Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci football players return to Lawson Stadium for a Friday the 13th game against No. 30 Fountain Hills on Oct. 13. Exiting their tunnel are, from left, sophomore Derick Lytle (9), senior Tristen Sanchez (5), junior Christopher Lopez (23), senior Andrew Chavez (2), and freshman Mason Clark (17). The No. 11 Wildcats are fresh off a road region win over Pusch Ridge.
Wildcats, and Eagles upset higher-ranked region foes
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Rishard Davis-coached Morenci Wildcats welcome the Fountain Hills Falcons to Lawson Stadium on Friday, Oct. 13. Although the two schools met on a baseball diamond a few years ago, it will be the first meeting on the gridiron.
Morenci enters the game ranked No. 11 (4-3 seeding, 7.9634 rating) while Fountain Hills is No. 30 (2-6, minus 8.3016).
Friday the 13th of October has not been very kind to Morenci. The Wildcats have played 18 games on that day and date, posting one win in seven games, 4-3 in September, and 4-0 in November during the previous 70 seasons (1953-2022). They went 3-2 as a 3A school (1953-81) and 6-7 as a 2A program (!982-2022).
The other region contest has Graham County neighbors facing one another as No. 13 Safford (6.3370) visits No. 9 Thatcher (9.1606) on Oct. 13.
In non-region pairings, No. 6 Sabino (5-2, 11.0789) hosts No. 3 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (6-1, 15.5307) and, No. 10 Pusch Ridge (5-2, 8.4078) visits No. 20 Coolidge (4-4, 0.9590) on Oct. 13.
Fountain Hills Falcons (2-6)
The Falcons (2-6 overall, 0-3 3A East Region) have averaged an 18-32 (140-256) score per game or a 14-point deficit.
Fountain Hills has wins over Yuma Kofa (37-13, Aug. 18) and Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (28-0, Aug. 25) along with losses to Camp Verde (13-51, Sept. 1), Tempe Marcos de Niza (24-58, Sept. 8), Payson (3-14, Sept. 15), Gilbert Christian (7-46, Sept. 22), Blue Ridge (21-48, Sept. 29), and Show Low (7-26, Oct. 6).
The Falcons have Round Valley (Oct. 20) remaining on their schedule.
Morenci Wildcats (4-3)
The Wildcats (4-3, 1-1 3A South Region) have averaged a 19-13 (115-75) score per game or a 6-point margin.
Morenci has wins over Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (6-0, Aug. 18), Eagar Round Valley (24-6, Aug. 25), Benson (35-0, Sept. 1), and Pusch Ridge (14-7, Oct. 6) along with losses to Pima (16-19 in OT, Sept. 7), Blue Ridge (21-24, Sept. 15), and Safford (14-26, Sept. 29).
The Wildcats have two region games remaining, with Tucson Sabino (Oct. 20) and at Thatcher (Oct. 27).
3A State Rankings
Week Three of 3A Class statewide rankings had Bullhead City Mohave (8-0, 18.4303 rating) No. 1, Surprise Paradise Honors (6-2, 16.28016) No. 2, Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (6-1, 15.5307) No. 3, Chandler Valley Christian (7-1, 15.2515) No. 4, Florence (6-1, 11.9245) No. 5, Tucson Sabino (5-2, 11.0789) No. 6, Lakeside Blue Ridge (6-1, 10.6262) No. 7, and Mohave Valley River Valley (6-1, 9.4448) was No. 8.
Thatcher (4-3, 9.1606) was No. 9, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (5-2, 8.4078) No. 10, Morenci (4-3, 7.9634) No. 11, Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (5-2, 7.5608) No. 12, Safford (4-4, 6.3370) No. 13, Gilbert Christian (4-3, 5.9101) No. 14, Winslow (6-1, 4.9517) No. 15, and Payson (4-3, 2.5366) No. 16,
Week two of 3A Class rankings had Mohave (7-0, 17.7536 rating) No. 1, Valley Christian (6-1, 16.0330) No. 2, American Leadership – West Foothills (5-1, 15.6547) No. 3, Paradise Honors (5-1, 15.1280) No. 4, Sabino (5-1, 13.8078) No. 5, Florence (6-1, 11.7222) No. 6, Pusch Ridge (5-1, 11.0361) No. 7, and Blue Ridge (6-1, 10.1564) No. 8.
River Valley (6-1, 9.2270) was No. 9, Benjamin Franklin (5-2, 7.4890) No. 10, Thatcher (3-3, 5.7713) No. 11, Gilbert Christian (4-3, 5.6366) No. 12, Morenci (3-3, 5.5153) No. 13, Safford (3-4, 5.1831) No. 14, Winslow (5-1, 4.0290) No. 15, and Payson (4-3, 2.5414) No. 16,
The initial 3A rankings listed Mohave (6-0, 19.8613 rating) No. 1, Paradise Honors (5-1, 17.3998) No. 2, Valley Christian (5-1, 15.4114) No. 3, American Leadership – West Foothills (4-1, 14.6275) No. 4, Pusch Ridge (5-0, 14.1680) No. 5, Florence (5-1, 12.9504) No. 6, Sabino (4-1, 10.9309) No. 7, and Blue Ridge (5-1, 8.9582) No. 8.
