Morenci journeys to White Mountains

By Raymundo Frasquillo

LAKESIDE – The Frankie Gonzalez-coached Morenci Wildcats journey into the White Mountains this week. They take a 2-2 overall record against the 4-0 Eric Hjalmarsen-coached Lakeside Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets on Friday, Sept. 20.

It will be the third meeting of the two teams since 1983 when both were 2A schools. Blue Ridge shutout Morenc1 22-0 (Nov. 11) in a state semifinal game. The Yellow Jackets finished 11-0 that season. The school enrollment increased prompting a step up a class.

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci’s Pride Band was on hand for two halftime performances in four home games.*

Blue Ridge ended as a state finalist 18 times with 13 titles and 10 undefeated campaigns (nine 13-0, one 14-0) from 1987 to 2013 under Paul Moro. In the ensuing 10 seasons (2014-23), the Yellow Jackets posted a combined 2-7 post-season record.

Morenci went 24-25 in the post-season (1983-2022) as a 2A school from 1982-2022, and finished as state runners-up five times, 1984 (9-3 overall under Jack Edens), 1992 (11-2 under Reynaldo Peru), 2012 (12-2 under Frank Ogas), 2021 (11-3 under Joseph Garcia), and 2022 (12-2 under Garcia).

The 2023 Wildcats exited 35-42 in the state quarterfinal round to No. 3 Surprise Paradise Honors as No. 6. Morenci went 1-1 in the post-season as did No. 9 Blue Ridge, falling 14-54 to No. 1 Bullhead City Mohave.

Kickoff in Paul Moro Stadium is 7 p.m.

Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets (4-0, 0-0)

So far, Blue Ridge has a 4-0 overall record with an average score per game of 40-4 (159-14) or a 36-point margin.

The wins are 46-0 over 3A North Region Kayenta Monument Valley (Aug. 23), 28-8 over 2A Black Region Saint Johns (Aug. 30), 52-0 over 3A North Region Fort Defiance Window Rock (Sept. 5), and 33-6 over 4A Grand Canyon Region Cottonwood Mingus (Sept. 13).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Yedidia Luputa Kanyinda (8) heads right for a hand-off from Christopher Lopez (23). The play lost three yards and a punt resulted three plays later with 3:20 remaining in regulation.

A year ago, Blue Ridge met Morenci with a 3-1 record and an average score per game of 46-14 (183-54) or 32-point margin. The Yellow Jackets had wins of 60-12 over Monument Valley, 38-14 over Saint Johns, and 58-0 over Window Rock. The loss was 27-28 to Mingus.

Blue Ridge hosts Safford (Sept. 27) and Fountain Hills (Oct. 4), visits Payson (Oct. 18), hosts Show Low (Oct. 25), and visits Round Valley (Nov. 1) to complete its regular season schedule.

The Yellow Jackets are competing in the 3A East Region with Fountain Hills, Payson, Round Valley, and Show Low.

Morenci Wildcats (2-2, 0-0)

To date, 2-2 Morenci is averaging a 22-21 (89-83) score per game or a 1-point margin. Morenci has wins of 6-3 over Eagar Round Valley (Aug. 30) and 35-25 over Benson (Sept. 6). The losses are 34-35 to Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (Aug. 23) and 14-20 in two overtimes to Pima (Sept. 13).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci senior Christopher Lopez (23) is chased out of bounds on 4th-and-28 by Pima sophomore defensive back Gilbert Bryce (1). Eight seconds remained as the ball was snapped and the no-gain resulted in an overtime period.

Last season at the same point, the 3-1 Wildcats averaged a 20-13 (81-25) score per game or 7-point margin with wins of 6-0 over ALA – Ironwood, 24-6 over Round Valley, and 35-0 over Benson along with a 16-19 overtime loss to Pima.

The Wildcats follow this week’s non-region contest with another road game at Safford (Oct. 4), host Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (Oct. 11), visit Fountain Hills (Oct. 18) and Tucson Sabino (Oct. 25), and host Thatcher (Nov. 1).

Morenci is in the 3A South Region with Pusch Ridge Christian, Sabino, Safford, and Thatcher.

