Willcox snaps 12-game streak with Morenci
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Frankie Gonzalez-coached Morenci Wildcats (1-2) host the Bisbee Pumas (1-2) on Friday, Sept. 12. The pairing is for Morenci’s 60th homecoming game, the 46th between the two teams since 1946, and Morenci is 7-2 versus the Pumas in Lawson Stadium.
The Wildcats have a 5-1 record against the Pumas when matched in the homecoming game, with two played on “The Hill” and four in their current venue. The wins were 46-7 (Oct. 1, 2021), 32-26 (Sept. 27, 2019),33-14 (Oct. 9, 2009), 27-0 (Nov. 13, 1981), and 20-12 (Nov. 11, 1977) while the loss was 22-30 (Sept. 30, 2005), The average score per game was 30-15 (180-89) or a 15-point margin.
However, the series is tied 22-22-1 with an average score per game of 19-19 (865-846) or a tie.
Through three 2025 games, Bisbee has averaged a 9-26 (26-79) score per game or 17-point deficit while Morenci has a 17-20 (50-61) average or a 3-point deficit.
The Pumas have totaled 829 offensive yards, 438 on 66 carries and 391 on 43 receptions while the Wildcats have 784 offensive yards, 677 on 138 carries and 107 on 43 receptions. The average Bisbee rush is 6.6 yards and catch 11.8 yards compared to 4.9 yards and 23.6 yards by Morenci, respectively.
Defensively, Bisbee has totaled 194 tackles (106 solo, 88 assisted), eight quarterback sacks, four fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and a blocked punt compared to 150 (43 solo, 107 assisted), three sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception.
Kick-off is 7 p.m.
BISBEE Pumas
The Pumas had an official student enrollment count of 328 for the 2024-25 school year.
Bisbee is 1-2 overall with an average score per game of 9-26 (26-79) or a 17-point margin after three games. The Pumas defeated Phoenix Cortez(26-20, Aug. 29) and fell to Benson (0-34, Aug. 22) and Douglas (0-25, Sept. 5).
The Pumas host Santa Rita (Sept. 19) and Chandler Prep (Sept. 26), visit Tucson Tanque Verde (Oct. 3), host Tombstone (Oct. 10), and visit TucsonPalo Verde Magnet (Oct. 17).
Bisbee lists a 32-member roster with seven seniors, eight juniors, 12 sophomores, and five freshmen. Seniors include Eduardo Andrade (4), Eliel Bonilla (13), Fabian Hernandez (11), Ramon Hernandez (72), Luis Hoyas (55), Marco Noriega (64), Hunter Wright (3); juniors JaxxonAlvarez (2), Cameron Anderson (5), Chris Bowman (90), Ricky Echave (6), Joey Juhl (99), Treyson Meyer (7), Izaiah Montiel (57), Ryan Rutherford (10); sophomores Jovanni Arvizu (54), Liam Barajas-Morgan (67), Jacob Blume (60), Axel Cordova (24), David Flores (52), Mario Hernandez (14), Alejandro Huicoza (46), Aden Kroger (36), Fernando Lopez (1), Connor McBeth (68), Diego Mendez (25), Tripp Turner (45);and freshmen Leandro Donahue (16), Mikhail Friday (81), Alexander Pancheco (66), Lucas Peterson (40), Adan Romero (30).
The Pumas are competing in the 5-member 2A South 1 Region with the Tombstone Yellow Jackets along with Tucson schools the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Santa Rita Eagles, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
MORENCI Wildcats
The Wildcats (1-2 overall, 0-0 region) are averaging a score of 17-20(50-61) per game or a 3-point deficit after three games. The Greenlee County boys defeated Safford (20-14, Aug. 22) and fell to Tucson Tanque Verde (16-24, Aug. 29) and Willcox (14-23, Sept. 5).
