Canyon de Oro’s Kayden Luke (30), left, slams into Mica Mountain’s Kason Colbert (44) on a carry up the middle during the Dorados’ 17-15 win over the Thunderbolts at Canyon del Oro High School on Oct. 13.
The battle for supremacy among Southern Arizona’s 4A football heavyweights has become a trilogy. Raw Kaolin
No. 2 Canyon del Oro (12-0) hosts No. 3 Mica Mountain (11-1) in the rubber match with a spot in the state championship game on the line.
Mica Mountain won Round 1 in 2022; Canyon del Oro took the second in October — on Friday the 13th, no less.
The third meeting is Black Friday at 7 p.m.
“I think everybody talked about it all year long,” MM head coach Pat Nugent said. “Unfortunately, we gotta meet each other in the semifinals. I wish we were separated — see them in the finals — but it is what it is.
“Hopefully one of us is going to win a championship.”
CDO seeks Southern Arizona’s first 14-0 season since Salpointe Catholic in 2013.
Mica Mountain won the first game in this new rivalry, 26-7 at home in the regular-season finale last year. However, despite winning the 4A Kino championship, the Thunderbolts missed the playoffs last year as CDO made it to the semifinals, losing 16-13 in overtime at Snowflake.
This season, after melting Snowflake in the first round, 31-24, and then beating Phoenix Northwest Christian 38-17, MM earned a spot in the semifinals and the 2023 rematch.
After their game, but before CDO’s had finished, some Thunderbolts said they wanted the Dorados to win, even if it meant going on the road for the semis.
Mica Mountain’s George Flores (75) kneels on the field while Canyon del Oro’s bench celebrates the Dorados’ late-game stand on a Thunderbolt 2-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game in the fourth quarter on Oct. 13. CDO held on for the 17-15 home win to remain the last unbeaten Tucson-area team this season.
“Oh, I want them to win. I want to play CDO, at CDO where we have our one loss at,” said Mica senior receiver/safety Jonah Garcia. “I think we need to rebound before we make our eventual presence in the state championship.”
CDO, which beat No. 10 Chandler AZ College Prep 33-27 in four overtimes last week, beat Mica Mountain in October thanks to a blocked extra point and a sack on the last-minute 2-point conversion, both by senior Sa’Kylee Woodard.
“There’s so many feelings running through body, that was a very emotional game,” Woodard said after the Oct. 13 game. “As I’ve been saying, just vengeance, we had a lot on our slate, we’ve been preparing since we took the ‘L’ last year so for me to get a moment and an opportunity to make a play is just surreal.”
Garcia said 11 plays determined the October game. After breaking them down, the Thunderbolts feel like if they could have corrected even two or three of them, they would have won.
“It would be great to get our revenge. It would be great to show them that that game was a fluke and we could’ve made it up with if we had more time and we didn’t make so many mistakes like we did,” said MM senior receiver/corner back Will White.
CDO senior Kayden Luke ran for 151 yards on 27 carries in the October game, and MM senior Jayden Thoreson passed for 242.
“It was a battle, and obviously, we made a few mental mistakes in that game,” Nugent said. “You go down and you lose by two, it was a blocked extra point, either team can win, and I think our kids have all the world of confidence.
“We’re excited to go up there and play a big time Tucson football game.”
Mica Mountain opened in 2020, first played varsity games in 2021 and played its first full varsity schedule in 2022.
Canyon del Oro won back-to-back AA state titles in 1976 and 1977 and won the 4A-I crown in 2009. CDO also reached the 4A-I state championship game in 2007 and 2010.
The game is mentor versus protégé as Nugent coached CDO head coach Dustin Peace at Flowing Wells and hired Peace to his staff at CDO. Nugent holds the head-to-head edge over Peace with three wins, but Peace won the 2009 4A-II title after Nugent left to coach Pima College.
“I told the kids ‘thanks,’” Peace said after the Oct. 13 game. “If I had to live my life 0-4, every time we go golfing or something, I couldn’t say anything else, no matter if we had state championships or not.”
