Arizona

Arizona high school football Week 4 rewind: Upsets, statements and comebacks

Published

2 months ago

September 13, 2025

Arizona high school football Week 4 rewind: Upsets, statements and comebacks

There were comebacks, statements, big performances and upsets across Arizona in Week 4 of the high school football season. The Arizona Republic looks back — and ahead — as teams start to separate from the pack.

What we learned

Chandler Basha cemented its No. 1 ranking in the state with another punishing performance, a 42-14 rout of No. 4 Gilbert Williams Field on Friday, Sept. 12. The Bears can line up in various formations and strike fast. This time, head coach Chris McDonald, also the offensive coordinator, often flanked out three receivers, including running back Noah Roberts, way outside. He had them bunched together, causing the secondary to adjust.

It was “pick your receiver” for Brodie Vehrs. He would wing it to a target, who followed the blocks from the other two receivers for big gains. Then, lulling the defense, Vehrs would simply hand off to tailback Josh Gaines, who gutted the middle of the defense for scoring runs of 19 and 23 yards in a 21-point third quarter that put the game away.

The Bears sent another team that was feeling great about itself to the film room, seeking answers. Basha will wear down teams with its size, athleticism and depth. McDonald’s defense is so stacked that he’s got guys not starting who have Division I scholarship offers.

Biggest question

How good is Chandler Hamilton?

We know about two-time defending Open state champion Peoria Liberty (2-1) and Basha, but are the three Hamilton blowouts telling us they’re right with those two teams?

The Huskies hung 63 on ALA Queen Creek, 62 on Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor and now 54 on Queen Creek Casteel. What we know now is ALA Queen Creek’s defense is nothing close to last year’s Open semifinal defense. The Patriots are 0-3, giving up 143 points. SDO and Casteel are both 1-2.

The Huskies might get a little more resistance next week against 2-1 Phoenix Brophy, which lost its only game to Basha (42-6) in the season opener. But the sophomore sensations of QB Jax Sculley and WR Roy Oliver III are special, the running game keeps defenses guessing.

Coach Travis Dixon has got something really good going in his second season leading his alma mater. They may have to wait until Oct. 24 to know how great this team is. That’s when the Huskies face Basha.

Biggest takeaway

Maybe the biggest shocker was ALA West Foothills’ 21-14 win over No. 1 (4A) Tucson Mica Mountain.

It was the Guardians’ first signature 4A win since moving up from 3A, where they lost to Tucson Pusch Ridge in last year’s championship game. They came into the season with adversity, losing quarterback Hudson Mitton and head coach Chad Mitton, Hudson’s dad. Hudson is now at Mesa High. Chad Mitton is not coaching. A few key players transferred out. And, after getting dominated by Snowflake in a 30-10 loss last week, there were more questions than answers.

Consider those questions answered.

Mica Mountain, the defending 4A champion, saw its 17-game winning streak end against a more physical, more confident, tougher team. Bryan Rauzan, who took on the head coaching position before the season began, can build off of this. But they still have a brutal 4A schedule remaining with games that include Phoenix Arcadia, Phoenix Northwest Christian, Peoria, Phoenix Thunderbird and improved Phoenix St. Mary’s.

Best bounce back

Chandler junior quarterback Will Mencl has been one of the emerging stars in the first three games. Despite putting up 319 passing yards and 70 rushing yards last week in California, it wasn’t enough in a 24-23 loss to Cathedral Catholic. He bounced back with a career night in a 49-29 win over ALA Queen Creek, completing 31 of 35 passes, piling up 569 yards total offense with seven total touchdowns.

His first two varsity seasons ended with injuries, but Mencl is doing things that are putting him in the early Player of the Year conversation as he tries to make this a big bounce-back year for the Wolves (2-1), who went 5-6 last year and didn’t get into the eight-team Open playoff for the first time.

Hamilton QB Jax Sculley talks team’s win over Casteel

Hamilton High School QB Jax Sculley discusses the team’s 54-14 win over Casteel on Sept. 12, 2025.

