By Raymundo Frasquillo
DUNCAN – The Dan Coats-coached Duncan Wildkats (2-2 overall) host the 1A Independent Matadors (1-2) on Friday, Sept. 18. The kick-off is 7 p.m. on Packer Field.
Also this week, for South Region members, Fort Thomas (1-2) hosts 1A East Region Superior (2-2), and Baboquivari (0-2) hosts 1A North Region Joseph City (3-1).
1A Duncan Wildkats (2-2)
Duncan hosts 1A Independent Phoenix Maryvale Prep Matadors (Sept. 18), visits the Sells Baboquivari Warriors (Sept. 25) and the 1A East Region Kearny Ray Bearcats (Oct. 2), and hosts the 1A East Region San Manuel Miners (Oct. 9) and the 1A East Region Winkelman Hayden Lobos (Oct. 16).
The Wildkats have a seeding win over Fort Thomas (28-14, Aug. 28) and Sedona Red Rock (52-18, Sept. 4) along with losses to New Mexico Lordsburg (20-48, Aug. 21) and Saint David (8-50, Sept. 11).
There are 19 Wildkats on the roster, including seven seniors, four juniors, a sophomore, and six freshmen. The seniors Jacoby Crosby (7), Conner Free (11), Billy Johnson (63), Joe Nandino (52), Dayton Penry (1), Lloyd Wienrich (88), and Aaron Zamora (80); juniors Mark Bejarano (5), Jarren Butler (55), Karsen Lacey (4), and Drake Waters (61); sophomores Max Barker (35), and Killian Galvin (50); and freshmen Tanner Babers (25), Zane Hancock (36), Charles Lane (24), Vance Lucio (16), Ian Lunt (81), and Chris Nandino (52).
The Wildkats are competing in the 4-team 1A South Region with the Fort Thomas Apaches, the Saint David Tigers, and the Sells Baboquivari Warriors.
The Wildkats are 8-21 overall under fourth-year head coach Dan Coats (2023-26).
1A Fort Thomas Apaches (1-3)
Fort Thomas hosts the 1A East Region Superior Panthers (Sept. 18), visits the 1A East Region Kearny Ray Bearcats (Sept. 25), hosts the Elfrida Valley Union Blue Devils (Oct. 2), and visits the Saint David Tigers (Oct. 9) and the 1A Independent Phoenix Maryvale Prep Matadors (Oct. 16).
The Apaches have a seeding win over Baboquivari (18-8, Sept. 4) and losses to Salome (0-50, Aug. 21), Duncan (14-28, Aug. 28), and Glendale Desert Heights Prep (22-34, Sept. 11).
The roster includes 30 Apaches: eight seniors, six juniors, six sophomores, and 10 freshmen. The seniors are Aaden Clyde (3), Antonio Kessay (71), Traeson Mull (33), Mark Nino (22), Brian Sign (30), Tayshaun Stanley (35), Adrian Thorne (73), and Kameron Upshaw (56); juniors Kayson Benally (80), Rigdon Claridge (1), Malachi Johnson (12), Vernon Nofchissey (21), Brannon Stanley (35), and Tavion Williams (34); sophomores Kani Anderson (63), Taiten DeClay (51), Noah Gustina (32), Alonzo Kenton (81), Melvin Rustin (7), and Connor Tessay (4); and freshmen Jeremy Benally (45), Jaron Black (54), Aiden Chatlin-Spez (23), Khierem Goseyun (39), Dylan Quade (55), Carmichael Kindelay (31), Jiovonnie Lang (14), Kenny McCabe Jr. (15), Avanecio Nosie (6), and Andy Yazzie (10).
The Apaches are competing in the 4-team 1A South Region with the Duncan Wildkats, the Saint David Tigers, and the Sells Baboquivari Warriors.
Fort Thomas is 6-23 overall under fourth-year (2023-26) head coach Evan Stringfellow
1A South Region
The region standings after four weeks of competition are Saint David (3-1 overall, 2-0 region), Duncan (2-2, 1-1), Fort Thomas (1-3, 1-1), and Sells Baboquivari (0-3, 0-2).
Region pairings to date include Saint David over Baboquivari (90-6, Aug. 28), Duncan over Fort Thomas (28-14, Aug. 28), and Fort Thomas over Baboquivari (18-8, Sept. 4).
Saint David – 50, Duncan – 8
The Tigers produced nearly all their offense, with Saint David gaining 432 yards, averaging 8.9 (35-313) yards per carry and 11.9 (10-119) yards per catch.
Meanwhile, the host Wildkats totaled 119 yards, averaging 3.4 (21-71) yards per catch and 12.0 (4-48) yards per catch.
Saint David led 16-0 after the first quarter, 40-0 at halftime and 50-0 heading into the fourth quarter. The Tigers scored on runs of three and 70 yards plus conversion runs in the first quarter; a 30-yard run, a 43-yard pass play, a 15-yard pass play, and three conversion passes in the second quarter; and a 55-yard run plus a conversion run in the third quarter. Duncan’s scoring came from senior Dayton Penry’s 8-yard run and conversion pass to Connor Free with 1:26 remaining, with a running clock in effect.
