Morenci meets Globe on Harbison Field
By Raymundo Frasquillo
DUNCAN – The Delbin Endfield-coached Dishcii’bikoh Wildcats will enter Packer Field on Friday, Sept. 19. The Wildcats (0-0 overall, 0-0 independent) are suiting up for their only scheduled contest listed for 2025. Kick-off is 7 p.m.
The Brady Hoff-coached Globe Tigers (3-1) host the Frankie Gonzalez-coached Morenci Wildcats (2-2) on Sept. 19. The pairing is a 2A East Region counter on Harbison Field. Morenci leads the series 18-9-1 with an average score per game of 23-14 (656-391) or a 9-point margin since 1947. Kick-off is 7 p.m.
DISHCHII’BIKOH Wildcats
Dishchii’bikoh has fielded 12 teams from 2006-24, posted records of 4-60-1 overall, 0-8 section, 0-28-1 region, and 3-22 at home; and averaged a score per game of 12-47 (770-3,082) or a 35-point deficit through 65 games.
Five losses have resulted to the Wildkats, 0-1 (Oct. 5, 2007), 6-49 (Oct. 9, 2009), 0-60 (Sept. 7, 2019), 16-50 (Oct. 2, 2021), and 6-62 (Oct. 7, 2022). The average score per game was 6-44 (28-222) or a 36-point deficit.
The current seniors, if played as freshmen, were 1-5 overall and 0-5 in the 1A Easst Region during 2022. They averaged a 10-59 (62-351) score per game or a 49-point deficit
DUNCAN Wildkats
The Scarlet and Gray averaged 13.8 (6-83) yards per catch and 6.6 (16-105) yards per rush as a touchdown and three TDs were scored, respectively, during the previous meeting with the Wildcats. Two interception returns, a punt return, and a kick-off return along with six conversion passes were also part of Duncan’s scoring.
Duncan (1-3 overall, 1-0 region) is averaging a score of 23-39 (92-254) per game or a 16-point deficit through four games. The Wildkats topped Fort Thomas (70-28, Aug. 29) and fell to New Mexico Lordsburg (16-58, Aug. 22), Elfrida Valley Union (6-52, Sept. 5), and Saint David (0-59, Sept. 12).
The Wildkats host the Dishchii’bikoh Wildcats (Sept. 19), the Baboquivari Warriors (Sept. 26) and the Ray Bearcats (Oct. 3), and visit the San Manuel Miners (Oct. 10) and the Mayer Wildcats (Oct. 17).
Duncan lists a 16-man roster with six seniors, five juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors include Ky Coats (67), Joseph Contreras (52), Joshua Free (65), Taygan Jensen (5), Pablo Ruiz (7), andLucas Soohy (76); juniors Jarren Butler (55), Conner Free (11), Billy Johnson (63), Dayton Penry (1), and Aaron Zamora (80); sophomores Mark Bejarano (10), Karson Lacey (4), and Drake Waters (36); and freshmen Max Barker (35) and Cade Stephens (37).
Dan Coats (2-13 overall, 4-12 region, 2-7 at home) is in his third year as the head coach.
Duncan is competing in the 5-team 1A South Region with the Elfrida Valley Union Blue Devils, the Fort Thomas Apaches, the Saint David Tigers, the Sells Baboquivari Warriors.
1A South Region
Region standings as of Sept. 13 had Saint David (5-0 overall, 3-0 region), Elfrida Valley Union (2-2, 1-1), Fort Thomas (1-4, 1-1), Duncan (1-3, 1-2), and Sells Baboquivari (0-4, 0-2).
To date, region pairings have Saint David over Valley Union (58-0, Aug. 22), Baboquivari (59-0, Aug. 29), and Duncan (59-0, Sept. 12); Valley Union over Duncan (52-6, Sept. 5), and Duncan over Fort Thomas (70-28, Aug. 29).