Morenci lists a 39-member roster with 13 seniors, five juniors, 15 sophomores, and six freshmen. Seniors include Julian Aragon (13), Zach Biggs (66), Michael Chavez (50), Dean Chee (65), Isaiah Cook (77), Jaymz Guzzo (4), Mathew Hernandez (0), Derick Lytle (9), Andre McCauley (12), Richard Rodriguez (7), Anthony Rogers (11), Anthony Roybal (56), and Kiano Torres (3); juniors Joel Baca (28), Mason Clark(17), Camron Dodson (55), Jesse Strickland (70), and Heston Winters(88); sophomores Jacob Bracamonte (21), Brennen Burkhead (5), Jeremya Cruz (8), James Davis (59), Sonny Gobert (33), Luz Hernandez (54), Eli Laney (1), David Licano (78), Braxton Merrill (18), Deegan Miller (10), Zane Randle (72), Joseph Rodriguez (23), Hunter Roumell (68), Joshwa Sandoval (52), and Loghan Szymanski (75); and freshmen Kyson Abril(6), Andres Aguilera (51), Bryden Herrera (74), Ceejay Madrid (60), Damian Paz (40), and Keston Armstrong (2).
Morenci hosts Bisbee (Sept. 12), visits Globe (Sept. 19) and Benson (Sept. 26), hosts Miami (Oct. 3), and visits Pima (Oct. 10) and Saint Johns (Oct. 17).
The Wildcats (367) are competing in the 2A East Region with the Globe Tigers (514), the Miami Vandals (287), the Pima Roughriders (357), and the Saint Johns Redskins (337).
2A East Region Standings
Region standing as of Sept. 6 were Saint Johns (3-0 overall, 0-0 region), Globe (2-1, 0-0), Miami (2-1, 0-0), Pima (1-2, 0-0), and Morenci (1-2, 0-0).
This week in the 2A East Region, Saint Johns (3-0) visits Eagar Round Valley (3-0), Globe (2-1) visits Miami (2-1), Pima (1-2) hosts Willcox (2-1), and Morenci (1-2) hosts Bisbee (1-2).
2A South 1 Region Standings
Region standing as of Sept. 11 were Tucson Tanque Verde (2-1 overall, 1-0 region), Bisbee (1-2, 0-0), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (1-2, 0-1), Tombstone (0-2), and Tucson Santa Rita (0-4, 0-0).
The lone region pairing to date resulted in Tanque Verde defeating Palo Verde Magnet (69-0, Sept. 5).
This week in the 2A South Region 1, Tanque Verde (2-1) visits Benson (2-1), Bisbee (1-2) visits Morenci (1-2), Palo Verde Magnet (1-2) visits 4A Tucson Rincon/University (0-2), and Tombstone (0-2) hosts Eloy Santa Cruz (2-1).
Santa Rita (0-4) fell 42-0 to California Winterhaven San Pasqual (3-1) on Sept. 11.
2A South 2 Region Standings
Region standing as of Sept. 6 were Benson (2-1, 0-0), Tucson Desert Christian (2-1, 0-0), Willcox (2-1, 0-0), and Eloy Santa Cruz (2-1, 0-0 region).
This week in the 2A South 2 Region, Benson (2-1) hosts Tucson Tanque Verde (2-1), Desert Christian (2-1) hosts Tucson Catalina (2-0), Willcox (2-1) visits Pima (1-2), and Santa Cruz (2-1) visits Tombstone (0-2).
3A South Region Standings
Region standing as of Sept. 11 were Tucson Push Ridge Christian (4-0 overall, 1-0 region), Coolidge (2-1, 0-0), Thatcher (2-1, 0-0), Florence (1-2, 0-0), Tucson Sabino (1-2, 0-0), Safford (0-3, 0-0), and San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (0-3, 0-1).
To date in region contests, Pusch Ridge defeated San Tan Foothills (53-12, Aug. 23).
In 3A South Region pairings, Coolidge (2-1) visits Sabino (1-2), Thatcher (2-1) visits Florence (1-2), Safford (0-3) visits Winslow (1-2), and San Tan Foothills (0-2) visits Phoenix Shadow Mountain (1-2).
Pusch Ridge (4-0) blanked 4A Tucson Catalina Foothills (2-1) 35-0 on Sept. 11.
