There was a time when Phoenix St. Mary's appealed to the Arizona Interscholastic Association, seeking approval to play football in the biggest school conference despite a small enrollment.
There was pride in a program that won big-school state titles in 1967, '68, '84, '85, '91 and '95.
But times have changed, as urban sprawl has fueled powerhouse teams in suburban communities east and west of Phoenix, creating destination football programs in those areas that now dominate the top-tier 6A and 5A conferences.
As that has occurred, St. Mary's has settled in nicely under head coach Jose Lucero in 4A, the third-tier among the six AIA conferences.
They are 5-1, coming off a 46-43 loss to Peoria, with a big Skyline Region game on Friday, Oct. 9, against
4-2 Phoenix Thunderbird at St. Mary's home field, Phoenix Washington High.
"That was a tough one," said Lucero, about the Peoria loss.
But there is much to like about his team, which competes in a balanced Skyline Region that will present some tough opponents down the road.
"I'm really proud of our seniors, guys stepping up," said Lucero, also the school's athletic director.
One of those players is defensive back/receiver Billy Lewis, who tied a 58-year-old school record with four interceptions in a game against Yuma Gila Ridge two weeks ago, including one for a touchdown. He then returned an interception 90 yards for a score last week against Peoria.
"It's been surreal," said Lewis, who was named the Arizona Cardinals high school Player of the Week and received an Ed Doherty medal for his efforts in the four-interception game. "Obviously, we suffered a big loss to Peoria, which hurts. But I think it's a great way to get better, challenge ourselves and respond."
This week's response will have to come against one of the most dynamic athletes in 4A, dual-threat quarterback Daryl Little II, who has passed for 658 yards and seven TDs. Little also has run for 798 yards and 13 TDs, averaging 14 yards on 57 carries.
Last year, St. Mary's was 4-2 at this time, before losing three of its last five games to finish 7-5. The Knights lost in the first round of the 4A state playoffs to eventual 4A runner-up Phoenix Arcadia.
Quarterback Luke Horn is back for the Knights, showing how much more he has developed as a dual threat while running back Branson Brown has been out with an injury. Horn, a junior, has passed for 963 yards and 12 TDs with two interceptions. He has run for 693 yards and 10 TDs.
"Overall, I'm proud of this team so far," Horn said. "Last week was a tough one but we'll keep working hard."
Brown has only played two games due to an injury. Once he gets back, the Knights should be even more explosive.
Lewis has been an presence on offense as well, with 11 catches for 116 yards in three games, along with Anthony Cannon (19 catches, 226 yards, two TDs) and Ezekiel Chavez (24 catches, 435 yards and seven TDs).
"Billy will beat you at the top on offense, then he'll go have a 90-yard pick six," Horn said. "That's why he won the Cardinals Player of the Week. Billy has been playing great."
Lucero knows how hard it is to win in a region that includes Phoenix Northwest Christian, Surprise Paradise Honors and ALA West Foothills, which have a combined 12-6 record. Peoria is 4-2 but that includes a forfeit loss.
"We've got our work cut out for ourselves," Lucero said. "(Little) is a threat every time he touches the ball. They're a really good football team and we expect nothing less than a great game."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: St. Mary's football looks to bounce back against Thunderbird
