Packer Field Kats host Scorpions on Friday

Morenci welcomes unbeaten Cowboys

By Raymundo Frasquillo

DUNCAN – The Dan Coats-coached Duncan Wildkats (1-1 overall) host the 1A North Region Sedona Red Rock Scorpions (0-2) on Friday, Sept. 4. The kick-off for the inaugural meeting is 7 p.m. on Packer Field.

Valley Union was initially scheduled as the opponent this week, but, the Blue Devils are fielding only a junior varsity team.

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: The Pride Band practices for its season debut a final time under the lights in Lawson Stadium. Fairbanks musicians will be joining the high school group.*

Duncan has a 14-48 loss to New Mexico Lordsburg (Aug. 20) and 28-14 win over Fort Thomas while Red Rock has losses of 8-34 to Scottsdale Cicero Prep/North Phoenix Prep (Aug. 21) and 0-1 (forfeit) to Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (Aug. 28).

1A Duncan Wildkats (1-1)

The Wildkats have a seeding win over Fort Thomas (28-14, Aug. 28) and loss to New Mexico Lordsburg (20-48, Aug. 21).

Duncan hosts host the 1A North Region Sedona Red Rock Scorpions (Sept. 4), the Saint David Tigers (Sept. 11), and 1A Independent Phoenix Maryvale Prep Matadors (Sept. 18), visit the Sells Baboquivari Warriors (Sept. 25) and the 1A East Region Kearny Ray Bearcats (Oct. 2), and host the 1A East Region San Manuel Miners (Oct. 9) and the 1A East Region Winkelman Hayden Lobos (Oct. 16).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Tanque Verde (LEFT) and Morenci captains introduce themselves at mid-field prior to the start of the game. The Hawks were junior Rowan Carter (88), senior Asher Lodge (69), junior Mason Sandowski (6), senior T.J. Johnson and (75) while the Wildcats were sophomore Kyson Abril (4), freshman Samuel Alvarez (7), freshman Josiah Vidales (21), and junior David Licano (78).

The Wildkats are competing in the 5-team 1A South Region with Elfrida Valley Union Blue Devils, the Fort Thomas Apaches, the Saint David Tigers, and the Sells Baboquivari Warriors.

The Wildkats are 7-20 overall under fourth-year (2023-26) head coach Dan Coats.

1A Fort Thomas Apaches (0-2)

The Apaches have seeding losses to Salome (0-50, Aug. 21) and Duncan (14-28, Aug. 28).

Fort Thomas visits the Sells Baboquivari Warriors (Sept. 4), hosts the 1A West Region Glendale Desert Heights Prep Coyotes (Sept. 11) and 1A East Region Superior Panthers (Sept. 18), visit the 1A East Region Kearny Ray Bearcats (Sept. 25), hosts the Elfrida Valley Union Blue Devils (Oct. 2), and visits the Saint David Tigers (Oct. 9) and the 1A Independent Phoenix Maryvale Prep Matadors (Oct. 16).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Luz Hernandez (0) nearly gets the hand-off from Tanque Verde senior quarterback Nate Hallums (3). Instead, the Morenci junior tackled junior Josh Lloyd (30) behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. Hernandez also made another tackle for a loss, recorded a sack and a half, and had two hurries on the evening.

The Apaches are 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.

Fort Thomas is 5-22 overall under fourth-year (2023-26) head coach under Evan Stringfellow

1A South Region

The region standing after two weeks of competition are Saint David (2-0 overall, 1-0 region), Duncan (1-1, 1-0), Sells Baboquivari (0-1, 0-1), and Fort Thomas (0-2, 0-1).

Region pairings to date include Saint David over Baboquivari (90-6, Aug. 28) and Duncan over Fort Thomas (28-14, Aug. 28).

This week, Saint David (2-0) visits Colorado 8-Man Mountain League Mancos (1-0), Duncan host 1A North Region Sedona Red Rock (0-2), and Baboquivari (0-1) hosts Fort Thomas (0-2).

2A Morenci Wildcats (1-1)

Morenci has a seeding win over Tucson Tanque Verde (14-7, Aug. 28) and loss to Safford (0-44, Aug. 20).

