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The local rivals had been a Tucson tradition, but the series grew lopsided in the late ’90s and into the 21st century.

However, under Salpointe alumnus and Tucson High head coach Zachary Neveleff, the Badgers have emerged as one of the top Class 5A programs in the state.

“You want to play the best,� Neveleff said. “Obviously I’m an alumni there, I spent a lot of my coaching career there, played there, so it’s going to be exciting when they come to Tucson High, right? So this year they’ll come here. The following year, we get to go play at Salpointe. I’m excited, I’m looking forward to it, I know they’re looking forward to it.�

Neveleff, who graduated from Salpointe in 2010, coached running backs at his alma mater like Bijan Robinson and productive rushers such as Mario Padilla, David Cordero and Anthony Wilhite.

The last time Salpointe and Tucson High played was in 2019. Future NFL star Robinson rushed for 282 yards on eight carries, and future Hawaii player Cordero ran for 77 yards on two carries as the Lancers won 62-0, leading 48-0 at the half.

As Tucson’s lone 6A school, Salpointe doesn’t get many opportunities to play local schools anymore. This year, Lancers head coach Pat Ryden said they only had two openings, which they filled with Marana, which snapped Salpointe’s 27-game win streak against Southern Arizona schools, and the Badgers.

“Tucson High had a heck of a year last year, Zach’s an alum of Salpointe and we want to play the best in Tucson,� Ryden said. “They’ve gotten a lot better and so it’s going to be a great game. We’ve got our work cut out for us and we’re going to have to really do a great job for preparation.�

Although Tucson opened the season with a 21-20 overtime loss to Mountain View, last year it went 9-3, winning the 5A Sonoran Region and winning a playoff game for the first time since 1971.

Since starting 2023 1-5, the Badgers are 13-3 under third-year head coach Neveleff.

Salpointe junior quarterback Matthew Avelar said he liked seeing the Badgers do well last year.

“It’s awesome to see all the Tucson teams blow up because there’s a big shadow upon us from the rest of the state,� Avelar said.

According to , the Lancers and Badgers first met in 1956, a 42-6 Tucson High win. They met again in 1957, which the Badgers won 27-0, and took a year off before playing again in 1959, which started a run of 60 straight years of playing each other.

They were not scheduled to meet in 1969, but the streak continued when they played in the first round of the postseason, an 18-16 Tucson High win. The Badgers won the first seven and went 13-1-1 to start the series off.

After going 25-1 against the Badgers since 1994, Salpointe leads the all-time series 43-24-1.

“Oh, it’s a blessing for sure, to get a chance against a legendary school, one of the first schools here,� said Salpointe junior receiver/corner back R.J. Gory about playing Tucson High again. “We’ll approach them like we approach every other team. Yeah, that’ll be a lot for sure.�

Neveleff, the 2024 5A Sonoran Coach of the Year, isn’t the only one with personal ties. The 2024 5A Sonoran Defensive Player of the Year, Ezra Spivey, has a close connection of his own.

Spivey, who is a sophomore safety, saw his brother Nathan play for Salpointe. Nathan was first team All-6A Central two times last year, as a defensive back and a kickoff returner.

The younger Spivey chose Tucson High.

“I just wanted to go here, to be honest,� Ezra said. “My brother was over there, I didn’t want to walk in his footsteps, I wanted to make my own.�

The Badgers and Lancers play at 7 p.m. Friday at Tucson High, 400 N. Second Ave.

“I get to show them that the little brother can be better than the older brother,� Ezra said. “I know they’re gonna talk a lot of smack to me, but it’s OK, it’s whatever.