Raymundo Frasquillo File Photo/Gila Herald: First-year Morenci head football coach Rishard Davis was named the 3A Conference Coach of the Year. Morenci’s Mikey Casillas was named the 3A Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
By Jon Johnson
MORENCI – Just one catch. That was all that separated the Morenci Wildcats from the chance to move onto the state semifinals after having won the 3A South Region – all in the team’s first year after moving up from the 2A Conference.
For that achievement, Morenci’s Rishard Davis has been named the 3A Conference Coach of the Year.
Morenci rebounded from three straight losses early mid-season (16-19 to Pima, 21-24 to Blue Ridge, and 14-26 to Safford) to defeat heavyweight regional foes Sabino (31-28) and Thatcher (21-14) to win the ultra-competitive 3A South Region. The region is so competitive every member made the playoffs.
The Wildcats won their home playoff game 35-7 over Benjamin Franklin and then took the No. 1-ranked Paradise Honors Panthers to the mat. Paradise Honors prevailed at home, 42-35, after a pass to Tristen Sanchez in the end zone as time expired fell incomplete.
Sabino (who finished third in the region) took home the state championship.
3A Conference Offensive Player of the Year – Michael Casillas (Morenci)
When you rack up 1,732 yards on the ground in the season to give you 5,828 and put you at number 7 all-time for the most rushing yards in a varsity career for the state of Arizona 2A-6A, then you give the 3A Conference Offensive Player of the Year to that player, Morenci’s Mikey Casillas.
Rounding out the major awards were 3A Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Jonathan Williams (Mohave), and 3A Conference Player of the Year to state champion Cameron Hackworth (Sabino).
3A All-Conference 1st Team – local
Morenci: Tristen Sanchez (defensive lineman), and Austyn Nelson-Porter (offensive lineman)
Thatcher: Brett Jones (linebacker), Zac Salazar (offensive lineman), and Kody Bingham (punt returner)
3A All-Conference 2nd Team – local
Safford: Izaiah Alvarado (defensive back)
Morenci: Joey Seballos (defensive back)
3A Honorable Mention – local
Safford: Anthony Garrobo, and Chris Shatto
Morenci: Donovan Vozza
Thatcher: Christian Carter, and Brigham Rasmussen
