Pima visits Alchesay, Willcox hosts Palo Verde
By Raymundo Frasquillo
FOUNTAIN HILLS – The Pete Schermerhorn-coached No. 32 Fountain Hills Falcons (2-6 seeding, minus 9.1097 rating) host the Frankie Gonzalez-coached No. 22 Morenci Wildcats (2-5, 1.0903) on Friday, Oct. 18.
It will be the second gridiron meeting of the schools. The previous meeting was a 63-0 Morenci win in Lawson Stadium last season (Oct. 13).
In other region pairings this week, No. 2 Thatcher (6-1, 16.5012) hosts No. 16 Safford (4-4, 4.5632), No. 7 Pusch Ridge (6-1, 13.0028) hosts No. 34 Coolidge (0-7, minus 12.2237), and No. 27 Sabino (2-5, minus 1.7352) visits No. 1 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (6-0, 16.7559).
Fountain Hills has a combined 38-60 overall record under seven different head coaches and finished above .500 once in the last decade. The Falcons ended 7-4 in 2017 under Jason Henslin (18-19 overall, 4 years, 2016-20).
Morenci was a combined 75-40 under four different head coaches with seven above .500 seasons.
During the previous three seasons (2021-23), team members of the Class of 2025 posted a combined 11-19 record under three different head coaches, 4-6 under Jimmy Curtis (2021), 5-5 under Sean Moran (2022), and 2-8 under Schermerhorn (2023).
Meanwhile, the Wildcats were 31-9, 23-5 in 2A under Joseph Garcia (2021-22) and 8-4 in 3A under Rishard Davis (2023), during the same 3-year span.
Kick-off in Maricopa County is 7 p.m.
Fountain Hills Falcons (2-6, minus 9.1097)
Fountain Hills (2-6, minus 9.1097) is averaging a 20-45 (160-363) score per game or a 25-point deficit. The Falcons have seeding wins over Yuma Kofa (56-48, Aug. 23) and Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (31-0, Aug. 30).
The losses are to Camp Verde (25-54, Sept. 6), Tempe Marcos de Niza (27-54, Sept. 13), Payson (0-49, Sept. 20), Gilbert Christian (7-49, Sept. 27), Lakeside Blue Ridge (7-62, Oct. 4), and Show Low (7-47, Oct. 11).
Fountain Hills visits Eagar Round Valley (Oct. 25) to complete its regular season schedule.
The Falcons are in the 3A East Region with Blue Ridge, Payson, Round Valley, and Show Low.
Morenci Wildcats (2-5, 1.0903)
Morenci (2-5 seeding, 1.0903) is averaging an 18-21 (109-147) score per game or a 3-point deficit. The Wildcats have wins over Eagar Round Valley (6-3, Aug. 30) and Benson (35-25, Sept. 6).
The losses are to Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (34-35, Aug. 23), Pima (14-20 2 OT, Sept. 13), Lakeside Blue Ridge (8-22, Sept. 20), Safford (12-13, Oct. 4), and Pusch Ridge (0-29, Oct. 11).
Morenci completes the regular season by visiting Tucson Sabino (Oct. 25), and hosting Thatcher (Nov. 1).
The Wildcats are in the 3A South Region with Pusch Ridge Christian, Sabino, Safford, and Thatcher.
3A State Rankings
There were no teams dropping out nor being added via game results this week, only shuffling of positions. The Top 16 will be involved in the post-season after the regular season conclusion on Nov. 1.
The Top 16 of 37 Class 3A rankings at noon on Oct. 15 had Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (6-0, 16.7559) No. 1, Thatcher (6-1, 16.5012) No. 2, Florence (6-0, 15.7707) No. 3, Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (6-1, 14.4725) No. 4, Blue Ridge (7-0, 14.4471) No. 5, Mohave Valley River Valley (7-0, 14.2442) No. 6, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (6-1, 13.0028) was No. 7, and Payson (6-1, 12.4415) No. 8.
