Steve Carter Photo/Special to the Gila Herald: Jaxon John breaks away from his defenders. John scored a TD, was named Homecoming King, and helped Pima to a 62-0 rout over ALA-Anthem South.
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The unbeaten Pima Roughriders (2-0 region, 4-0 conference, 6-0 overall) posted their third straight shutout, downing ALA-Anthem South 62-0 for Homecoming on Friday night.
ALA-Anthem South is a new charter school in Florence serving that city and the San Tan Valley. Almost all of its players are either freshmen or sophomores.
Pima jumped out early and never looked back, putting up a 42-0 lead at the half. Tuddy Smart put the nail in the coffin at the start of the second half when he took the kickoff 75 yards back to the house for a TD to put up Pima 49-0 (after a Jaxon John extra point). Smart also scored a rushing TD, and Hayden Blair and Jeremiah Martinez joined him in scoring two touchdowns on the night as well.
Martinez finished with 75 yards on just 4 carries for an astonishing 18.8 yards per carry average. Blair averaged 10 yards a carry and had 30 yards on 3 carries. Again, both also had two touchdowns each.
All-purpose utility man Jaxon John had another complete game moving the ball downfield and added a new bit by going 1-2 for 21 yards passing.
John took a hiatus during halftime to take part in the Homecoming festivities and was named Homecoming King with Queen Bentlee Hoopes. Along with the crown, John also had 64 yards receiving on 2 catches and 1 TD; had a 25-yard-punt return, and was 7-7 on extra-point attempts.
Unlike more recent games, Rhett Hughes wasn’t asked to do much in the captain’s chair for this one that was over pretty quickly and finished 2-3 for 64 yards and a TD for a QB rating of 149.3.
After having three contested games (34-25 over Safford on Aug. 25, 23-20 over Scottsdale Christian on Sept. 1, and 19-16 over Morenci on Sept. 7), the Roughriders have blanked their last three opponents (41-0 over St. Johns on Sept. 16, 57-0 over Miami on Sept. 22, and 62-0 over ALA-Anthem South on Sept. 29), outscoring them 160-0.
The Roughriders’ home stand continues this week with regional opponent Globe visiting Edd Hubbard Field on Friday, Oct. 6, starting at 7 p.m. The Tigers (0-2 region, 4-3 conference, 4-3 overall) are coming off a win over St. John Paul II, 40-22.
In other local prep action:
Safford (1-1 region, 2-3 conference, 3-4 overall) went on the road and had a big region win at Morenci (0-1 region, 2-2 conference, 3-3 overall) 26-14.
The Bulldogs will next host the Round Valley Elks on Thursday, Oct. 5, starting at 7 p.m.
The Wildcats will head on the road to face the (Tucson) Pusch Ridge Lions on Friday, Oct. 6, starting at 7 p.m.
Thatcher (0-0 region, 3-2 conference, 3-3 overall) defeated Show Low 41-0.
The Eagles will next travel to face the (Tucson) Sabino Sabercats on Friday, Oct. 6, starting at 7 p.m. The game will be the regional opener for Thatcher, who will finish the regular season against its four regional opponents (Sabino, Safford – Oct. 13, Push Ridge – Oct. 20, and Morenci – Oct. 27).
The Ray Bearcats defeated the Duncan Wildkats (1-4 region, 1-4 conference, 1-5 overall) 36-16.
The Wildkats will next host the Valley Union Blue Devils on Friday, Oct. 6, starting at 7 p.m.
The Blue Devils are coming off a victory over the Fort Thomas Apaches (0-4 region, 2-5 conference, 2-5 overall) 52-25.
The Apaches will next travel to face the St. David Tigers on Friday, Oct. 6, starting at 7 p.m.
