THIS WEEK
Eloy Santa Cruz Valley (7-2) defeated Desert Christian (2-7) by forfeit. The Dust Devils will still celebrate their Homecoming with a junior varsity game with Goodyear on Friday night.
THURSDAY FINAL SCORES
2A SOUTH 1
Palo Verde 14, Bisbee 0
Palo Verde’s 14-0 win tonight at Bisbee assures the Titans (6-3) will have a winning season for a second consecutive year for the first time since 2008 (10-2) and 2009 (11-2) under Todd Mayfield. Palo Verde, coached by Jamal Chatman, was 6-4 last year. Jet Sports Network https://t.co/DGS4RmnR7q
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) October 16, 2026
2A NON-REGION
Pima 63, ALA-Sierra Vista 0
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
Games at 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
6A NON-REGION
No. 18 Salpointe (2-4) at No. 26 Scottsdale Saguaro (0-5) … The one-time rivals who played each other deep in the state playoffs in recent years are both struggling because of a lack of players compared to big 6A schools.
5A NON-REGION
No. 23 Canyon del Oro (4-3) at No. 7 Desert View (7-0) … Desert View is riding an 18-game winning streak in the regular season. Desert View coach Robert Bonillas and CDO coach Scott McKee are former Arizona teammates who played late in the Dick Tomey era.
5A SONORAN
No. 44 Casa Grande (1-6, 0-3) at No. 20 Buena (4-3, 2-1) … Former Buena coach Joe Thomas returns to Sierra Vista to coach against his former school.
No. 38 Vista Grande (3-4, 0-3) at No. 24 Ironwood Ridge (4-3, 2-1) … Ironwood Ridge will try to keep its postseason hopes alive after going 1-9 last season.
No. 22 Marana (4-3, 3-1) at No. 15 Tucson (5-2, 3-1) … The winner of this game will have a leg up on a region title with two weeks left afterward.
5A SOUTHERN
No. 39 Flowing Wells (4-3, 1-2) at No. 25 Cienega (3-4, 3-0) … Cienega will try to keep pace with Desert View for a potential showdown for the region title next Friday at Desert View.
No. 28 Mountain View (2-5, 1-3) at No. 45 Nogales (2-5, 0-4) … Mountain View can ill-afford to look ahead to next week’s Battle for the Boot game with rival Marana on the road without taking care of business at Nogales first.
No. 29 Sunnyside (2-5, 1-2) at No. 27 Maricopa (5-2, 2-1) … Maricopa can match its win total from last season with two games remaining under first-year coach Kacy L. Day.
4A KINO
No. 2 Mica Mountain (6-1, 1-1) at No. 52 Amphitheater (1-6, 0-2) … The Thunderbolts look to start another winning streak after having their 16-game run stopped last week by Walden Grove.
No. 33 Douglas (5-2, 1-1) at No. 20 Sahuaro (3-4, 1-1) … The Cougars face a must-win situation to remain in contention for the playoffs based on their No. 20 ranking.
No. 35 Catalina Foothills (2-5, 1-1) at No. 9 Walden Grove (5-2, 2-0) … After knocking off then-No. 1 Mica Mountain last week, Walden Grove has to guard against being on Cloud 9 going into this one.
4A GILA
No. 57.Rincon/UHS (0-7, 0-2) at No. 38 Cholla (4-3, 1-1) … A victory for the Chargers will assure the program a record of at least .500 in a full season for the first time since going 6-4 in 2015 under Virgil Henderson.
No. 43 Rio Rico (2-5, 0-2) at No. 25 Pueblo (5-2, 2-0) … Pueblo is on the outside looking in at a potential playoff bid because the top 24 earn a bracket spot.
No. 56 Empire (0-7, 0-2) at No. 22 Sahuarita (5-2, 2-0) … With the Mustangs and Pueblo playing lower-ranked teams this week — adversely affecting their power ranking — next week’s showdown at Sahuarita could be for the lone playoff bid from the 4A Gila.
3A NON-REGION
No. 6 Thatcher (5-2) at No. 8 Payson (5-2) … Thatcher has to travel 2 1/2 hours for the marquee top 10 matchup at Payson, located in the middle of the state.
No. 28 San Tan Foothills (0-7) at No. 33 Maricopa Heritage Academy (1-6) … Will San Tan Foothills snap its 17-game losing streak?
3A EAST
No. 19 Safford (4-3, 1-2) at No. 7 Pusch Ridge (7-1, 5-0) … Although Pusch Ridge has clinched the 3A East title, the Lions still have playoff position to play for (top 8 teams in the 16-team bracket host the first round and top 4 guarantee host first two weeks if they get that far).
No. 13 Florence (2-5, 1-2) at No. 15 Sabino (3-4, 1-1) … A Sabercat win against a higher-rated Florence team will strengthen their chances to make the 16-team playoff field.
2A NON-REGION
No. 25 Globe (3-5) at No. 44 Catalina (3-5) … With a victory, the Trojans can reach at least four wins in a season since going 5-5 in 2017 under Joe Butler.
No. 47 San Carlos (1-7) at No. 48 Santa Rita (1-7) … Santa Rita’s varsity record since 2020 is 2-39; the Eagles can improve to 2-7 this season under first-year coach Cam Gaddis with a victory over a struggling San Carlos team.
2A SOUTH 1
No. 23 Tombstone (4-4, 3-0) at No. 14 Tanque Verde (5-3, 3-0) … The Hawks can clinch the No. 1 spot from the 2A South 1 in the crossover game played next week against the 2A South 2’s top team (either Willcox, Benson or Eloy Santa Cruz Valley). … Expect a game of Tombstone and Tanque Verde trying to establish the better ground game. Tombstone has Xavier Lopez (1,107 rushing yards) and Hank Moody (407) going against Tanque Verde’s Mason Sandoski (426), Gaines Gooch (403) and Beau Duke (367).
2A SOUTH 2
No. 2 Willcox (8-0, 2-0) at No. 7 Benson (7-1, 1-1) … Willcox can set up a meeting with either Tombstone or Tanque Verde for the 2A South title next week with a victory over Benson. …Willcox will try to establish its rushing attack with Asher Ward (117.3 rushing yards a game) and Kaleb Cooke (101.9) while Benson will try to keep things balanced with QB Cohen Barney (162 yards passing a game and dual threat at 66 yards rushing a game). … Benson’s Rene Lorta also averages 108.1 rushing yards a game and Willcox QB Robert Hill Jr. is always a threat at 89.8 passing yards a game.
1A NON-REGION
No. 19 Baboquivari (0-6) at No. 11 San Manuel (2-6) … San Manuel, in position to make the 12-team state tournament field, has won four of its last five meetings with former 1A South rival Baboquivari.
No. 17 Bagdad (1-6) at No. 4 St. David (6-2) … St. David concludes its regular season with a chance to finish in the top 4, thereby earning a first-round bye in the upcoming state tournament.
Recommended for you