1A South Region
Region standings as of Sept. 6 have Saint David (3-0 overall, 2-0 region), Elfrida Valley Union (2-1, 1-1), Duncan (1-2, 1-1), Fort Thomas (1-2, 1-1), and Sells Baboquivari (0-3, 0-2).
To date, region pairings have Saint David over Valley Union (58-0, Aug. 22) and Baboquivari (59-0, Aug. 29), Valley Union over Duncan (52-6, Sept. 5), Duncan over Fort Thomas (58-28, Aug. 29),
This week, the 8-man 1A South Region has Saint David (3-0) hosting Duncan (1-2), Valley Union (2-1) visiting Ray (2-1), Fort Thomas (1-2) visiting Joseph City (1-2), and Baboquivari (0-3) hosting Superior (2-1).
Willcox – 23, Morenci – 14
Toddlers is what they were and had not quite started their educational journeys the previous time the Cowboys defeated Morenci. It was 36-0 on Oct. 2, 2009.
In fact, Jeston Lott-coached teams had not been able to defeat Morenci while at Parker (2012-21), also falling in the post-season 6-57 as No. 13 to No. 3 during the 2018 first round in Lawson Stadium and 14-39 as No. 1 to No. 3 during the semifinals in Phoenix Desert Vista. Parker was 58-35 overall, 20-7 in the region, 8-12 in the section, 3-4 at state, and 33-16 at home under Lott.
The Lott-coached Cowboys used their 2025 home opener to snap a 12-game losing streak to the visitors. Morenci had prevailed six times in Lawson Stadium and six time in Willcox. The scores were 17-13 (Oct. 21, 2011) in Morenci, 28-06 (Oct. 19, 2012) in Willcox, 49-7 (Sept. 27, 2013)in Willcox, 45-8 (Sept. 26, 2014) in Morenci, 38-6 (Sept. 18, 2015) in Willcox, 50-24 (Sept. 9, 2016) in Morenci, 47-13 (Sept. 8, 2017) in Willcox, 38-6 (Sept. 7, 2018) in Morenci, 14-06 (Sept. 13, 2019) in Willcox, 27-21 (Nov. 6, 2020) in Willcox, 27-10 (Oct. 22, 2021) in Morenci, and 21-14 (Sept. 15, 2022) in Morenci.
“It was a long time coming,” Lott said following the mid-field handshakes.
After a scoreless opening quarter, junior Kalob Cooke ran in from two yards out on 1st-and-goal and senior Ismael Cuevas added the conversion kick. Willcox led 7-0, covering 81 yards in six plays using 2:14 on its initial second quarter possession.
The Cowboys covered 74 yards in seven plays using 3:15 during their next possession. Sophomore quarterback Robert Hill Jr. connected with junior DaMarion Jackson for a 19-yard score and Cuevas added the conversion kick. Willcox led 14-0 with 2:32 left in the first half.
Morenci turned the ball over on downs, on a quarterback sack, and on a punt before crossing the goal line. Senior Julien Aragon sprinted 41 yards to pay dirt on a second play 1st-and-10 and added the conversion run. The Wildcats trailed 8-14 with 2:17 remaining before the halftime break.
Willcox threw an incomplete pass on 4th-and-10 to turn the ball over on downs; Morenci covered 69 yards in three plays plus three penalties using 36 seconds to tie the score at 14-14 on a Jaymz Guzzo run; and Willcox ran out of time with the score knotted at halftime.
A scoreless third quarter ensued as Willcox punted on 4th-and-6 after five plays using 2:20; Morenci gained 62 yards in 10 plays plus was aided by two penalties, but turned the ball over on downs after a Willcox goal line stand from the one; Willcox gained 17 yards in six plays to end the third quarter; Willcox marched 36 yards in seven plays using 3:21 and culminating on a Hill to Jackson score; Morenci fumbled on 2nd-and-7 as Willcox recovered; Willcox gained four yards before kicking a field goal with 5:59 left to play; Morenci gained 65 yards before throwing an incomplete pass on 4th-and-14 to turn the ball over on downs; and Willcox ran down the final 3:08. Game over. Cowboys snap 12-game losing streak.
