Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
KAZT-TV (CW7) and Fiesta Sports Foundation have forged a partnership designed to further elevate high school football in Arizona by combining their respective high school football activations, Fiesta Bowl Friday Night Showdown and CW7 Thursday Night High School Kickoff, to launch the “Fiesta Bowl High School Showdown,” featuring live television coverage of a premier game on Thursday nights.
The 10-game schedule opens on Thursday, Aug. 28, when Brophy Prep hosts Basha, two of the top five 6A teams in the final 2024 Arizona high school rankings.
Basha finished as runner-up in the Arizona Interscholastic Association Open Championship a year ago and was crowned champion in 2022. Brophy’s roster features top talent, including five players whose fathers were NFL standouts.
“We are thrilled to further our commitment to High School Football with Fiesta Sports Foundation, Sports360AZ and FLOODstream to broadcast the first high school game played each week live on Thursdays,” said CW7 Vice President and General Manager Traci Wilkinson. “Teachers, students and alumni can watch top caliber high school football games on free over-the-air television, as well as share the game with loved ones around the country through our livestream. Our newly formed partnerships will bring a higher level of community connection and opportunity to further highlight our local athletes, schools, and sponsors this coming season.”
Each Thursday, gameday will feature a live pep rally broadcast on CW7’s Arizona Daily Mix, hosted by Brad Perry featuring Fiesta Bowl mascot “Spirit.” CW7 will also air a live pregame show at 6:30 p.m., leading into kickoff at 7 p.m.
“In the first two years of the Fiesta Bowl Friday Night Showdown series, we saw increased attention on Arizona high school football, which is ascending on the national scene as our student-athletes are recruited by the top college football programs. Combining with CW7 to kick off each week’s schedule on Thursday with a full day of activities and a live, primetime broadcast will increase the engagement, experiences, and exposure for participating schools, student-athletes, coaches and fans,” said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses.
