The Toughest High School Football Player in Arizona?

“Who is the toughest high school football player you’ve seen on tape or in person this season?”

Over the past week I asked this question to over a dozen high school football coaches and respected observers of the game. More than a couple blurted out the same name without hesitation. “Noah Pittenger, at Brophy” or “that running back at Brophy, he’s the toughest I’ve seen”. One athletic director said “I want that guy protecting my country, he’s a darn good, tough nosed football player.”

Brophy head coach Scooter Molander summed up his Pittenger this way to the Arizona Republic  earlier this season. “He’s lightning in a bottle, he’s worth the price of admission.” Well put.

Noah Pittinger is seriously one of the hardest guys to tackle I've ever seen on an AZ HS football field. #FridayNight360AZ

— Jared Cohen (@JaredCohen_) November 5, 2016

Friday night the Broncos had to hold off Pinnacle to advance to round two of the playoffs. Pittenger was right in the middle of the action rushing for 270 yards and 3 scores, the last of which sealed the game for the Broncos.