Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Scottsdale Christian quarterback Levi Corrigan (11) is pressured by Morenci juniors Austyn Nelson (53) and Tristen Sanchez (82) during the Aug. 19 game. Morenci prevailed 30-6 in the season opener. Morenci takes on Scottsdale Christian in Mesa and Pima meets Willcox in Safford for 2A semifinal games Saturday, Nov. 19.
Wildcats host Eagles in Mesa, Riders host Cowboys in Safford
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MESA – The top four ranked 2A teams meet for the semifinals at two different sites Saturday, Nov. 19. Second-ranked Morenci hosts No. 3 Scottsdale Christian on the Mesa Westwood campus, 945 West Rio Salado Parkway, and No. 1 Pima hosts No. 4 Willcox on the Safford campus, both with 6 p.m. starts. Two teams will be eliminated, and the two winners will vie for the title a week later on Nov. 26.
All four teams received an extra day to prepare, a whetstone if you will, to sharpen and hone their skills. Coaches have asked players to view game films on their opponents, run their own plays, and take care of the things they can control. A final run-through was made Friday.
Scottsdale Christian (10-2 overall) advanced with wins of 42-0 over No. 14 Phoenix Valley Lutheran (4-6) in the first round on Nov. 4 and 53-28 over No. 11 Gilbert Christian (9-3) in the quarterfinals on Nov. 11.
Morenci (11-1) defeated No. 15 Tucson Tanque Verde (5-6) 32-0 in the first round and No. 7 Tonopah Valley (10-2) 52-6 in the quarterfinals.
Willcox (10-2) downed No. 13 Saint Johns (6-5) 49-7 in the first round and No. 5 Holbrook (11-1) 51-12 in the quarterfinals.
Pima (11-1) topped No. 16 Chinle (3-7) 55-8 in the first round and No. 8 Camp Verde (10-2) 61-7 in the quarterfinals.
Scottsdale Christian has averaged a 48-14 (95-28) score per game or 34-point margin, Morenci a 42-3 (84-6) score per game or 39-point margin, Willcox a 50-10 (100-19) score per game or 40-point margin, and Pima a 58-8 (116-15) score per game or 50-point margin for two post-season games.
Other first-round exits were made by No. 9 San Tan Charter (7-4), 42-30 to Camp Verde; No. 12 Phoenix Veritas Prep (5-6), 42-18 to Holbrook; No. 4 Scottsdale Prep (8-3), 38-7 to Gilbert Christian; and No. 10 Laveen Heritage (8-3), 75-14 to Tonopah Valley.
No. 3 Scottsdale Christian Eagles
Six opponents qualified for the 2022 post-season, going 2-4 during the first round and 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
Scottsdale Christian is 4-1 (.800) at home, 4-1 (.800) on the road, and averaged a 38-15 (380-154) score per game or a 23-point margin under fourth-year coach Holtz. The opponents’ combined regular season records were 56-42 (.571).
The Eagles (8-2 overall, 5-0 region) have regular season wins of 25-8 over Laveen Heritage (Aug. 26), 35-12 over Fountain Hills (Sept. 2), 61-8 over Glendale Prep (Sept. 22), 30-22 over Phoenix Veritas Prep (Sept. 30), 62-16 over Phoenix Madison Highland (Oct. 7), 49-8 over Phoenix Valley Lutheran (Oct. 14), 66-0 over Scottsdale Coronado (Oct. 21), 41-8 over Glendale Prep (Oct. 28). The two losses are 6-30 to Morenci (Aug. 19) and 7-42 to Pima (Sept. 16).
Last season, the Eagles finished 5-4 overall, 1st (2-0) in the region, averaging a 31-23 (279-208) score per game or an 8-point margin under Nate Holtz. Scottsdale Christian posted 3-1 home and 2-3 road marks. The No. 12 Eagles fell 27-42 to No. 5 Gilbert Christian during the 2021 first round.
In the previous 10 seasons (2011-20), the Eagles went 72-36 (.667) overall, averaging a 34-21 (3,710-2,237) score per game or a 13-point margin. Scottsdale Christian was 41-15 (.732) at home and 31-21 (.546) on the road. There were 11 post-season games, none past the quarterfinals, in 2017 as No. 5, in 2016 as No. 7, and in 2012 as No. 4.
Scottsdale Christian went 16-6 (.727) during two seasons (2011-12) under Willie Dudley, 5-5 (.500) during one season (2013) under Kevin Allen, 34-14 (.708) during four seasons (2014-17) under Chuck Gibbs, 7-4 (.636) during one season (2018) under Jason Cauley, and 15-12 (.556) during three seasons (2019-21) under Nate Holtz.
No. 2 Morenci Wildcats
Five opponents qualified for the post-season, going 3-2 (.600) during the first round and 3-0 (1.000) during the quarterfinals.
