Roughriders bound for Harbison Field
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Brandon Powell-coached Miami Vandals enter Lawson Stadium on Friday, Oct. 3. It is for a 2A East Region pairing, Morenci’s final home regular season game, and the 39th meeting since 1948.
The Wildcats have a 26-12-1 overall record, a 24-14 (921-552) average score per game, and a 7-1 Lawson Stadium mark over the Vandals. Miami’s previous two exits were 6-49 (Oct. 14, 2022) and 0-45 (Oct. 20, 2017).
Miami is currently 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the region, while Morenci is 4-2 and 1-0, respectively. Kick-off is 7 p.m.
MIAMI Vandals
The Vandals had an official student enrollment count of 287 for the 2024-25 school year.
Miami is 2-4 overall with an average score per game of 17-33 (100-197) or a 16-point deficit after six games. The Gila County boys defeated Tombstone (28-7, Aug. 22) and Santa Rita (64-0, Aug. 29) plus fell to Glendale Trivium Prep (0-35 Sept. 5), Globe (8-45, Sept. 12), Glendale Prep (8-45, Sept. 18), and Pima (0-55, Sept.26).
The Vandals list a 15-member roster with four seniors, six juniors, and five sophomores. The seniors include Jeffrey Askew (3), Celeste Claw (22), Kayden Harris (4), John McGaughey (50); juniors Ryder Guerrero (17), Trey Hernandez (12), Hector Mariscal (10), Caleb Shaffer (75), Kris Tarango (34), and Owen Uto (33); and sophomores Andrew Brown (99), Colter Hulbert (44), Sebastian Montano (34), Julio Rodriguez (11), and Jay Shoemaker (51).
Miami visits Morenci (Oct. 3), hosts Saint Johns (Oct. 10), and visits 2A Metro Region 1 Gilbert San Tan Charter (Oct. 17).
The Vandals are competing in the 5-member 2A East Region with the Globe Tigers (514), the Morenci Wildcats (367), the Pima Roughriders (357), and the Saint Johns Redskins (337).
MORENCI Wildcats
The Wildcats (4-2 overall, 1-0 region) are averaging a score of 23-15 (139-90) per game or an 8-point margin after six games. The Greenlee County boys defeated Safford (20-14, Aug. 22), Bisbee (26-0, Sept. 12), Globe (43-15, Sept. 19), and Benson (20-14, Sept. 25) 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 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).
GLOBE Tigers
The Tigers had an official student enrollment count of 514 for the 2024-25 school year.
Globe (3-3 overall, 1-2 region) is averaging a score per game of 25-28 (147-166) or a 3-point deficit after six 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), Morenci (15-43, Sept. 19), and Saint Johns (0-41, Sept. 26).
The Tigers host Pima (Oct. 3), visit 2A Metro Region 1 Gilbert Arete Prep (Oct. 10), and host 2A Independent Tucson Catalina (Oct. 17).
Globe lists a 33-member roster with five seniors, 15 juniors, eight sophomores, and five freshmen. Seniors include Herb Edwards (1), Jaeger Franco (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).
PIMA Roughriders
The Roughriders had an official student enrollment count of 357 for the 2024-25 school year. A new campus greeted the Graham County students at the start of 2025-26.
Pima (2-4 overall, 1-1 region) is averaging a score per game of 19-14 (115-82) or a 5-point margin after six games. The Gila County boys have wins over Tuba City (42-0, Aug. 29) and Miami (55-0, Sept. 26) plus fell to Scottsdale Christian (6-33, Aug. 21), Eagar Round Valley (0-36, Sept. 5), Willcox (0-7, Sept. 12), and Saint Johns (12-16).
