TEMPE, Ariz. – The Mica Mountain Thunderbolts are 4A state champions!

The Thunderbolts defeated the Knights 42-13 on Friday in a match at Tempe Mountain America Stadium.

It’s been a rapid rise to the top of 4A football for both schools.

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 their fourth ever playoff appearance. This was the first time they had advanced beyond the quarterfinals.

Mica Mountain (13-0, 5-0 4A Kino Region) played its first varsity season just two years ago and is emerging as a 4A power. The Thunderbolts made it to the 4A semifinals last year, where they lost to eventual state champion Canyon Del Oro, and have now won the championship game.

According to MaxPreps, this was the first meeting between these two schools in football.

The city of Phoenix is ​​home to five major professional sports league teams. The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home stadium, and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is ​​home to both the Suns and Mercury. The Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.

Phoenix also has a soccer team with Phoenix Rising FC of the USL, which plays at the Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.

The Valley hosts several major sporting events each year, including college football’s Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl. the PGA Tour’s most-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events every spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.