Pima visits No. 46 Madison Highland as No. 11
By Raymundo Frasquillo
SAINT JOHNS – Mike Morgan Stadium is the site for the 2025 final 2A East Region pairing on Friday, Oct. 17. The Lon Dimbatt-coached No. 4 Saint Johns Redskins (7-1 ranking, 13.2113 rating) welcome the Frankie Gonzalez-coached No. 15 Morenci Wildcats (5-3, 6.0407) for a 7 p.m. kick-off.
It is the 10th meeting since 1992, with Saint Johns having a 6-3 overall record, 4-3 during non-play-off games, 2-1 at home, and an average score per game of 24-10 (219-130) or a 14-point margin.
The teams have played three common opponents in 2025: Pima, Globe, and Miami. The Redskins defeated Pima (16-12, Sept. 19) and shut out both Globe (41-0, Sept. 26) and Miami (59-0, Oct. 10), with an average score of 39-4 (116-12) or a 35-point margin per game.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats went 2-1 with wins over Globe (43-15, Sept. 19) and Miami (52-0, Oct. 3), and a loss to Pima (6-13, Oct. 10). The average score was 34-9 (101-28) or a 25-point margin.
Morenci’s eight previous opponents are a combined 33-30 overall, while the eight Redskin opponents are a combined 29-34.
Saint Johns has totaled 2,697 offensive yards, 8.7 (249-2,166) yards rushing, and 15.2 (35-531) yards on 35-65 passes with four interceptions. The Redskins have scored 47 touchdowns, 37 rushing, and 10 with passes.
Morenci has totaled 2,451 yards, 6.5 (323-2,111) yards rushing and 24.3 (14-340) yards passing on 14-40 passes with five interceptions. The Wildcats have scored 26 TDs, 23 rushing and three with passes.
Other games this week for 2A East Region members include No. 11 Pima (4-4, 7.2024) visiting No. 46 2A Metro Region 2 Phoenix Madison Highland (1-5, minus 15.8525), No. 20 Globe (4-4, minus 0.2832) hosting unranked 2A Independent Tucson Catalina (3-4, unrated), and No. 38 Miami (2-6, minus 9.0870) visiting No. 7 2A Metro 1 Region Gilbert San Tan Charter (7-1, 11.2104).
No. 4 SAINT JOHNS Redskins (13.2113 rating)
The Lon Dimbatt-coached Redskins had an official student enrollment count of 337 for the 2024-25 school year.
Saint Johns (7-1 overall, 3-0 region) is averaging a score per game of 46-9 (365-69) or a 37-point margin after eight games. The Apache County boys have wins over Kayenta Monument Valley (63-0, Aug. 22), Holbrook (67-12, Aug. 29), Eloy Santa Cruz (49-0, Sept. 5), Pima (16-12, Sept. 19), Globe (41-0, Sept. 26), Whiteriver Alchesay (49-7, Oct. 3), and Miami (59-0, Oct. 10) plus fell to Eagar Round Valley (21-38, Sept. 12).
The Redskins list a 29-member roster with 13 seniors, eight juniors, four sophomores, and four freshmen. Seniors include Adam Farmer (64), Cael Hancock (62), Oscar Jaramillo (8), Hector Mireles (69), Trace Nielsen (4), Jose Pena (26), Colten Platt (50), T Platt (7), Jude Raban (3), Bryson Slade (44), Carson Thomas (60), Malachi West (77), and Sam Winters (1); juniors Bridgen Heap (2), Cooper Travis Heap (19), Anthony Lahman (74), Nik Morales (55), Casiel Nunez (75), Alhan Tryon (6), Kaden Waite (10), Landon Willis (11); sophomores Mason Ellington (18), Carson Knight (84), Brigham Patterson (5), and Nico Pena (54); and freshmen Brant Hammond (33), Cooper Aaron Heap (9), Cooper Aaron Heap (15), and Cruz Hunt (70).
Saint Johns hosts Morenci (Oct. 17) to conclude its regular season.
The Redskins (337) are competing in the 5-member 2A East Region with the Globe Tigers (514), the Miami Vandals (287), the Morenci Wildcats (367), and the Pima Roughriders (357).
No. 15 MORENCI Wildcats (6.0407 rating)
The Wildcats (5-3 overall, 2-1 region) are averaging a score of 25-13 (196-103) per game or a 12-point margin after eight games. The Greenlee County boys defeated Safford (20-14, Aug. 22), Bisbee (26-0, Sept. 12), Globe (43-15, Sept. 19), Benson (20-14, Sept. 25), and Miami (52-0, Oct. 3) plus fell to Tucson Tanque Verde (16-24, Aug. 29), Willcox (14-23, Sept. 5), and Pima (6-13, Oct. 10).
Morenci lists a 38-member roster with 13 seniors, five juniors, 15 sophomores, and six freshmen. Seniors include Julian Aragon (13), Zachary 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), 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 Saint Johns (Oct. 17) to conclude its regular season.
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 standings as of Oct. 11 were Saint Johns (7-1 overall, 3-0 region), Pima (4-4, 3-1), Morenci (5-3, 2-1), Globe (4-4, 1-3), and Miami (2-6, 0-4).
