Steve Carter Photo/Special to the Gila Herald: Josh Wilkins has repeated as the 2A Black Region Coach of the Year and Jaxon John has repeated as the 2A Black Region Player of the Year.
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – It’s a sweep for the regional football awards for Pima, and to nobody’s surprise, Pima head coach Josh Wilkins has repeated as the 2A Black Region Coach of the Year, and utility man Jaxon John repeated as Player of the Year. Additionally, Jeremiah Martinez was awarded Offensive Player of the Year, and Tuddy Smart was the co-Defensive Player of the Year for the 2A Black Region.
2A Black Region Coach of the Year
After winning Region and 2A Conference Coach of the Year last year in his inaugural season as Pima’s head football coach, one might wonder how Josh Wilkins would follow it up in his sophomore season.
Well, after losing a bunch of thoroughbreds to graduation, Wilkins has guided this year’s team to a perfect regular-season record, a No.1 seed, and its first playoff game.
Wilkins’ Roughriders blew through the 2A Black Region, having scored 345 points against their region opponents while not allowing a single score.
2A Black Region Player of the Year – Jaxon John (Pima)
Whether it be returning kickoffs and punts, kicking field goals and extra points, receiving, passing, rushing, or defending, no one player has meant so much to a team as Jaxon John has to the Pima Roughriders.
Jaxon was a unanimous choice to repeat as the 2A Black Region Player of the Year.
Jaxon led his team in receiving yards per game with 33.5, and total TDs (14). He was lost for the season in the final regular season game to a dislocated ankle.
2A Black Offensive Player of the Year – Jeremiah Martinez (Pima)
Jeremiah is the backbone of the Pima offense. The junior fullback has put the team on his shoulders at times and carried them through thick and thin.
Jeremiah averaged 9 yards per carry this season for 76.3 yards per game. He finished with a total of 763 rushing yards on 85 carries to lead the 2A Black Region in rushing yards. He also finished with 11 total TDs.
2A Black Defensive Player of the Year – Tuddy Smart (Pima) and Michael Bushman (St. Johns)
Tuddy is a hard-nosed linebacker with a keen sense for the ball. He led the team in tackles per game with 7.5 and interceptions with 5.
2A Black All-Region 1st Team
Hayden Blair (defensive back), Ryker Shupe (defensive back), Brock Haws (defensive lineman), Pepper Hughes (defensive lineman), Preston Russell (defensive lineman), Sam Ray (defensive utility/flex player), Tuddy Smart (linebacker), Charles Richardson (offensive lineman), Brock Haws (offensive lineman), Pepper Hughes (offensive lineman), Jaxon John (offensive utility/flex player), Jaxon John (punt returner), Sam Ray (receiver), Dane DeRusha (receiver), Jeremiah Martinez (running back) – Pima.
2A Black All-Region 2nd Team
Jeremiah Martinez (defensive lineman), Ryker Shupe (kickoff returner), Hayden Shinkle (linebacker), Brock Bryce (offensive lineman), Dante McCray (offensive lineman), Jaxon John (placekicker), Rhett Hughes (quarterback), Preston Russell (receiver), Tuddy Smart (receiver), Hayden Blair (running back) – Pima.
