Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Michael Casillas ran for 146 yards on 20 carries against the Safford Bulldogs and scored once from 52 yards away, in a 14-26 region loss. The Morenci senior has averaged 5.7 (147-842) yards and contributed nine touchdowns through six games. The No. 13 Wildcats visit the No. 7 Pusch Ridge Lions on Friday, Oct. 6.
Wildcats tangle with Lions, Eagles take on Sabercats
By Raymundo Frasquillo
TUCSON – The Greenlee and Graham County football boys head to the Old Pueblo for South Region games on Friday, Oct. 6.
The No. 13 Morenci Wildcats (3-3 overall, 0-1 region) tangle with the No. 7 Pusch Ridge Christian Lions and the No. 11 Thatcher Eagles take on the No. 5 Sabino Sabercats.
Pusch Ridge Lions (5-1)
Pusch Ridge (5-1 overall, 0-1 3A South Region) has averaged a 32-16 (193-95) score per game or a 16-point margin.
The Lions have wins over Show Low (24-21, Aug. 25), Benjamin Franklin (34-7, Sept. 1), Yuma (38-14, Sept. 8), Catalina Foothills (28-13, Sept. 15), and San Tan Foothills (42-0, Sept. 22).
A lone loss of 27-40 was at the hands of Sabino (Sept. 29).
Coolidge (Oct. 13), Thatcher (Oct. 20), and Safford (Oct. 27) remain to be played by the Lions.
Morenci Wildcats (3-3)
The 3-2 Wildcats (3-3, 0-1 3A South Region) have averaged a 19-13 (115-75) score per game or 6-point margin in wins over Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (6-0, Aug. 18), Eagar Round Valley (24-6, Aug. 25), and Benson (35-0, Sept. 1) along with losses to Pima (16-19 in OT, Sept. 7) and to Blue Ridge (21-24, Sept. 15), and to Safford (14-26, Sept. 29).
Morenci’s region schedule includes hosting Tucson Sabino (Oct. 20), and visiting Thatcher (Oct. 27). The non-region home game with Fountain Hills (Oct. 13) completes the regular season schedule.
Sabino Sabercats (5-1)
The Sabercats (5-1, 2-0 3A South Region) have averaged a 37-25 (224-151) score per game or a 12-point margin.
Sabino has wins over Coolidge (55-28, Aug. 18), Sahuaro (19-6, Aug. 25), Crimson (53-20, Sept. 1), Safford (50-21, Sept. 15), and Pusch Ridge (40-27, Sept. 29). The loss was to Mica Mountain (7-49, Sept. 8).
Games left to play in the regular season are with Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (Oct. 13), at Morenci (Oct. 20), and with Bullhead City Mohave (Oct. 27).
Thatcher Eagles (3-3)
The Eagles (3-3, 0-0 3A South Region) have averaged a 25-19 (151-112) score per game or a 6-point margin.
Thatcher has wins over Crimson (40-0, Aug. 25), Round Valley (22-20, Sept. 8), and Show Low (41-0, Sept. 29) plus losses to Surprise Paradise Honors (14-35, Aug. 18), to Chandler Valley Christian (14-15, Sept. 1), to Yuma Catholic (20-42, Sept. 15).
The Eagles close out their season with Safford (Oct. 13), at Pusch Ridge (Oct. 20), and with Morenci (Oct. 27).
3A State Rankings
Week two of 3A Class statewide rankings had Bullhead City Mohave (7-0, 17.7536 rating) No. 1, Chandler Valley Christian (6-1, 16.0330) No. 2, Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (5-1, 15.6547) No. 3, Surprise Paradise Honors (5-1, 15.1280) No. 4, Tucson Sabino (5-1, 13.8078) No. 5, Florence (6-1, 11.7222) No. 6, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (5-1, 11.0361) No. 7, and Lakeside Blue Ridge (6-1, 10.1564) No. 8.
Mohave Valley River Valley (6-1, 9.2270) was No. 9, Queen Creek 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 Christian (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
Sabino is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the region, Pusch Ridge (5-1, 0-1), Morenci (3-3, 0-1), Thatcher (3-3, 0-0), and Safford (3-4, 1-1).
In region play thus far, Sabino defeated Safford 50-21 (Sept. 15) and Pusch Ridge 40-27 (Sept. 29), and Safford defeated Morenci 26-14 (Sept. 29).
Seven games remain, Morenci at Pusch Ridge and Thatcher at Sabino on Oct. 6, 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 second (Oct. 3) statewide rankings for the 2A Class Top 16 teams had Pima (6-0, 15.3813) as No. 1, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (6-0, 12.8720) No. 2, Gilbert San Tan Charter (4-1, 12.8134) No. 3, Scottsdale Christian (4-2, 12.3205) No. 4,Tucson Tanque Verde (5-1, 8.2783) No. 5, Phoenix 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.
