Football Season Ignites With Rivalry And A Storm

The 2025 high school football season in Arizona officially kicked off in dramatic fashion Thursday night with the Week 0 showdown between Scottsdale Christian Academy (SCA) and Pima High School. Under the lights and amidst a brewing storm, the reigning 2A powerhouses squared off once again, with Scottsdale Christian rolling to a commanding 33-6 victory.

Photo By Jonathan Olden

For the past two seasons, these teams have defined the 2A title picture. In 2023, SCA defeated Pima 41-24 for the championship, and in 2024, they edged them in a heart-stopping 28-27 thriller to claim back-to-back state crowns. That history made this season opener feel less like a warm-up and more like another championship clash.

Pregame festivities highlighted the weight of the moment. Dr. Jim Dean, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) and an alumnus of Scottsdale Christian, performed the ceremonial coin toss. It was a fitting debut for Dean, who officially stepped into the role on July 1, 2025.

Pima won the toss and kicked off to the Eagles, but shortly after, the skies opened. A lightning delay forced both teams and fans to shelter until about 9:30 PM, delaying the official restart of the game.

Photo By Jonathan Olden

When play resumed, Scottsdale Christian quickly seized momentum. By the end of the first quarter, they had surged ahead 20-0 on two passing touchdowns and a rushing score. Another rushing touchdown before halftime stretched the lead to 27-0. From there, the Eagles never looked back, closing out a decisive 33-6 win.

With the win, Scottsdale Christian opened their season 1-0, while Pima dropped to 0-1. Next up, the Eagles travel to Tonopah Valley on Aug 29, while Pima hits the road to face Tombstone.

Between the storm delay, the history, and the decisive result, Week 0 delivered a perfect reminder of what makes Arizona high school football so compelling. For SCA, it’s a strong start to what they hope will be another championship run. For Pima, it’s another chapter in a rivalry that has defined 2A football—and one they’ll be eager to rewrite later this season.