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Mica Mountain earned another state championship game appearance with another road upset.

The No. 7 Thunderbolts traveled to No. 6 Yuma Gila Ridge on Friday and won 31-3 in the Class 4A state semifinals. In the quarterfinals the week before, Mica Mountain went to No. 2 Snowflake and won 21-14.

It was the second straight season Mica Mountain traveled west for the semifinals, as they beat No. 1 Yuma Catholic last year in the final four, 24-14.

The Thunderbolts are back to defend their 2024 state championship title despite returning only one offensive starter and six defensive starters from last season.

Mica Mountain held a Gila Ridge side that averaged 36.9 points per game to three. Mica Mountain has allowed 87 points (6.7 per game) this season.

Stat book

— Salpointe Catholic junior slotback/cornerback R.J. Gory caught nine passes for 232 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown in the Lancers’ 37-28 loss at Queen Creek Casteel in the 6A semifinals last week.

— Mica Mountain senior Riley Carson scored 19 points in the Thunderbolts’ win. Carson caught four passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. As a kicker, he was 1 for 1 on field goals and 4 for 4 with extra points.

Next level I

Carolina Panthers rookie safety made his first NFL start in the Panthers’ 31-28 win over the Rams on Sunday. The Salpointe alumnus had a game-high 11 tackles, including a sack.

Next level II

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson gained 193 yards and reached 30 touchdowns in his career (46 games), the fastest a Falcon has ever achieved the feat. The Salpointe alumnus rushed for 142 yards on 23 carries and had five catches for 51 yards in Atlanta’s 27-24 loss to the Jets on Sunday.

Going social I

"Better get them offers ready… Don’t be late to the party!!" — Tucson High head coach Zachary Neveleff , quote-tweeting sophomore safety Ezra Spivey posting his season highlights.

Spivey was first team All-5A Sonoran this year and was the Region Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman.

Going social II

"Chandler (Open), Centennial and Casteel (6A), Canyon View (5A), Arcadia and Mica Mountain (4A) could win state football championships with a head coach in first year leading the program." — Arizona Republic reporter Richard Obert about this weekend’s four tackle football state championship games.

Going social III

"Argue (with) me please that @CasteelFootball HC @JoeBushman5 isn’t the AzHS COY? Congrats Colts, beating Salpointe Catholic 37-28. #chip" — Arizona Sports 98.7 Kevin McCabe about Queen Creek Casteel head coach Joe Bushman after the Colts beat Salpointe in the 6A state semifinals.

Quotable

"We were just flat out outmatched. It’s hard to make progress when you continue to turn the ball over and struggle to get downfield." — Yuma Gila Ridge head coach Jessica Slaughter said to the Yuma Sun after the Hawks lost 31-3 to Mica Mountain in the 4A semifinals on Friday.