MM senior tight end/linebacker Kason Colbert returned for the quarterfinal game after missing four weeks with a concussion, playing just defense. Nugent said the Thunderbolts hope to have the 4A Kino Offensive Player of the Year for both sides of the ball Friday at CDO
VIDEO: High school football: Mica Mountain junior running back Conner Hangarner scores on a seven-yard touchdown run during the Thunderbolts’ 38-17 Class 4A state quarterfinal win over Northwest Christian on Nov. 24, 2023. (James Kelley /Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: High school football: Mica Mountain senior wide receiver Jonah Garcia scores on a 28-yard touchdown reception during the Thunderbolts’ 38-17 Class 4A state quarterfinal win over Northwest Christian on Nov. 24, 2023. (James Kelley /Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: High school football: Mica Mountain junior cornerback Nathaniel Bryant intercepts a Northwest Christian pass during the Thunderbolts’ 38-17 Class 4A state quarterfinal win over the Crusaders on Nov. 24, 2023. (James Kelley /Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: High school football: Mica Mountain senior wide receiver Jonah Garcia scores on a 16-yard touchdown reception during the Thunderbolts’ 38-17 Class 4A state quarterfinal win over Northwest Christian on Nov. 24, 2023. (James Kelley /Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: High school football: Mica Mountain junior kicker Landon Hubbard connects on a 32-yard field goal attempt during the Thunderbolts’ 38-17 Class 4A state quarterfinal win over Northwest Christian on Nov. 24, 2023. (James Kelley /Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: High school football: Mica Mountain senior cornerback Will White intercepts a Northwest Christian pass during the Thunderbolts’ 38-17 Class 4A state quarterfinal win over the Crusaders on Nov. 24, 2023. (James Kelley /Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Mica Mountain's George Flores (75) kneels on the field while Canyon del Oro’s bench celebrates the Dorados’ last second stand on a Bolt two-point conversion that failed in the fourth quarter of CDO’s 17-15 home win, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's Kayden Luke (30), left, slams into Mica Mountain's Kason Colbert (44) on a carry up the middle during their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Mica Mountain's Jonah Garcia (13) gets a hand on the mask of Canyon de Oro's Joe Alba (23) stopping his first quarter run at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's Kayden Luke (30) gets hoisted into the air by Sa'Kylee Woodard (55) after barging in for what turned out to be the winning points in a 17-15 win over Mica Mountain at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023. The loss was the first for the Bolts, dropping them to 6-1, CDO stayed unbeaten at 7-0.
Canyon de Oro's Chase Laux (14) hangs on to drag down Mica Mountain's Kason Colbert (44) on a run in first quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's Izaiah Lucero (2) flies in to make the shoestring tackle and stop Mica Mountain's Conner Hangarner (7) on his catch and run in second quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro’s Kayden Luke (30) stretches for the goal line to notch the Dorados’ first score in the first quarter of their Oct. 13 matchup against Mica Mountain — a game that came down to the wire.
Mica Mountain's Kason Colbert (44) twists out of the grip of Canyon de Oro's Kayden Luke (30) in the backfield during the first quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's Kayden Luke (30) dives from behind to stop Mica Mountain's Conner Hangarner (7) and his run in the second quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Mica Mountain's Broden Schmidt (40) puts a headlock on Canyon de Oro's Kayden Luke (30) and drag him down on his end run in the second quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Mica Mountain's Conner Hangarner (7) rides the block of teammate Devin Hayward (4) to get inside the Canyon del Oro five in second quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's Kayden Luke (30) runs over Mica Mountain's Broden Schmidt (40) picking up yardage at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Mica Mountain's Devin Hayward (4) chases his own muffed punt through the legs of Canyon de Oro's Chance Cassel (10) in the dying seconds of the second quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's Tristen Mcclelland (17) runs out of reach of Mica Mountain's Jaysen Criswell (51) looking for time to throw at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's Kayden Luke (30), left, Stayton Brooks (52) and Oro's Gavin Bower (8) are among the Dorados it takes to stop Mica Mountain's Kason Colbert (44) in third quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's Cash Dickey (12) hits Mica Mountain's Josiah Thornwell (5) from behind after his catch at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Mica Mountain's Jayden Thoreson (2) slides down in front of the umpire after scrambling out of trouble late in fourth quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's Izaiah Lucero (2) makes sure Mica Mountain's Devin Hayward (4) stays separated from the ball on the Bolt throw over the middle in their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Mica Mountain's Jayden Thoreson (2) manages to just get off the pass and avoid the sack by Canyon de Oro's Gavin Bower (8) at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Mica Mountain's Nathaniel Bryant (21) catches Canyon de Oro's Ryan Madsen (16) from the blindside stopping his run-after-catch in fourth quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Mica Mountain's Jayden Thoreson (2) threads the needle between Canyon de Oro's Stayton Brooks (52) and Kayden Luke (30) for a touchdown in the final seconds of the fourth quarter of their game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
The Canyon de Oro student section celebrates as the Dorados take the field before kick-off against Mica Mountain at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's Adrian Davidson (28) squeezes into his pads and jersey before the start of the night’s game against Mica Mountain at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Mica Mountain's head coach Pat Nugent, left, has a laugh with his former player and assistant and current head coach at Canyon del Oro, Dustin Peace, before their game at CDO Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Mica Mountain's head coach Pat Nugent walks the field as the Bolts get ready to take on the Dorados at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Canyon de Oro's head coach Dustin Peace and his staff try to get the Dorados organized for a goal line stand with the game on the line against Mica Mountain at Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2023.
Location: Canyon del Oro HS; 25 W. Calle Concordia
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Michael Lev column: Canyon del Oro is playing for a state title. The Dorados have senior star power, but a junior edge rusher made all the dif…
Canyon de Oro’s Kayden Luke (30), left, slams into Mica Mountain’s Kason Colbert (44) on a carry up the middle during the Dorados’ 17-15 win over the Thunderbolts at Canyon del Oro High School on Oct. 13.
Mica Mountain’s George Flores (75) kneels on the field while Canyon del Oro’s bench celebrates the Dorados’ late-game stand on a Thunderbolt 2-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game in the fourth quarter on Oct. 13. CDO held on for the 17-15 home win to remain the last unbeaten Tucson-area team this season.
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