Hayden vs. Williams for 1A title on Saturday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
WILLCOX – The third-ranked Willcox Cowboys (11-0 overall, 6.9320 rating) meet their county rival, the No. 6 Benson Bobcats (9-2, 55.5993), at Cowboys Stadium for a quarterfinal pairing on Nov. 13. The game starts at 7 p.m.
The Cowboys are averaging a 43-8 (476-85) score per game or a 35-point margin and the Bobcats a 38-15 (416-163) score per game or a 23-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), averaging 34-12 (205-72) or a 22-point margin, with a shutout in six games.
Benson had 10 consecutive wins from 2012-2021 with an average score per game of 44-7 (441-73) or a 37-point margin and five shutouts in 10 games.
The Bobcats have averaged 31-30 (641-627) per game, or a 1-point margin, through 21 games during the previous two decades (2007-2025), with six shutouts compared to two for Willcox.
2A State Tourney Quarterfinals (Nov. 13)
The quarterfinal pairings are at the higher seed on Nov. 13, the semifinals at Tempe Marcos de Niza and Tempe on Nov. 21, and the final at Phoenix Mountain Pointe on Nov. 28.
It is top-ranked Scottsdale Christian (10-0, 68.5496) hosting No. 9 Camp Verde (8-2, 49.4889) in Game 17 and No. 4 Chandler Prep (9-1, 61.5912) hosting No. 5 Eloy Santa Cruz (9-2, 55.7989) in Game 18 for the upper bracket.
The lower bracket has No. 3 Willcox (11-0, 67.9320) hosting No. 6 Benson (9-2, 55.5993) in Game 19 and No. 2 Gilbert San Tan Charter (10-0, 68.1608) hosting No. 7 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (8-3, 54.3185) in Game 20.
2A State Tourney Second Round (Nov. 6)
In Round 2 it was No. 1 Scottsdale Christian 49-7 over No. 16 Glendale Trivium Prep (7-5, 39.3990) in Game 9, No. 9 Camp Verde 28-27 over No. 8 Phoenix Christian (7-4, 50.9642) in Game 10, No. 5 Eloy Santa Cruz 21-13 over No. 12 Parker (10-2, 47.0160) in Game 11, and No. 4 Chandler Prep 26-21 over No. 13 Pima (6-6, 46.6140) in Game 12 for the upper bracket.
The lower bracket had No. 3 Willcox 42-21 over No. 14 Tucson Tanque Verde (7-5, 44.4502) in Game 13, No. 6 Benson 46-21 over No. 11 Saint Johns (8-4, 48.8677) in Game 14, No. 7 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran 49-33 over No. 23 Fort Mohave Desert Star (6-6, 30.9696) in Game 15, and No. 2 Gilbert San Tan Charter 66-21 over No. 15 Tuba City (7-4, 41.1346) in Game 16.
2A State Tourney First Round (Oct. 30)
There was a lone upset during the first round, a lower seed defeating a higher seed and seven higher seeds advancing. 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 42-27 over No. 19 Phoenix Cortez (6-4, 35.3676) in Game 5, No. 11 Saint Johns 42-6 over No. 22 Morenci (5-5, 32.9667) in Game 6, and No. 15 Tuba City 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 35-19 over No. 17 Scottsdale Prep (4-6, 36.5609) in Game 1, No. 9 Camp Verde 49-7 over No. 24 Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (6-4, 30.5026) in Game 2, No. 12 Parker 40-7 over No. 21 Chandler Lincoln Prep (7-3, 33.8011) in Game 3, and No. 13 Pima 30-6 over No. 20 Mesa Heritage (7-3, 33.8381) in Game 4.
No. 6 Benson Bobcats (9-2, 55.5993 rating)
Benson (9-2 overall, 1-2 region) averaged a 38-15 (416-163) score per game or a 23-point margin and had eight 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, Sept. 18), 2A East Region Morenci (42-0, Sept. 25), Tucson Desert Christian (56-16, Oct. 9), 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 40 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, 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 (11-0 seeding, 67.9320 rating)
Willcox (10-0 overall, 3-0 region) is averaging a 43-8 (476-85) score per game or a 35-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 Cowboys have 24 Players 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 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 is 61-13 during the previous seven seasons (2016-22), and a 6-time finalist with two titles (2017, 2019). The Vikings were 8-1 against Hayden, averaging 53-17 (480-150) or a 36-point margin.
1A State Tourney Semifinals (Nov. 6-7)
The Nov. 6-7 semifinals had top-ranked Williams eliminating No. 4 Saint David (7-2, 64.3074) 46-14 in Game 9 on Nov. 7 and No. 2 Winkelman Hayden ousting No. 6 Superior (6-3, 57.5482) 65-18 in Game 10 on Nov. 6, both at Scottsdale Coronado.
1A State Tourney Quarterfinals (Oct. 30)
The quarterfinals had 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 were involved in the post-season.
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.
The lower bracket had No. 6 Superior 58-28 over No. 11 San Manuel (3-6, 48.8034) in Game 3 and No. 7 Joseph City 32-26 over No. 10 Salome (5-4, 51.4564) in Game 4.