The Wildcats host the 2A South 2 Region Willcox Cowboys (Sept. 4), visit the 2A South 1 Region Bisbee Pumas (Sept. 11), host the Globe Tigers (Sept. 18) and the 2A South 2 Region Benson Bobcats (Sept. 25), visit the Miami Vandals (Oct. 2), and host the Pima Roughriders (Oct. 9) and the Saint Johns Redskins (Oct. 16).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: James Davis V (59) applies pressure to Tanque Verde senior quarterback Nate Hallums (3). The Morenci junior limited Hallums to 76 yards on 3-12 passes with two interceptions and a touchdown.

There are 44 Wildcats on the roster, including four seniors, 13 juniors, and 10 sophomores, and 17 freshmen. The seniors Joel Baca (28), Mason Clark (17), Camron Dodson (55), and Hector Vasquez (22); juniors Jacob Bracamonte (3), Brennen Burkhead (1), Jeremya Cruz (8), James Davis V (59), Luz Hernandez (0), David Licano (78), Zane McArdle (72), Braxton Merrill (10), Deegan Miller (12), Joseph Rodriguez (23), Joshwa Sandoval (9), Loghan Syzmanski (75), and Nathaniel Tedla (40); sophomores Kyson Abril (4), Andres Aguilera (51), Enrique Bencomo (66), Konner Bigman (60), Daniel Gray (74), Bryden Herrera (77), Leo Hernandez (53), Ceejay Madrid (50), Damian Paz (11), and Santi Sanchez (65); and freshmen E.J. Alvarez (24), Samuel Alvarez (7), Malachi Armijo (56), Gunner Barron (5), Brody Beebe (20), Noah Biggs (70), Kalib Estrada (79), Alex DeLa Torre (44), Cayden Maldonado (52), Brayden Mason (2), Adam Moreno (13), Brody Rogers (18), Ruel Rogers IV (6), Owen Steinberg (68), Josiah Vidales (21), Jeremiah Wesley (80), and Marcus Wile (58).

Morenci is competing in the 5-team 2A East Region with the Globe Tigers, the Miami Vandals, the Pima Roughriders, and the Saint Johns Redskins.

The Wildcats are 11-13 overall under third-year (2024-26) Morenci head coach Frankie Gonzalez.

2A Pima Roughriders (1-1)

Pima has a seeding win over Tombstone (36-12, Aug. 28) a loss to Scottsdale Christian (7-32, Aug. 21).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Deegan Miller (12) scrambles for some yards, averaging 4.6 (5-23) yards per carry. Defensively, the Morenci junior returned an intercept 60 yards for a touchdown.

The Roughriders visit the 2A North Region Eagar Round Valley Elks (Sept. 4), the 2A South 2 Region Willcox Cowboys (Sept. 11), and Saint Johns Redskins (Sept. 18), host the Miami Vandals (Sept. 25) and the Globe Tigers (Oct. 2), visit the Morenci Wildcats (Oct. 9), and host the 2A Metro 2 Region Sierra Vista American Leadership Guardians (Oct. 16).

There are 36 Roughriders on the roster, including 11 seniors, nine juniors, nine sophomores, and seven freshmen. The seniors Adam Bryce (23), Gilbert Bryce (1), Josh Bryce (55), Cedrick Grimes (2), Jonathan Guerrero (52), Hollen Hoopes (77), Colt Lunt (51), Emmet McBiles (3), Case Mullenaux (72), Joe Palmer (42), and Haydn Wilkins (20); juniors Roddy Allred (32), JoJo Bryce (62), Kaiden Davis (8), Jaxon Donham (56), Keegan Espinoza (7), Jax Haws (75), Ryker Kartchner (74), Ryett McBiles (10), and Mason Skinner (5); sophomores Tucker Bryce (78), Jace Cameron (73), Maclan Duncan (16), Reuben Gutierrez (65), Ethan Lunt (50), Graham McBride (12), Brady McWhorter (88), Landon Miner (18), and Tanner Preston (66); and freshmen Heston Alder (11), Jack Bryce (71), Leo Bryce (22), Cason Elias (61), Caiden McEuen (44), Miles Taylor (58), and Caycen Walker (60).

Pima is competing in the 5-team 2A East Region with the Globe Tigers, the Miami Vandals, the Morenci Wildcats, and the Saint Johns Redskins.

The Roughriders are 34-8 overall under fifth-year (2022-26) head coach Josh Wilkins.

