Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: A 4-member team from each school competed in the 400-meter relay event during the Big Man Challenge in Payson on June 13. The team anchor had to consume the handed-off container contents, to be declared the winner. Morenci’s Class of 2026 Isaiah Cook (second from left) was on the team placing second overall to Show Low in the Big Man Challenge.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
GILA COUNTY – It has been said a team’s success or failure depends on how much “you” improve during the off-season. Whether each individual takes advantage of the opportunities to improve can indicate how a team will finish at the season’s end, in success or failure. The words success and failure both have “u” in them. The immediate future kicks off in late July, less than a few weeks away.
The Frankie Gonzalez-coached Morenci Wildcats began the off-season shortly after the 2023 season concluded. Underclassmen continued to hit the weight room. It began in earnest with seven days of Spring football practices in May, using multiple 7-on-7 passing and big man challenge sessions in June, along with weight room sessions since in an effort to improve. Not everyone coming out for the sport was available for each session, because of family or job commitments, or unhealed injuries. The boys that were able to attend did what they could as best they could. The heat warnings, high-temperature alerts, and high humidity were not a detriment. The student-athletes competed anyway.
Individual football skills and techniques, honed for the betterment of each team’s success in the upcoming season, were on display in Miami’s Nick Ragus Stadium on June 29. A 7-on-7 passing session and a big man challenge session were held. Miami hosted Buckeye Odyssey Institute, Glendale Prep, Globe, Holbrook, Morenci, and San Carlos.
Morenci left with the first-place trophy, topping four pool opponents, along with Odyssey Institute 8-0 in sudden death following a regulation tie, Holbrook 18-0, and Glendale Prep 16-6 during bracket play. A second-place finish was attained during the Big Man Challenge by the Wildcats.
The Wildcats also attended 7-on-7 passing sessions in Glendale on the Arizona Christian University campus on June 3, facing Miami, Surprise Paradise Honors, Tempe Union, and California Winterhaven San Pasqual; in Payson on June 13, facing Coolidge, Globe, Holbrook, Lakeside Blue Ridge, San Carlos, and Show Low; and hosted Benson, Bisbee, and Miami on June 21.
In Graham County on Pima’s Edd Hubbard Field each Tuesday during June, the Roughriders hosted Morenci, Safford, Saint David, Thatcher, and New Mexico Lordsburg on June 4 and 11; Morenci, Saint David, San Carlos, Thatcher, along with New Mexico Lordsburg and Silver on June 18; and Thatcher on June 25.
“I saw what I wanted to see during the sessions,” first-year Morenci head coach Frankie Gonzalez said. “I was happy with what I saw.”
The Wildcats faced 20 different programs with nine of them having participated in the 2023 post-season. Five of those opponents are on Morenci’s 2024 regular season schedule.
Morenci, Safford, and Thatcher are in the state’s 3A South Region; Lakeside Blue Ridge and Show Low in the 3A East Region; Buckeye Odyssey Institute and Surprise Paradise Honors in the 3A Metro West Region; Tempe Union in the 3A Metro East Region; and Coolidge in the 3A Central Region.
Globe, Miami, Pima, and San Carlos are in the 2A Black Region; Benson and Bisbee in the 2A San Pedro Region; Holbrook in the 2A Little Colorado Region; Glendale Prep in the 2A Agua Fria Region; California Winterhaven San Pasqual in the 2A Gila Region; and Saint David in the 1A South Region.
Next door in The Land of Enchantment, Silver is in 4A District 3/5 and Lordsburg in 8-Man District 2.
MORENCI Wildcats (3A South Region)
Last season, the Wildcats finished 8-4 overall and 1st (3-1) of five in the region, averaging a 26-14 (315-173) score per game or a 12-point margin. The No. 6 (12.5485 rating) Wildcats ended as state quarterfinalists to the No. 3 Surprise Paradise Honors Panthers (14.4400 rating) with a 35-42 loss.
Frankie Gonzalez is in his first season as head coach. Morenci’s home football facility is called Lawson Stadium.
SAFFORD Bulldogs (3A South Region)
Last season, the Bulldogs finished 4-7 overall and 5th (1-3) of five in the region, averaging a 24-25 (261-275) score per game or a 1-point deficit. The No. 1 (17.4497 rating) Bullhead City Mohave Thunderbirds ended the No. 16 (4.3471 rating) Bulldogs’ season with a 14-28 state meet first-round loss.
Robert Park (14-20 overall, 4-9 region, 0-2 state) is in his 4th (2021-24) season as head coach. Safford’s home football facility is called Herman BB Andrews Track and Field.
