After the smaller schools debuted last week, it’s the bigger schools' turn to kick off in ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ tackle football.
The larger divisions (Class 6A to 4A) all feature the standard 10-game schedule; the changes this year come in the playoffs.
The Open is now only open to 6A as the 5A schools opted out after 5A Marana went 10-0 last year, only to lose in the first round of the Open. It is now a 12-team bracket with the losers in the first round dropping into the 6A tournament.
The 6A state tourney will have 12 of the division's 29 teams.Â
The 5A and 4A tournaments will each have 24 teams.
Who plays in those postseason games will start to be decided this week with a strong slate for the Thursday Night Lights.
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All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
THURSDAY
5A/4A
Tucson’s Derek Mesa (6) turns on the corner on Catalina Foothills’ Jack Cartwright (61) on a keeper in the second quarter of their game at Catalina Foothills High School, Sept. 27, 2024.
Ironwood Ridge (8-3 2024) at Catalina Foothills (2-8 2024)
Location: 4300 E. Sunrise Drive
Notable:Â Daniel Sainz returns to Catalina Foothills as head coach after a year as an assistant at Cienega.
4A
San Tan Valley Poston Butte (5-5 2024) at Mica Mountain (14-0 2024)
Location: 10800 E. Valencia Road
Notable: Mica Mountain opens its title defense on Thursday night. The Thunderbolts look to become the first Tucson-area team to repeat as state champions since Canyon del Oro did in 1977.
Sahuarita (7-3 2024) at Walden Grove (8-4 2024)
Location: 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road
Notable: Although Sahuarita leads the all-time series 3-1 with wins in 2013, 2014 and 2015, Walden Grove won the last matchup 56-7 in 2022.
FRIDAY
6A/5A
Marana (10-1 2024) at Salpointe Catholic (8-3 2024)
Location: 1545 E. Copper Street
Notable: Last year, Marana snapped Salpointe’s 27-game win streak against Southern ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ foes. In the MaxPreps era (since 2004) the Tigers/Lancers series has been 2-2 with Marana winning in 2011 and 2024 and Salpointe coming out on top in 2012 and 2023.
5A
Sierra Vista Buena (9-3 2024) at Cienega (5-6 2024)
Location: 12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way
Notable: A couple of 2024 5A playoff teams meet in the season opener. Buena reached the second round with a 65-28 win over Casa Grande, while the Bobcats fell 14-7 to Tucson High.
Desert View (3-7 2024) at Peoria Sunrise Mountain (4-6 2024)
Location: 21200 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria
Notable: The Jaguars went 3-7 last year, but that was against a brutal schedule that included six playoff teams. The only non-playoff team they lost to was Surprise Willow Canyon in the season opener.
Canyon del Oro’s head coach Scott McKee greets his players, including Samico Salazar, during warm-ups at Mica Mountain High School, Oct. 18, 2024.
Canyon del Oro (6-5 2024) at Phoenix Trevor G. Browne (2-8 2024)
Location: 7402 W. Catalina Drive, Phoenix
Notable: Thanks to its on-field success of late (playoffs in 2024, state champions in 2023 and state semifinalist in 2022), CDO moves up to 5A. According to , the last time the Dorados were in 5A was 2004.
Mountain View (6-5 2024) at Tucson High (9-3 2024)
Location: 400 N. Second Ave.
Notable: At 4-1 in 5A Sonoran play, Mountain View and Tucson High finished last season tied atop the region standings, along with Ironwood Ridge. The Badgers won the tiebreaker due to their No. 2 state ranking. This year, Mountain View is in 5A Southern, and Tucson High is in the 5A Sonoran.
Sunnyside (2-7 2024) at Casa Grande Vista Grande (7-2 2024)
Location: 1556 N. Arizola Road, Casa Grande
Notable: The Blue Devils head up I-10 to face the Spartans for the first time.
5A/4A
Douglas (5-5 2024) at Flowing Wells (5-5 2024)
Location: 3725 N. Flowing Wells Road
Notable: Although both sides went 5-5 last year, they did so in different fashions. The Bulldogs lost 44-21 to Sahuarita in the season finale, while Flowing Wells won its last two of 2024 by a combined score of 114-20.
Amphitheater (5-5 2024) at Nogales (0-10 2024)
Location: 1905 Apache Blvd., Nogales
Notable: New Amphi head coach Stanley Richardson makes his debut. The Apaches have lost 20 in a row.
4A
Rio Rico (4-6 2024) at San Tan Valley Combs (6-5 2024)
Location: 43371 N. Kenworthy Road, San Tan Valley
Notable: The Hawks fly north to play their first-ever game against Combs.
Sahuaro (4-6 2024) at Empire (6-4 2024)
Location: 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way
Notable: Although they’re both on the east side, the Cougars and Ravens haven’t previously faced off.
Yuma Cibola (2-8 2024) at Rincon/University (2-8 2024)
Location: 421 N. Arcadia Ave.
Notable: Both Cibola and Rincon/University are 4A in tackle football but 6A in other sports. Cibola’s enrollment is 2,490, and Rincon/University’s is 2,232.
Pueblo (2-8 2024) at Buckeye Youngker (5-5 2024)
Location: 3000 S. Apache Road, Buckeye
Notable: The Warriors open the season with three road games and five of their first seven away from home.
Cholla (1-9 2024) at Yuma (2-8 2024)
Location: 400 S. 6th Ave., Yuma
Notable: In addition to the Criminals, Cholla also plays Yuma's Kofa High this season.
3A
Pusch Ridge Christian (1-0) at Queen Creek ALA - Ironwood (0-1)
Location: 850 W. Combs Road, Queen Creek
Notable: For the second time in their last three games, Pusch Ridge faces an American Leadership Academy. Last year in the state championship game, the Lions bested Waddell ALA - West Foothills.
Gilbert Christian (1-0) at Sabino (0-1)
Location: 5000 N. Bowes Road
Notable: Sabino hosts Gilbert Christian for the first of three home games in a row after falling 18-14 at Chandler Valley Christian last week.
2A
Heritage Academy Laveen (1-0) at Desert Christian (1-0)
Location: 7525 E. Speedway
Time: 6 p.m.
Notable: The Heroes take their first trip to Tucson since they lost to Tanque Verde 50-8 in the season opener in 2021.
Palo Verde (0-1) at Florence ALA - Anthem South (0-1)
Location: 8450 W. Franklin Road, Florence
Notable: ALA - Anthem South hosts its second straight east-side Tucson team after losing 28-18 to Desert Christian last week.
Bisbee (0-1) at Phoenix Cortez (0-1)
Location: 8828 N. 31st Ave., Phoenix
Notable: A tough start to the season for the Pumas as they head to Phoenix for the first of three straight road games after they fell 34-0 at home to Benson.
Santa Rita (0-1) at Miami (1-0)
Location: 4739 S. Ragus Road, Miami
Notable: The Vandals start the season with three of their first four at home.
Tanque Verde (0-1) at Morenci (1-0)
Location: 538 Stadium Drive, Morenci
Notable: The Hawks look to get back to .500 at Morenci, a school they are 0-6 against all time.
Pima (0-1) at Tombstone (0-1)
Location: 1211 N. Yellow Jacket Way, Tombstone
Notable: The Roughriders roll into the “Town too Tough to Die†looking to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2020.
1A
St. David (1-0) at Topawa Baboquivari (0-1)
Location: Highway 86 and Route 19, Topawa
Notable: St. David is 7-0 against Baboquivari, including a 70-22 win last year.
Catalina High football coach returns to his alma mater with rebuilding agenda
