Thatcher gridders bound for Pinal County
By Raymundo Frasquillo
ARIZONA – Duncan travels to San Manuel for a non-region pairing on Friday, Oct. 10. It is the sixth time the teams have met in the 8-man format, with the Miners holding a 4-1 advantage and an average score per game of 47-14 (233-72) or a 33-point margin.
San Manuel has wins of 46-14 (Oct. 9, 2020) on Packer Field, 38-8 (Sept. 3, 2021) at home, 40-18 (Sept. 2, 2022) on Packer Field, and 50-12 (Sept. 1, 2023) at home. Duncan broke the streak last season with a 22-16 (Sept. 6) home win.
Two common opponents have been faced by both teams, Ray and Saint David. The Minors went 0-2 with an average score of 16-46 (32-91) or a 30-point deficit, falling to Ray (26-28, Aug. 29) and Saint David (6-63, Sept. 5). The Wildkats were also 0-2 with a 7-50 (14-99) average score or a 43-point deficit, falling to Saint David (0-59, Sept. 12) and Ray (14-40).
Kick-off is 7 p.m.
1A No. 13 SAN MANUEL Miners (minus 1.9821 rating)
San Manuel (2-5 overall, 1-3 East Region for fourth of five) has averaged a score of 24-41 (168-290) per game or a 17-point deficit through seven games. The Miners have wins over Phoenic Valley Lutheran (54-24, Aug. 22) and Scottsdale Cicero Prep (42-16, Sept. 25) along with losses to Ray (26-28, Aug. 29), Saint David (6-63, Sept. 5), Glendale Desert Heights Prep (14-58, Sept. 12), Hayden (8-61, Sept. 19), and Superior (18-40, Oct. 3).
The Ernie Ivy-coached Miners have a 23-member roster with four seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores, and six freshmen. The seniors include Tanner Decker (7), Ivan Flores (33), Marcos Smith (52), and Kevin Waddell (11); juniors Derek Anaya (40), Nicholas Boulware (80), Frank Cline (78), Taylor Decker (16), Brody Fletcher (0), Daniel Najera (13), and Nick Perez (12); sophomores Lailah Barragon (1), Anthony Boisvine (20), Elijah Boisvine (44), Giorgio Carrillo (25), Damian Cervantes (77), and Nate Holley (2); and freshmen Ciete Garcia (10), Yanuel Herrera (14), Dillon Loya (3), Elias Madrid (67), Gabriel Valenzuela (8), and Isaac Zazueta (5).
San Manuel hosts Duncan (Oct. 10) and visits Baboquivari (Oct. 17).
Ivy returns following a 2-year (2024-25) break as the head coach when the Miners were 23-13 overall and 16-5 region during the four (2019-23) previous seasons.
San Manuel is competing in the 5-team 1A East Region with the Ray Bearcats, the Scottsdale Cicero Prep Centurions, the Superior Panthers, and the Winkelman Hayden Lobos.
1A No. 12 DUNCAN Wildkats (minus 1.6875 rating)
Duncan (3-4 overall, 2-2 South Region for third of five) is averaging a score of 33-39 (228-271) per game or a 6-point deficit through seven games. The Wildkats have wins over Fort Thomas (70-28, Aug. 29), Dishchii’bikoh (72-14, Sept. 19), and Baboquivari (50-20) plus losses to New Mexico Lordsburg (16-58, Aug. 22), Elfrida Valley Union (6-52, Sept. 5), Saint David (0-59, Sept. 12), and Ray (14-40, Oct. 3).
The Dan Coats-coached Wildkats visit the San Manuel Miners (Oct. 10) and the Mayer Wildcats (Oct. 17).
Duncan lists an 18-man roster with six seniors, six juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen. The seniors include Ky Coats (67), Joseph Contreras (52), Joshua Free (65), Taygan Jensen (5), Pablo Ruiz (7), and Lucas Soohy (76); juniors Jarren Butler (55), Conner Free (11), Billy Johnson (63), Dayton Penry (1), Aaron Zamora (80), and Lloyd Weinreich (88); sophomores Mark Bejarano (10), Karson Lacey (4), and Drake Waters (36); and freshmen Max Barker (35), Killian Galvin (50), and Cade Stephens (37).
The Wildkats are 5-18 overall, 4-12 region, and 5-9 at home under Coach Coats.
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, and the Sells Baboquivari Warriors.
