Arizona high school football’s opening week wasted no time delivering the kind of chaos and star power that makes Week 1 impossible to ignore.
Basha and Chandler headlined the slate with a nationally televised rematch of last season’s Open Division championship game, and the Bears made sure this one stayed in their hands. Basha held on for a 37-26 win at home, turning five Chandler turnovers into the difference in a game that gave Arizona football a live showcase on ESPN.
The Bears didn’t need one giant offensive performance to get it done. Quarterback Jake Rogers and running back Noah Roberts both chipped in, but sophomore receiver Makai Nelson was the breakout name of the night. In his varsity debut, he caught two first-half touchdown passes and grabbed the spotlight in a game that never really settled down until the end.
Chandler, meanwhile, came in looking for revenge after last year’s title-game loss and left with the same result. The Wolves scored 26 this time, a major step up from the 7 they managed in December, but five turnovers again kept them from breaking through.
If Chandler gets another crack at Basha, it will have to come in the postseason again. Next up is a Week 2 matchup with San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic.
Liberty made its own statement in one of the state’s most intriguing opening-week games. The Lions rolled past Mesa 58-18, looking every bit like the top-five team and state title threat people believe they are. Quarterback Jason Haines lit it up for more than 400 yards and four touchdowns, spreading scoring throws to four different receivers.
Liberty’s defense did its part too, forcing three interceptions and helping the Lions jump out to a 24-6 halftime lead before piling on 34 more points after the break. Their next test comes in Week 2 against Utah’s Corner Canyon in what should be another high-scoring watch.
One of the weekend’s wildest moments came from the Flagstaff Skydome, where Marco de Niza’s Isaiah Valenzuela authored a pick that already belongs in the early Catch of the Year conversation. On Friday night, Flagstaff had a pass broken up, the receiver and defender went down, and the ball bounced off the receiver and back into the air. Valenzuela came flying in and finished the play with a diving interception.
It was the kind of sequence that looks made up until you see it happen. Marco de Niza went on to win 49-28.
Not every ranked team got rolling early. Thursday night brought a rough start for several offenses, with Cactus Shadows blanked by Desert Edge 20-0, ALA-Queen Creek held to 10 points in a 44-10 loss to Centennial, Marana limited to one touchdown in a 28-7 loss to Salpointe Catholic, and Brophy Prep stuck on six points in a 25-6 loss to Hamilton.
Hamilton did get the win, but the Huskies didn’t exactly look like a finished product. With star receiver Roye Oliver II out and quarterback Jax Sculley returning from ACL surgery, the preseason No. 2 team took some time to find its rhythm. The offense managed just 174 total yards and didn’t reach the end zone until the second half.
Even so, Hamilton found ways to take control. Its defense and special teams kept the Huskies alive, and a blocked field goal before halftime was returned for a touchdown to swing the game. Hamilton is 1-0 and will try to get the offense moving in Week 2 against Nevada’s Arbor View before a potential shootout in Week 3 against Perry.
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Among the most encouraging developments for the Wildcats was the survival of several young defensive backs at the next level. Rookie free agent Ayden Garnes stuck with Tampa Bay after camp, while other former Arizona defenders are still working through the final roster shuffle in different ways, with some heading toward practice squads and others starting the year on injured reserve. For Arizona, it is another snapshot of a pipeline that is producing real NFL opportunity, even if a few of the names are still waiting on their exact landing spots. [Read more 🡒]
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Saguaros Latest Crisis Just Put This Arizona Rivalry In Doubt
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It is the second time in seven seasons that the game has been canceled, a reminder of how much these once-certain dates can change when a programs numbers get thin. Saguaro does not have any other games canceled at the moment, but the situation underscores just how fragile the schedule can become when a school is trying to make do with limited bodies. [Read more 🡒]