Sabino’s Ryan McBrayerhas joined 36 other head coaches who have won a state championship in Southern Arizona high school football history dating to 1960.
The Sabercats (11-3) captured the 3A state championship with Saturday’s 68-46 victory over Paradise Honors at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix.
McBrayer, in his seventh season as head coach at his alma mater, won a championship on his first attempt.
Of the 36 coaches from Southern Arizona who have won a championship, 20 are from Tucson, including McBrayer. The most recent before McBrayer was Troy Coppat Pusch Ridge in 2015.
. @SabinoFootball1 coach Ryan McBrayer addresses his championship team. pic.twitter.com/ifPOaQ5LAD
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 26, 2023
“We made shirts at the beginning of the year, all the shirt said was ‘2015,’ and that’s the last time that Tucson as a city took home a state championship,” McBrayer said, referencing Pusch Ridge’s Division IV state title win over Northwest Christian.
“These guys (he had his arm around quarterback Cameron Hackworth) had lofty expectations. They never wavered in that belief. They’re the team that broke an eight-year curse for Southern Arizona. Now, we’re going to cheer on CDO as they bring home a second one in two weeks for Tucson.”
CDO coach Dustin Peace’sappearance in the 4A state championship Friday against Yuma Catholic at Arizona State’s Mountain America Stadium is the third time he has reached the title game as a head coach.
. @CDO_football coach Dustin Peace will coach in his third state championship game, first since 2010, following Friday’s 23-7 win over Mica Mountain and mentor Pat Nugent in the 4A semifinals. Peace has now coached teams that have gone 14-0 (state champions in 2009), 13-1… pic.twitter.com/AyLScXQ1TD
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 25, 2023
He led the Dorados to 14-0 record and state championship victory over Sabino in 2009. He lost the following season in the title game to Scottsdale Saguaro to finish 13-1.
CDO and Yuma Catholic are each 13-0 heading into Friday’s showdown at 4 p.m.
“I’m excited about how special it is to say, ‘Hey, this is your final game that you ever get to play,'” Peace said after CDO beat Mica Mountain 23-7 in the 4A semifinal game Friday at Dorado Stadium. “Not, ‘Maybe if we win, we get to play next week.’ All the chips are on the deck and we’ve got an opportunity to finish the deal how they all wanted to start the year.”
Only 11 other coaches at Southern Arizona schools since 1960 have coached in more state championship games than Peace, led by Jeff Scurran’seight appearances (five with Sabino, two with Santa Rita and one with Catalina Foothills).
Scurran, who won three state championships at Sabino, was in attendance to cheer on the Sabercats on Saturday night. He wore a Sabino shirt under a button-up shirt and jacket. He recently completed his 39th season as a head coach at the high school level at Rio Rico, where he has coached the last two seasons.
Peace, in his 15th season at CDO, has the opportunity to join 12 other coaches who have multiple state championships. Of those 12, six are from Tucson metropolitan area schools.
They are Scurran with his three titles, and Richard Sanchezof Sunnyside, John Mallamoof Tucson, Ollie Mayfieldof Tucson and Bob Smithof CDO each with two.