River Valley (5-1, 8.9426) was No. 9, Morenci (3-2, 7.9530) No. 10, Gilbert Christian (4-2, 7.6450) No. 11, Benjamin Franklin (4-2, 6.1594) No. 12, Winslow (5-1, 4.8399) No. 13, Thatcher (2-3, 4.2373) No. 14, Payson (4-2, 3.3748) No. 15, and Safford (2-4, 3.0946) No. 16.
3A South Region Standings
Thatcher is 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the region, Sabino (4-2, 2-1), Safford (4-4, 1-1), Morenci (4-3, 1-1), and Pusch Ridge (5-2, 0-2).
In region play thus far, Thatcher (1-0) defeated Sabino 27-20 (Oct. 6), Sabino (2-1) defeated Safford 50-21 (Sept. 15) and Pusch Ridge 40-27 (Sept. 29), Safford (1-0) defeated Morenci 26-14 (Sept. 29), and Morenci (1-1) defeated Pusch Ridge 14-7 (Oct. 6).
Seven region games remain, Safford at Thatcher on Oct. 13, Sabino at Morenci and Thatcher at Pusch Ridge on Oct. 20, and Morenci at Thatcher and Pusch Ridge at Safford on Oct. 27.
2A State Rankings
The third (Oct. 10) statewide rankings for the 2A Class Top 16 teams had Pima (7-0, 14.8703) as No. 1, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (7-0, 14.8363) No. 2, Scottsdale Christian (5-2, 12.1560) No. 3, Camp Verde (6-2, 8.9277) No. 4, Gilbert San Tan Charter (4-2, 8.1278) No. 5, Eloy Santa Cruz Valley (6-1, 8.1138) No. 6, Tonopah Valley (6-1, 5.5794) No. 7, and Parker (4-3, 4.5131) No. 8.
Phoenix Veritas Prep (5-3, 4.4884) was No. 9, Phoenix Christian (5-2, 4.3018) No. 10, Tucson Tanque Verde (5-2, 3.5540) No. 11, Bisbee (5-2, 3.4837) No. 12, Tombstone (5-2, 2.5858) No. 13, Chandler Prep (6-2, 1.9413) No. 14, Scottsdale Prep (5-3, 0.8941) No. 15, and Glendale Prep (6-2, 0.7443) No. 16.
Week Two (Oct. 3) Top 16 rankings for 2A Class teams had Pima (6-0, 15.3813) as No. 1, Arizona Lutheran (6-0, 12.8720) No. 2, San Tan Charter (4-1, 12.8134) No. 3, Scottsdale Christian (4-2, 12.3205) No. 4, Tanque Verde (5-1, 8.2783) No. 5, Veritas Prep (5-2, 8.0204) No. 6, Camp Verde (5-2, 7.5874) No. 7, and Tonopah Valley (5-1, 5.6417) No. 8.
Santa Cruz Valley (5-1, 5.0481) was No. 9, Chandler Prep (5-2, 4.3430) No. 10, Phoenix Christian (4-2, 3.8047) No. 11, Scottsdale Prep (5-2, 3.3724) No. 12, Phoenix Cortez (5-1, 2.8210) No. 13, Bisbee (4-2, 2.6232) No. 14, Parker (3-3, 1.9534) No. 15, and Tombstone (4-2, 1.2925) No. 16.
Initially on Sept. 26, the rankings were Pima (5-0, 16.5774) No. 1, Arizona Lutheran (5-0, 15.1493) No. 2, San Tan Charter (4-1, 12.9470) No. 3, Scottsdale Christian (3-2, 9.7475) No. 4, Veritas Prep (5-1, 9.0018) No. 5, Tanque Verde (4-1, 6.9888) No. 6, Chandler Prep (5-1, 6.8419) No. 7, and Camp Verde (4-2, 5.6384) No. 8.
Phoenix Christian (4-1, 5.4931) was No. 9, Tonopah Valley (4-1, 5.0317) No. 10, Parker (3-2, 4.5926) No. 11, Tombstone (4-1, 4.0119) No. 12, Cortez (4-1, 3.1985) No. 13, Santa Cruz Valley (4-1, 2.5898) No. 14, Bisbee (3-2, 1.4503) No. 15, and Pinon (5-0, 0.7855) No. 16.