Best starts

Tolleson is off to its first 3-0 start in 12 years, behind the special connection between quarterback Youngman Lee and wide receiver Rico Blassingame in a 32-27 win over Avondale West Point. Youngman, a summer move-in from the Seattle area, completed 15 of 29 for 335 yards and four TDs. Blassingame, who has committed to Minnesota, caught nine passes for 153 yards and a TD. In his first three games in Arizona, Lee has completed 37 of 53 passes for 826 yards and nine TDs with two interceptions. Blassingame has 19 catches for 276 yards in three games. How much of a difference has Lee made? Last year, Tolleson went 1-9, following a 3-7 2023 season.

Meanwhile, St. Mary’s is 3-0 for the first time since 2006, behind sophomore QB Luke Horn, who was 15 of 24 for 426 yards and four TDs in a 48-0 win over Tucson Empire. Junior receiver Anthony Cannon had seven catches for 201 yards and one TD. Horn has thrown for 1,021 yards and eight TDs in the first three games.

Best comeback

Scottsdale Saguaro had the host Tucson Salpointe Catholic Lancers in a 17-0 halftime hole. The Lancers took their first lead, 28-24, with six minutes left. Saguaro took the lead back, 31-24, with 2:38 to play. Salpointe drove down the field before starting QB Matt Avelar (26 of 35, 321 yards, four TDs) got knocked out of the game with an injury. Enter senior Rayce Alvarez, who threw a TD pass with 40 seconds left for a 34-31 victory.

Saguaro (1-2) turned the ball over on the second play of its next possession. Saguaro’s two losses (the other to Scottsdale Desert Mountain) have been by a total of six points. R.J Gory had 14 catches for 173 yards and three TDs for the 3-0 Lancers, who now have to make two straight trips to the Valley (Mesa Red Mountain Sept. 19 and ALA Queen Creek Sept. 26) with another trip to the Valley on Oct. 17 to face Basha.

Best final quarter

Watch out for Tempe Marcos de Niza, which improved to 3-0, after a 27-point, fourth-quarter eruption in a 41-28 win over rival Tempe McClintock. The Padres have scored more than 40 points in each of their first three games. They trailed McClintock, 14-7, in the first half. Defense fueled the comeback with interceptions by Keilor Hemmings, Alejandro Gomez and Brian Irick.

“We are going to play for each other and we are going to play for four quarters,” coach Anthony Figueroa said.

Best small-school statement

In a football rivalry that began in 1904, host Eagar Round Valley, now in 3A, outlasted 2A St. Johns 38-21. Round Valley took a 25-7 halftime lead, recovering a pooch kick and scoring on a Brenton Walker 34-yard pass play with four seconds left. Round Valley (4-0) recovered two other onside kicks in the game. Still, St. Johns has inspired the White Mountains community and reignited the rivalry, starting the season 3-0 before suffering its first setback to a team that has a shot at winning the 3A title.

Look ahead

Key 4A games to keep an eye on Thursday, Sept. 18, include Gilbert Mesquite (2-1) against St. Mary’s at Phoenix Washington, and Arcadia (3-0) hosting Glendale Deer Valley (3-0).

On Friday, Sept. 19, Williams Field (2-1) will see how it responds from the Basha loss with a game at Chandler.

Hamilton will travel to Phoenix to take on Brophy Prep (2-1) at Central in another pivotal 6A game.

In a key 5A game, defending champion Goodyear Desert Edge (3-0) travels to play ALA Gilbert North (3-0).

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

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Arizona Cardinals vs Jacksonville Jaguars live updates, score for NFL Week 12 game Sunday

Published

9 hours ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

Arizona Cardinals vs Jacksonville Jaguars live updates, score for NFL Week 12 game Sunday

The Arizona Cardinals continue their 2025 NFL regular season schedule with an NFL Week 12 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars today.

The Cardinals are coming off a 41-22 loss against the San Francisco 49ers in their NFL Week 11 game.

The Jaguars beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the 11th week of the season, 35-6.

This is the first game between Arizona and Jacksonville Jaguars since 2021, when the Cardinals defeated the Jaguars in Jacksonville, 31-19.

Follow our live updates of the game, which is being played at the Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, for the latest score, news, notes and analysis of the Week 12 NFL game on Sunday, Nov. 23.