1A South Region
Region standings as of Sept. 20 had Saint David (6-1 overall, 3-0 region), Elfrida Valley Union 43-2, 3-1), Duncan (3-4, 2-2), Fort Thomas (1-6, 1-2), and Sells Baboquivari (0-7, 0-4).
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), Baboquivari (52-0, Sept. 19), and Fort Thomas (66-0, Oct. 3); Duncan over Fort Thomas (70-28, Aug. 29) and Baboquivari (50-20, Sept. 26); and Fort Thomas over Baboquivari (38-0, Aug. 22).
This week, the 8-man 1A South Region has Saint David (6-1) visiting Fort Thomas (1-6), Valley Union (3-2) hosting 1A North Mayer (1-4), Duncan (3-4) visiting 1A East Region San Manuel (2-5), and Baboquivari (0-7) with a bye.
1A State Rankings
The state ranking for the Top 16 of 20 1A teams as of Oct. 7 were Winkelman Hayden (7-0 overall, 16.0221 rating) No. 1, Bagdad (4-0, 12.8322) No. 2, Saint David (6-1, 10.3803) No. 3, Kearny Ray (6-1, 5.8341) No. 4, Superior (5-2, 5.6248) No. 5, Heber Mogollon (5-2, 5.4755) No. 6, Glendale Desert Heights Prep (5-2, 5.2675) No. 7, and Elfrida Valley Union (4-2, 4.2418) No. 8.
Williams (4-3, 3.1388) was No. 9, Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (4-3, minus 0.0140) No. 10, Salome (3-4, minus 1.0639) No. 11, Duncan (3-4, minus 1.6875) No. 12, San Manuel (2-5, minus 1.9836) No. 13, Joseph City (3-3, minus 2.1936) No. 14, Scottsdale Cicero Prep (2-4, minus 5.0911) No. 15, and Mayer (1-4, minus 6.3060) No. 16.
3A No. 4 THATCHER Eagles (14.0706 rating)
Thatcher officially had a student enrollment count of 562 for the 2024-25 school year and was 43-17 overall, 18-4 region, 23-8 at home, and 7-5 in the post-season while averaging a 32-18 (1,922-1,075) score per game or a 14-point margin under Daniel Jones (2020-24).
The Eagles (4-1 overall, 2-0 East Region for first of five) are averaging a score of 33-16 (198-95) per game or a 17-point margin through six games. The Eagles have wins over 3A Metro Region Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (41-29, Aug. 22), 3A Mountain Region Apache Junction (47-0, Augt.28), Florence (21-18), Pusch Ridge Christian (28-14), and Safford (49-7, Oct. 3). The loss was to 3A Metro Region Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (12-27, Sept. 5).
Thatcher has a 45-member roster that includes 17 seniors, 15 juniors, and 13 sophomores. The seniors are Braden Bryce (3), Jackson Bryce (5), Ethan Griffin (81), Chad Johnson (17), Ryan Jones (8), Travis Larson (66), Smith Mangum (30), Luke Marble (25), Josiah Matagaono (0), Trevyn Murphy (12), Brigham Palmer (6), Sebastian Randall (26), Landon Robbins (62), Dylan Riney (31), Vance Shill (79), Tanner Smith (22), and Kannon Windsor (56); juniors Vincent Bejarano (52), Hunter Burkett (13), Hudson Conrad (1), Teagan Damron (28), Kaesen Estes (67), Ethan Hayes (21), Brock Innes (65), Ryzer Jaquez (9), Josh Jones (24), Grady Lehmann (55), Sepharoth Quintero (4), Branden Rios (73), Brig Romney (32), Wyatt Swyers (59), and Tufden Taylor (10); and sophomores Archer Carlton (40), Holston Conrad (58), Boston Echols (11), Marco Martinez (16), Mason Mack (27), Ritter Smouse (20), Clancy Mullenaux (54), Joshua Nicholas (74), Andres Nunez (18), Kase Palmer (15), Ryker Romero (2), Jax Shupe (14), and Kash Williams (7).
The Daniel Jones-coached Eagles visit the San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills Sabercats (Oct. 10), host the 3A Mountain Region Payson Longhorns (Oct. 17) and the Sabino Sabercats (Oct. 17), and visit the Coolidge Bears (Oct. 31).
Thatcher is facing No. 29 San Tan Foothills (0-6 overall, minus 13.3735 rating) for a third time under Jones. The prior two meetings resulted in wins of 49-7 (Oct. 8, 2021) in San Tan Valley and 39-13 (Nov. 8, 2020) on John Mickelson Field.
