Some news: Very reputable sources — mostly doctors — tell us a baby boy will be here March 2025.
This family of three is becoming a family of four and we couldn’t be more excited.
Iowa State’s roster next year will include:
Brock Purdy (Perry)
Joey Ramos (Deer Valley)
Koby Hathcock (Desert Ridge)
D’Shayne James (Perry)
Eli Sanders (Chandler)
Kevin Sawitzke (Mountain Pointe)
That’s six AZ HS football stars at one Power Five school. Crazy.
Not looking to argue but let’s be honest, things look bad in Arizona. We can’t force everyone in the state to take precautions but if you want to see sports this fall we need to do what we can to try and save it. Wear a mask, socially distance and stay home when sick. Please.
PerryPuma Dr ➡️ Brock Purdy Way
In a special unveiling ahead of
#SuperBowlLVIII
, Perry High School and the Town of Gilbert have renamed the street outside of Perry High School in honor of
@49ers
QB
@brockpurdy13
.
Students also received special shirts that will be worn Friday.
Basha 4⭐️ junior QB Demond Williams Jr. has committed to Ole Miss.
Here’s his announcement in front of some of his teammates, coaches and peers today in the school gym.
Arizona State’s roster on the verge of looking like a former AZ high school football star reunion. Dillingham and that staff bringing everyone back home.
Hamilton High School's football program has been placed on probation by the AIA for a recruiting violation. Starting today, the Huskies are ineligible for postseason play for a year.
@azc_obert
had it first.
Senior night at Gilbert High ended in spectacular fashion on Friday night, as seniors Isaac and Marcus MacDonald made memories that will last a lifetime. Story for
@EVTNow
.
Gilbert’s Vance Nilsson just DESTROYED the 300 hurdles national record with a time of 34.83.
This is the first time in U.S. history a high school athlete has run under 35 seconds in this event.
History.
BREAKING: Mountain Pointe girls basketball coach Justin Hager has resigned in lieu of termination after an investigation revealed he sent game strategy to opponents of the school’s football and boys basketball teams dating back to 2017.
Campo Verde players carried 13 American Flags to the field with them tonight to honor the 13 American soldiers killed on Aug. 26 at the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan. Powerful moment as the flags were set up near the field with empty chairs.
#VXLive
#TeamAZV
The Seattle Seahawks have hired former Arizona State OC and Saguaro head coach Zak Hill to be on staff. Hill confirmed his hiring via text.
Hill recently accepted the assistant AD position at ALA Gilbert North but will no longer fill that role.
Former Saguaro and Oregon OL Bram Walden is here at Sun Devil Stadium.
Walden entered the transfer portal six days ago and received an offer from ASU a day later.
BREAKING: Mountain Pointe's football program has reached an agreement to play national power IMG Academy next fall in Florida. Story for
@AhwatukeeFN
,
@VarsityXtra
.
One of the wildest moments in Arizona high school basketball history got some love as the top play on
@SportsCenter
tonight. Regardless of the controversy behind it, still a really cool moment.
Props to
@MarkMcClune
and
@azfamily
for this angle.
Brock Purdy has now led Iowa State to back-to-back wins over ranked programs for the first time since 1973.
Everyone in Arizona already knew how special of a player he is. Now the nation gets to witness it. Congrats,
@brockpurdy13
!
@perrypumas
New weight room, new field and upgraded locker room for Mountain Pointe. LED lights on top of the lockers is a good touch. If anyone steps on the rug in the middle, automatic 25 push-ups.
They’re serious about that. I was warned.
Jackson Bowers (
@jackson_bow3rs
) now holds the record for most career receptions all-time at Mountain View. Passed Todd Heap, who had 87 receptions from 1995-97.
#VXLive
“We did our best.”
What a moment between the Carter twins. Frustrated, sad, but still consoling each other. Two of the best coaches in the state, without a doubt.
About a week ago I shared the football team I play for won a championship. With a heavy heart I share the coach who led us there lost his battle with cancer. He brought out the best in everyone, on and off the field. He will be greatly missed.
BREAKING: According to those familiar with the situation, all Cesar Chavez coaches present at camp when Chris Hampton died at Show Low Lake have been fired, including HC William Chipley.
Was also told they are unable to work for PXU for an undisclosed number of years.
(1/2)
Ric Clark was given six months to live in 2017 after he was diagnosed with a severe form of lung cancer. Now four years later, Desert Vista RB Christian Clark believes his dad is a superhero. Doctors say he’s a medical miracle. Story for
@AhwatukeeFN
.
Chandler strikes first. Dylan Raiola Leads the Wolves down the field and finds Kaden Anderson for the 15-yard score.
