Football Preview: Copper Canyon Aztecs vs. Maryvale Panthers
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The Copper Canyon Aztecs will face off against the Maryvale Panthers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
As a matter of fact, Copper Canyon put up the most points they have all season on Friday. They breezed past Alhambra to the tune of 49-13. Considering the Aztecs have won three matchups by more than 35 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Javian Wright
| 10/03/25 @ Alhambra | 2 |
| 09/26/25 vs Yuma | 1 |
| 08/29/25 vs Somerton | 1 |
| 10/18/24 vs Maryvale | 1 |
Javian Wright had an outrageously good game as he picked up 96 receiving yards and two scores. Those two receiving touchdowns gave him a new career-high.
Another reason for the win was Copper Canyon's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for nine sacks. The heavy lifting was done by Jeremiah Adams Curry and Javier Castro, who racked up all nine sacks between them. Adams Curry also set a new season-high mark in total tackles with 13. Copper Canyon received some extra help from Adams Curry, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Maryvale had to endure a four-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They came out on top against North Canyon by a score of 39-26 on Thursday. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Panthers' offense, which had struggled in the games prior.
Maryvale's win came from a few key players Copper Canyon will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Miles Woods, who picked up 92 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. Messan Alokpovi was another key player, throwing for 155 yards and four TDs.
Maryvale didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited North Canyon to a completion percentage of just 46.9%. The Panthers weren't nearly as limited: they posted one of 35.3%.
Maryvale didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Woods and Jayden French. Kevin Smith was another major factor on D, picking up three sacks and making ten total tackles.
Maryvale's win bumped their record up to 2-4. As for Copper Canyon, the victory got them back to even at 3-3.
Copper Canyon won a contest that couldn't have been any closer when the teams last played back in October of 2024, slipping by Maryvale 27-26. Do the Aztecs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