Watch Jaguars at Cardinals with FUBO (free trial)

Cardinals vs Jaguars schedule: What time is NFL Week 12 game?

The NFL Week 12 game between the Cardinals and Jaguars is on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2:05 p.m. MST, 4:05 p.m. ET.

Jaguars vs Cardinals TV: What channel is NFL Week 12 game on?

The Jaguars vs Cardinals NFL Week 12 game can be seen on CBS.

Cardinals vs Jaguars streaming: How do I watch NFL Week 12 game on livestream?

Streaming options for the Cardinals vs Jaguars game include FUBO, which offers a free trial, and other streaming services that carry CBS, like Paramount+.

Jaguars vs Cardinals announcers: Who is calling the NFL Week 12 game?

Spero Dedes (play-by-play) and Adam Archuleta (analyst) are scheduled to be the announcers for the Cardinals-Jaguars Week 12 NFL game.

Cardinals vs Jaguars game odds: Who is favored in NFL Week 12?

The Jaguars are a 2.5-point favorite over the Cardinals in NFL Week 12 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.

Jacksonville is -145 on the moneyline, while Arizona is +120.

The over/under (point total) is set at 47.5 points.

Jaguars vs Cardinals picks, predictions: Who will win NFL Week 12 game?

The Arizona Republic’s Jeremy Cluff is predicting a 24-20 win for the Jaguars over the Cardinals in the Week 12 NFL game today.

Other sites lean toward the Jaguars beating the Cardinals in their NFL Week 12 picks and NFL Week 12 predictions for the game, but not everyone is taking Jacksonville to cover the point spread.

Pregame reading for Cardinals vs Jaguars Week 12 NFL game today

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Sign up for azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing.

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Arizona football shuts out Baylor in 2nd half for 4th straight victory

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Arizona football shuts out Baylor in 2nd half for 4th straight victory

Arizona’s massive senior class was honored before the final home game of the season, the first at newly named Casino del Sol Stadium. And they went out on top, with many stepping up to keep the win streak going.

The Wildcats outscored Baylor 27-0 in the second half, including 20 points in just over four minutes in the fourth quarter, for a 41-17 win. It was the fourth in a row overall for the UA (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) and improved its home record to 6-1, tying the school record for most home wins in a season.

Kedrick Reescano ran for three touchdowns, including a 19-yarder to turn a 4-point game into a 2-score advantage, while Noah Fifita threw for 183 yards and a TD and Arizona’s defense forced three turnovers and made three stops on fourth down.

Several UA seniors had huge games. Kris Hutson had nine catches for a career-high 133 yards and a TD, Ismail Madhi ran for 93 yards and a score, Dalton Johnson had 18 tackles and Treydan Stukes intercepted a pass in the end zone to preserve what at the time was a 4-point lead.

Baylor (5-6, 3-5) scored on its first two drives then had one field goal the rest of the way, gaining 129 yards after taking a 17-14 lead at halftime. FBS passing leader Sawyer Robertson was limited to 162 yards with a TD and two interceptions, making the Bears the ninth opponent not to reach 200 passing yards.

The UA won for the third straight game despite trailing at the half but went ahead for good just over three minutes into the third quarter on a 1-yardReescanorun. That came after the game’s fourth pass interference penalty thrown in the end zone.

Four consecutive 3-and-outs followed before Baylor put together a sustained drive, getting into the red zone to start the 4^th quarter. The Bears went for it on 4^th and 3 from the UA 12 but Robertson’s pass was picked off in the end zone byStukes.

The UA drove into the red zone after the interception but had to settle for a field goal, with Michael Salgado-Medina missing to the right from 38 yards out. It was his ninth miss of the season.

Yet a play later the Wildcats had the ball back, with Taye Brown forcing a fumble and Michael Dansby recovering it. The next snap saw Ismail Madhi score on a 28-yard run for a 28-17 lead with 10:29 to go.

Reescano’s third TD, from 19 yards out, came with 6:38 remaining, and 11 seconds later Jabari Mann returned a pick 34 yards for a score.

Baylor scored on its opening drive, only the third opponent to do so this season. A 30-yard pass on the first play and a pass interference call on 4^th down set up Robertson’s 9-yard TD pass to Josh Cameron for a 7-0 lead less than three minutes in.

