By Jon Johnson
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
FLORENCE – The game ball delivered by helicopter might have had a little more bounce to it late in the game just as the Florence Gophers were driving for the game-winning score. But fate would have otherwise, as the Thatcher Eagles recovered Florence’s fumble from the 16 yard line with under 30 seconds left in the game and secured a hard-fought 21-18 victory.
Thatcher opened up the game scoring first on a 2-yard run by Jackson Bryce. Florence quickly struck back with a 48-yard bomb from quarterback Brody Ramirez to Wyatt Stenson for a TD. However, the extra point was missed.
With the Gophers living and dying by the air, the Eagles said that’s our territory up there and Josiah Matagaono intercepted Ramirez and took it back 25 yards for the score. The Eagles went for 2 and led 15-6. But the Gophers refused to quit and Ramirez hit Kaiden Valle for an 11-yard TD to cut Thatcher’s lead to 15-12 at the half.
The Eagles managed to get into the end zone again in the third quarter with a 17-yard scamper by Smith Mangum. The Gophers answered the call again and Ramirez hit Darrius Samuels for a 70-yard TD that brought the house down. Still, Thatcher led 21-18 as the teams entered the final quarter of play.
Florence was driving late and was heading toward the end zone at the Eagles 16 when the ball and the game slipped away. Thatcher then went into victory formation and left the field with the 21-18 win.
Thatcher (1-0 region, 3-1 overall) will next face one of their biggest tests this season as they host the Pusch Ridge Lions (1-0 region, 4-0 overall) in a big region matchup on Friday, Sept. 26, starting at 7 p.m. The Gila Herald will be on site and will have its game highlight video for the contest and best sports coverage in the Gila Valley.
In other local prep football action:
The Safford Bulldogs got their first win of the season in the battle of the Bulldogs and defeated Winslow 27-7. Safford (0-0 region, 1-3 overall) will next travel to Coolidge to face the Bears (0-1 region, 2-2 overall) on a special Thursday night game on Sept. 18, starting at 7 p.m.
Morenci bounced back from its previous loss to defeat the Bisbee Pumas 26-0. Morenci (0-0 region, 2-2 overall) will next head to Globe on Friday, Sept. 19, to take on the Tigers (1-0 region, 3-1 overall), starting at 7 p.m.
The Pima Roughriders dropped their second straight game at their new field with a 0-7 loss to the Willcox Cowboys. Pima (0-0 region, 1-3 overall) will look to break the cycle this Friday, Sept. 19, as they host the St. Johns Redskins (0-0 region, 3-1 overall).
The Duncan Wildkats (1-2 region, 1-3 overall) fell 0-59 to the St. David Tigers. Duncan will next host the Dishchii’bikoh Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 19, starting at 7 p.m.
On Thursday, the Fort Thomas Apaches lost a heartbreaker to the Joseph City Wildcats, 44-48. The Fort (1-1 region, 1-3 overall) will look to end their 3-game slide on the road on Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Superior Panthers, starting at 7 p.m.
