Hayden, Williams vie for 1A title as top two
By Raymundo Frasquillo
WILLCOX – The third ranked Willcox Cowboys (11-0 overall, 6.9320 rating) eliminated the No. 14 Tucson Tanque Verde Hawks (7-5, 44.4502) 42-21 while the No. 6 Benson Bobcats (9-2, 55.5993) ousted No. 11 Saint Johns (8-4, 48.8677) 46-21 during second round pairings on Nov. 6. Benson visits Willcox for a quarterfinal pairing on Nov. 13. It has a 7 p.m. start.
The Cowboys are averaging a 43-6 (475-64) score per game or a 37-point margin and the Bobcats a 39-21 (424-236) score per game or an 18-point margin, both through 11 games,
Willcox defeated Benson 23-3 on Oct. 16. The Cowboys have an active 6-game win streak over the Bobcats during the most recent five seasons (2022-26), with an average score per game of 34-12 (205-72), or a 22-point margin, and a shutout in six games.
Benson had 10 consecutive wins from 2012-2021, averaging 44-7 (441-73) or a 37-point margin per game, with five shutouts in 10 games.
The Bobcats have averaged 31-30 (641-627) per game, or a 1-point margin, through 21 games over the previous two decades (2007-2025), with six shutouts compared to two for Willcox.
2A State Tourney Second Round (Nov. 6)
In Round 2 it was No. 1 Scottsdale Christian (9-0, 68.5496) 49-7 over No. 16 Glendale Trivium Prep (6-4, 39.3990) in Game 9, No. 9 Camp Verde (7-2, 49.4889) 28-27 over No. 8 Phoenix Christian (7-3, 50.9642) in Game 10, No. 5 Eloy Santa Cruz (7-2, 55.7989) 21-13 over No. 12 Parker (9-1, 47.0160) in Game 11, and No. 4 Chandler Prep (8-1, 61.5912) 26-21 over No. 13 Pima (5-5, 46.6140) in Game 12 for the upper bracket.
The lower bracket had No. 3 Willcox (10-0, 67.9320) 42-21 over No. 14 Tucson Tanque Verde (6-4, 44.4502) in Game 13, No. 6 Benson (8-2, 55.5993) 46-21 over No. 11 Saint Johns (7-3, 48.8677) in Game 14, No. 7 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (7-3, 54.3185) 49-33 over No. 23 Fort Mohave Desert Star (5-5, 30.9696) in Game 15, and No. 2 Gilbert San Tan Charter (8-0, 68.1608) 66-21 over No. 15 Tuba City (6-3, 41.1346) in Game 16.
Quarterfinal pairings are the higher seed vs. the winner on Nov. 13; the semifinals are at Tempe Marcos de Niza and Tempe on Nov. 21; and the final is at Phoenix Mountain Pointe on Nov. 28.
2A State Tourney First Round (Oct. 30)
A lone upset occurred in the first round: a lower seed defeated a higher seed, and seven higher seeds advanced. Fort Mohave Desert Star (5-5, 30.9696) topped No. 10 Phoenix Veritas Prep (6-3, 49.4011)33-17 in Game 7.
Others advancing from the lower bracket were No. 14 Tucson Tanque Verde (6-4, 44.4502) 42-27 over No. 19 Phoenix Cortez (6-4, 35.3676) in Game 5, No. 11 Saint Johns (7-3, 48.8677) 42-6 over No. 22 Morenci (5-5, 32.9667) in Game 6, and No. 15 Tuba City (6-3, 41.1346) 36-34 over No. 15 Whiteriver Alchesay (8-1, 36.1959) in Game 8,
The rest of the advancing teams from the upper bracket were No. 16 Glendale Trivium Prep (6-4, 39.3990) 35-19 over No. 17 Scottsdale Prep (4-6, 36.5609) in Game 1, No. 9 Camp Verde (7-2, 49.4889) 49-7 over No. 24 Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (6-4, 30.5026) in Game 2, No. 12 Parker (9-1, 47.0160) 40-7 over No. 21 Chandler Lincoln Prep (7-3, 33.8011) in Game 3, and No. 13 Pima (5-5, 46.6140) 30-6 over No. 20 Mesa Heritage (7-3, 33.8381) in Game 4.
No. 6 Benson Bobcats (9-2, 46.6140 rating)
Pima (5-5 overall, 3-1 region) averaged a 38-15 (416-163) score per game or a 23-point margin and had seven seeding wins over 2A South 1 Region Bisbee (49-0, Aug. 21), 2A Metro 4 Region Phoenix Christian (21-16, Aug. 28), 2A South 1 Region Tombstone (49-3, Sept. 3), 2A South 1 Tanque Verde (50-18, Sept. 11), 2A Metro 4 Region Phoenix Veritas Prep (16-14, Oct. 2), 2A East Region Morenci (42-0, Sept. 25), Tucson Desert Christian (56-16), and Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (56-14, Oct. 23).
The two seeding losses were to Eloy Santa Cruz (28-38, Oct. 2) and to Willcox (3-23, Oct. 9).
