The Thunderbolts beat the Knights 42-13.
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Mica Mountain Thunderbolts out of Tucson are 4A state champions!
The Thunderbolts beat the Knights 42-13 in a matchup at Tempe Mountain America Stadium on Friday.
It has been a rapid ascent for both schools to the pinnacle of 4A football.
Arizona College Prep (12-1, 5-0 4A Desert Sky region) began playing as a varsity team in the AIA in 2A back in 2017. The Knights are making just their fourth-ever playoff appearance. This was the first time they have advanced past the quarterfinals.
Mica Mountain (13-0, 5-0 4A Kino region) played their first varsity season just two years ago and are developing into a 4A power. The Thunderbolts made it to the 4A semifinals last year, where they lost to eventual state champion Canyon Del Oro, and now have won the championship game.
This was the first-ever meeting between these two schools in football, according to MaxPreps.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL’s Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football’s Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
