Roughriders outlast Redskins, host No. 6 Bisbee
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – Two South Region members remain in post-season contention following first-round pairings on Nov. 8.
South Region entrants, Thatcher and Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian both posted Mercy Ruled wins, the Eagles 56-14 over No. 14 Gilbert Christian (6-5 overall) and Lions 43-0 over No. 13 Lakeside Blue Ridge (7-4).
The No. 3 Thatcher Eagles (9-2) host No. 6 Florence (10-1) in the bottom bracket while No. 4 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (10-1) hosts No. 12 Surprise Paradise Honors (7-4) in the top bracket.
Kick-off on John Mickelson Field and in Tucson is 7 p.m.
No. 6 Florence Gophers (10-1)
Florence (8-1, 4-0 Central Region for first of five) averaged a 26-10 (262-100) score per game or a 16-point margin. The Gophers had seeding wins over Gilbert Christian (38-28, Aug. 23), Chandler Valley Christian (27-20, Aug. 30), Safford (34-13, Sept. 6), Rio Rico (43-0, Sept. 19), Coolidge (68-0, Sept. 27), Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (1-0, Oct. 4), Queen Creek Crimson (21-14, Oct. 25), and Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (30-25, Nov. 1).
The loss was to Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (12-21, Oct. 18).
In the post-season, the Jesse Hart-coached Gophers eliminated No. 11 Wickenburg (21-7, Nov. 8).
No. 3 Thatcher Eagles (9-2)
Thatcher 9-2, 3-1 South Region for second) is averaging a 30-11 (236-87) score per game or a 19-point margin. The Daniel Jones-coached Eagles had seeding wins over Surprise Paradise Honors (32-0, Aug. 23), Queen Creek Crimson (15-0, Aug. 30), Valley Christian (31-13, Sept. 6), Round Valley (35-27, Sept. 13), Show Low (42-16, Oct. 4), Sabino (41-12, Oct. 11), Safford (28-0, Oct. 18), and Morenci (43-6, Nov. 1).
The losses were to Yuma Catholic (12-19, Sept. 20), and Pusch Ridge (7-22, Oct. 25).
In the post-season, the Daniel Jones-coached Eagles eliminated No. 14 Gilbert Christian (56-14, Nov. 8).
No. 12 Paradise Honors Panthers (7-4)
Blue Ridge (7-4, 3-2 Metro West Region for fourth of six) averaged a 29-23 (317-249) score per game or a 6-point margin. The Panthers had seeding wins over Bullhead City Mohave (34-27, Aug. 30), Show Low (30-25, Sept. 20), Buckeye Odyssey Institute (61-0, Oct. 11), Valley Christian (20-14, Oct. 18), and Yuma (34-0, Oct. 25), and Yuma Kofa (62-14, Nov. 1.
The losses were to Thatcher (0-32, Aug. 23), Mohave Valley River Valley (28-42, Sept. 6), El Mirage Dysart (48-50, Sept. 12), and Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (0-45, Oct. 4).
In the post-season, the Josh Goodloe-coached Panthers eliminated No. 5 Mohave (34-24, Nov. 8).
No. 4 Pusch Ridge Lions (10-1)
Pusch Ridge (10-1, 4-0 South Region for first of five) averaged a 40-6 (395-62) score per game or a 34-point margin. The Lions had seeding wins over Show Low (42-3, Aug. 30), Yuma (51-0, Sept. 13), Tucson Catalina Foothills (44-7, Sept. 20), San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (45-0, Sept. 27), Sabino (42-14, Oct. 4), Morenci (29-0, Oct. 11), Coolidge (68-0, Oct. 18), Thatcher (22-7, Oct. 25), and Safford (45-0, Nov. 1).
The loss was to Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (7-31, Aug. 30).
In the post-season, the Kent Middleton-coached Lions eliminated No. 13 Lakeside Blue Ridge (43-0, Nov. 8).
3A State Tourney Quarterfinals
The quarterfinals have two teams representing the Central (2-5), Metro West Region (3-6), and South (2-5) Regions, as well as one from both the East (3-5) and Metro East (2-5) Regions still in contention.
Quarterfinal pairings are No. 8 ALA – Ironwood (9-2 overall) at No. 1 Benjamin Franklin (10-1), No. 12 Surprise Paradise Honors (7-4) at Pusch Ridge (10-1), No. 6 Florence (10-1) at No. 3 Thatcher (9-2), and No. 10 Eagar Round Valley (8-3) at No. 2 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (11-0).
