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The big-school (Class 4A, 5A and 6A) high school football schedule begins on Thursday, Aug. 28.

Last season was a memorable one in Southern Arizona after Pusch Ridge Christian Academy won the Class 3A state championship, the Lions’ first state title since 2015 — the last time a Tucson-area team won the state championship.

Mica Mountain, five years after opening its doors in the Vail School District, won its first Class 4A state championship in school history.

As we approach potentially another memorable year for Southern Arizona high school football, here are 10 players to keep an eye on this season (in alphabetical order).

Noah Banhie, DL, Salpointe Catholic

The rundown: The 6-foot, 290-pound anchor on Salpointe Catholic’s defensive line enters his third season as a starter for the Lancers. The defensive tackle has 85 tackles, 18 stops for loss, six sacks and an interception in his career. Banhie was named a Class 6A Central First Team selection. Banhie and the Lancers open up the season at home with a highly anticipated matchup against the Marana Tigers on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.

Riley Carson, WR/P, Mica Mountain

The rundown: Carson helped the Thunderbolts win the program’s first-ever Class 4A state championship — and undefeated season — in 2024. Carson started the last two seasons at punter and averaged 41.5 yards per punt with 24 kicks landing inside the 20-yard line. Carson has 2,574 punting yards in his career; his career-long is 71 yards.

Carson also had 18 catches for 437 yards and six touchdowns as a wide receiver and recorded 1,260 all-purpose yards as a returner. Mica Mountain hosts Poston Butte on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m.

Zachari Haley, RB, Sabino

The rundown: In a down season for Sabino last year, the Sabercats’ bright spot was their standout running back and linebacker, who was one of the most versatile players in Southern Arizona last season after producing 1,160 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns, along with 27 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Haley had six 100-yard rushing performances last season. Haley and the Sabercats open the season on the road against Chandler Valley Christian on Friday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m.

Ivan Higuera, QB, Douglas

The rundown: In March, Higuera was named a Star Student-Athlete of the Week for his accomplishments as a shortstop for Douglas’ baseball program, but he’s also a standout quarterback for the Bulldogs. Last season, Higuera was the Class 4A Gila Region Player of the Year with 2,094 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2023, Higuera was named the Class 4A Gila Region Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 1,031 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing for 1,052 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Bulldogs will take on Flowing Wells in Tucson on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.

Kaleb Layton, QB, Walden Grove

The rundown: In his first season as a starter in 2024, Layton threw for 1,943 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Layton passed for a school-record six touchdowns in a 72-27 win over Sahuaro. Layton’s 452-yard and six-touchdown performance earned him High School Football Player of the Week honors by the Star and ESPN Tucson. The Red Wolves host rival Sahuarita Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m.

Jaiden Martinez, QB, Ironwood Ridge

The rundown: Martinez, the Class 5A Sonoran Region Offensive Player of the Year, is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in Southern Arizona after passing for 1,864 yards, 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while rushing for 822 yards and 10 touchdowns. Martinez’s 2,686 total yards ranked 23rd in the state last season. The Nighthawks open their season with back-to-back road games against Catalina Foothills (Aug. 28) and Campo Verde (Sept. 5), before their home opener against Cienega on Sept. 12.

Colten Meyer, QB, Marana

The rundown: With Meyer under center, Marana earned the top seed in last season’s Open division playoff bracket, before the Tigers fell to Chandler Hamilton, 31-22, in the first game of the postseason. Meyer — whose cousins are former Arizona State quarterback Trenton Bourguet and current BYU quarterback Treyson Bourguet — completed 73.7% of his passes for 3,687 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Meyer’s 3,687 passing yards ranked third in the state last season. Meyer was also named a High School Football Player of the Week by the Star and ESPN Tucson following the Tigers’ season-opening upset win over Salpointe Catholic — the two will face off again Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. This season, Meyer won’t have his top pass-catching weapon in wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck, the Ed Doherty Award winner and Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year, who’s now a freshman at Washington. Sean Roebuck, Dezmen’s younger brother, could emerge as Marana’s top receiver.

Ezra Spivey, DB, Tucson High School

The rundown: Tucson football fans will have two Spiveys to cheer for this season. Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tre Spivey is expected to be one of the UA’s top receivers this season, and just up the road on Sixth Street, the Tucson High Badgers will have one of the top defensive backs in Ezra Spivey (no relation).

Spivey’s older brother, Nate Spivey, was a star two-way player at Salpointe Catholic. As a freshman, the younger Spivey had the most interceptions (seven) statewide at the Class 5A level. Spivey and the Badgers open the season with two home games against Mountain View (Aug. 29) and Salpointe Catholic (Sept. 5).

Jayden Thomas, WR, Sierra Vista Buena

The rundown: Thomas was the Colts’ top receiver with 47 receptions for 1,053 yards and 16 touchdowns in 12 games. Thomas’ 1,053 receiving yards ranked 14th in the state in 2024. Last season, Buena’s 65-28 win over Casa Grande marked the program’s first postseason victory since 1983. Buena kicks off the season at Cienega on Aug. 29.

Hayden Utley, DL, Marana

The rundown: The 6-2, 265-pound Utley emerged as one of the top defensive linemen in Southern Arizona last season with 80 tackles, 21 stops for loss, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles. The only player from Southern Arizona with more sacks last season was Mica Mountain star Jimmy Leon, who’s now at UTEP. Cienega defensive lineman and Class 5A Southern Region Defensive Player of the Year Andrei Davis-Lopez, who returns this season, had 12 sacks. Utley recently .