Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Safford’s captains receive fist bumps before the coin flip. Payson defeated Safford 20-6 on Friday night.
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – Generally, the first game of a new football season is full of turnovers, mental errors, penalties, and mistakes – the Safford versus Payson game Friday night did nothing to dispel those thoughts.
The teams had 16 combined turnovers (9 for Safford and 7 for Payson) and 3 punts each. And after being mostly offensively dormant through three quarters, Safford put on a rally in the fourth that came up too short and too late.
The game was held in Pima at its Edd Hubbard Field because Safford’s new artificial turf field and track isn’t quite ready. The Bulldogs expect their first game on their new field to be Sept. 6 versus the Florence Gophers.
Safford received the kickoff to start the game but Longhorns lineman Noah Spalding went right in between two offensive linemen untouched on the game’s first offensive play from scrimmage and sacked Safford quarterback Jevyn Elliot for a big loss. It was the first of eight sacks for the Longhorns on the day.
The Bulldogs went 3-and-out on that first possession and didn’t have another offensive play from scrimmage until the end of the first quarter.
The Longhorns started in good field position and quarterback Nolan Keeny (7-14, 172 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT) hit Mason Hererra on an apparent TD pass on the Longhorns’ second play from scrimmage. The play was called back for holding, but two plays later Keeny repeated himself just from further away as he threw a bomb to Hererra, who hauled it in for the game’s first score. The extra point was good and Payson had a 7-0 lead with 7:49 to go in the first.
Safford returner Jace Jameson fumbled the ensuing return and Payson recovered in Safford territory. The Bulldogs’ defense held that series, however, and Payson settled for a 38-yard field goal attempt that was short and wide left.
The Bulldogs’ Cole Goodman switched field position with a booming 69-yard punt to pin the Longhorns at their 6-yard line. There was a bit of extracurricular activity after the play was over with a shove in the back from a Safford player and the Bulldogs were lucky to have off-setting penalties to keep Payson pinned.
Safford’s defense then stepped up and forced a 3-and-out to get the ball back in great field position. But the Bulldogs gave it back on a Jarett Jurado was stripped for Safford’s second lost fumble.
Payson gave it right back a few plays later when Keen through the first of four interceptions. Cole Goodman caught the deep INT while playing centerfield.
Payson got the ball back with just under 2 minutes left in the first half and Keeny hit Marco Gureque (5 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD) for a big pickup and first and goal. The pair then connected on a 12-yard TD to put Payson up 14-0 at the half.
The first play from scrimmage for the third quarter went well for Safford as Cole Yentsch broke up a pass to Gureque and Carlos Arbizo snagged it out of the air for the INT.
Unfortunately for Safford, its drive stalled and Payson came right back through the air with Keeny hitting Gureque in stride at the 35. Marco did the rest himself, streaking his way to a 57-yard TD to put the Longhorns up 20-0 with 7:52 left in the third quarter.
Safford threatened at the end of the third quarter but with the clock winding down the team appeared to hurry to snap the ball on a 4th and 4 play. Elliot ended up scrambling on the play and then just overthrew an open receiver who likely would have scored.
Instead, the ball was turned over to the Longhorns, who promptly gave it right back on Keeny’s third INT after Hererra bobbled the pass and Jace Jameson snatched it out of the air.
However, the Bulldogs were thwarted again, this time on a 4th and 6 from the 15 when Carlos Arbizo was stopped short of the line to gain.
Safford got a third crack at it, and that time was the charm as Cole Yentsch hauled in Elliot’s pass for a 35-yard TD. The extra point attempt failed, however, and Safford still trailed 20-6.
The Bulldogs continued to fight, however, and got the ball back and moved it downfield. It was too little, too late, however, and a last-ditch attempt fell incomplete and the Longhorns moseyed into victory formation to take the opening-day win over Safford, 20-6.
Safford will next come back to that very same venue on Thursday, Aug. 29, to take on the Pima Roughriders (1-0) of the 2A Black Region.
In other prep football action:
The Thatcher Eagles (1-0) dominated Paradise Honors 32-0. Thatcher will next travel to face the Crimson Rattlers (0-1) on Friday, Aug. 30, starting at 7 p.m. The Rattlers lost their opening game 34-7 to Benjamin Franklin.
The Morenci Wildcats (0-1) lost a heart-breaker to ALA-Ironwood, 35-34, with Morenci missing a last-second field goal attempt. Morenci will next travel to face the Round Valley Elks on Friday, Aug. 30, starting at 7 p.m.
The Pima Roughriders (1-0) began their quest for a third straight state championship appearance by defeating Globe 41-0. The Roughriders will next host Safford (0-1) on Thursday, Aug. 29, starting at 7 p.m.
The Fort Thomas Apaches (1-0) celebrated its new coach Evan Stringfellow’s first game with a 36-20 win over the Baboquivari Warriors. The Apaches will next host the Duncan Wildkats (0-1) on Friday, Aug. 30, starting at 7 p.m. The Apaches will have a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. to officially open its new artificial turf field newly named Wil Hinton Field after its former longtime coach.
The Duncan Wildkats (0-1) lost to Lordsburg, New Mexico by the score of 98-66. Duncan will next travel to face Fort Thomas (1-0) on Friday, Aug. 30, starting at 7 p.m.
