A dominant showcase in the trenches on both sides of line locked up one of the quickest paths to a state championship in Arizona high school history.
It took just four years for the Mica Mountain Thunderbolts to claim their first program state title with a 42-13 victory over Arizona College Prep in the 4A Conference State Title game on Friday. The school from Southeast Tucson adds their name to a list of Southern Arizona teams to raise their gold ball before making the more than two hour trip back home from Mountain America Stadium.
Legendary head football coach, Pat Nugent, and the Mica Mountain program have done an exquisite job building a football program between Vail and Tucson into champions after just four seasons of football. The talent was more than obvious after a nine-win season in 2023 that took them to the 4A Conference Semifinal against eventual State Champion, Canyon del Oro. This is now the second consecutive season where a Southern Arizona team claimed the 4A crown.
As they did for much of the season, the MMHS offense ran through senior running back, Josiah Thornwell. The Thunderbolts scored on their opening drive, using Thornwell as the bellcow. After a defensive stop, senior quaterback, Jayden Thoreson, added to the run game with a 42-yard touchdown run on the opening play of their second drive. Mica Mountain ended the first quarter up 21-7 and never looked back.
Thornwell would continue his rampage, tallying a career-high four touchdowns in the championship game.
Along with the state championship comes a perfect 14-0 record, including the only victory in the state against the top-seeded Yuma Catholic Shamrocks in the semifinal. Plus, the Thunderbolt defense never allowed more than 14 points in any game this season while the offense scored at least 24 points in all but two games.
It was a tremendous fall season for Mica Mountain athletics. The volleyball program made their first state championship appearance with an 18-3 season but fell to Estrella Foothills for the 4A crown.
Both Mica Mountain and Arizona College Prep are in their infancy with a promising future moving forward. In just four seasons, Mica Mountain has showcased stability, talent, and a championship. ACP has taken just eight years to become another dominant force out of the Chandler School District. Both will continue to vie for titles moving forward.
AIA High School Football Championships continue tonight at 8:00 p.m. with the 5A Conference Championship and Saturday with the 6A Conference Championship at 1:00 p.m. and the Open Division Championship at 6:00 p.m.