Arizona matched that score on its first possession, also benefitting from a pass interference call, with Reescano scoring on a 2-yard run immediately after.

The Bears went up 14-7 in the final minute of the first quarter on a 2-yard Robertson run after another pass interference call on Arizona. The Bears converted a 4^th down earlier in the drive after also catching a break when forward progress was ruled on what looked like a UA fumble recovery.

The first stop of the game came with 4:59 left before halftime when, after Arizona forced a 49-yard field goal attempt, Baylor’s Connor Hawkins was wife left. But the Wildcats didn’t capitalize, with a Fifita pass going off Tre Spivey’s hands to Baylor’s DJ Coleman for an interception.

That snapped a streak of 140 consecutive attempts for Fifita without a pick.

Baylor turned that into points just before the half, getting a 48-yard field goal from Hawkins.

The UA wraps up the regular season Friday at ASU, looking to take back the Territorial Cup and win for the second time in a row in Tempe.

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Freed sex offender allegedly poses as doctor, sexually assaults student at Arizona elementary school: police

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Freed sex offender allegedly poses as doctor, sexually assaults student at Arizona elementary school: police

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Friday – A convicted sex offender freed from prison two weeks ago allegedly posed as a doctor and sexually assaulted a student inside an Arizona elementary school, sparking outrage and calls for answers from parents, according to reports.

Abel Kai Gblah, 25, is accused of sexual assault and kidnapping after he accessed school grounds and posed as a doctor to lure a student into a classroom and assaulted her at Orangewood Elementary School on Nov. 19, according to the Phoenix Police Department (PPD).

PPD officials said in a statement to Fox News Digital that officers were called to the school after administrators reported that an incident had occurred on campus.

“When officers arrived, they learned an unauthorized man had made it onto school grounds and lured a grade-school-aged girl into a classroom where he sexually assaulted her,” police said. “At some point, the student was able to push the man away. He then ran from the scene before officers arrived.”

NEWLY RELEASED VIDEO SHOWS COPS CUFFING TEEN LINKED TO VIOLENT SEX ASSAULT SCANDAL THAT HAS FAMILIES FUMING

Abel Kai Gblah was accused of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a student at a Phoenix elementary school on Nov. 19. (National Sex Offender Registry)

FOX 10 Phoenix reported that court documents show Gblah allegedly drew the attention of a student by impersonating a doctor and expressing that he had to examine her.

After fleeing the school, police located Gblah, who was booked into jail on multiple charges.

Gblah was released from prison two weeks ago on similar charges, according to the outlet, and was also allegedly involved in human smuggling across the U.S. border.

According to FOX 10, a prosecutor at Gblah’s court appearance said he was convicted twice in 2021 for sexual conduct with a minor and a registered sex offender.

FURY ERUPTS AFTER ACCUSED TEEN SEX PREDATOR DODGES PRISON; FAMILIES SWARM COURTHOUSE DEMANDING JUDGE’S HEAD

Abel Kai Gblah was arrested this week after allegedly sexually assaulting a student at a Phoenix elementary school. (iStock)

The news station reported that the Washington Elementary School District said in a statement that school administration immediately called 911 and placed the school on lockdown for over an hour.

“He was on campus for approximately 10 minutes and during that time, he made inappropriate contact with a student,” the district wrote.

The district shared a separate statement with Fox News Digital that it released to parents on Friday, which revealed the results of its internal investigation, including that Gblah was a former student of the school who attended from 2012 to 2015.

Abel Kai Gblah allegedly assaulted a student at Orangewood Elementary School in Phoenix on Nov. 19. (Google Maps)

While initial reports indicated that the Gblah gained access to the campus behind a student who had buzzed in, further investigation revealed that he entered through an unlocked lobby door, and walked in with a tardy student, the district stated.

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Following the investigation, a staff member has been placed on administrative leave, the district added.

“We understand how alarming this situation has been and want you to know that we are reviewing every aspect of our safety procedures and communication to ensure that an event like this does not happen again, wrote Orangewood Elementary Principal Emily Paterson.

According to FOX 10, Gblah is being held on a cash-only bond of $500,000, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 1.

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