2A Willcox Cowboys (2-0)

Willcox has seeding wins over Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (56-0, Aug. 21) and Arizona Lutheran (34-14, Aug. 28).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Joshwa Sandoval (9) wraps up the ball as a tackle is made. The Morenci junior averaged 4.5 (8-36) yards per carry behind the blocks of Joel Baca (28) and Jeremya Cruz (8).

The Cowboys visit the 2A East Region Morenci Wildcats (Sept. 4), host the 2A East Region Pima Roughriders (Sept. 11), visit the 2A South Region 1 Tombstone Yellow Jackets (Sept. 18), the 2A Metro 2 Region Scottsdale Prep Spartans (Sept. 25), and the Tucson Desert Christian Eagles (Oct. 2), host the Eloy Santa Cruz Dust Devils (Oct. 9), and visit the Benson Bobcats (Oct. 16).

There are 24 Cowboys on the roster, including seven seniors, 12 juniors, four sophomores, and a freshman. The seniors are Alan Allred (50), Casey Cobeen (9), Caleb Cooke (6), Da’Marion Jackson (11), Anthony Morales (7), Eli Nelson (2), and Rhett Rogers (10); juniors Wyatt Cooke (56), Jacob Green (52), Robert Hill Jr. (5), Tyler Larson (73), Nathan Moore (12), Omar Moreno (20), Christian Nolan (44), Steele Romney (22), Ruger Todd (77), Asher Ward (21), Carsen Warner (4), and Carl Wyatt (72); sophomores Aden Berger (66), Daniel Burkhead (19), Brenden Douglas (64), and Zander Klump (13); and freshman Levi McWilliams (67).

Willcox is competing in the 4-team 2A South 2 Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Eloy Santa Cruz Dust Devils, and the Tucson Desert Christian Eagles.

The Cowboys are 2-0 overall under first-year Willcox head coach Steven Ward.

2A East Region

Region standings as of Aug. 29 were Saint Johns (2-0 overall, 0-0 region), Pima (1-1, 0-0), Morenci (1-1, 0-0), Globe (0-2. 0-0), and Miami (1-1, 0-0).

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Braxton Merrill (10) plants his left foot as he kicks-off after the Wildcats scored. The Morenci junior averaged 19 (3-57) yards per kick.*

This week, Saint Johns (2-0) visits 2A South 2 Region Eloy Santa Cruz (2-0), Pima (1-1) visits 3A Mountain Region Eagar Round Valley (2-0), Morenci (1-1) hosts 2A South 2 Region Willcox (2-0), Globe (0-2) hosts 2A Independent San Carlos (0-2), and Miami (1-1) hosts 2A Metro 1 Gilbert Arete Prep (0-2).

2A South 2 Region

Region standings as of Aug. 29 were Willcox (2-0, 0-0), Eloy Santa Cruz (2-0, 0-0), Benson (3-0, 0-0), and Tucson Desert Christian (0-2, 0-0).

This week, Willcox (2-0) visits 2A East Region Morenci (1-1), Santa Cruz (2-0) hosts 2A East Region Saint Johns (2-0), and Desert Christian (0-2) hosts 2A South 1 Region Tucson Santa Rita (0-2). Benson (3-0) defeated 2A South 1 Region Tombstone (49-3, Sept. 3).

3A Safford Bulldogs (2-0)

Safford has seeding wins over Morenci (44-0, Aug. 20) and Lakeside Blue Ridge (21-0, Aug. 28).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: The defense up front of left tackle Joel Baca (28), nose guard Joseph Rodriguez (23), and right tackle Zane McArdle (72) coupled with linebackers James Davis V (59) and Luz Hernandez (0) did not allow Tanque Verde to gain a first down or score on its final possession. The final pass was deflected by cornerback Jacob Bracamonte (3) short of its intended receiver with under 24 seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs visit the 3A Metro Region Chandler Seton Catholic Prep Sentinels (Sept. 4), host the 3A North Region Winslow Bulldogs (Sept. 11) and Coolidge Bears (Sept. 18), visit the San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills Sabercats (Sept. 25), host the Thatcher Eagles (Oct. 1), visit the Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Lions (Oct. 16) and the Florence Gophers (Oct. 23), and host the Tucson Sabino Sabercats (Oct. 29).