Eloy 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 (6-0 overall, 2-0 region), Miami (2-4, 2-1), Whiteriver Alchesay (5-2, 2-1), Saint Johns (3-3, 2-1), Globe (4-3, 0-2), Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (0-7, 0-1), and San Carlos (0-6, 0-2).
2A San Pedro Region Standings
Tucson Tanque Verde (5-1 overall, 3-0 region), Bisbee (4-2, 3-0), Willcox (2-4, 1-1), Tombstone (4-2, 1-2), Benson (3-3, 1-2), Catalina (3-3, 0-2), and Palo Verde Magnet (1-5, 0-2).
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 seven weeks of play, Morenci’s opponents, minus pairings with the Wildcats, are a combined 37-20 (.649).
Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (3-3, 2-0 3A Central Region) fell 0-6 to Morenci (Aug. 18), defeated 4A Gila Region Douglas 28-2 (Aug. 25), fell 10-23 to 3A Metro East Region Gilbert Christian (Sept. 1), defeated 4A Southwest Region Phoenix Sierra Linda 27-20 in overtime (Sept. 8), edged 3A Central Coolidge 7-6 (Sept. 15), fell 7-49 to 3A Metro East Region Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (Sept. 22), and defeated 3A Central Queen Creek Crimson 38-13.
Eagar Round Valley (3-3, 2-0 3A East Region) fell 6-24 to Morenci (Aug. 25), defeated 2A Black Region Saint Johns 37-8 (Sept. 1), fell 20-22 to 3A South Region Thatcher (Sept. 8) and 18-20 to 4A East Sky Region San Tan Valley Poston Butte (Sept. 15), and defeated 3A East Show Low 40-3 (Sept. 22) and defeated 3A East Region Payson 7-3 (Sept. 29).
Benson (3-3, 2-0 2A San Pedro Region) fell 13-43 to 2A San Pedro Region Bisbee (Aug. 18), defeated 2A Salt Region Maricopa Sequoia Pathway 62-6 (Aug. 25), fell 0-35 to Morenci (Sept. 1), defeated 2A Verde Region Phoenix Shadow Mountain 38-34 (Sept. 8), fell 26-33 to 2A San Pedro Region Tombstone (Sept. 15), was idle (Sept. 22), and defeated 2A San Pedro Region Tucson Palo Verde Magnet 54-6 (Sept. 29).
Pima (6-0, 2-0 2A Black Region) defeated 3A South Region Safford 34-25 (Aug. 25), 2A Verde Region Scottsdale Christian 23-20 (Sept. 1), Morenci 19-16 in overtime (Sept. 7), 2A Black Region Saint Johns 41-0 (Sept. 16), 2A Black Region Miami 57-0 (Sept. 22), and 2A Black Region Florence American Leadership – Anthem South 62-0 (Sept. 29).
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 27-28 to 4A Grand Canyon Region Cottonwood Mingus (Sept. 8), and defeated Morenci 24-21 (Sept. 15), 3A South Region Safford 14-13 (Sept. 22), and 3A East Region Fountain Hills 48-21 (Sept. 29).
Safford (2-4, 0-1 3A South Region) defeated 3A East Region Payson 35-14 (Aug. 18), fell 25-34 to 2A Black Region Pima (Aug. 25), fell 26-29 to 3A Central Region Florence (Sept. 1), defeated 4A Gila Region Tucson Rincon/University 49-17 (Sept. 8), fell 21-50 to 3A South Region Sabino (Sept. 15) and 13-14 to 3A East Region Blue Ridge (Sept. 22), and defeated.
Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (5-1, 0-1 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 27-40 to 3A South Region Sabino (Sept. 29).
Fountain Hills (2-5, 0-2 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), and fell 13-51 to 3A North Central Region Camp Verde (Sept. 1), 24-58 to 4A East Sky Region Tempe Marcos de Niza 24-58 (Sept. 8), 3-14 to 3A East Region Payson (Sept. 15), 7-46 to 3A Metro East Region Gilbert Christian (Sept. 22), and 21-48 to 3A East Region Blue Ridge (Sept. 29).
Tucson Sabino (5-1, 2-0 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 7-49 to 4A Kino Region Tucson Mica Mountain (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).
Thatcher (3-3, 0-0 3A South Region) fell 14-35 to 3A Metro West Region Surprise Paradise Honors (Aug. 18), defeated Crimson 40-0 (Aug. 25), fell 14-15 to 3A Metro Region Chandler Valley Christian (Sept. 1), defeated 3A East Region Round Valley 22-20 (Sept. 8), fell 20-42 to 4A West Valley Region Yuma Catholic (Sept. 15), was idle (Sept. 22), and defeated 3A East Region Show Low 41-0 (Sept. 29) .