The Roughriders list a 36-member roster with eight seniors, 12 juniors, seven sophomores, and nine freshmen. Seniors include Rooster Alder (11), Keegan Corona (22), Brett Flowers (61), Bryan Kelly (72), Garth Lunt (71), Dante McCray (73), Wade Peterson (44), and Charles Richardson (74); juniors Adam Bryce (23), Gilbert Bryce (1), Josh Bryce (55), Rhiley Good (60), Cedric Grimes (2), Jonathan Guerrero (52), Hollen Hoopes (78), Colt Lunt (45), Emmet McBiles (3), Case Mullenaux (66), Joe Palmer (42), and Hayden Wilkins (20); sophomores Roddy Allred (50), JoJo Bryce (62), Kaden Davis (8), Keegan Espinoza (7), Jax Haws (75), Ryett McBiles (10), and Mason Skinner (5); and freshmen Tucker Bryce (58), Jace Cameron (64), MacIan Duncan (16), Wyatt Elms (18), Ethan Lunt (81), Graham McBride (12), Landon Miner (25), Tanner Preston (65), and Brady McWhorter (85).
Pima visits Globe (Oct. 3), hosts Morenci (Oct. 10), and visits 2A Metro region 2 Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (Oct. 17).
The Roughriders are competing in the 5-member 2A East Region with the Globe Tigers (514), the Morenci Wildcats (367), the Miami Vandals (287), and the Saint Johns Redskins (337).
2A East Region Standings
Region standings as of Sept. 27 were Saint Johns (5-1 overall, 2-0 region), Morenci (4-2, 1-0), Pima (2-4, 1-1), Globe (3-3, 1-2), and Miami (2-3, 0-2).
To date in region play, it was Saint Johns over Pima (16-12, Sept. 19) and Globe (41-0, Sept. 26); Morenci over Globe (43-12, Sept. 19); Pima over Globe (55-0, Sept. 26); and Globe over Miami (45-8, Sept. 12).
This week in the 2A East Region, Saint Johns (4-1) hosts 2A North 2 Region Whiteriver Alchesay (4-2), Morenci (4-2) hosts Miami (2-4), and Pima (2-4) visits Globe (3-3).
Remaining region games are Saint Johns at Miami and Morenci at Pima on Oct. 10; and Morenci at Saint Johns on Oct. 17.
2A South 1 Region Standings
Region standing as of Sept. 27 were Tucson Tanque Verde (4-2 overall, 2-0 region), Bisbee (2-4, 1-0), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (3-3, 1-1), Tombstone (0-5, 0-1), and Tucson Santa Rita (0-6, 0-2).
The region pairings held to date had Tanque Verde over Palo Verde Magnet (69-0, Sept. 5) and Santa Rita (59-6, Sept. 26); Bisbee over Santa Rita (54-6, Sept. 19); and Palo Verde Magnet over Tombstone (32-18, Sept. 26).
This week in the 2A South Region 1, Tanque Verde (3-2) hosts Bisbee (2-4), Palo Verde Magnet (3-3) visits 2A Independent Tucson Catalina, and Tombstone (0-5) hosts Santa Rita (0-6).
Remaining region games are Tombstone at Bisbee, Palo Verde Magnet at Santa Rita on Oct. 10; and Tanque Verde at Tombstone and Bisbee at Palo Verde Magnet on Oct. 17.
2A South 2 Region Standings
Region standings as of Sept. 20 were Willcox (5-1 overall, 0-0 region), Tucson Desert Christian (3-2, 0-0), Benson (3-3, 0-0), and Eloy Santa Cruz (3-3, 0-0).
This week in the 2A South 2 Region, Willcox (5-1) hosts Desert Christian (3-2), and Benson (3-3) visits Santa Cruz (3-3).
Remaining region pairings include Willcox at Santa Cruz and Desert Christian at Benson on Oct. 10; and Benson at Willcox and Santa Cruz at Desert Christian on Oct. 17.
Morenci – 20, Benson – 14
The difference was a fourth-quarter touchdown scored by the visiting Wildcats, breaking a 14-14 deadlock with 4:56 left to play, along with forced turnovers on Benson’s two ensuing possessions, on a 4th-and-20 incomplete pass and a 4th-and-2 interception.
On the evening, Morenci averaged 15.0 (1-15) yards passing and 8.3 (46-268) yards rushing. The Wildcats scored three rushing touchdowns.
Benson averaged 14.5 (13-188) yards passing and 5.5 (20-109) yards rushing. The Bobcats scored once through the air and once on an end zone fumble recovery.
