 last week after defeating Canyon del Oro 28-7 on Sept. 18. Their only region loss was a 38-28 setback against Buena in Sierra Vista. Marana’s offense has gradually adjusted after losing star receiver Sean Roebuck Jr. for the season following an automobile accident, scoring 168 points through six games, an average of 28 per game. RB/LB Jeffrey Smith III is closing in on his second consecutive 1,000-yard season at 638 yards and he is averaging 12.8 tackles per game. The Cougars have allowed 215 points through six games, including 47 in a loss to Ironwood Ridge on Sept. 18.
INTERCONFERENCE
No. 24 5A Maricopa (4-2) at No. 38 Cottonwood Mingus (0-5)
Maricopa is 3-0 in away games and looking to be 4-0 against winless Mingus. The Rams have outscored Empire (57-0 win), Casa Grande (40-16) and Mountain View (12-0) by a total of 109-16 in those three road wins. After home games against Sunnyside and Nogales, Maricopa will end the regular season on the road against Cienega.
5A NON-REGION
No. 26 Ironwood Ridge (4-2) at No. 4 Scottsdale Desert Mountain (5-1)
Ironwood Ridge’s defense is in for a tall task. Desert Mountain has scored at least 54 points in several games this season, including victories over Saguaro (62-0), Mountain View (65-0), Mountain Pointe (54-0) and Kellis (65-0). … Ironwood Ridge QB Max Harder has emerged as one of the top QBs in Southern Arizona at 337 rushing yards and 1,048 passing yards with 12 passing touchdowns.
4A KINO
No. 24 Sahuaro (2-4, 0-1) at No. 33 Catalina Foothills (2-4, 1-0)
No. 55 Amphitheater (1-5, 0-1) at No. 31 Douglas (4-2, 0-1)
No. 10 Walden Grove (4-2, 1-0) at No. 1 Mica Mountain (6-0, 1-0)
NOTES: Sahuaro relies heavily on its ground game, while Catalina Foothills has generated more production through the air. The Cougars need a bounce-back performance after a 24-19 loss to Walden Grove, while the Falcons enter on a two-game winning streak after beating Amphitheater 46-6. Sahuaro RB/MLB Anakin Alexander has 507 rushing yards in four games and is averaging 126.8 yards per game on 5.17 yards per carry. … Catalina Foothills QB Drew Kumar has 889 passing yards through six games, averaging 148.2 passing yards a game with 11 touchdown passes. … Amphi at Douglas should be a run-heavy game. Amphi RB/LB Na’jon Brown has had a solids season with 445 rushing yards on 80 carries. Douglas RB Cesar Gaxiola has 500 rushing yards on 63 carries. … A key matchup to watch in the Walden Grove-Mica Mountain showdown is Mica Mountain WR Eli Palma going against Walden Grove safety Jordan Dobson. Palma has accumulated 441 receiving yards on 22 catches. averaging 73.5 receiving yards per game, with eight receiving touchdowns and one kickoff return for a touchdown. Dobson has 37 tackles, five for loss. … Walden Grove will try to turn the corner against Mica Mountain and snap the Thunderbolts’ 16-game winning streak that includes a victory in the 4A state championship game last year. Walden Grove is 0-3 against Mica Mountain, but each game has been competitive — 21-7 loss in 2023, 16-6 in 2024 and 20-14 last season.
4A GILA
No. 48 Rio Rico (1-5, 0-1) at No. 54 Empire (0-6, 0-1)
No. 37 Cholla (4-2, 1-0) at No. 22 Pueblo (4-2, 1-0)
No. 25 Sahuarita (4-2, 1-0) at No. 57 Rincon/University (0-6, 0-1)
NOTES: Rio Rico QB Sebastian Castro has put together a productive season with 970 passing yards in five games. Empire DE Christopher Eustis has evolved into one of the top defenders in Southern Arizona with 40 tackles, five for loss. … Pueblo’s passing attack led by QB Roman Otero and WR Jesus Enriquez will go against Cholla’s stout defense that includes S Victor Rojo. Enriquez has 704 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns and Rojo is one of the top defenders in Southern Arizona with five interceptions. The rival schools have met 20 times previously with Pueblo leading 16-4. The Warriors have won four straight games in the series, including topping the Chargers 49-3 last season. … RB Trent Hubble’s rushing production (87.2 yards rushing a game) and QB Dane Hartnett’s dual-threat ability (812 passing yards and 262 rushing yards) give the Mustangs multiple ways to move the ball. Rincon/University is in the midst of an 11-game losing streak. The Rangers have not won more than two games in a season since going 6-4 in 2019 under Mike Strack.
3A EAST
No. 6 Pusch Ridge (6-1, 4-0) at No. 13 Coolidge (4-3, 1-1)
NOTES: Pusch Ridge can claim the 3A East championship and automatic bid into the state playoffs with a victory over Coolidge. Pusch Ridge senior DB Braydan Nolan is one of Southern Arizona’s best with five interceptions. His ball-hawking ability will be key against Coolidge DE Mateo Longoria leads the Bears’ defense with 24 tackles, 10 of them for loss and he has 23 quarterback hurries.