There are 34 Bulldogs on the roster, including nine seniors, 12 juniors, 11 sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors Boston Arbizo (55), Andrew Baker (26), Aaron Barnes (4), Mario Chavez (50), Mateo Chavez (5), Jacob Gomez (56), Lamarr Ellis (2), Dane Jacobson (0), and Aries Peru (70); juniors Cooper Canter (30), Emilio Esquivel (64), Chris Garcia (77), Imani Garcia (12), Sam Harmon (10), Eric Legarda (54), Steven Lemley (65), Ryett Lopez (6), Tristen Ogas (73), Anthony Orellana (58), Juan Ramirez (7), and Parker Whisman (1); sophomores Juanito Blancarte (20), Tyler Brogan (9), Matthew Contreras (75), Gunnar Crocket (40), Kyler Decker (21), Diego Gonzalez (23), Joe Maldonado (60), Drake Miller (11), Ryder Rios (8), Jacob Ruiz Jr. (3), and Dale Vargas Jr. (13); and freshmen Noah Jurado (33) and Paxton Merrick (44).

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Camron Dodson tightens the face mask of a teammate during pre-game moments in the locker room.*

The Bulldogs are competing in the 7-team 3A East Region with the Coolidge Bears, the Florence Gophers, the San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills Sabercats, the Thatcher Eagles, and Tucson schools the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions and the Sabino Sabercats.

Safford is 4-8 overall under second-year (2025-26) head coach Ismael MacNeil.

3A Thatcher Eagles (2-0)

Thatcher has seeding wins over Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (33-6, Aug. 20) and Apache Junction (45-0, Aug. 28).

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Tanque Verde head coach Jeffrey Bollnow embraces Morenci head coach Frankie Gonzalez during the sportsmanship ritual following the game.*

The Eagles host the 3A Metro Region Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin Chargers (Sept. 4), and the Florence Gophers (Sept. 10), visit the Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Lions (Sept. 25) and the Safford Bulldogs (Oct. 1), host the San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills Sabercats (Oct. 8), visit the 3A Mountain Region Payson Longhorns (Oct. 16) and the Tucson Sabino Sabercats (Oct. 23), and host the Coolidge Bears (Oct. 30).

There are 45 Eagles on the roster, including 13 seniors, 14 juniors, 17 sophomores, and one freshman. The seniors Vincent Bejarano (52), Hunter Burkett (13), Hudson Conrad (1), Teagan Damron (30), Kaesen Estes (67), Ethan Hayes (0), Brock Innes (65), Ryzer Jacques (9), Josh Jones (24), Grady Lehmann (55), Branden Rios (73), Brig Romney (5), and Tufden Taylor (10); juniors Holston Conrad (58), Gabriel Dixson (28), Waldo Gutierrez III (34), Caleb Hoisington (7), Marco Martinez (14), Jackson Mocaby (78), Clancy Mullenaux (54), Joshua Nicholas (77), Jacob Ortiz (4), Matthew Ortiz (22), Ryker Romero (2), Kase Palmer (12), Jax Shupe (6), and Ritter Smouse (8); sophomores Rafe Allred (32), Dax Carter (16), Miles Curley (56), Colt Daley (3), Zayden Gonzales (21), Zarek Hales (81), Aiden Labrum (15), Brycen Murphy (20), Marcus Navarrete (57/75), Brayden Nelson (99), Kayson Richins (18), Bryce Riney (31), Hoyt Romero (60), Jacob Scott (23), Spencer Smith (50), Isaac Udall (27), and Jayleon Way (11); and freshman Willie Dunklin (88).

The Eagles are competing in the 7-team 3A East Region with the Coolidge Bears, the Florence Gophers, the Safford Bulldogs, the San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills Sabercats, and Tucson schools the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions and the Sabino Sabercats.

Thatcher is 54-19 overall under seventh-year (2020-26) head coach Daniel Jones.

3A East Region

Region standings as of Aug. 29 were Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (2-0 overall, 1-0 region), Thatcher (2-0, 0-0), Safford (2-0, 0-0), Tucson Sabino (0-2, 0-0), Coolidge (1-1, 0-0), Florence (0-2, 0-0), and San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (0-2, 0-1).

Region pairings to date include Pusch Ridge over San Tan Foothills (48-6, Aug. 22).