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Sophomore quarterback Treyson Bourguet and senior wide receiver Coben Bourguet figure to be the difference between Tucson Salpointe Catholic making the eight-team Open Division or not.

If they don’t win their appeals with the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s Executive Board on Sept. 3, they would have to sit out the first five games.

Both had their transfer hardships heard on Tuesday by the AIA’s hardship committee. They were both denied. In the AIA transfers rule, because they are first-time transfers, they would have to sit out the first five games.

But that could be reduced if they win their appeal.

As it is, they will both miss Salpointe’s Aug. 30 season-opener against Mesa Dobson. On Sept. 6, a make-or-break game to get into the Open will come at Goodyear Desert Edge, one of the state’s top 4A teams.

The brothers transferred from Marana in the spring semester. Their older brother Trenton Bourguet, a walk-on at Arizona State, was one of the state’s most prolific passers during his high school career at Marana.

Treyson figures to be one of the state’s best quarterbacks. A bigger version of Trenton, Treyson, 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, has an offer from the University of Arizona. Coben, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, is a talented two-way player coming off a strong junior season.

The AIA looks at unavoidable, unpreventable and unforeseen circumstances to grant hardships that won’t penalize transfers.

Asked if there was not enough there for the committee to grant hardship for the transfer move, Toby Bourguet, the brothers’ father, said, “I have no idea.”

“We have an appeal,” Toby said. “We’re going too appeal it on the third (of September). It’s a waiting game. It’s not my decision.  We’re in a good place. It’s not in our control.

“This is not even about football right now. My kids are in a good place. We’re happy. We’ll see what happens.”