2A Black Region Standings
Pima (7-0 overall, 3-0 region), Saint Johns (4-3, 3-1), Whiteriver Alchesay (5-2, 2-1), Miami (2-5, 2-2), Globe (4-4, 0-3), San Carlos (1-6, 1-2), and Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (0-8, 0-4).
2A San Pedro Region Standings
Bisbee (5-2 overall, 4-0 region), Tucson Tanque Verde (5-2, 3-1), Willcox (3-4, 2-1), Tombstone (5-2, 2-2), Benson (3-4, 1-2), Tucson Catalina (3-4, 0-3), and Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (1-6, 0-3).
2023 Morenci opponents
This week, Morenci (3-3 overall) visits Pusch Ridge (5-1), American Leadership – Ironwood (4-3) is idle, Round Valley (3-3) visits 3A South Region Safford (3-4), Benson (3-3) visits 2A Agua Fria Region Phoenix Christian (4-2), Pima (6-0) hosts 2A Black Region Globe (4-3), Blue Ridge (6-1) is idle, Safford (3-4) hosts 3A East Region Round Valley (3-3), Pusch Ridge (5-1) hosts 3A South Region Morenci (3-3), Fountain Hills (2-5) hosts 3A East Region Show Low (1-5), Sabino (4-1) hosts 3A South Region Thatcher (3-3), and Thatcher (3-3) visits 3A South Region Sabino (5-1).
Through eight weeks of play, Morenci’s opponents, minus pairings with the Wildcats, are a combined 40-25 (.615).
Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (4-3, 2-0 3A Central Region) fell to Morenci (0-6, Aug. 18), defeated 4A Gila Region Douglas (28-2, Aug. 25), fell to 3A Metro East Region Gilbert Christian (10-23, Sept. 1), defeated 4A Southwest Region Phoenix Sierra Linda (27-20 OT, Sept. 8) and 3A Central Coolidge (7-6, Sept. 15), fell to 3A Metro East Region Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (7-49, Sept. 22), defeated 3A Central Queen Creek Crimson (38-13, Sept. 29), and was idle (Oct. 6).
Eagar Round Valley (3-4, 2-0 3A East Region) fell to 3A South Region Morenci (6-24, Aug. 25), defeated 2A Black Region Saint Johns (37-8, Sept. 1), fell to 3A South Region Thatcher (20-22, Sept. 8) and 4A East Sky Region San Tan Valley Poston Butte (18-20, Sept. 15), defeated 3A East Show Low (40-3, Sept. 22) and 3A East Region Payson (7-3, Sept. 29), and fell to 3A South Region Safford (21-24, Oct. 5).
Benson (3-4, 1-2 2A San Pedro Region) fell to 2A San Pedro Region Bisbee (13-43, Aug. 18), defeated 2A Salt Region Maricopa Sequoia Pathway (62-6, Aug. 25), fell to Morenci (0-35, Sept. 1), defeated 2A Verde Region Phoenix Shadow Mountain (38-34, Sept. 8), fell to 2A San Pedro Region Tombstone (26-33, Sept. 15), was idle (Sept. 22), defeated 2A San Pedro Region Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (54-6, Sept. 29), and fell to 2A Agua Fria Region Phoenix Christian (21-40, Oct. 6).
Pima (7-0, 3-0 2A Black Region) defeated 3A South Region Safford (34-25, Aug. 25), 2A Verde Region Scottsdale Christian (23-20, Sept. 1), 3A South Region Morenci (19-16 OT, Sept. 7), 2A Black Region Saint Johns (41-0, Sept. 16), 2A Black Region Miami (57-0, Sept. 22), 2A Black Region Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (62-0, Sept. 29), and 2A Black Region Globe (62-0, Oct. 6).
Lakeside Blue Ridge (6-1, 1-0 3A East Region) defeated 3A North Region Kayenta Monument Valley (60-12, Aug. 18), 2A Black Region Saint Johns (38-14, Aug. 25), 3A North Region Fort Defiance Window Rock (58-0, Sept. 1), fell to 4A Grand Canyon Region Cottonwood Mingus (27-28, Sept. 8), defeated Morenci (24-21, Sept. 15), 3A South Region Safford (14-13, Sept. 22), and 3A East Region Fountain Hills (48-21, Sept. 29), and was idle (Oct. 6).
Safford (4-4, 1-1 3A South Region) defeated 3A East Region Payson (35-14, Aug. 18), fell to 2A Black Region Pima (25-34, Aug. 25) and 3A Central Region Florence (26-29, Sept. 1), defeated 4A Gila Region Tucson Rincon/University (49-17, Sept. 8), fell to 3A South Region Sabino (21-50, Sept. 15) and 3A East Region Blue Ridge (13-14, Sept. 22), and defeated Morenci (24-21, Sept. 29) and 3A East Region Round Valley (24-21, Oct. 5).
Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (5-2, 0-2 3A South Region) defeated 3A East Region Show Low (24-21, Aug. 25), 3A Metro East Region Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (34-7, Sept. 1), 3A Metro West Region Yuma (38-14, Sept. 8), 4A Kino Region Tucson Catalina Foothills (28-13, Sept. 15), and 3A Central Region San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (42-0, Sept. 22), and fell to 3A South Region Sabino (27-40, Sept. 29) and Morenci (7-14, Oct. 6).
Fountain Hills (2-6, 0-3 3A East Region) defeated 3A Metro West Region Yuma Kofa (37-13, Aug. 18) and 3A Metro East Region Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (28-0, Aug. 25), fell to 3A North Central Region Camp Verde (13-51, Sept. 1), 4A East Sky Region Tempe Marcos de Niza (24-58, Sept. 8), 3A East Region Payson (3-14, Sept. 15), 3A Metro East Region Gilbert Christian (7-46, Sept. 22), 3A East Region Blue Ridge (21-48, Sept. 29), and 3A East Region Show Low (7-26, Oct. 6).
Tucson Sabino (5-2, 2-1 3A South Region) defeated 3A Central Region Coolidge (55-28, Aug. 18), 4A Kino Region Tucson Sahuaro (19-6, Aug. 25), and 3A Central Region Queen Creek Crimson (53-20, Sept. 1), fell to 4A Kino Region Tucson Mica Mountain (7-49, Sept. 8), defeated 3A South Region Safford (50-21, Sept. 15), was idle (Sept. 22), and defeated 3A South Region Pusch Ridge (40-27, Sept. 29), and fell to Thatcher (21-27, Oct. 6).
Thatcher (4-3, 1-0 3A South Region) fell to 3A Metro West Region Surprise Paradise Honors (14-35, Aug. 18), defeated Crimson (40-0, Aug. 25), fell to 3A Metro Region Chandler Valley Christian (14-15, Sept. 1), defeated 3A East Region Round Valley (22-20, Sept. 8), fell to 4A West Valley Region Yuma Catholic (20-42, Sept. 15), was idle (Sept. 22), and defeated 3A East Region Show Low (41-0, Sept. 29) and 3A South Region Sabino (27-21, Oct. 6).
Morenci – 14, Pusch Ridge – 7
After opening with three straight wins, yielding six points, and averaging a 22- 1 (65-6) score per game or 21-point margin, the Wildcats were outscored a combined 17-46 in the second half of their ensuing three games. Morenci fell in all three games, to Pima (16-19 in OT, Sept. 7), Blue Ridge (21-24, Sept. 15), and Safford (14-26, Sept. 29).
Morenci trailed by seven at halftime but this time, the Wildcats outscored their opponent in the second half instead of the other way around. The difference between last week and the previous three weeks was the mental aspect.
“We were more focused,” senior defensive lineman Tristen Sanchez said.
Ahead 14-7, the Wildcats had the ball in the closing minute with the clock winding down. A fumble occurred and the Lions had four downs to tie or take the lead. Two overthrown passes, a deflected endzone pass, and a run were stopped within sight of the goal line to end the game.
“We had more effort,” senior quarterback Joseph Seballos said.
Morenci came back from the mid-game break to cover 37 yards in six plays. Senior Michael Casillas capped the drive with a 3-yard run and senior Anthony Ballesteros added the conversion kick to tie the score at 7-7 with 4:34 elapsed in the third quarter.
A 4th-and-9 punt ensued after gaining 21 of 77 yards; a 10-play, 93-yard drive was capped by Casillas with a 48-yard run on 2nd-and-7, and Ballesteros added the conversion run; and a fumble on 3rd-and-3 after gaining seven of 72 yards accounted for the Wildcat possessions.
Piusch Ridge had three other second-half possessions. The Lions gained 51 of 68 yards in nine before attempting a blocked field goal on 4th-and-11, gained 22 of 88 yards in nine plays before punting on 4th-and-8, and gained 36 of 64 yards in eight plays before an incomplete pass on 4th-and-10 yielded the ball on downs.
During five first-half possessions, Pusch Ridge gained 41 of 65 yards in 11 plays before an incomplete 4th-and-9 pass turned the ball on downs, gained 26 of 81 yards in eight plays before losing a 2nd-and-7 fumble, gained 23 of 61 in six plays before a 4th-and-28 punt, gained four of 51 yards in three plays preceding a 4th-and-6 punt, and covered 54 yards in eight plays to score a 3-yard run plus conversion kick.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats punted on three of five possessions, on 4th-and-4 after netting 25 of 76 yards, on 4th-and-10 after three no-gain plays, and on 4th-and-12 after losing two of 92 yards. A fumble resulted after gaining 30 of 76 yards in nine plays and running out of time after a pair of incomplete passes from 74 yards away.