THATCHER Eagles (3A South Region)
Last season, the Eagles finished 7-5 overall and 2nd (3-1) of five in the region, averaging a 25-18 (298-212) score per game or a 7-point margin. The No. 2 (16.5311) Chandler Valley Christian Trojans ended the No. 7 (11.4545 rating) Eagles’ season with a 20-21 state meet quarterfinal loss.
Daniel Jones (33-14 overall, 14-3 region, 5-4 state) is in his fifth (2020-24) season as head coach. Thatcher’s home football games are played on EAC’s John T. Mickelson Field.
BLUE RIDGE Yellow Jackets (3A East Region)
Last season, the Yellow Jackets finished 6-4 overall and 2nd (3-1) of five in the region, averaging a 31-18 (369-217) score per game or a 13-point margin. The No. 1 (17.4497) Bullhead City Mohave Thunderbirds ended the No. 9 (10.1982 rating) Yellow Jackets’ season with a 14-54 quarterfinal loss.
Eric Hjalmarson is in his first season as the Yellow Jackets head coach, following four seasons in Willcox (27-14 overall, 15-5 region, 3-3 state) and two in Safford (15-8, 9-1, 1-2). The home football facility is called Paul Moro Stadium.
Show Low Cougars (3A East Region)
Last season, the Cougars finished 3-7 overall and 4th (1-3) of five in the region, averaging a 16-32 (164-319) score per game or a 16-point deficit. Show Low ended as No. 24 with a minus 1.9795 rating.
Mike Bryce is in his first (2024) season as the Cougars’ head coach, following 4-year (2020-23) head coach Carlo Hernandez (23-17 overall, 11-8 region, 2-2 state). The home football facility is called James R. Hallford Stadium.
Odyssey Institute Minotaurs (3A Metro West Region)
Last season, the Minotaurs finished 5-5 overall and 3rd (2-3) of six in the region, averaging a 25-29 (248-289) score per game or a 4-point deficit. The No. 22 (0.6125) Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies “west of the Mississippi and north of the Equator” did not qualify for the 2023 post-season.
Kenneth Olson (8-12 overall, 4-6 region, 0-0 state) is in his third (2022-24) season as head coach. Odyssey’s home football facility does not have a proper name.
PARADISE HONORS Panthers (3A Metro West Region)
Last season, the Panthers finished 11-3 overall and 2nd (4-1) of six in the region, averaging a 52-30 (723-419) score per game or a 22-point margin. The No. 3 (14.4400 rating) Panthers ended as state runners-up, falling 46-68 to No. 4 (13.9715 rating) Tucson Sabino.
Josh Goodloe (22-12 overall, 10-4 region, 4-2 state) is in his fifth (2020-24) season as head coach. Paradise Honors’ home football facility is called Panther Stadium Field.
TEMPE UNION Buffaloes (3A Metro East Region)
Last season, the Buffaloes finished 5-5 overall and 4th (1-3) of five in the region, averaging a 25-27 (251-271) score per game or a 2-point deficit. The No. 27 (minus 2.7547 rating) Buffaloes did not qualify for the 2023 post-season.
Sean Freeman (6-14 overall, 1-8 region, 0-0 state) is in his 3rd (2022-24) season as head coach. Tempe’s home football facility does not have a proper name.
COOLIDGE Bears (3A Central Region)
Last season, the Bears finished 5-5 overall and 3rd (2-2) of five in the region, averaging a 24-21 (242-205) score per game or 3-point margin. The No. 19 (1.1916) Bears did not qualify for the 2023 post-season.
Carlo Hernandez is in his first (2024) season as head coach. Coolidge’s home football facility does not have a proper name.
GLOBE Tigers (2A Black Region)
Last season, the Tigers finished 5-5 overall and 5th (2-4) of seven in the region, averaging a 24-22 (240-215) score per game or a 2-point margin. Globe was No. 30 (minus 7.0646 rating) and did not qualify for the 2023 post-season.
Talmage Hansen (10-19 overall, 5-11 region, 0-0 state) is in his fourth (2021-24) season as head coach. Globe’s home football facility is called Harbison Field.
MIAMI Vandals (2A Black Region)
Last season, the Vandals finished 4-6 overall and 3rd (4-2) of seven in the region, averaging a 17-35 (171-345) score per game or an 18-point deficit. Miami ended as No. 27 with a minus 5.5929 rating and was not part of the 2023 post-season.
Brandon Powell (39-32 overall, 23-11 region, 1-2 state) is in his eighth (2014-15, 2019-24) season as the “Come Take” Vandals’ head coach. Miami’s home football facility is called Nick Ragus Stadium.
PIMA Roughriders (2A Black Region)
Last season, the Roughriders finished 13-1 overall and 1st (6-0) of seven in the region, averaging a 47-15 (659-205) score per game or a 32-point margin. The No. 3 (12.4087 rating) Scottsdale Christian Eagles ended the No. 1 (15.2284 rating) Roughriders’ season with a 24-41 state final loss.