State Championship Southern Arizona Coaches
A list of head coaches who won state titles at Southern Arizona high schools. * - Game ended in a tie| Year | Cl | Coach | School | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1960
|
C | Jim Crawford | St. David | Tuba City |
|
1961
|
AA | Lou Farber | Pueblo | St. Mary's |
|
1964
|
B | Duane Morrison | Marana | Willcox |
|
1965
|
AA | John Mallamo | Tucson | Yuma Union |
|
1966
|
AA | John Mallamo | Tucson | Westwood |
|
1968
|
B | Don Hawkins | Marana | Round Valley |
|
1969
|
AA | Dick Pottle | Safford | Winslow |
|
1970
|
AAA | Ollie Mayfield | Tucson | Sunnyslope |
|
1971
|
AAA | Ollie Mayfield | Tucson | Tempe |
|
1971
|
AA | Dick Pottle | Safford | Flowing Wells |
|
1972
|
C | Jim Crawford | St. David | Fredonia |
|
1973
|
AAA | Van Howe | Palo Verde | Camelback |
|
1975
|
AAA | Jerry Loper | Amphi | Maryvale |
|
1975
|
AA | Larry Hart | Flowing Wells | Snowflake |
|
1976
|
AA | Bob Smith | Canyon del Oro | Douglas |
|
1976
|
A | Cliff Martin | Morenci | Page |
|
1976
|
C | John Milford | Tucson Deaf & Blind | Mayer |
|
1977
|
AA | Bob Smith | Canyon del Oro | Gilbert |
|
1977
|
C | Jim Crawford | St. David | Fredonia |
|
1979
|
AAA | Vern Friedli | Amphi | Mesa |
|
1979
|
C | Jim Crawford | St.David | Salome |
|
1981
|
A | Damon Becker | San Manuel | Buckeye |
|
1982
|
B | Paul Hanley | Willcox | Blue Ridge |
|
1982
|
C | Steve Sorce | Suffolk Hills | Pima |
|
1985
|
C | Gary Mauldin | Valley Union | Western Christian |
|
1986
|
B | Jesse Hughes | Thatcher | Willcox |
|
1986
|
C | Gary Mauldin | Valley Union | NW Christian |
|
1987
|
C | Bill House | Patagonia | Valley Union |
|
1988
|
B | Ed Shamey | Thatcher | Hayden |
|
1988
|
C | Bill House | Patagonia | Scottsdale Christian |
|
1990
|
4A | Jeff Scurran | Sabino | Peoria |
|
1991*
|
1A | Bill House | Patagonia | Fredonia |
|
1992
|
4A | Jeff Scurran | Sabino | Washington |
|
1993
|
4A | Wayne Jones | Mountain View | Sahuaro |
|
1994*
|
4A | Howard Breinig | Sahuaro | Peoria |
|
1997
|
1A | John Bryant | St. David | Mogollon |
|
1998
|
4A | Jeff Scurran | Sabino | Mesa Mountain View |
|
1998
|
2A | Jim Hughes | Thatcher | Queen Creek |
|
1998
|
1A | John Bryant | St. David | Orme School |
|
2000
|
2A | Don Conrad | Thatcher | St. Johns |
|
2000
|
1A | John Bryant | St. David | Bagdad |
|
2001
|
4A | Richard Sanchez | Sunnyside | Greenway |
|
2001
|
2A | Don Conrad | Thatcher | Phoenix Christian |
|
2001
|
1A | John Bryant | St. David | Joseph City |
|
2003
|
4A | Richard Sanchez | Sunnyside | Cactus |
|
2005
|
4AD2 | Todd Mayfield | Palo Verde | Mingus Union |
|
2006
|
2A | Don Conrad | Thatcher | Valley Christian |
|
2007
|
1A | Tony Luzania | Valley Union | Pima |
|
2009
|
4A | Dustin Peace | Canyon del Oro | Sabino |
|
2012
|