This week, the 8-man 1A South Region has Valley Union (2-2) visiting Baboquivari (0-4) and Duncan (1-3) hosting Dishchii’bikoh (0-0).
Saint David (5-0) shutout Salome (2-3) 64-0 and Fort Thomas (1-4) fell 6-34 to Superior (4-1) on Sept. 18.
GLOBE Tigers
The Tigers had an official student enrollment count of 514 for the 2024-25 school year.
Globe is 3-1 overall with an average score per game of 33-21 (132-82) or a 12-point margin after three games. The Gila County boys defeated Whiteriver Alchesay (24-20, Aug. 22), San Carlos (49-20, Sept. 5), and Miami (45-8, Sept. 12) plus fell to Eloy Santa Cruz (14-34, Aug. 29).
The Tigers host Morenci (Sept. 19), visit Saint Johns (Sept. 26), host Pima (Oct. 3), visit Gilbert Arete Prep (Oct. 10), and host Tucson Catalina(Oct. 17).
Globe lists a 33-member roster with five seniors, 15 juniors, eightsophomores, and five freshmen. Seniors include Herb Edwards (1), JaegerFranco (2), Kaden Graham (44), Alex Holms (13), and Angel Olvera (65);juniors Corban Bejarano (12), Sam Cassa (74), Reymondo Cassadore (11), Justin Dale (66), Connor Dean (78), Caden Dryden (73), Karmyne Dude (18), Nick Enfield (40), Kaden Flores (21), Heber Hansen (27), Greyson Kruger (57), Davien Lagunas (60), Jordy Nieto (23), Demarkus Phillips (61), and David Ramos (4); sophomores Matthew Casey (50), Isaac Iron Shell (63), Ben Layton (3), Tavie Osorio (25), Landon Rios (5), Zander Shirley (7), Braden Wagner (8), and Michael Williams (77); and freshmen Alan Angeles (64), Kach Cormack (35), Devon De La Torre (22), Markitos Franco (6), and Matt Hollis (33).
The Tigers are competing in the 5-member 2A East Region with the Morenci Wildcats (514), the Miami Vandals (287), the Pima Roughriders (357), and the Saint Johns Redskins (337).
MORENCI Wildcats
Morenci is 11-1 during the most recent dozen pairings and 5-0 in the 21st Century versus the Globe Tigers. A current 6-game win streak includes scores of 34-0 (Sept. 30, 1973) in Globe, 28-0 (Sept. 30, 2011) in Lawson Stadium, 27-6 (Sept. 28, 2012) in Globe, 51-6 (Oct. 16, 2015) in Globe, 55-0 (Sept. 10) on Harbison Field, and 56-0 (Sept. 30, 2022) in Lawson Stadium with an average score per game of 42-2 (251-12) or a 40-point margin.
The Wildcats (2-2 overall, 0-0 region) are averaging a score of 19-15(76-61) per game or a 2-poin margin after four games. The Greenlee County boys defeated Safford (20-14, Aug. 22) and Bisbee (26-0, Sept. 12) plus 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 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 5-member 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. 13 were Globe (4-1 overall, 1-0 region), Saint Johns (3-1, 0-0), Miami (2-3, 0-1), Morenci (2-2, 0-0), and Pima (1-3, 0-0).
To date in region play, Globe defeated Miami (45-8, Sept. 12).
This week in the 2A East Region, Globe (3-1) hosts Morenci (2-2) andSaint Johns (3-1) visits Pima (1-3).
Miami (2-3) was blanked 0-55 by Glendale Prep (3-2) on Sept. 18.
2A South 1 Region Standings
Region standing as of Sept. 13 were Tucson Tanque Verde (3-2 overall, 1-0 region), Bisbee (1-3, 0-0), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (1-3, 0-1), Tombstone (0-3), 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, Bisbee (1-3) hosts Santa Rita (0-4), Palo Verde Magnet (1-3) hosts Scottsdale Coronado (1-2), and Tombstone (0-3) visits Willcox (3-1).