Bullhead City Mohave (6-1, 11.9865 rating) was No. 9, Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (5-1, 11.5530) No. 10, Eagar Round Valley (4-3, 7.5157) No. 11, Gilbert Christian (4-3, 6.6641) No. 12, Wickenburg (4-3, 6.5845) No. 13, Page (5-2, 5.6294) No. 14, El Mirage Dysart (5-2, 4.1861) No. 15, and Safford (4-4, 4.5642) No. 16.
The initial Top 16 Class 3A rankings at noon on Oct. 1 listed Florence (6-0, 16.9480) No. 1, ALA – West Foothills (4-0, 16.0358) No. 2, Thatcher (4-1, 15.0047) No. 3, Blue Ridge (6-0, 14.9545) No. 4, River Valley (6-0, 14.3772) No. 5, Benjamin Franklin (5-1, 6.1594) No. 6, Mohave (6-0, 11.4313) No. 7, and Payson (5-1, 11.0976) No. 8.
ALA – Ironwood (4-1, 9.8302) was No. 9, Pusch Ridge (4-1, 9.2412) No. 10, Wickenburg (4-2, 8.8690) No. 11, Safford (3-3, 5.8785) No. 12, Round Valley (3-2, 5.1112) No. 13, Valley Christian (2-3, 4.9592) No. 14, Dysart (3-2, 4.4654) No. 15, and Gilbert Christian (4-2, 7.6450) No. 16.
Rankings for the other two South Region members were Morenci (2-5, 1.0903) No. 22 and Sabino ((2-5, minus 1.7352) No. 27. All five region members were involved in the 2023 state playoffs.
3A South Region
Region standings are Thatcher (6-1 overall, 1-0 region), Pusch Ridge Christian (6-1, 2-0), Safford (4-4, 2-0), Morenci (2-5, 0-2), and Sabino (2-5, 0-3).
Thatcher (6-1, 1-0) is averaging a 30-12 (208-87) score per game or an 18-point margin. The Eagles have seeding wins over Surprise Paradise Honors (32-0, Aug. 23), Queen Creek Crimson (15-0, Aug. 30), Chandler Valley Christian (31-13, Sept. 6), Round Valley (35-27, Sept. 13), Show Low (42-16, Oct. 4), and Sabino (41-12, Oct. 11) along with a loss to Yuma Catholic (12-19, Sept. 20).
Pusch Ridge (6-1, 2-0) is averaging a 37-8 (260-55) score per game or a 29-point margin. The Lions haveseeding 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), and Morenci (29-0, Oct. 11)along with a loss to Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (7-31, Aug. 30).
Safford (4-4, 2-0) is averaging a 15-21 (121-164) score per game or a 6-point deficit. The Bulldogs haveseeding wins over Pima (14-7, Aug. 29), Tucson Rincon/University (42-6, Sept. 13), Sabino (27-14, Sept. 20), and Morenci (13-12, Oct. 4). The losses are to Payson (6-20, Aug. 23), Florence (13-34, Sept. 6), Blue Ridge (0-35, Sept. 27) and Round Valley (6-36, Oct. 11).
Morenci (2-5, 0-2) is averaging an 16-21 (109-147) score per game or a 5-point deficit. The Wildcats haveseeding wins over Round Valley (6-3, Aug. 30) and Benson (35-25, Sept. 6) along with losses to ALA – Ironwood (34-35, Aug. 23), Pima (14-20 2 OT, Sept. 13), Blue Ridge (8-22, Sept. 20), Safford (12-13, Oct. 4), and Pusch Ridge (0-29, Oct. 11).
Sabino (2-5, 0-3) is averaging a 16-20 (95-119) score per game or a 4-point deficit. The Sabercats have seeding wins over Coolidge (40-0, Aug. 23) and Crimson (13-0, Sept. 6) as well as losses to Tucson Sahuaro (14-15, Aug. 30), Tucson Mica Mountain (0-35, Sept. 13), Safford (14-27, Sept. 20), Pusch Ridge (14-42, Oct. 4), and Thatcher (12-41, Oct. 11).