D2 | Matt Johnson | Ironwood Ridge | Centennial |
|
2013
|
D2 | Dennis Bene | Salpointe | Chaparral |
|
2015
|
D4 | Troy Copp | Pusch Ridge | NW Christian |
|
2016
|
2A | Sean Hinton | Thatcher | Round Valley |
|
2017
|
2A | Sean Hinton | Thatcher | Santa Cruz |
|
2018
|
2A | Ramon Morales | Thatcher | Round Valley |
|
2021
|
4A | Jake Barro | Casa Grande | Poston Butte |
|
2023
|
3A | Ryan McBrayer | Sabino | Paradise Honors |
|
2023
|
4A | Dustin Peace | CDO | Yuma Catholic |
SOUTHERN ARIZONA COACHES WITH MULTIPLE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
Jeff Scurran, 8 / 3-5 (Sabino – 1990, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999; Santa Rita – 2008, 2009; Catalina Foothills – 2016)
Larry Hart, 6 / 1-5 (Flowing Wells – 1964, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975)
Jim Crawford, 5 / 4-1 (St. David – 1960, 1966, 1972, 1977, 1979)
John Bryant, 4 / 4-0 (St. David – 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001)
Bill House, 4 / 2-1-1 (Patagonia, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992)
Dick Pottle, 4 / 2-2 (Safford – 1969, 1970, 1971, 1982)
Richard Sanchez, 4 / 2-2 (Sunnyside – 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006)
Vern Friedli, 4 / 1-3 (Morenci – 1973; Amphi – 1979, 1990, 1997)
Howard Breinig, 4 / 0-3-1 (Sahuaro – 1984, 1991, 1993, 1994)
Reg LeFevre, 4 / 0-4 (Patagonia – 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964)
Jay Campos, 4 / 0-4 (Sabino – 2005, 2006, 2009, 2016)
Don Conrad, 3 / 3-0 (Thatcher – 2000, 2001, 2006)
John Mallamo, 3 / 2-1 (Tucson – 1962, 1965, 1966)
Dustin Peace, 3 / 1-1 (Canyon del Oro – 2009, 2010, 2023)
Ed Shamey, 3 / 1-2 (Thatcher – 1988, 1989, 1995)
Dennis Bene, 3 / 1-2 (Salpointe – 2013, 2017, 2018)
Ollie Mayfield, 2 / 2-0 (Tucson – 1970, 1971)
Bob Smith, 2 / 2-0 (Canyon del Oro – 1976, 1977)
Gary Mauldin, 2 / 2-0 (Valley Union – 1985, 1986)
Sean Hinton, 2 / 2-0 (Thatcher – 2016, 2017)
Lou Farber, 2 / 1-1 (Pueblo – 1961, 1967)
Don Hawkins, 2 / 1-1 (Marana – 1967, 1968)
Steve Sorce, 2 / 1-1 (Suffolk Hills – 1981, 1982)
Jim Hughes, 2 / 1-1 (Thatcher – 1998; Willcox – 2009)
Tony Luzania, 2 / 1-1 (Valley Union – 2007, 2015)
Ken Sawin, 2 / 0-2 (Douglas – 1974, 1976)
Larry Wooldridge, 2 / 0-2 (Willcox – 1978, 1986)
Larry Gray, 2 / 0-2 (Flowing Wells – 1982, 1983)
Tom Davis, 2 / 0-2 (Valley Union – 1987, 1990)
Nemer Hassey, 2 / 0-2 (Sahuaro – 1999; Cienega – 2011)
Chris Determan, 2 / 0-2 (Benson – 2015, 2020)
SOUTHERN ARIZONA COACHES IN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
List of schools and their head coaches from Southern Arizona who have coached teams in the state championship games.| Year/Cl | SAZ Coach | SAZ Team | SAZ Coach | Opp | W/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1959/C
|