Tanque Verde (3-2) shutout Glendale Trivium Prep (4-1) 38-0 on Sept. 18.
2A South 2 Region Standings
Region standing as of Sept. 13 were Benson (3-1, 0-0), Tucson Desert Christian (3-1, 0-0), Willcox (3-1, 0-0), and Eloy Santa Cruz (3-1, 0-0 region).
This week in the 2A South 2 Region, Benson (2-1) hosts Phoenix VeritasPrep (2-1), Desert Christian (2-1) hosts San Carlos (2-1), Willcox (3-1) hosts Tombstone (0-3), and Santa Cruz (3-1) hosts Phoenix Christian (4-0).
3A South Region Standings
Region standing as of Sept. 18 were Tucson Push Ridge Christian (4-0 overall, 1-0 region), Thatcher (3-1, 1-0), Tucson Sabino (3-2, 2-0), Coolidge (3-2, 1-1), Safford (1-4, 0-1), Florence (1-3, 0-1), and San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (0-5, 0-2).
To date in region contests, Pusch Ridge defeated San Tan Foothills (53-12, Aug. 23), Thatcher defeated Florence (21-18, Sept. 12), Sabino defeated (Coolidge 60-12, Sept. 12) and San Tan Foothills (67-51, Sept. 18), and Coolidge defeated Safford (28-14, Sept. 18).
This week in 3A South Region pairings, Pusch Ridge (4-0) hostsFlorence (1-3) and Thatcher (3-1) has a bye
Saint David – 59, Duncan – 0
Duncan played 23 games since its previous shutout, also to the Tigers (0-52, Sept. 9, 2022) but on Packer Field. Before that, the Wildkats scored in34 games since being blanked by Glendale Trivium Prep (Sept. 8, 2017), also on Packer Field; and scored in 16 since not crossing the goal line against the Tigers (0-58, Sept. 18, 2017) in Saint David.
Since switching to the 8-man format in 2003, Duncan has played 87 games. A total of 26 shutouts have been posted, 15 defensive (wins) versus11 offensive (losses).
Morenci – 26, Bisbee – 0
Thirty minutes were played with Bisbee in Lawson Stadium. The score was 26-0 before lightning caused a half hour delay six minutes into the second half. It was not the Pumas lacking confidence in scoring that resulted in them throwing in the towell. Something about consecutive allowable behind-the-wheel time for the bus driver played a large part in the decision to call the game.
Bisbee received the second half kick, totaled 40 yards on five plays plus a 15-yard penalty using 2:55, and was intercepted on 1st-and-10 by senior Jaymz Guzzo. Morenci drove 30 yards in four plays plus a 15-yard penaltyusing 3:05 before the lightning delay was declared.
Morenci scored on its first three possessions plus on an interception return while the visiting Pumas punted on 4th-and-9, were intercepted on 3rd-and-5, punted on 4th-and-14, and punted on 4th-and-31.
The Wildcats received the opening kick, covered 65 yards in six plays using 2:52. Sophomore Deegan Miller connected with Guzzo for a 29-yard touchdown on 4th-and-3 (6-0).
Morenci covered 42 yards in seven plays using 4:43 as senior Julien Aragon stepped in from two yards out (12-0); Guzzo intercepted a pass, scampered 35 yards to pay dirt, and the Miller to Guzzo connection added another two points (20-0); and the Wildcats covered 80 yards in 11 plays using 5:34 as Aragon scooted 21 yards on 3rd-and-4 (26-0).
On the evening, Bisbee was limited to 172 total offensive yards and kept out of the end zone despite averaging 9.4 (11-107) yards rushing and 10.8 (6-65) yards passing.
Meanwhile, Morenci netted 246 offensive yards, averaged 7.3 (22-161) yards rushing and 28.3 (3-85) yards passing, and scored twice on the run, once with a reception, once on an interception return, and on a conversion pass.