Josh Wilkins (26-2 overall, 11-0 region, 6-2 state) is in his third (2022-24) season as head coach. Pima’s home football facility is called Edd Hubbard Field.
SAN CARLOS Braves (2A Black Region)
Last season, the Braves finished 1-9 overall and 6th (1-5) of seven in the region, averaging a 6-47 (58-466) score per game or a 41-point deficit. San Carlos ended as No. 43 (minus 19.0399 rating) and was not part of the 2023 post-season.
Harding Haozous (1-9 overall, 1-5 region, 0-0 state) is in his second (2023-24) season as head coach. San Carlos’ home football facility does not have a proper name.
BISBEE Pumas (2A San Pedro Region)
Last season, the Pumas finished 5-5 overall and 4th (4-2) of seven in the region, averaging a 31-30 (308-304) score per game or a 1-point margin. Bisbee ended as No. 17 (minus 0.8145 rating) and did not qualify for the 2023 post-season.
Carlos Lopez (5-5 overall, 4-2 region, 0-0 state) is in his second (2023-24) season as head coach. Bisbee’s home football facility is called Warren Ball Park.
BENSON Bobcats (2A San Pedro Region)
Last season, the Bobcats finished 4-6 overall and 5th (2-4) of seven in the region, averaging a 28-26 (276-262) score per game or a 2-point margin. Benson ended as No. 24 (minus 5.1599 rating) and was not part of the 2023 post-season.
Chris Rasmussen (4-6 overall, 2-4 region, 0-0 state) is in his second (2023-24) season as head coach. Benson’s home football facility is called Jerry P. Lee Athletic Complex.
GLENDALE PREP Griffins (2A Agua Fria Region)
Last season, the Griffins finished 6-4 overall and 4th (3-3) of seven in the region, averaging a 34-25 (335-248) score per game or a 9-point margin. The No. 20 (minus 2.5991 rating) Griffins did not qualify for the 2023 post-season.
Robert Addicot (20-26 overall, 12-12 region, 0-0 state) is in his sixth (2019-24) season as head coach. Glendale Prep’s home football facility is referred to as Glendale Prep Academy.
HOLBROOK Roadrunners (2A Little Colorado Region)
Last season, the Roadrunners finished 7-4 overall and 1st (7-0) of eight in the region, averaging a 40-16 (400-164) score per game or a 24-point margin. Holbrook ended as No. 22 (minus 3.8498 rating) and faced top-ranked Pima in the first round as No. 16, falling 6-56.
Paul Agramont (7-4 overall, 7-0 region, 0-1 state) is in his second (2023-24) season as head coach. Holbrook’s home football facility does not have a proper name.
SAN PASQUAL Warriors (2A Gila Region)
Last season, the Warriors finished 0-10 overall and 7th (0-6) of seven in the region, averaging a 7-61 (67-608) score per game or a 54-point deficit. San Pasqual ended as No. 46 (minus 22.2828 rating) and did not qualify for the 2023 post-season.
Miguel Rivas (0-10 overall, 0-6 region, 0-0 state) is in his second (2023-24) season as head coach. San Pasqual’s home football facility does not have a proper name.
SAINT DAVID Tigers (1A South Region)
Last season, the Tigers finished 6-5 overall and 2nd (5-1) of seven in the region, averaging a 31-29 (340-321) score per game or a 2-point margin. The No. 9 (3.7556 rating) Tigers fell 0-68 during the quarterfinals to the top-ranked (18.1911 rating) Winkelman Hayden Lobos.
Braden Davis (41-25 overall, 27-7 region, 4-5 state) is in his eighth (2018-22-24) season as head coach. Saint David’s home football facility does not have a proper name.
LORDSBURG Mavericks (8-Man District 2)
Last season, Lordsburg finished 3-5 overall and 2nd (2-1) of three in the district, averaging a score of 35-43 (296-340) per game or an 8-point deficit. The Mavericks did not qualify for the 2023 post-season.
Dale Hooper (30-28 overall, 13-5 district, 2-5 state) is in his eighth (2017-24) season as head coach. Lordsburg’s home football facility is called Maverick Stadium.
SILVER Fighting Colts (4A District 3/5)
Last season, Silver finished 8-4 overall and 1st (3-0) of three in the district, averaging a score of 32-14 (386-172) per game or an 18-point margin. Second-ranked Lovington ended the Fighting Colts’ season with a 26-45 state meet quarterfinal loss.
Jerome Ortiz (18-7 overall, 4-2 district, 3-2 state) is in his third (2021-22, 2024) season as head coach. Silver’s home football facility is referred to as Silver High School.
Editor’s Note: Several corrections have been made to this article.