Reg LeFevre | Patagonia | Lakeside | L/34-19 | |
| |
|||||
|
1960/A
|
Charlies Willingham | Douglas | Arcadia | L/21-13 | |
|
1960/C
|
Jim Crawford | St. David | Tuba City | W/40-21 | |
| |
|||||
|
1961/AA
|
Lou Farber | Pueblo | St. Mary’s | W/16-14 | |
| |
|||||
|
1962/AA
|
John Mallamo | Tucson | Arcadia | L/40-7 | |
|
1962/C
|
Reg Lefevre | Patagonia | Camp Verde | L/32-31 | |
| |
|||||
|
1963/AA
|
Bill Lovin | Rincon | Mesa | L/28-0 | |
|
1963/C
|
Reg LeFevre | Patagonia | Camp Verde | L/44-18 | |
| |
|||||
|
1964/A
|
Larry Hart | Flowing Wells | Winslow | L/7-0 | |
|
1964/B
|
Duane Morrison | Marana | Lee Barnes | Willcox | MHS/14-7 |
|
1964/C
|
Reg LeFevre | Patagonia | McNary | L/27-13 | |
| |
|||||
|
1965/AA
|
John Mallamo | Tucson | Yuma Union | W/27-6 | |
| |
|||||
|
1966/AA
|
John Mallamo | Tucson | Westwood | W/14-7 | |
|
1966/C
|
Jim Crawford | St. David | McNary | L/53-6 | |
| |
|||||
|
1967/AA
|
Lou Farber | Pueblo | St. Mary’s | L/34-22 | |
|
1967/B
|
Don Hawkins | Marana | Parker | L/40-0 | |
|
1967/C
|
John Grimes | Valley Union | Fredonia | L/71-7 | |
| |
|||||
|
1968/AAA
|
Ike Sharp | Douglas | St. Mary’s | L/27-14 | |
|
1968/AA
|
Larry Hart | Flowing Wells | Coconino | L/6-0 | |
|
1968/B
|
Don Hawkins | Marana | Round Valley | W/21-6 | |
| |
|||||
|
1969/AA
|
Dick Pottle | Safford | Winslow | W/26-24 | |
| |
|||||
|
1970/AAA
|
Ollie Mayfield | Tucson | Sunnyslope | W/54-16 | |
|
1970/AA
|
Dick Pottle | Safford | Agua Fria | L/48-26 | |
| |
|||||
|
1971/AAA
|
Ollie Mayfield | Tucson | Tempe | W/20-14 | |
|
1971/AA
|
Dick Pottle | Safford | Larry Hart | Flowing Wells | SHS/28-10 |
| |
|||||
|
1972/AA
|
Larry Hart | Flowing Wells | Agua Fria | L/35-21 | |
|
1972/C
|
Jim Crawford | St. David | Fredonia | W/36-22 | |
| |
|||||
|
1973/AAA
|
Van Howe | Palo Verde | Camelback | W/22-20 | |
|
1973/AA
|
Larry Hart | Flowing Wells | Coconino | W/14-3 | |
|
1973/A
|
Vern Friedli | Morenci | Gilbert | L/27-6 | |
| |
|||||
|
1974/AA
|
Ken Sawin | Douglas | Coconino | L/21-14 | |
| |
|||||
|
1975/AAA
|
Jerry Loper | Amphi | Maryvale | W/23-22 | |
|
1975/AA
|
Larry Hart | Flowing Wells | Snowflake | W/14-13 | |
|
1975/C
|
L.W. Jackson | Valley Union | Mayer | L/26-16 | |
| |
|||||
|
1976/AA
|
Bob Smith | CDO | Ken Sawin | Douglas | CDO/24-15 |
|
1976/A
|
Cliff Martin | Morenci | Page | W/39-7 | |
|
1976/C
|
John Milford | Tucson D&B | Mayer | W/42-22 | |
| |
|||||
|
1977/AA
|
Bob Smith | CDO | Gilbert | W/9-7 | |
|
1977/A
|
Boone Jackson | Willcox | Coolidge | L/28-0 | |
|
1977/C
|
Jim Crawford | St. David | Fredonia | W/22-6 | |
| |
|||||
|
1978/A
|
Larry Wooldridge | Willcox | Santa Cruz | L/40-36 | |
|
1978/B
|
Mike Hayhurst | Benson | St. Johns | L/20-12 | |
| |
|||||
|
1979/AAA
|
Vern Friedli | Amphitheater | Mesa | W/27-0 | |
|
1979/C
|