The Eagles are competing in the 7-member 3A South Region with the Coolidge Bears (882), the Florence Gophers (858), the Safford Bulldogs (620), the San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills Sabercats (819), the Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Lions (428), and the Tucson Sabino Sabercats (867).
3A East Region Standings
Region standing as of Oct. 4 were Thatcher (5-1 overall, 3-0 region), Tucson Push Ridge Christian (6-1, 3-1), Tucson Sabino (3-4, 2-1), Florence (2-4, 1-2), Coolidge (4-3, 1-2), Safford (2-5, 1-2), and San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (0-6, 0-3).
To date in region contests, it was Thatcher over Florence (21-18, Sept. 12), Pusch Ridge (28-14, Sept. 26), and Safford (49-7, Oct. 3); Pusch Ridge over San Tan Foothills (53-10, Aug. 23), Florence (39-27, Sept. 19), and Sabino (27-8, Oct. 3); Sabino over (Coolidge 60-12, Sept. 12) and San Tan Foothills (67-51, Sept. 18); Florence over Coolidge (27-2, Sept. 26); Coolidge over Safford (28-14, Sept. 18); and Safford over San Tan Foothills (20-0, Sept. 26).
This week in 3A South Region pairings, Thatcher (5-1) visits San Tan Foothills (0-6), Pusch Ridge hosts Coolidge (4-3), Florence (2-4) visits 3A West Region Phoenix Shadow Mountain (3-4), and both Sabino (3-4) and Safford (2-5) have a bye.
Remaining region contests include Thatcher at San Tan Foothills and Coolidge at Pusch Ridge on Oct. 10; Sabino at Florence and Pusch Ridge at Safford on Oct. 17; Sabino at Thatcher, Florence at Safford, and San Tan Foothills at Coolidge on Oct. 24; and Thatcher at Coolidge, Safford at Sabino, and Florence at San Tan Foothills on Oct. 31.
3A State Rankings
The state ranking for the Top 24 of 31 3A teams as of Oct. 7 was Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (7-0 overall, 24.4287 rating), No. 1, Chandler Valley Christian (6-1, 18.) No. 2, Eagar Round Valley (5-1, 18.5914) No. 3, Thatcher (5-1, 14.0706) No. 4, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (6-1, 13.2303) No. 5, Gilbert Christian (6-1, 13.0361) No. 6, Payson (6-1, 12.9937) No. 7, and Show Low (5-1, 12.3350) No. 8.
Queen Creek Crismon (3-3, 8.3324) was No. 9, Lakeside Blue Ridge (3-3, 8.1431) No. 10, Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (3-4, 7.8969) No. 11, Page (4-2, 6.3596) No. 12, Mohave Valley River Valley (4-3, 6.0903) No. 13, Florence (2-4, 3.7239) No. 14, Tucson Sabino (3-4, 3.5688) No. 15, and Chinle (4-2, 2.7527) No. 16.
Coolidge (4-3, 2.4515) was No. 17, Buckeye Odyssey Institute (4-3, 1.4954) No. 18, Ganado (5-2, 1.1731) No. 19, El Mirage Dysart (3-4, 0.7545) No. 20, Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (2-4, minus 1.9818) No. 21, American Leadership – Mesa North (2-5, minus 2.1321) No. 22, Kingman (3-4, minus 3.8476) No. 23, and Safford (2-5, minus 4.4929) No. 24.
Ray – 40, Duncan – 14
Junior Dayton Penry scored midway through the second quarter to light up the hosts’ side of the scoreboard, after turning the ball over on their first four possessions. The Wildkats punted on 4th-and-15 and 4th-and-35, were intercepted on 2nd-and-9, and turned it over on downs.
Meanwhile, Ray scored 20 unanswered points and punted once, on 4th-and-9. Duncan managed eight second-half points to the visiting Bearcats’ additional 20.
For the game, Duncan averaged 15.8 (6-95) yards passing and 1.8 (33-59) yards rushing. The Wildkats completed 6-15 passes for 95 yards with an interception. The touchdowns were once both passing and rushing.
On the other side of Packer Field, the Bearcats averaged 12.3 (14-172) yards passing and 121.4 (22-273) yards rushing. Three TDs were recorded with both passing and rushing, while conversions were with two kicks and a run.