3A South Region

Region standings are Thatcher (4-0 overall, 0-0 region), Sabino (2-2, 0-0), Pusch Ridge Christian (2-1, 0-0), Morenci (2-2, 0-0), and Safford (2-2, 0-0).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Clifton Class of 1967 grad, in-country Vietnam Era veteran, and American Legion Color Guard member Rudy Campos holds the colors for the National Anthem at a previous home game. Pre-game activities for the Benson game were eliminated because of the hour lightning delays.

Thatcher has seeding wins of 32-0 over Surprise Paradise Honors (Aug. 23), 15-0 over Queen Creek Crimson (Aug. 30), 31-13 over Chandler Valley Christian (Sept. 6), and 35-27 over Round Valley (Sept. 13).

Sabino has wins of 40-0 over Coolidge (Aug. 23) and 13-0 over Crimson as well as losses of 14-15 to Tucson Sahuaro (Aug. 30) and 0-35 to Tucson Mica Mountain (Sept. 13).

Pusch Ridge has wins of 42-3 over Show Low (Aug. 30) and 51-0 over Yuma (Sept. 13) along with a 7-31 loss to Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (Aug. 30).

Morenci has wins of 6-3 over Round Valley (Aug. 30) and 35-25 over Benson (Sept. 6) along with losses of 34-35 to ALA – Ironwood (Aug. 23) and 14-20 in two overtimes to Pima (Sept. 13).

Safford has wins of 14-7 win over Pima (Aug. 29) and 42-6 over Tucson Rincon/University (Sept. 13). The losses are 6-20 loss to Payson (Aug. 23) and 13-34 to Florence (Sept. 6).

This week (Sept. 20), Thatcher hosts Yuma Catholic, Sabino hosts Safford, Pusch Ridge visits Tucson Catalina Foothills, and Morenci visits Blue Ridge.

2A Black Region

Region standing are Pima (2-1 overall, 1-0 region), San Carlos (1-3, 1-0), Whiteriver Alchesay (2-1, 0-0), Saint Johns (1-2, 0-0), Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (2-2, 0-1), Miami (1-2, 0-0), and Globe (1-3, 0-1).

Pima has a seeding win of 41-0 over Globe (Aug. 23) and 20-14 in two overtimes over Morenci (Sept. 13) along with a 7-14 loss to Safford (Aug. 29).

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: An alert senior Shane Seballos (7) recovered a Pima fumble to give Morenci the ball with 37 seconds left in regulation. The Wildcats were unable to score.*

San Carlos has a 24-12 win over ALA – Anthem South (Aug. 23) as well as losses of 14-25 to Whittman Mountainside (Aug. 30), 6-58 to Tombstone (Sept. 6), and 6-30 to Pinon (Sept. 13).

Alchesay has wins of 52-0 over Sanders Valley (Sept. 5) and 56-0 over Teec Nos Pos Red Mesa (Sept. 13) along with a 12-20 loss to Chinle (Aug. 30).

Saint Johns had a 63-16 win over Holbrook (Sept. 13) as well as losses of 8-28 to Blue Ridge (Aug. 30) and 0-36 to Round Valley (Sept. 6).

ALA – Anthem South has wins of 28-26 over Tucson Catalina (Sept. 6) and 34-6 over Santa Rita (Sept. 13). The losses are 12-24 to San Carlos (Aug. 23) and 0-38 to Gilbert Arete Prep (Aug. 30).

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci senior Jossue Vaca Jr. (26) attempted a 34-yard field goal on 4th-and goal during the first overtime period. The ball was wide left of the uprights.*

Globe has a 37-0 win over Tucson Santa Rita (Aug. 30) and losses of 0-41 to Pima (Aug. 23), 6-7 to Gilbert Arete Prep (Sept. 6), and 7-34 to Tombstone (Sept. 12).

Miami has a 32-14 win over Chandler Prep (Sept. 13) along with losses of 6-13 to Scottsdale Prep (Aug. 23) and 12-28 to Phoenix Veritas Prep (Aug. 30).

This week, Pima hosts Saint Johns, San Carlos visits Alchesay, ALA-Anthem South visits Wellton Antelope, and Globe hosts Miami.

2A San Pedro Region

Region standings are Bisbee (2-1 seeding, 0-0 region), Tanque Verde (2-1, 0-0), Tombstone (2-1, 0-0), Palo Verde Magnet (2-1, 0-0), Benson (1-2, 0-0), Willcox (1-2, 0-0), Santa Rita (0-3, 0-0), and Catalina (0-3, 0-0).

