Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Duncan heads onto Packer Field for the start of a home game. The Wildkats host Valley Union in region play for their 21st 8-man homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 6.
Wildkats hold 21st 8-man homecoming game
By Raymundo Frasquillo
DUNCAN – The Dan Coats-coached No. 19 Duncan Wildkats (1-5 overall, minus 7.5758 rating) host the No. 15 Valley Union Blue Devils (4-3, minus 0.8045) for a South Region contest on Friday, Oct. 6. It also is the 21st 8-man homecoming game for Duncan.
The Wildkats are 10-9 versus the Blue Devils and have won the most recent five pairings, but the visitors have a 27-26 (518-502) average score per game or a 1-point edge over Duncan.
Valley Union was also the 2022 and 2020 homecoming game opponent, leaving with 54-12 and 60-26 losses to its host, and one of 13 different opponents. The other three of five recent wins were 30-12 (2021) in Elfrida, 52-8 (2019) in Elfrida, and 30-16 (2018) in Duncan,
During the 20 seasons 2003-2022, Duncan is 45-39 (.536) on Packer Field and 15-4, averaging 41-22 (788-411) or a 19-point margin for homecoming games. Although the 2021 game with Kearny Ray (Oct. 8) was not played, a ceremony was held in the gymnasium, a king and queen were crowned, and a picnic followed on Packer Field.
The Wildkats are 4-0 over Saint David (42-20 in 2003, 36-5 in 2006, 66-20 in 2017, 28-18 in 2019), 3-0 over Fort Thomas (26-12 in 2009, 58-14 in 2011, 26-20 in 2016), and 1-0 over Tempe Prep (52-8 in 2004), Phoenix Veritas Prep (48-0 in 2007), Scottsdale Salt River (36-0 in 2010), Superior (72-30 in 2012), Anthem Prep (36-8 in 2015), and Sells Baboquivari (70-26 in 2018).
Clifton, Pima, Ray, and Gilbert Christian left with wins in 2005 (22-16), 2008 (66-14), 2013 (14-6), and 2014 (61-12), respectively.
In other region contests this week, Fort Thomas visits Saint David, and Ray visits San Manuel. Baboquivari is idle.
Valley Union Blue Devils (4-3, 2-3)
The Skylar Hill-coached Blue Devils (4-3 overall, 2-3 region) averaged a score of 23-31 (159-217) per game or an 8-point deficit.
Valley Union has wins over Dishchii’bikoh (1-0, Aug. 18), Baboquivari (50-48, Sept. 1), Anthem Prep (56-27, Sept. 8), and Fort Thomas (52-24, Sept. 22) along with losses to Ray (30-34, Aug. 25), San Manuel (8-35, Sept. 15) and Saint David (14-49, Sept. 22).
The Blue Devils close the regular season in Superior (Oct. 13).
Duncan Wildkats (1-5, 1-4)
The 1-4 Dan Coats-coached Wildkats have averaged a 20-40 (122-237) score per game or a 20-point deficit.
Duncan has a win over Fort Thomas (12-0, Aug. 24) along with losses to New Mexico Lordsburg (36-64, Aug. 18), San Manuel (12-50), Saint David (14-45, Sept. 8), Sells Baboquivari (32-42, Sept. 22), and Ray (16-36, Sept. 29).
Duncan’s remaining contest is with Lincoln Prep (Oct. 13).
1A State Rankings
The Top 12 listed after Oct. 13 regular season pairings will be involved in the playoffs.
Week Two ranking were Winkelman Hayden (6-0 overall, 15.5799 rating) as No. 1 of 25, Bagdad (5-1, 10.5951) No. 2, Scottsdale Cicero Prep (5-0, 10.9524) No. 3, Salome (6-1, 7.2785) No. 4, Colorado City El Capitan (5-1, 7.1161) No. 5, Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (5-1, 7.1032) No. 6, Heber Mogollon (4-2, 5.6365) No. 7, San Manuel (5-2, 4.2006) No. 8, Williams (3-2, 3.3429) No. 9, Chandler Lincoln Prep (4-3, 2.9917) No. 10, Saint David (4-3, 2.8769) No. 11, and Phoenix Maryvale Prep (2-3, 0.0961) No. 12.
Initial 1A Class statewide rankings (Sept. 26) had Hayden (6-0 overall, 14.6660 rating) as No. 1 of 25, Bagdad (5-1, 10.5951) No. 2, Salome (6-0, 9.2264) No. 3, Cicero Prep (3-0, 7.5780) No. 4, Mohave Accelerated (4-1, 6.6740) No. 5, El Capitan (4-1, 6.2542) No. 6, Mogollon (3-2, 5.0349) No. 7, Saint David (4-2, 3.8842) No. 8, Lincoln Prep (3-2, 3.3950) No. 9, Williams (2-2, 2.7614) No. 10, San Manuel (4-2, 1.7713) No. 11, and Maryvale Prep (2-3, 0.0490) No. 12.
Week Two rankings for the other South Region members were No. 13 Ray (4-3, minus 0.1768), No. 14 Baboquivari (4-3, minus 0.3118), No. 15 Valley Union (4-3, minus 0.8045), No. 19 Duncan (1-5, minus 7.5758), and No. 22 Fort Thomas (1-5, minus 10.3056).
The teams’ first listings were No. 13 Ray (4-3, minus 0.4003), No. 14 Baboquivari (3-3, minus 0.9082), No. 15 Valley Union (2-3, minus 1.5725), No. 19 Duncan (1-4, minus 6.7085), and No. 23 Fort Thomas (1-4, minus 9.3681).
1A South Region Standings
The current standings for South Region members are San Manuel (5-2 overall, 4-0 region) first, Saint David (4-3, 4-1) second, Sells Baboquivari (4-3, 3-2) third, Kearny Ray (4-3, 2-2) fourth, Elfrida Valley Union (4-3, 2-3) fifth, Duncan (1-5, 1-4) sixth, and Fort Thomas (2-5, 0-4) seventh.
San Manuel (4-0) has region wins over Duncan (50-12, Sept. 1), Valley Union (35-8, Sept. 15), Fort Thomas (62-12, Sept. 22), and Saint David (16-14, Sept. 29);
Saint David (4-1) has region wins over Ray (50-0, Aug, 18), Baboquivari (47-8, Aug. 25), Duncan (45-14, Sept. 8), and Valley Union (49-14, Sept. 22);
Baboquivari (3-2) has region wins over Fort Thomas (44-0, Aug. 18), Ray (28-24, Sept. 15), and Duncan (42-32, Sept. 22); Ray (2-2) has region wins over Valley Union (34-30, Aug. 25) and Duncan (36-16, Sept. 29), Valley Union (2-3) has region wins over Baboquivari (50-48, Sept. 1) and Fort Thomas (52-24, Sept. 29); and Duncan (1-4) defeated Fort Thomas (12-0, Aug. 24).