Jim Crawford | St. David | Salome | W/28-22 | |
| |
|||||
|
1981/AAA
|
Ed Doherty | Salpointe | Trevor Browne | L/20-0 | |
|
1981/A
|
Damon Becker | San Manuel | Buckeye | W/14-7 | |
|
1981/C
|
Steve Sorce | Suffolk Hills | Maricopa | L/20-14 | |
| |
|||||
|
1982/AA
|
Larry Gray | Flowing Wells | Flagstaff | L/10-7 | |
|
1982/A
|
Dick Pottle | Safford | Snowflake | L/19-13 | |
|
1982/B
|
Paul Hanley | Willcox | Blue Ridge | W/13-11 | |
|
1982/C
|
Steve Sorce | Suffolk Hills | Pima | W/23-14 | |
| |
|||||
|
1983/AA
|
Larry Gray | Flowing Wells | Flagstaff | L/24-7 | |
| |
|||||
|
1984/AAA
|
Howard Breinig | Sahuaro | St. Mary’s | L/31-14 | |
|
1984/B
|
Jack Edens | Morenci | Phoenix Christian | L/25-7 | |
| |
|||||
|
1985/C
|
Gary Mauldin | Valley Union | Western Christian | W/26-20 | |
| |
|||||
|
1986/B
|
Jesse Hughes | Thatcher | Larry Wooldridge | Willcox | THS/13-10 |
|
1986/C
|
Gary Mauldin | Valley Union | NW Christian | W/57-20 | |
| |
|||||
|
1987/C
|
Bill House | Patagonia | Tom Davis | Valley Union | PHS/36-18 |
| |
|||||
|
1988/B
|
Ed Shamey | Thatcher | Hayden | W/20-6 | |
|
1988/C
|
Bill House | Patagonia | Scottsdale Christian | W/38-26 | |
| |
|||||
|
1989/2A
|
Ed Shamey | Thatcher | Florence | L/18-0 | |
| |
|||||
|
1990/5A
|
Vern Friedli | Amphi | Mesa | L/21-7 | |
|
1990/4A
|
Jeff Scurran | Sabino | Peoria | W/31-28 | |
|
1990/1A
|
Tom Davis | Valley Union | Seligman | L/56-0 | |
| |
|||||
|
1991/5A
|
Pat Welchert | Salpointe | St. Mary’s | L/28-13 | |
|
1991/4A
|
Howard Breinig | Sahuaro | Agua Fria | L/28-0 | |
|
1991/1A
|
Bill House | Patagonia | Fredonia | T/36-36 | |
| |
|||||
|
1992/4A
|
Jeff Scurran | Sabino | Washington | W/28-3 | |
|
1992/2A
|
Reynaldo Peru | Morenci | St. Johns | L/20-8 | |
|
1992/1A
|
Bill House | Patagonia | AZ Lutheran | L/56-14 | |
| |
|||||
|
1993/4A
|
Wayne Jones | Mountain View | Howard Breinig | Sahuaro | MtV/63-32 |
| |
|||||
|
1994/4A
|
Howard Breinig | Sahuaro | Peoria | T/17-17 | |
|
1994/2A
|
Pete Bearse | Benson | St. Johns | L/34-6 | |
| |
|||||
|
1995/2A
|
Ed Shamey | Thatcher | Ray | L/28-6 | |
| |
|||||
|
1997/5A
|
Vern Friedli | Amphi | Mesa Mt View | L/28-24 | |
|
1997/4A
|
Jeff Scurran | Sabino | Mingus Union | L/23-14 | |
|
1997/1A
|
John Bryant | St. David | Mogollon | W/58-26 | |
| |
|||||
|
1998/4A
|
Jeff Scurran | Sabino | Agua Fria | W/27-9 | |
|
1998/2A
|
Jim Hughes | Thatcher | Queen Creek | W/28-12 | |
|
1998/1A
|
John Bryant | St. David | Orme School | W/48-30 | |
| |
|||||
|
1999/5A
|
Jeff Scurran | Sabino | Mesa Mt View | L/21-14 | |
|
1999/4A
|
Nemer Hassey | Sahuaro | Chaparral | L/27-10 | |
| |
|||||
|
2000/4A
|
Richard Sanchez | Sunnyside | Chaparral | L/28-14 | |
|
2000/2A
|
Don Conrad | Thatcher | St. Johns | W/14-13 | |
|
2000/1A
|
John Bryant | St. David | Bagdad | W/50-8 | |