2A State Rankings
There were three teams moving up into the Top 16 and three moving down below. Willcox (4-3, 3.1430) ascended to No. 11 from No. 22, Miami (4-3, 2.8313) ascended to No. 12 from No. 19, and Camp Verde (4-2, 1.0591) ascended to No. 15 from No. 20. The three descending teams were Benson (4-3, 1.0008) from No. 13 to No. 18, Tucson Tanque Verde (4-3, 1.3021) from No. 9 to No. 17, and Gilbert Arete Prep (4-3, minus 1.5325) from No. 15 to No. 24. The Top 16 will be involved in the post-season after the regular season conclusion on Nov. 1.
The Top 16 of 51 Class 2A rankings as of noon on Oct. 15 had Gilbert San Tan Charter (7-0 seeding, 16.3372rating) No. 1, Eloy Santa Cruz (7-1, 12.0067) No. 2, Tonopah Valley (8-0, 11.8170) No. 3, Phoenix Christian (6-1, 11.3371) No. 4, Pima (6-1, 9.4056) No. 5, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (6-2, 9.0173 rating) No. 6, Bisbee (6-1, 8.2942) No. 7, and Scottsdale Prep (6-1, 7.7968) No. 8.
Laveen Heritage (5-2, 4.8452) was No. 9, Phoenix Veritas Prep (4-3, 3.9944) No. 10, Willcox (4-3, 3.1430) No. 11, Miami (4-3, 2.8313) No. 12, Scottsdale Christian (3-4, 2.4770) No. 13, Pinon (7-1, 2.0410) No. 14, Camp Verde (4-2, 1.0591) No. 15, and Glendale Prep (5-2, 1.7472) No. 16.
The initial Top 16 Class 2A rankings at noon on Oct. 1 listed San Tan Charter (5-0 seeding, 15.0485 rating) No. 1, Santa Cruz (6-0, 13.2769) No. 2, Tonopah Valley (6-0, 11.2784) No. 3, Phoenix Christian (5-1, 11.1312) No. 4, Tanque Verde (4-1, 7.8429) No. 5, Pima (4-1, 7.4639) No. 6, Arizona Lutheran (4-2, 7.2779 rating) No. 7, and Scottsdale Prep (5-1, 6.4927) No. 8.
Bisbee (4-1, 5.9268) was No. 9, Veritas Prep (4-2, 5.5467) No. 10, Heritage (4-1, 4.3630) No. 11, Pinon (5-1, 3.0226) No. 12, Camp Verde (3-2, 1.9757) No. 13, Whiteriver Alchesay (4-1, 1.4408) No. 14, Glendale Prep (3-2, 1.4366) No. 15, and Scottsdale Christian (2-3, 0.6108) No. 16.
2A Black Region
Region standing are Pima (6-1 overall, 4-0 region), Miami (4-3, 3-1), Whiteriver Alchesay (5-2, 2-1), Saint Johns (3-4, 2-2), San Carlos (2-5, 1-2), Globe (3-5, 1-3), and Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (2-6, 0-4).
This week, No. 5 Pima (6-1 seeding, 9.4056 rating) visits No. 23 Alchesay (5-2, minus 1.3262), No. 12 Miami (4-3, 2.8313) hosts No. 39 San Carlos (2-5, minus 12.9417), No. 21 Saint Johns (3-4, minus 0.8297), and both No. 34 Globe (3-5, minus 9.1692) and No. 42 ALA-Anthem South (2-6, minus 15.6892) are idle.
2A San Pedro Region
Region standings are Bisbee (6-1 seeding, 4-0 region), Willcox (4-3, 3-1), Benson (4-3, 3-1), Tombstone (4-3, 2-2), Tanque Verde (4-3, 2-2), Palo Verde Magnet (4-3, 2-2), Catalina (1-6, 1-3), and Santa Rita (0-7, 0-4).
This week, No. 7 Bisbee (6-1 seeding, 8.2942 rating) visits No. 17 Tanque Verde (4-3, 1.3021), No. 11 Willcox (4-3, 3.1430) hosts No. 33 Palo Verde (3-4, minus 8.6206), No. 18 Benson (4-3, 1.0008) hosts No. 44 Catalina (1-6, minus 17.0965), and No. 19 Tombstone (4-3, minus 0.4674) hosts No. 50 Santa Rita (0-7, minus 24.4966).
