Steve Carter Photo/Special to the Gila Herald: Pima quarterback Seth Russell gets rid of the ball under pressure. The senior quarterback will lead the No. 1 Pima Roughriders against the No. 2 Morenci Wildcats in the 2A State Football Championship Game to be held at Safford High School on Friday, Nov. 26, starting at 6 p.m.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – The Arizona Interscholastic Association has spoken and the 2A State Football Championship game between No. 1 Pima and No. 2 Morenci will be played at Safford High School on Saturday, Nov. 26, starting at 6 p.m. Click here to purchase tickets.
The two teams have been the best in 2A all season long, with Pima leapfrogging Morenci in the last 30 seconds of the regular season with a 21-20 victory on “The Hill” at Lawson Stadium in Morenci on Oct. 28.
“With top-ranked Pima and second-seeded Morenci both hailing from eastern Arizona, there was school and community support to host the game in a regional location that minimized travel for participants and fans,” said AIA Director of Sports Information Seth Polansky.
The 3A championship game between Eastmark and Thatcher will be played as originally scheduled on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix.
Pima (12-1) defeated Chinle 55-8 in the first round at home, Camp Verde 61-7 in the quarterfinals at home, and Willcox 35-7 in the semifinals at Safford High School.
Morenci (12-1) defeated Tanque Verde 32-0 in the first round at home, Tonopah Valley 52-6 in the quarterfinals at home, and Scottsdale Christian 71-40 in the semifinals at Westwood High School.
