The Arizona Interscholastic Association announced Monday that the 11th annual Sollenberger Classic will pit Pinnacle and Brophy, a rematch of last year's Sollenberger 6A Conference game at Flagstaff Coconino. 

AIA press release

PHOENIX, AZ (July 12, 2017) – The Sollenberger Classic will be played at Coconino High School in Flagstaff, Ariz. for the second year in a row. The lone game will feature the Brophy Prep Broncos vs. the Pinnacle Pioneers at 3 p.m. on Aug. 19, with live coverage on AZPreps365.com

Brophy Prep and Pinnacle played twice in the 2016 season, with Brophy Prep winning both games, including a win in the 2016 AIA 6A State Tournament First Round 52-42. This will be the fifth time in the last three years that Brophy Prep and Pinnacle will have played one another.

Brophy Prep, coached by Scooter Molander, finished the 2016 campaign with eight wins and four losses. Brophy entered the AIA 6A playoffs as a No. 5 seed, eventually losing in the quarterfinals to No. 13 Red Mountain 34-33.

“We are certainly familiar with each other,” Molander said. “We have tremendous respect for Pinnacle and its coach. He’s a great man with a good program. Obviously their quarterback is very, very good. Their defense improved as the (2016) year went on, and it will be a huge challenge for us to start this year."

Pinnacle finished 2016 with an opening round loss as the No. 12 seed in the 6A football playoffs to Brophy Prep. Coached by Dana Zupke, Pinnacle finished the season with a record of six wins and six losses.

“We had a tremendous experience last year up in Flagstaff,” Zupke said. “It was a great event at a great venue. We enjoyed it and how we were taken care of. It was also great competition against a class program like Brophy.”

Tickets for the Sollenberger Classic are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors/military and students (ages 6-18. Children 5 and younger admitted free.)

Sollenberger Classic History

The Sollenberger Classic honors the late Barry Sollenberger, a former AIA employee. As a sports historian, Sollenberger was devoted to the task of documenting the achievements of high school athletes in the state of Arizona.

The first game honoring Barry was held at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University. Chandler Hamilton, the 2005 AIA 5A Division I state runner-ups, defeated Mesa Red Mountain 21-7 on Friday, August 25, 2006.

The Phoenix Brophy Prep Broncos hosted Tucson Salpointe Catholic at Phoenix College on Thursday, August 23, 2007. The Broncos defeated Salpointe Catholic 33-17 to take hold of the Sollenberger Classic Trophy.

In 2008, Phoenix Brophy Prep, the 2007 AIA 5A D-I state champions, defeated Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, the 2007 NIAA 4A state champions, 16-6. The game was played on August 23, 2008 at University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals.

In 2009, the Sollenberger Classic was played in Reno, Nevada at MacKay Stadium on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. AIA 5A D-II defending state champion Peoria Centennial defeated NIAA 4A defending state champion Reno McQueen 51-20 on August 22, 2009.

The Hamilton Huskies and Bishop Gorman Gaels made their second Sollenberger Classic appearance in 2010 at NAU’s J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome. The Huskies, the AIA defending 5A-I state champion, defeated the Gaels, the NIAA defending 4A state champion, 24 to 17, in a tightly contested game.

In 2011, the Sollenberger Classic was hosted at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. This marked the first year the Classic would feature two games. In the first game, the NIAA Class 3A runner-up Moapa Valley defeated the AIA Class 3A defending state champion Show Low, 28 to 26. In the second game, the NIAA Class 4A defending state champion Bishop Gorman defeated the AIA Class 5A-II defending state champion Chaparral, 42-22.

In 2012, University of Phoenix Stadium was host for the second straight year, and third time in the history of the Sollenberger Classic. In the first game, the AIA Division IV defending state champions, Blue Ridge High School, defeated the NIAA Class 3A runner-up, Moapa Valley, 23-14. In the second game, the AIA Division I state champion Desert Vista defeated the NIAA 4A Sunset Region runner-up, Palo Verde, 20-10.

In 2013, Fertitta Field on the campus of Bishop Gorman High School played host to the 2013 Sollenberger Classic, presented by Station Casinos. In the first game 2012 AIA Division I State Runner-up Mountain Pointe defeated 2012 NIAA Division I Champion Bishop Gorman 28 to 21. In the second game AIA Division II State Semi-finalist Salpointe Catholic defeated 2012 NIAA Division I State Runner-up Liberty 48 to 7.

In 2014, the Sollenberger Classic, presented by Station Casinos, was again held at Fertitta Field on the campus of Bishop Gorman High School. In the first game, 2013 NIAA Division I Champion Bishop Gorman defeated 2013 AIA Division I quarterfinalist Brophy Prep 44-0. In the second game, 2013 AIA Division I Champion Mountain Pointe defeated 2013 NIAA Division I runner-up Reed 66-13.

In 2015, the Sollenberger Classic did not take place.

In 2016, the Sollenberger Classic, presented by the U.S. Army, was held in Flagstaff, Ariz. at Coconino High School. In the first game, 2015 AIA Division I State Quarterfinalist Brophy Prep defeated 2015 AIA Division I State Tournament team Pinnacle 31-10. In the second game, 2015 AIA Division II State Champion Desert Edge defeated 2015 AIA Division I State Champion Centennial 26-24.

AIA Media Contact: Brian Bolitho; Director of Business Media; bbolitho@aiaonline.org; 602-385-3822