Bisbee has seeding wins of 67-7 over Phoenix Madison Highland (Aug. 30) and 26-20 over Douglas (Sept. 6) as well as a 7-30 loss to Eloy Santa Cruz (Sept. 13).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Jeremiah Martinez (33) covered 10 yards in four plays during a second overtime period. The Pima senior added six points for the sixth win in the most recent 11 pairings with Morenci.

Tanque Verde has wins of 40-26 over Glendale Prep (Sept. 6) and 38-6 over Phoenix Cortez (Sept. 13) along with a 13-26 loss to Phoenix Christian (Aug. 23).

Tombstone has wins of 58-6 over San Carlos (Sept. 6) and 34-7 over Globe (Sept. 12) as well as a 6-7 loss to Laveen Heritage (Aug. 29).

Palo Verde has wins of 16-15 win over Tucson Rincon/University (Sept. 6) and 43-0 over Scottsdale Coronado (Sept. 13) along with a 6-35 loss to Wellton Antelope Union (Aug. 30).

Benson has a 27-10 win over Phoenix Shadow Mountain (Aug. 23) and losses of 20-22 to Phoenix Christian (Aug. 30) and 25-35 to Morenci (Sept. 6).

Willcox has an 18-16 win over Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (Aug. 23) and losses of 20-65 to Tonopah Valley (Aug. 30) and 7-21 to Show Low (Sept. 6).

Santa Rita has losses of 0-37 to Globe (Aug. 30), 14-48 to California Winterhaven San Pasqual (Sept. 6), and 6-34 to ALA-Anthem South (Sept. 13).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: A Rhiley Good (60) conversion kick sailed through the uprights. The Pima sophomore knotted the score in Lawson Stadium. It remained 14-14 following an overtime period to force a second one.

Catalina has losses of 6-46 to Surprise Highland Prep (Aug. 23), 8-17 to Phoenix NFL Yet (Aug. 30), and 26-28 to ALA-Anthem South (Sept 6).

This week, Bisbee visits Catalina, Tanque Verde visits Palo Verde, Tombstone visits Benson, and Willcox visits Santa Rita.

1A South Region

Region standings are Saint David (4-0 overall, 3-0 region), Elfrida Valley Union (2-1, 2-0), Fort Thomas (2-2, 2-1), Duncan (1-3, 1-2), Kearny Ray (1-3, 1-2), San Manuel (1-3, 1-2), and Sells Baboquivari (0-4, 0-3).

Saint David has seeding wins of 60-6 over Scottsdale Cicero Prep (Aug. 23), 70-22 over Baboquivari (Aug. 31), 65-0 over Ray (Sept. 6), and 59-8 over Duncan (Sept. 13).

Fort Thomas has wins of 36-20 over Sells Baboquivari (Aug. 23) and 58-36 over Duncan (Aug. 30) along with losses of 6-40 to Chandler Lincoln Prep (Sept. 6) and 32-40 to San Manuel (Sept. 13).

Ray has a 32-12 win over San Manuel (Aug. 30), and losses of 6-52 to Heber Mogollon (Aug. 23), 0-65 to Saint David (Sept. 6), and 6-36 to Valley Union (Sept. 13).

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: The 4th-and-goal run from the one resulted in a Pima touchdown during the second extra period.*

Valley Union has wins of 24-13 over Baboquivari (Sept. 6) and 36-6 over Ray (Sept. 13) as well as a 36-40 loss to Glendale Desert Heights Prep (Aug. 23).

Duncan has a 22-16 win over San Manuel (Sept. 6) and losses of 66-98 to Lordsburg, NM (Aug. 23), 36-58 to Fort Thomas (Aug. 30), and 8-59 to Saint David (Sept. 13).

San Manuel has a 40-32 win over Fort Thomas along with losses of 6-14 to Chandler Lincoln Prep (Aug. 23), 12-32 to Ray (Aug. 30), and 16-22 to Duncan (Sept. 6).

Baboquivari losses of 20-36 to Fort Thomas (Aug. 23), 22-70 to Saint David (Aug. 30), 13-24 to Valley Union (Sept. 6), and 12-45 to Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (Sept. 13).

This week, Saint David hosts Heber Mogollon, Valley Union hosts San Manuel, Fort Thomas hosts Superior, Duncan is idle, and Ray hosts Baboquivari.