Close contests were hard to come by in the upper divisions of Arizona high school football in week one, but Boulder Creek did have to battle for a narrow victory over Mountain View. However, blowouts and outstanding individual performances ruled the day in week 1 of Arizona football, as several passers took the concept of efficiency to a new level.
Division I
Junior Gunther Johnson tossed four touchdown passes to lead Boulder Creek to a 27-20 road win over Mountain View.
Johnson completed 15-of-22 passes for 223 yards with a pair of touchdowns apiece to senior Blake Dawson (4 receptions, 75 yards) and Troy Reed (6, 114). Dawson also rushed for 142 yards on 15 carries.
Mountain View was led by senior quarterback Trevor Willis, who completed 13-of-24 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Senior running back Dylan Gillette rushed for a touchdown and threw for another on a trick play to lead Skyline to a 56-26 win over St. Mary’s in the season opener for both teams.
Gillette finished with 204 yards rushing and hit senior Cory Anderson on a 40-yard halfback option. Senior quarterback Jacob Roberts did his part as well, completing 9-of-17 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns and scoring on a one-yard plunge.
Gabe Losada threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns for the Knights, hitting his favorite target Jeremiah Sullivan 13 times for 198 yards and a score.
Perry got off to a strong start behind senior quarterback Austin Nightingale in a 53-18 win over Sunnyside. Nightingale completed 18-of-27 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers in the rout.
In other action … Queen Creek improved to 2-0 with a 35-0 win over Highland as senior Bryce Dobbs threw for 163 yards and a touchdown … senior Duane Dorsey rushed for 266 yards and five touchdowns in a 55-19 win over North Canyon … Tonopah Valley won its opener, 41-0, over Chandler behind the performance of junior quarterback Jerry Aguilar (77 yards passing, 84 yards rushing, 2 TDs).
Division II
Central opened its season with a resounding 57-8 win over visiting Kofa (1-1) Friday night. Senior Angel Ramirez rushed for 99 yards and two scores and also caught a 63-yard touchdown pass in the win.
Junior Angel Castaneda chipped in with 52 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Kofa scored its only points on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Troy Knight to Zachary Castaneda.
Knight, who normally plays tight end, took over for injured quarterback Tanner Peterson in the second half.
Junior quarterback Daniel Bridge-Gadd got Paradise Valley’s season off to a strong start in a 64-27 win at Camelback Friday night. Bridge-Gadd threw just nine passes, but was the model of efficiency, completing seven for 125 yards and four touchdowns.
Fellow junior Jacob Brown was the primary beneficiary of Bridge-Gadd’s hot night, catching four passes for 68 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Bailey Thompson added 118 yards rushing and two scores on just 13 carries.
Senior quarterback Anthony Marquez completed 12-of-20 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns in a losing cause.
In other action … Zac Wheeler (8 carries, 82 yards) and Andre Spears (18, 79) ran for three touchdowns apiece as Campo Verde improved to 2-0 in a 61-0 victory over Catalina (0-1) … Buckeye opened its season with a 21-0 win over visiting Vista Grande as junior quarterback Art Bojorquez hit on 10-of-11 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Division III
Goldwater improved to a 1-1 with a 55-20 win over visiting Shadow Mountain (0-1) Friday night. Senior quarterback Kooper Ray completed 13-of-23 passes for 253 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs.
Senior tight end Danny Reyes caught six passes for 132 yards and four touchdowns for Goldwater, which hosts Deer Valley next Friday night. Shadow Mountain hosts Arcadia.
Higley won its season opener, 49-7, over visiting Yuma Friday night. Sophomore quarterback Mason Crossland led the way with four touchdown passes, all to senior Trent Gilbert (6 catches, 226 yards, 4 TDs).
Crossland finished with 9-of-10 completions for 213 yards while junior quarterback Tyler Bloom added 169 yards and a touchdown on 8-of-12 completions.
Apache Junction rolled to a 70-29 win over visiting Glendale in the season opener for both teams. Senior Adam Abbatacola (12-of-25 passing, 243 yards, 74 yards rushing) threw for three touchdowns and ran for two in the rout. Junior Tanner Garcia caught five passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
In other action … senior Akeem Rutledge rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns as Peoria defeate visiting Agua Fria, 34-6 … Phoenix Christian opened with a 34-6 win over Antelope behind three touchdown passes from junior quarterback Jevon Lee … junior Kare' Lyles led Sagauro to a 41-14 win over Chaparral.