7-0 Wolves | 4:34 1Q
#VXLive
#HonorBowl
Cool moment here as Higley football coach Eddy Zubey was announcing all the signees. He finally got to Andrew Zubey, his son. He quickly changed into an NAU shirt and joined his family at the table.
Made it over to Mountain Pointe for a celebration in honor of RB
@christian6clark
, a Texas commit who will sign his NLI next week.
This is an even earlier signing day celebration for Clark, who will begin practicing with Texas next week to help the Longhorns prepare for the CFP
Mountain Pointe 2024 running back Christian Clark (
@christian6clark
) rocking the Oregon arm sleeve and gloves during Arizona State’s 7-on-7 passing league.
Clark, who has Oregon in his list of top five schools, will be in Eugene for his official visit this weekend.
#ScoDucks
Sad news tonight as Chandler swim coach Kerry Croswhite passed away after nearly a month-long battle with COVID-19. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Laurie, their family and the entire Chandler swim program.
#lungsofsteele
Cant imagine how difficult the last 24 hours has been for UArizona players. Especially the early enrollees from AZ.
Coaches spend two-plus years recruiting you, building relationships and then are gone a week after you arrive. The business side of college football is ruthless.
Happy/humbled to announce I placed first for Best Sports Story in this year’s Arizona Newspapers Association’s Better Newspapers Contest.
The winning story was one that meant a lot to many people in the Arizona HS football community, including myself: .
BREAKING: The AIA has announced 4A Conference teams will no longer be part of the Open Division. The decision comes after an emergency meeting was held after a proposal from 4A Conference representatives was proposed to the AIA.
Only 5A-6A teams eligible for the Open Division.
Some personal news. (Long thread alert)
My time with Times Media Group and
@VarsityXtra
has come to an end. I want to thank Steve Strickbine and Paul Maryniak for taking a chance on me 6 years ago when they hired me as their sports editor.
(1/)
Oct. 5, 2024 will go down in college football history as the day of big time upsets.
No. 1 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 9 Missouri, No. 10 Michigan, No. 11 USC all fell Saturday. No. 8 Miami currently losing to Cal.
Man, I love this sport.
Crazy to think Brock Purdy was virtually unknown to everyone outside of Arizona until the end of his senior season at Perry. Preseason or not, he’s taking snaps on NFL Network right now for the San Francisco 49ers. What a story.
Final: Basha 13, Chandler 0.
The Bears are going to the Open Division state championship next Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium. They will face either Liberty or Saguaro.
PSA: Please don't tear apart HS athletes because they transfer. Doesn't matter where or how many times. Especially if you're an adult, there's no need for it. Families are doing what they think is best for their athletes. Simple as that.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
Washington vs Michigan for the
#CFBPlayoff
championship
Most importantly, here’s the
@AZHSFB
alum playing for the natty with the Huskies
Dom Hampton (Centennial)
Bralen Trice (O’Connor)
Will Haskell (Ironwood)
Lance Holtzclaw (Desert Ridge)
Parker Brailsford (Saguaro)
Matteo
QB Hype Grand, who transferred from California to Saguaro in the spring, is no longer enrolled at the school.
Mason Bray has been getting first-team reps all spring and summer and will be QB1 in the fall for the Sabercats. Bray was patient and it paid off. His team now.
Only 8 undefeated 6A teams:
Chandler
Hamilton
Highland
Casteel
Corona del Sol
Mountain View
Cibola
Shadow Ridge
If I shared this list before the season, how many of these teams would you have believed to be in this situation?
Love seeing hard work pay off for these programs!
Game has been called. Eastmark wins, 45-10. Firebirds advance to the championship game next week to face the winner of Show Low-Thatcher.
But the outcome is no longer important. Both teams gather to pray.
Saguaro plays its best football in November and December.
1-seed, 2-seed, 5-seed, doesn’t matter. The Sabercats are one game away from defending their state championship and they did it in dramatic fashion. But the Bears are hungry.
Demond Williams vs Devon Dampier 🍿
This is Highland offensive line coach Terry Fair. He’s been coaching that position for 30 years, most of which for the Hawks.
I played under him when I was at Highland. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this championship.
Congratulations, coach.
Here it is. The official Arizona Open Division football bracket. We’re in for a treat.
1 Liberty vs 8 Hamilton
4 Chandler vs 5 Highland
6 Desert Mountain vs 3 Centennial
7 ALA Queen Creek vs 2 Basha
On the agenda this week for the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board is renaming the weight room at Chandler High School after Chris Chick, the Wolves beloved offensive line coach and run-game coordinator who passed away in May.