The Bobcats have 36 Players on the roster, including 11 seniors, 12 juniors, eight sophomores, and nine freshmen. The seniors are Jesus Canez-Quezada (81), Kolttin Deskins (28), Steven Deskins (5), Abraham Figueroa (22), Ty Herrera (77), Tyson Kilpatrick (11), Rene Lorta (21), Gauge Murray (65), Jake Scouten (40), Wayne Stark (1), and Johnny Villegas (3); juniors Kayden Arnold (24), Cohen Barney (12), Logan Beeler (75), Aiden Cargile (50), Bryon Judd (9), Tatum Kilpatrick (6), Rudy Miranda (60), Rex Reynolds (54), Mason Stanley (63), Javenson Taeza (32), Gaige Trejo (4), and Kinsler Walz (7); sophomores Lucas Burlison (36), Eli Crouse (74), John Lee (44), Jacob Lopshire (55), Waylon Meza (87), Kian Montijo (2), Julian Rowser (34), Jacob Walker (52); and freshmen Mason Deskins (88), Eddie Garcia (84), Jaxson Gilliam (13), Bentley Padgett (51), Brayden Parke (26), Ryder Reynolds (72), Cody Rust (76), Cameron Shumpert (43), and Nathan Williams (80).
Benson competed in the 4-team 2A South 2 Region with the Eloy Santa Cruz Dust Devils, and the Tucson Desert Christian Eagles, and the Willcox Cowboys.
The Bobcats are 22-12 overall under third-year (2024-26) head coach Chris Rasmussen.
No. 3 Willcox Cowboys (10-0 seeding, 67.9320 rating)
Willcox (10-0 overall, 3-0 region) is averaging a 43-6 (434-64) score per game or a 37-point margin and has seeding wins over 2A South 1 Region Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (56-0, Aug. 21), 2A Metro 2 Region Arizona Lutheran (34-14, Aug. 28), 2A East Region Morenci (43-12, Sept. 4), 2A East Region Pima (34-21, Sept. 11, 2026), Tombstone (54-0, Sept. 18), 2A Metro 2 Region Scottsdale Prep Spartans (48-14, Sept. 25), Desert Christian (61-0, Oct. 2), Santa Cruz (47-0, Oct. 9), Benson (23-3, Oct. 16), and 2A South 1 Region Tucson Tanque Verde (34-7, Oct. 23).
The roster includes 24 Cowboys: 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 10-0 overall under first-year Willcox head coach Steven Ward.
1A State Tourney Championship (Nov. 14)
The top two ranked teams meet on the Scottsdale Coronado campus, 7501 East Virginia Avenue, on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Top-ranked Williams (10-1 overall, 717223 rating) meets No. 2 Winkelman Hayden (11-0, 69.7279) at 6 p.m.
Hayden slipped past Williams 14-6 on Sept. 25, has won 47 consecutive games and defeated Williams thrice in that span with an average score per game of 41-4 (123-12) or a 37-point margin, and has won the most recent three state titles (2023-25) while Williams is 15-16 in those three seasons.
Williams went 61-13 over the previous seven seasons (2016-22) and is a 6-time finalist with two titles (2017, 2019). The Vikings were 8-1 against Hayden, averaging 53-17 (480-150) and a 36-point margin.
1A State Tourney Semifinals (Nov. 6-7)
The Nov. 6-7 semifinals pair quarterfinal winners on the Scottsdale Coronado campus, 7501 East Virginia Avenue. The final is also at the same site on Nov. 14.
Top-ranked Williams (7-1 seeding, 717223 rating) eliminated No. 4 Saint David (7-2, 64.3074) 46-14 in Game 9 on Nov. 7 and No. 2 Winkelman Hayden (9-0, 69.7279) ousted No. 6 Superior (6-3, 57.5482) 65-18 in Game 10 on Nov. 6, both at Scottsdale Coroando.
1A State Tourney Quarterfinals (Oct. 30)
The quarterfinals featured the first-round winners advancing against the Top 4 on Oct. 30. The semifinals are on Nov. 6-7, and the final is on Nov. 14, on the Scottsdale Coronado campus at 7501 East Virginia Avenue.
It was top-ranked Williams 48-0 over No. 8 Scottsdale Cicero Prep/North Phoenix Prep (5-3, 55.5213) in Game 5 and No. 4 Saint David 48-24 over No. 5 Heber Mogollon (6-3, 62.1652) in Game 6 for the upper bracket.
The lower bracket had No. 6 Superior 30-28 over No. 3 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (7-1, 65.3901) in Game 7 and No. 2 Winkelman Hayden 47-0 over No. 7 Joseph City (5-3, 57.0713) in Game 8.
1A State Tourney First Round (Oct. 23)
The Top 12 of 19 teams will be involved in the post-season, with Nos. 1-4 having a bye while Nos. 5-12 faced off, with the higher seeds advancing to the quarterfinals.
It was No. 8 Scottsdale Cicero Prep/North Phoenix Prep 57-56 over No. 9 Kearny Ray (4-4, 55.0704) in Game 1 and No. 5 Heber Mogollon 28-6 over No. 12 Duncan (4-5, 42.5633) in Game 2 for the upper bracket.
In the lower bracket, No. 6 Superior beat No. 11 San Manuel 58-28 in Game 3 (3-6, 48.8034), and No. 7 Joseph City beat No. 10 Salome 32-26 in Game 4 (5-4, 51.4564).