3A NON-REGION
No. 24 Shadow Mountain (1-6) at No. 17 Florence (1-5)
No. 28 Buckeye Odyssey Institute (1-5) at No. 15 Sabino (2-4)
NOTES: Florence is definitely competitive despite the 1-5 record. Florence defeated Coolidge 31-28 after losing to potential 3A East champion Pusch Ridge 28-24 on Sept. 18. … Sabino looks to get back on track after losing consecutive games against rivals Sahuaro and Pusch Ridge. This is the first of three straight games at home for the Sabercats, who are going after a winning season for the first time since 2023 when they won the 3A state title with an 11-3 record.
2A SOUTH 1
No. 41 Bisbee (1-6, 1-1) at No. 22 Tombstone (3-4, 2-0)
NOTES: Bisbee will try play spoiler as Tombstone looks to remain unbeaten in the region heading into next week’s showdown with Tanque Verde (4-3, 3-0) on the road. … RB/LB Xavier Lopez is the Yellow Jackets’ leading offensive and defensive contributor with 844 rushing yards and 79 tackles. … First-year Tombstone coach Anthony Ciccariello is working wonders with the program. Tombstone went 2-8 last year and was held scoreless in four blowout losses, including 46-0 at Bisbee. Tanque Verde beat the Yellow Jackets 64-0 last season at Tombstone.
2A SOUTH 2
No. 4 Eloy Santa Cruz Valley (6-1, 1-0) at No. 3 Willcox (7-0, 1-0)
No. 6 Benson (6-1, 0-1) at No. 42 Desert Christian (2-5, 0-1)
NOTES: Santa Cruz Valley can earn the top spot in 2A South 2 on Friday night with a victory over Willcox and if Benson beats Desert Christian. The Dust Devils bounced back from their first loss of the season, a 28-21 loss at Phoenix Arizona Lutheran Academy on Sept. 25, with a 39-28 victory at Benson last week (handing the Bobcats their first loss off the season). Santa Cruz Valley concludes four straight games on the road with the matchup with Willcox. … RB Diego Ibarra is the centerpiece of the Dust Devils’ offense and one of Arizona’s premier rushers. Through seven games, he has 1,415 rushing yards on 142 carries and 13 touchdowns, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. He rushed for a career-high 268 yards on 33 carries against Benson, adding another touchdown. … Willcox’s dynamic duo of RB/LB Asher Ward and RB/LB Kaleb Cooke is a major reason why the Cowboys are unbeaten. Asher has 727 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns and has also produced four sacks. Cooke is at 686 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns and 19 total touchdowns along with 34 tackles, five for loss. … Benson junior QB Cohen Barney has evolved into one of the best 2A quarterbacks in these state in his first varsity season. He has 1,134 passing yards (160.9 passing yards per game) and is at 224.6 total yards per game because of his dual-threat skills. … Desert Christian QB James McKinney averages 97.2 passing yards per game.
2A METRO 2
No. 9 Parker (7-0, 3-0) at No. 36 ALA-Sierra Vista (4-3, 1-3)
NOTES: ALA-Sierra Vista’s Timothy Lee leads the Guardians with 61.9 rushing yards per game and nine total touchdowns. He also averages 40.4 receiving yards per game, making him a dual threat for the Guardians. … An upset win over Parker would assure a non-losing regular season in ALA-Sierra Vista’s first year in the AIA.
2A NON-REGION
No. 50 Catalina (2-5) at No. 57 Scottsdale Coronado (0-7)
No. 14 Tanque Verde (4-3) at No. 55 Surprise Highland Prep (1-6)
NOTES: Catalina looks to snap its five-game losing streak at winless Coronado. An unsung hero for the Trojans is senior LB Davoncia Davis, who has tallied 34 tackles, five sacks and six quarterback hurries. … Tanque Verde coach Jeff Bollnow is known for his defensive expertise, serving as defensive coordinator at Cienega and Sahuarita before becoming the Hawks’ head coach. But he is also becoming a running-game guru. Tanque Verde has followed last year’s dominating performance on the ground with four running backs this year with at least 250 yards — Mason Sandoski has recorded 420 rushing yards, 150 receiving yards and six total touchdowns; Gaines Gooch has 387 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns; Beau Duke has accumulated 337 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns; and Noah McGill is at 275 yards rushing. … Last year, Tanque Verde had four seniors who gained at least 250 yards on the ground — Sebastian Blakeman (702 yards), Cooper Payne (637), Schumaker Colt (423) and Anthony Torgeson (262).
1A SOUTH
No. 18 Fort Thomas (1-6, 1-1) at No. 4 St. David (5-2, 2-0)
NOTES: St. David can clinch the region title and automatic berth into the state playoffs with a victory. The Tigers are going for their sixth 1A South title in the last seven years.
1A NON-REGION
No. 19 Baboquivari (0-5) at No. 14 Glendale Desert Heights Prep (2-4)
No. 11 San Manuel (1-6) at No. 12 Duncan (4-3)
NOTES: Baboquivari will attempt to snap a 16-game losing streak dating to 2024. …. Despite being 1-6 compared to Duncan’s 4-3 record, San Manuel is ranked high among 1A programs because of the Miners’ strength of schedule. San Manuel still has the opportunity to be one of the top 12 teams to make the state playoffs despite having only one win at this point.
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