Thatcher catches breath during bye week
By Raymundo Frasquillo
SAFFORD – The Ismael McNeil-coached Safford Bulldogs (2-1 overall) welcome the Carlo Hernandez-coached Coolidge Bears (2-2) on Sept. 17 for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Herman BB Andrews Track and Field.
The Bulldogs succumbed 14-28 to the Bears last season, but are averaging 24-7 (71-22) per game, or a 17-point margin, in 2026, while the Bears average 36-23 (144-91) per game, or a 13-point margin, this season.
Safford is 4-9 overall under second-year head coach MacNeil (2025-26), while the Bears are 7-7 in the same span under Carlo Hernandez.
The homecoming game with the 3A North Region Winslow Bulldogs was rescheduled for Oct. 8, a date originally intended as a bye week for Safford.
Meanwhile, the Thatcher Eagles get to rest, catch their breath, and/or heal with a bye week. MaxPreps conference rankings list Thatcher No. 10 (46.8229), Coolidge No. 12 (44.0189), and Safford No. 15 (39.7941).
3A Coolidge Bears (2-2)
Coolidge (2-2 overall, 0-0 region) has seeding wins over 3A Independent Maricopa Heritage (68-28, Aug. 28) and 2A Metro 3 Region Fountain Hills (56-0, Sept. 4) along with losses to 2A South 2 Region Eloy Santa Cruz (20-28, Aug. 21) and 2A Metro 3 Region Scottsdale Christian (0-35, Sept. 11).
The Bears visit the Safford Bulldogs (Sept. 17), host the Florence Gophers (Sept. 24) and the 3A Independent Mesa Gateway Heritage Heroes (Oct. 2), and the Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Lions (Oct. 9), visit the San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills Sabercats (Oct. 23) and the Thatcher Eagles (Oct. 30).
The roster includes 43 Bears: seven seniors, 12 juniors, 13 sophomores, and 11 freshmen. The seniors are Holsen Byssainthe (52), Kenneth Franklin (4), Porter Hansen (7), Esteban Hernandez (51), Derek Larson (6), Neil Martinez (73), Elijah Morris (68); juniors Javier Bojorquez (71), Dayce Cade (8), Aden Garcia (17), Matteo Longoria (50), Jayce Moore (12), Christian Morales (61), Gauge Nadeau (82), Garrett Neal (25), Joshuah Zarate (75), Anthony Waddington (3), Zachary Wayland (41), and Michael Williams III (1); sophomores Raul Barraza (23), Acious Castell (20), Aleki Folau (63), Amoni Folau (34), Brandon Galdamez (27), Trevor Hallett (54), Hieroshi Maddox (2), Eduardo Morales (53), Armando Navarrete (21), Maxwell Pinedo (5), Osmar Soto (85), Chaston Thomas (66), and Tanyon Volk (14); and freshmen Juan Alvarez (16), Garren Neal (25), Adrian Nobles (72), Bryan Porter (11), Joseph Reeve (9), Andres Rojas (34), Noah Romero (10), Tyson Romero (15), Merrick Sanders (13), Logan Thompson (18), Jeremiah Valenzuela (22).
The Bears are competing in the 7-team 3A East Region with the Florence Gophers, the Safford Bulldogs, the San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills Sabercats, the Thatcher Eagles, and Tucson schools the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions and the Sabino Sabercats.
3A Safford Bulldogs (2-1)
Safford (2-1 overall, 0-0 region) has seeding wins over 2A East Region Morenci (44-0, Aug. 20) and 3A Mountain Region Lakeside Blue Ridge (21-0, Aug. 28) along with a loss to 3A Metro Region Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (6-22, Sept. 4).
The Bulldogs host the 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).
The roster includes 34 Bulldogs: nine seniors, 12 juniors, 11 sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors are 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).
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.
3A Thatcher Eagles (3-1)
The Daniel Jones-coached Eagles (3-1 overall, 1-0 region) have wins over Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (33-6, Aug. 20), Apache Junction (45-0, Aug. 28), and Florence (49-14, Sept. 10) along with a loss to Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (0-38, Sept. 4).
An average score of 32-15 (127-58) has ensued, or a 17-point margin this season, compared to 30-19 (121-74) per game, or an 11-point margin last season.
Thatcher is 6-0 overall, 4-0 at home, 3-0 in the region, and has averaged 41-17 (248-100) per game, or a 24-point margin, over Florence under Jones. The wins are 49-14 (Sept. 10, 2026) at EAC, 21-18 (Sept. 12, 2025) in Florence, 38-9 (Nov. 13, 2024) at EAC, 35-14 (Nov. 23, 2023) at EAC, 56-7 (Sept. 3, 2021) in Florence, and 49-38 (Oct. 30, 2020) at EAC.
The Eagles 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).
The roster includes 45 Eagles: 13 seniors, 14 juniors, 17 sophomores, and one freshman. The seniors are 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 54-20 overall under seventh-year head coach Daniel Jones (2020-26).
3A East Region
Region standings as of Sept. 12 were Thatcher (3-1 overall, 0-0 region), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (3-1, 1-0), Tucson Sabino (1-2, 0-0), Coolidge (2-2, 0-0), Safford (2-1, 0-0), Florence (0-4, 0-1), and San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (0-4, 0-1). Region pairings to date include Pusch Ridge over San Tan Foothills (48-6, Aug. 22) and Thatcher over Florence (49-14, Sept. 10).