Some personal news: As of today I have officially joined
@AZPreps365Jose
and
@brettinaz
as the third co-host for the
@AZPreps365
morning show on
@1580TheFanatic
Saturdays from 8-10.
Can’t thank Jose, Brett and the AIA enough for this opportunity! Catch us live every Saturday!
The official 6A bracket
16 Mesa
1 Brophy
9 O’Connor
8 Casteel
12 Red Mountain
5 Mountain View
13 Desert Ridge
4 Pinnacle
14 Queen Creek
3 Saguaro
11 Mtn Pointe
6 Perry
10 Boulder Creek
7 Williams Field
15 Corona del Sol
2 Salpointe Catholic
Monster hit by Williams Field’s
@NoaPola
on Nebraska commit Wandale Robinson in the All-American Bowl. Ironically, these two could be teammates next season as Nebraska is one of Noa’s top three schools.
Excited to announce I will be joining my alma mater
@Cronkite_ASU
this semester as a faculty associate teaching Sports Reporting.
Can’t thank
@brettkurland
and
@PaolaBoivin
enough for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to meeting all of my reporters this morning!
Amier Boyd, one of the most versatile athletes in the state, flipped his commitment today from Northern Illinois to UTEP. The Miners are getting a good one.
We are all witnessing Deandre Ayton become the player we hoped he would be when he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2018. And it happens to be happening at the absolute best time.
Red Mountain lost five straight games to finish the regular season. The Mountain Lions responded by going on a run that saw them come back from a 21-point deficit in the semifinals. Great season for head coach Kyle Enders and his team
It wasn’t easy and I would by lying if I didn’t think at times everything would come to a sudden end, but we made it through an entire high school football season.
From the coaches to the players and parents to my fellow media members, thank you for making this possible.
6A rankings if playoffs started today (Open teams NOT included)
1. Hamilton
2. Red Mtn.
3. Queen Creek
4. Chaparral
5. Cesar Chavez
6. Perry
7. Highland
8. Liberty
9. Desert Vista
10. Mtn. Ridge
11. Basha
12. Shadow Ridge
13. Desert Ridge
14. Boulder Creek
15. La Joya
16. Corona
The Arizona Cardinals have announced the 2022 high school award winners
Liberty QB Navi Bruzon earns Player of the Year honors
ALA Gilbert QB Adam Damante named Offensive Player of the Year
Liberty DL My’Keil Gardner named Defensive Player of the Year
(1/2)
This is giving off major “get off my lawn” vibes.
Let’s not tear down a young reporter because he’s first with breaking news about a university you cover.
@jacob_seliga
has solid sources. Several of us in the Valley know that.
Bryce Perkins was a star for Chandler and didn’t let a neck injury while at ASU end his career.
In fact, he revived it at Arizona Western and Virginia and is now a quarterback for the LA Rams. He’s also a Super Bowl champion.
Semifinal games are set
Open:
1 Chandler vs 4 Salpointe @ Hamilton
3 Saguaro vs 7 Hamilton @ Coronado
6A:
1 Red Mtn vs 4 Queen Creek @ Westwood
6 Desert Vista vs 7 Liberty @ Mtn. Pointe
5A:
1 Williams Field vs 4 Casteel @ Campo Verde
2 Notre Dame vs 6 Campo Verde @ McClintock
4A-6A championship games are set.
6A: No. 1 Red Mountain vs No. 7 Liberty
5A: No. 1 Williams Field vs No. 6 Campo Verde
4A: No. 4 Desert Edge vs No. 6 Mesquite
Another season in the books.
Congratulations to the champions and to every high school football player in Arizona. You got through spring, summer and 10+ long weeks of the season. No matter how your season ended, you should be proud. Especially those of you who are seniors.
6A All-Conference team has been released.
Basha’s Chris McDonald - Coach of the Year
Highland’s Joseph Allen - Defensive Player of the Year
Liberty’s Navi Bruzon - Offensive Player of the Year
Saguaro’s Devon Dampier - Player of the Year
Full list:
Desert Vista baseball coach Pat Herrera fought back tears as Jake Romaine joined his team for practice. The senior has taken his fight with leukemia head on and has motivated the Thunder to succeed on the field. Story for
@AhwatukeeFN
,
@VarsityXtra
.
Here they are, the latest Open Division rankings for Arizona high school football:
1. Chandler
2. Hamilton
3. Basha
4. Cactus
5. Saguaro
6. ALA - QC
7. Liberty
8. Queen Creek
9. Brophy
10. Highland
11. Horizon
12. Red Mtn
Mountain Pointe alum Emmanuel Butler is used to having an underdog mentality. So when he had the chance to showcase his skills in front of NFL scouts, he didn’t hold back. Story for
@AhwatukeeFN
.