The East (3-5), Metro West (3-6), and West (3-5) Regions each had three representatives in the first round, the Central (2-5), South (2-5), and Metro East (2-5) two apiece; and the North (1-6) one each.
In upper bracket first-round games, No. 1 Benjamin Franklin (9-1 seeding, 18.0518 rating) ousted No. 16 Page (7-3, 4.7809) 46-0, No. 8 ALA – Ironwood (8-2, 12.2790) defeated No. 9 Payson (8-2, 11.1850) 36-20, No. 12 Paradise Honors (6-4, 7.1392) upset No. 5 Bullhead City Mohave (8-2, 15.7595) 43-0, and No. 4 Pusch Ridge (9-1, 7.3519) eliminated No. 13 Lakeside Blue Ridge (7-3 seeding, 5.4706 rating) 43-0.
Bottom bracket games had No. 3 Thatcher (8-2, 16.8733) Mercy Ruling No. 14 Gilbert Christian (6-4 seeding, 6.3528 rating) 56-14, No. 6 Florence (9-1, 15.1658) defeating No. 11 Wickenburg (7-3, 9.1765) 21-7, No. 10 Round Valley (7-3, 10.4224) upsetting No. 7 Mohave Valley River Valley (9-1, 12.4120) 35-18, and No. 2 ALA – West Foothills (10-0, 17.1329) eliminating No. 15 El Mirage Dysart (7-3, 6.3130) 49-14.
Thatcher – 56, Gilbert Christian – 14
The visiting No. 14 Gilbert Christian Knights outscored their hosts 8-7 in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough as the No. 3 Thatcher Eagles had a 49-6 advantage through three quarters and a running clock in effect with 47 seconds before the start of the fourth quarter.
Again, the Thatcher Eagles were well prepared for the contest, scoring on seven of seven possessions with three different running backs, covering 350 yards of as many as needed in 39 plays. In addition, a kickoff was returned for a touchdown during the fourth quarter.
“We played Thatcher football,” 4th-year head coach Daniel Jones said as a matter of fact.
Thatcher received the opening kick, covered 52 yards in five plays using 2:05, and never trailed thereafter. Senior fullback Tristun Brown ran in from two yards out on 3rd-and-1 and junior Luke Marble added the first of eight conversion kicks. The hosts led 7-0 following their initial possession.
The Eagles wound up covering eight yards in two plays, 69 yards in four plays, and 69 yards in five plays using 2:16 during the first quarter; 36 yards in 10 plays using 3:12 and 46 yards in six plays using 2:15 during the second quarter; and 70 yards in seven plays using 59 seconds during the third quarter.
Senior running back Will Chidester crossed the goal line from a yard out on 1st-and-goal and Marble added the conversion kick (14-0), senior running back Kody Bingham sprinted 66 yards on 3rd-and-12 and Marble added the conversion kick (21-0), Chidester scooted 10 yards on 1st-and-goal and Marble added the conversion kick (28-0); Brown ran in five yards on 3rd-and-goal and Marble added the conversion kick (35-0), Chidester ran in from a yard out on 1st-and-goal and Marble added the conversion kick (42-6); and Brown went in from five yards out on 1st-and-goal and Marble added the conversion kick (49-6).
In addition, senior Cade Winkler returned a kickoff 70 yards and Marble added the conversion kick 8:59 remaining (55-14).
Meanwhile, the Knights snapped 55 plays to muster 331 of 681 yards in nine possessions. A 21-yard loss resulted from a 4th-and-1 bad snap and 12 of 80 needed yards were lost during the initial possession.
The next three first-quarter possessions resulted in a punt on 4th-and-6 after gaining four of 64 yards in three plays, a turnover on 4th-and-6 after gaining 37 of 68 yards in three plays, and a 3rd-and-10 interception after gaining 49 of 74 yards in nine plays.
Senior quarterback Erik Rafacz connected with senior wide receiver Cruz Corona for a 6-yard score (6-35) with 3:39 left in the second quarter. The ensuing possession ran out of time on 3rd-and-9 after gaining 16 of 75 yards in four plays.
Three second-half possessions resulted in an incomplete pass on 4th-and-11 after gaining 46 of 76 yards in eight plays, 90 of 90 yards covered in two plays plus a pass interference penalty, and running out of time after gaining 44 of 89 yards in nine plays.