To date in region play, it was Saint Johns over Pima (16-12, Sept. 19), Globe (41-0, Sept. 26), and Miami (59-0, Oct. 10); Pima over Miami (55-0, Sept. 26), Globe (42-0, Oct. 3), and Morenci (13-6, Oct. 10); Morenci over Globe (43-12, Sept. 19) and Miami (52-0, Oct. 3); and Globe over Miami (45-8, Sept. 12).
The remaining region games are Morenci at Saint Johns on Oct. 17.
2A South 1 Region Standings
Region standing as of Oct. 11 were Tucson Tanque Verde (6-2 overall, 3-0 region), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (5-3, 2-1), Bisbee (3-5, 2-1), Tombstone (1-6, 1-2), and Tucson Santa Rita (0-8, 0-4).
The region pairings held to date had Tanque Verde over Palo Verde Magnet (69-0, Sept. 5), Santa Rita (59-6, Sept. 26), and Bisbee (62-8, Oct. 3); Palo Verde Magnet over Tombstone (32-18, Sept. 26) and Santa Rita (0-77, Oct. 10); Bisbee over Santa Rita (54-6, Sept. 19) and Tombstone (46-0, Oct. 10); and Tombstone over Santa Rita (6-63, Oct. 3).
This week in the 2A South Region 1, No. 10 Tanque Verde (6-2 overall, 7.8191 rating) visits No. 44 Tombstone (1-6, minus 15.5061), No. 28 Palo Verde Magnet (5-3, minus 5.1381) hosts No. 33 Bisbee (3-5, minus 6.6378), and No. 50 Santa Rita (0-8, minus 25.1598) visits unranked 2A Independent San Carlos (4-3, unrated).
The remaining region games are Tanque Verde at Tombstone and Bisbee at Palo Verde Magnet on Oct. 17.
2A South 2 Region Standings
Region standings as of Oct. 11 were Willcox (7-1 overall, 2-0 region), Benson (5-3, 2-0), Tucson Desert Christian (3-3, 0-1), and Eloy Santa Cruz (3-4, 0-1).
To date in region pairings, it was Willcox over Desert Christian (58-0, Oct. 3) and Santa Cruz (42-23, Oct. 10); and Benson over Santa Cruz (28-26, Oct. 3) and Desert Christian (67-7, Oct. 10).
This week in the 2A South 2 Region, No. 6 Willcox (7-1 overall, 11.6343 rating) hosts No. 16 Benson (5-3, 5.9959), and No. 17 Santa Cruz (3-4, 1.8324) visits No. 36 Desert Christian (3-4, minus 8.4596).
Remaining region pairings include Benson at Willcox and Santa Cruz at Desert Christian on Oct. 17.
2A State Rankings
Rankings for the Top 24 of 51 2A teams as of Oct. 14 were Scottsdale Christian (8-0, 18.9808) No. 1, Phoenix Veritas Pre (8-0 overall, 17.8981 rating) No. 2, Phoenix Christian (7-1, 16.3294) No. 3, Saint Johns (7-1, 13.2113) No. 4, Camp Verde (7-1, 13.2113) No. 5, Willcox (7-1, 11.6343) No. 6, Gilbert San Tan Charter (7-1, 11.2104) No. 7, and Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (7-1, 10.0980) No. 8.
Chandler Prep (6-2, 7.9704) was No. 9, Tucson Tanque Verde (6-2, 7.8191) No. 10, Pima (4-4, 7.2024) No. 11, Glendale Prep (6-2, 6.5348) No. 12, Glendale Trivium Prep (5-3, 6.3459) No. 13, Parker (6-1, 6.2203) No. 14, Morenci (5-3, 6.0407) No. 15, and Benson (5-3, 5.9959) No. 16.
Eloy Santa Cruz (3-5, 0.5924) was No. 17, Chino Valley (4-4, 0.4860) No. 18, Holbrook (4-3, 0.4745) No. 19, Globe (4-4, minus 0.2832) No. 20, Tuba City (5-3, minus 0.7316) No. 21, Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (5-3, minus 0.8589) No. 22, Scottsdale Prep (3-5, minus 0.9806) No. 23, and Tonopah Valley (3-5, minus 1.5676) No. 24.
Pima – 13, Morenci – 6
A scoreless three-quarters’ deadlock was broken 58 seconds into the fourth quarter by Morenci. Senior Derick Lytle crossed the goal line from eight yards out on 4th-and-3. It culminated a 75-yard drive in 17 plays using 9:07. The conversion run was stopped but Morenci led 6-0 with 11:02 remaining.
Pima knotted the score less than two minutes later. Senior Rooster Alder galloped 35 yards into the end zone on a first down. The 65-yard drive used 1:56. The conversion kick was wide right, leaving the score tied 6-6 with 9:06 remaining.
Two additional possessions for both teams resulted in Morenci punting after three plays twice, Pima being intercepted, and the Roughriders mounting a 34-yard drive in seven plays using 2:43. Junior Joe Palmer ran in from two yards out on 2nd-and-goal, and junior Hayden Wilkins added the conversion kick with 13 seconds left.
Morenci’s ensuing possession ended with a first-down interception seven seconds later.
For the evening, Morenci averaged 5.4 (42-227) rushing and completed 0-5 passes with two interceptions, while Pima totaled 199 yards, averaging 5.9 (28-165) yards rushing and 10.1 (4-34) yards on 4-15 passes with three interceptions.
