This week is semifinals week for big school football with 4A, 5A and 6A teams playing Friday night.
The Open semis are Saturday along with the 2A and 3A title games.
Here’s how things look:
6A Title Game – #4 Mountain View vs. #14 Centennial
A low seed team with a gauntlet of a schedule, making the 6A championship.
This is now a trend.
First it was Saguaro. Now it’s Centennial.
• @Cehsfootball got a stop on defense and @OwenPReynoso may have just scored the dagger in this one.
37-18 Coyotes | 9:20 4Q@HypaMarkCo pic.twitter.com/qPES9Zhzbd
— Adam Beadle (@therealbeadle) November 30, 2024
The Coyotes beat Queen Creek 37-32 on Friday night to punch a ticket to its first 6A title game (13th title game in last 20 years).
The job Richard Taylor has done this year is phenomenal coming off an Open Division championship appearance.
Not only did Centennial open the year 0-4, but the Coyotes welcomed at least 10 starters (mostly underclassmen) to the lineup after five games. The youth has been evident, but growth is apparent every single week.
I want it noted, I’ve been saying on Bleacher Talk that Centennial would be here since the 0-4 start…
Meanwhile, an instant classic took place at Central high school, with Mountain View outlasting Brophy 28-27.
FINAL:@MVToro_Football 28@FootballBrophy 27#Toros advance to 6A State Championship Game as they force a #BCP incomplete pass in closing seconds and run out the clock.
Unbelievable game tonight here at Central High. @Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/ozTXfbR0KA
— Eric Sorenson (@EricSports360AZ) November 30, 2024
Andy Litten has the Toros in the title game in year number one. He also did that with Horizon in 2021 during his first year there. The Huskies held up the 5A gold ball that year.
Quarterback Brady Goodman just makes plays when this team needs them the most each and every week.
Beckham Barney is an elite linebacker leading the defense.
It’s the second straight year that a Mesa school is in this game. The growth of the district as a whole is fun to watch.
Before the season, no one could’ve predicted this 6A title game. Get your popcorn ready, it’s set to be a fun one.
5A Title Game – No. 4 Cactus vs. #7 Desert Edge
How about Desert Edge, getting back to a second straight 5A title bout?
A 27-14 win over Verrado gets the Scorpions back to Tempe.
Adversity has been constant in that program since losing a heart breaker 42-41 against Higley last year.
Now a year later, led by new head coach Henri MacArthur, DE is looking to bring home a gold ball.
Lots of incoming transfers plus a tough schedule led to early losses, but this team never doubted its potential to get back in this position.
TOUCHDOWN! Roskopf to Sidney x3! Desert Edge gets it to 27-7 with only 5 minutes left. @Sports360AZ @AZHSFB @gridironarizona pic.twitter.com/zo5z0zWLaO
— Chris Day (@TheCoachDay) November 30, 2024
Cactus is now stranger to championship games either, now the Cobras are back after a 38-35 win over ALA Gilbert-North.
The Cobras traded punches all night long and its defense stepped up when it needed to most with a pick in the final minute.
Desert Edge beat Cactus 21-6 a few weeks ago. It’s hard to beat great teams twice. Should be another classic 5A title game.
4A Title Game – #2 ACP vs. #4 Mica Mountain
Arizona College Prep punches its ticket in dominating fashion, beating Snowflake 59-21.
For the first time in program history, the Arizona College Prep Knights will play for a football state title.
The Knights take down Snowflake 59-21 and will play in the 4A championship next Friday at ASU at 4 p.m. pic.twitter.com/saG7pFf4TA
— Zach Alvira (@ZachAlvira) November 30, 2024
The Knights dominated in all three phases of the game.
My goodness. Snowflake’s punt is blocked and by Aiden Chapman (who also had the pick) and picked up by Andre Peña for the ACP touchdown.
28-7 Knights | 2:30 1Q
Shoutout @JDigosPhoto! pic.twitter.com/ScxBUbuOW3
— Zach Alvira (@ZachAlvira) November 30, 2024
Coach Vaught has done a phenomenal job all year with ACP. This is the most dominate team at any level, winning every game so far by at least two touchdowns.
Mica Mountain is the lone team repressing Tucson at ASU this year as they beat Yuma Catholic 24-14 Friday night.
A player to watch out for is two-way star Jimmy Leon who gets it done in the trenches defensively.
Saturday
The Open Division semis are being played at 6 p.m.
No. 4 Liberty faces No. 8 Hamilton at Mountain Pointe high school.
No. 2 Basha plays No.3 ALA Queen Creek at Dobson high school.
The 2A title bout between No. 3 Pima and No. 12 Scottsdale Christian is set for 2 p.m.
The 3A championship between No.1 ALA West Foothills and No. 4 Pusch Ridge is on at 6 p.m.
Both games are being played at Mountain Ridge high school.
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Jordan Spurgeon
Jordan Spurgeon enjoys covering sports all across the state and telling feature stories that impact people.