Rafacz connected with senior J.J. Arnett for a 40-yard score and the same combination on the conversion attempt gave the Knights 14 points with 27 seconds elapsed in the fourth quarter.
2A State Tourney
The quarterfinals have three teams representing the Black Region (3-7) in the same bracket, two from the Gila Region (3-7) in the same bracket, as well as one from the Black (3-7), Salt (2-7), and San Pedro (2-7) Regions remaining in contention.
Quarterfinal pairings, at the higher seed, are No. 8 Scottsdale Prep (10-1 overall) versus No. 1 Gilbert San Tan Charter (11-0), No. 13 Phoenix Veritas Prep (8-3) vs. No. 12 Scottsdale Christian (7-4), No. 6 Bisbee (10-1) vs. No. 3 Pima (10-1), and No. 7 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (8-3) vs. No. 2 Tonopah Valley (11-0).
The semifinals will be held at Mesa Westwood, 945 West Rio Salado Parkway, on Nov. 15, and the final on the Phoenix Mountain Pointe campus, 4201 East Knox Road on Nov. 30 at 2 p.m.
First-round pairings had 3-7 from the Black, Gila, and Verde Regions, 2-7 from the Agua Fria, Salt, and San Pedro Regions, and 1-8 from the Little Colorado Region.
In upper bracket first-round games, No. 1 San Tan Charter (10-0 seeding, 15.7019 rating) ousted No. 16 Holbrook (7-3, minus 2.1938) 50-24, No. 8 Scottsdale Prep (9-1, 7.3519) defeated No. 9 Willcox (7-3, 5.4706) 27-21, No. 12 Scottsdale Christian (6-4, 4.1569) upset No. 5 Eloy Santa Cruz (8-2, 9.9324) 28-6, and No. 13 Veritas Prep (7-3, 3.7681) upset No. 4 Phoenix Christian (8-1, 11.0954) 23-20.
Bottom bracket pairings had No. 3 Pima (9-1, 11.7051) eliminating No. 14 Saint Johns (6-4, 1.8144) 44-27, No. 6 Bisbee (9-1, 8.4956) downing No. 11 Camp Verde (7-3, 5.2799) 33-20, No. 7 Arizona Lutheran (7-3, 8.1435) ousting No. 10 Miami (7-3, 5.2910) 80-20, and No. 2 Tonopah Valley (10-0, 14.0878) slipping past No. 15 Parker (5-4, 0.8357) 24-22.
Laveen Heritage (5-4, 1.7665) finished as No. 16 but No. 23 Holbrook (7-3, minus 2.1938) had an automatic slot by going 7-0 for first in the Little Colorado Region.
No. 6 Bisbee Pumas (10-1)
Bisbee (10-1 overall, 11.7051 rating, 7-0 San Pedro Region for first of eight) averaged a 31-19 (344-205) score per game or a 12-point margin. The Pumas had seeding wins over Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (67-7, Aug. 30), Douglas (26-20, Sept. 6), Tucson Catalina (26-0, Sept. 20), Benson (15-12, Sept. 27), Willcox (42-40, Oct. 4), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (47-20, Oct. 11), Tucson Tanque Verde (35-21, Oct. 18), Tombstone (27-18, Oct. 25), and Tucson Santa Rita (55-7, Nov. 1).
The loss was to Santa Cruz (7-30, Sept. 13).
In the post-season, the Carlos Lopez-coached No. 6 Pumas eliminated No. 11 Camp Verde (7-4 overall, 5-1 Agua Fria Region for the second of seven).
No. 3 Pima Roughriders (10-1)
Pima (10-1 overall, 11.7051 rating, 6-0 Black Region for first of seven) averaged a 35-9 (347-86) score per game or a 26-point margin. The Roughriders had seeding wins over Globe (41-0, Aug. 23), Morenci (20-14 in 2 OT, Sept. 13), Saint Johns (7-2, Sept. 20), Miami (54-12, Sept. 27), ALA – Anthem South (58-7, Oct. 4), Scottsdale Christian (20-17, Oct. 11), Alchesay (48-0, Oct. 18), San Carlos (63-0, Oct. 25), and Santa Cruz (29-22, Nov. 1).
The loss was to Safford (7-14, Aug. 29).
In the post-season, the Josh Wilkins-coached Roughriders eliminated No. 14 Saint Johns (6-5, 4-2 Black Region for third of seven) 44-27.
