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Team of the week

Desert Christian won another debut. Last season, the school won the first game it played (the team forfeited its first scheduled game) 42-20 over Glendale Desert Heights. This season, the Eagles moved up to 11-person football and beat Florence ALA - Anthem South 28-18 on the road on Friday in their first Class 2A game.

Plays of the week

After a Sabino interception, the Sabercats r, and then Sabino senior Zach Haley ran in a 2-yard touchdown. The Sabercats went ahead 14-12 but lost the game 18-14 on the road to Valley Christian on Friday.

Stat book

– Benson triple-threat Dawson Judd led the Bobcats to a 34-0 win over Bisbee on Friday, ending their two-game losing skid to the Pumas. The senior quarterback/defensive back/punter passed for 315 yards and four touchdowns. He was 23 for 31 and also ran for 69 yards on 12 carries. On defense, he had two interceptions and eight tackles. On special teams, he had two punts for 91 yards with a long of 56.

– Willcox crushed Palo Verde 49-0 on the road, rushing for 315 yards on 30 carries. Sophomore running back Asher Ward ran for 111 on seven attempts. Junior fullback Kaleb Cooke rushed for 99 yards on 11 carries. Cooke also had five tackles on defense.

– Pusch Ridge Christian junior quarterback Race Pinneo was 9 for 9 for 177 yards and two touchdowns in his first start for the defending 3A state champions. The Lions beat Queen Creek San Tan Foothills 53-10 to win their 13th game in a row.

Recruiting trail

The Blue-Grey All-American Bowl invited to participate in December at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Next level

Hawaii senior running back David Cordero returns to town when the Warriors play ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ on Saturday night. Last week, the Salpointe Catholic alum . “He has exemplified what we want to be a Warrior,â€� said UH head coach Timmy Chang to KHON.

Quotable

“How Zach Haley goes is how we’re going to go. When things get hairy, we’re going to give it to No. 5 with other guys stepping up and making plays, but he’s our bread and butter.� — Sabino head coach Ryan McBrayer said to . The senior running back rushed for 147 yards on 21 carries in the Sabercats’ 18-14 loss to Chandler Valley Christian.

Games of the week

Sahuarita (7-3 2024) at Walden Grove (8-4 2024)

Location: 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road

Notable: The Sahuarita Road rivals renew their rivalry after a year break on Thursday at 7 p.m. After Sahuarita won the first three games in the series, it went on hold when tensions grew hot. On the field, Walden Grove is one of the favorites to win the Class 4A title, coming in at No. 6 in the AIA’s preseason rankings. Sahuarita has won six straight under 4A Gila coach of the year Jacob Allen in his first season there. The Mustangs went 2-8 in 2023.

Marana (10-1 2024) at Salpointe Catholic (8-3 2024)

Location: 1545 E. Copper Street

±·´Ç³Ù²¹²ú±ô±ð:ÌýArguably last year’s best teams in Southern ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ face off for their third bout of the 2020s (Salpointe came out victorious in 2023, 35-14, and Marana won last year 27-24) on Friday at 7 p.m. Last year’s win by the Tigers snapped Salpointe’s 27-game win streak against Southern ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ teams. The Lancers hadn’t lost to local teams since Sept. 28, 2017, at Cienega 30-20. Meanwhile, Marana went 10-0 in the regular season last year and earned the top seed in the state.

— Compiled by James Kelley