| |
|||||
|
2001/4A
|
Richard Sanchez | Sunnyside | Greenway (11-3) | W/28-6 | |
|
2001/2A
|
Don Conrad | Thatcher | Phoenix Christian (11-3) | W/35-26 | |
|
2001/1A
|
John Bryant | St. David | Joseph City | W/57-43 | |
| |
|||||
|
2003/4A
|
Richard Sanchez | Sunnyside | Cactus | W/21-13 | |
| |
|||||
|
2005/4ADI
|
Jay Campos | Sabino | Cactus | L/30-7 | |
|
2005/4ADII
|
Todd Mayfield | Palo Verde | Mingus Union | W/15-7 | |
| |
|||||
|
2006/5ADII
|
Richard Sanchez | Sunnyside | Centennial | L/34-0 | |
|
2006/4ADI
|
Jay Campos | Sabino | Saguaro | L/41-21 | |
|
2006/2A
|
Don Conrad | Thatcher | Valley Christian | W/42-20 | |
| |
|||||
|
2007/4ADI
|
Pat Nugent | CDO | Saguaro | L/23-21 | |
|
2007/1A
|
Tony Luzania | Valley Union | Pima | W/28-12 | |
| |
|||||
|
2008/4ADII
|
Jeff Scurran | Santa Rita | Notre Dame Prep | L/30-26 | |
| |
|||||
|
2009/4ADI
|
Dustin Peace | CDO | Jay Campos | Sabino | CDO/40-0 |
|
2009/4ADII
|
Jeff Scurran | Santa Rita | Cactus | L/14-0 | |
|
2009/2A
|
Jim Hughes | Willcox | Valley Christian | L/41-32 | |
| |
|||||
|
2010/4ADI
|
Dustin Peace | CDO | Saguaro | L/41-34 | |
| |
|||||
|
2011/DII
|
Nemer Hassey | Cienega | Chaparral | L/37-14 | |
| |
|||||
|
2012/DII
|
Matt Johnson | Ironwood Ridge | Centennial | W/27-3 | |
|
2012/DV
|
Frank Ogas | Morenci | NW Christian | L/21-7 | |
| |
|||||
|
2013/DII
|
Dennis Bene | Salpointe | Chaparral | W/46-20 | |
| |
|||||
|
2015/DIV
|
Troy Copp | Pusch Ridge | NW Christian | W/14-7 | |
|
2015/DV
|
Chris Determan | Benson | Joy Christian | L/27-7 | |
|
2015/DVI
|
Tony Luzania | Valley Union | Pima | L/59-32 | |
| |
|||||
|
2016/4A
|
Jeff Scurran | Catalina Foothills | Saguaro | L/42-14 | |
|
2016/3A
|
Jay Campos | Sabino | ALA-QC | L/31-14 | |
|
2016/2A
|
Sean Hinton | Thatcher | Round Valley | W/33-28 | |
| |
|||||
| |
|||||
|
2017/4A
|
Dennis Bene | Salpointe | Saguaro | L/28-7 | |
|
2017/3A
|
Jerry Harris | Pusch Ridge | Casteel | L/35-28 | |
|
2017/2A
|
Sean Hinton | Thatcher | Santa Cruz | W/28-27 OT | |
| |
|||||
|
2018/4A
|
Dennis Bene | Salpointe | Saguaro | L/42-16 | |
|
2018/2A
|
Ramon Morales | Thatcher | Round Valley | W/35-12 | |
| |
|||||
|
2020/2A
|
Chris Determan | Benson | Santa Cruz | L/42-7 | |
| |
|||||
|
2021/5A
|
Eric Rogers | Salpointe | Horizon | L/38-28 | |
|
2021/4A
|
Jake Barro | Casa Grande | Poston Butte | W/33-28 | |
|
2021/2A
|
Joe Garcia | Morenci | AZ Lutheran | L/28-14 | |
|
2021/1A
|
Braden Davis | St. David | Mogollon | L/58-12 | |
| |
|||||
|
2022/3A
|
Daniel Jones | Thatcher | Eastmark | L/42-21 | |
|
2022/2A
|
Joe Garcia | Morenci | Pima | L/59-19 | |
| |
|||||
|
2023/4A
|
Dustin Peace | CDO | Yuma Catholic | TBD | |
|
2023/3A
|
Ryan McBrayer | Sabino | Paradise Honors | W/68-46 |
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