The Wildcats went 4-1 at home, 5-0 on the road, and averaged a 44-5 (486-59) score per game or a 39-point margin. The opponents’ combined regular season records were 55-44 (.556).
Morenci (9-1, 4-1) has regular season wins of 30-6 over 6-2 Scottsdale Christian (Aug. 19), 44-0 over 4-4 Tanque Verde (Aug. 26), 44-0 over 3-5 Safford (Sept. 2), 21-14 over 6-2 Willcox (Sept. 16), 56-0 over 3-5 Tombstone (Sept. 23), 56-0 over 3-5 Globe (Sept. 30), 64-13 over 5-3 San Tan Charter (Oct. 7), 49-6 over 5-3 Miami (Oct. 14), and 70-0 over San Carlos (Oct. 21). The lone loss was 20-21 to Pima (Oct. 28).
Last season, Morenci finished 11-3 (.786) overall and 4-1 (.800) for 2nd in the region, averaging a 33-15 (462-214) score per game or an 18-point margin. The No. 4 Wildcats ended as state runners-up to the No.2 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran Coyotes with a 14-28 loss. Morenci reached the final with a first-round forfeit by No. 13 Whiteriver Alchesay, a 35-23 quarterfinal win over No. 5 Gilbert Christian, and a 39-14 semifinal win over No. 1 Parker.
During the previous 10 seasons (2011-20), the Wildcats went 71-40 (.640) overall, averaging a 29-19 (3,202-2,163) score per game or a 10-point margin. Morenci was 34-15 (.694) at home and 37-25 (.597) on the road. The post-season games numbered 16, qualifying during 9-10 seasons, and capped by a runner-up finish in 2012.
Morenci went 37-18 (.673) during five seasons (2009-13) under Frank Ogas Sr., 16-15 (.516) during three seasons (2014-16) under Gary Sandoval, and 17-7 (.708) during two seasons (2017-18) under David Gallegos.
The Wildcats are 22-12 (.647) overall, 9-5 (.643) region, and 4-3 (.571) in the post-season during three seasons (2019-21) under Joseph Garcia. Morenci has averaged a 27-15 (930-499) score per game or an 8-point margin during his tenure.
No. 4 Willcox Cowboys
Five opponents qualified for the post-season, going 3-2 (.600) during the first round and 3-0 (1.000) during the quarterfinals.
The Cowboys went 4-1 at home, 4-1 on the road, and averaged a 36-13 (364-129) score per game or a 23-point margin. The opponents’ combined regular season records were 50-50 (.500).
This season, Willcox (8-2 overall, 5-0 region) has regular season wins of 39-14 over 2-2 Gilbert Christian (Aug. 26), 56-25 over 3-1 Benson (Sept. 2), and 49-0 over 2-1 Maricopa Sequoia Pathway (Sept. 9), 35-22 over Bisbee (Sept. 30), 1-0 over Tucson Santa Rita (Oct. 7), 49-8 over Tombstone (Oct. 14), 52-6 over Tucson Catalina (Oct. 21), and 55-6 over Tanque Verde (Oct. 28). The losses are 14-21 to Morenci (Sept. 16) and 14-27 to Pima (Sept. 24).
Last season, Willcox ended 8-3 (.556) overall and 2-2 (.500) for fourth in the region, averaging a 36-16 (394-171) score per game or a 20-point margin. The records were 4-1 (.800) at home and 4-2 (.667) on the road. The No. 8 Cowboys defeated No. 9 Holbrook 42-32 during the first round of the state playoffs and fell 22-36 to No. 1 Parker in the quarterfinals.
During the previous 10 seasons (2011-20), the Cowboys went 46-54 (.460) overall, averaging a 19-27 (2,742-1,940) score per game or an 8-point deficit. Willcox was 23-25 (.479) at home and 23-29 (.442) on the road. The post-season games numbered four, each a first-round exit.
Willcox went 29-7 (.806) during three seasons (2009-11) under Jim Hughes, 7-4 (.636) during a season (2012) under Joseph Garcia, 11-29 (.275) during four seasons (2013-16) under Jack Kortsen, and 12-13 (.480) during three seasons (2017-19) under Alonzo Highsmith.
The Cowboys are 11-6 (.577) overall, 5-4 (.700) region, and 1-2 (.333) in post-season play during two seasons (2020-21) under Eric Hjalmarson, averaging a 31-23 (850-609) score per game or an 8-point margin.
No. 1 Pima Roughriders
Six opponents qualified for the post-season, going 4-2 (.667) during the first round and 4-0 (1.000) during the quarterfinals.
The Roughriders went 5-0 at home, 4-1 on the road, and averaged a 41-10 (408-96) score per game or a 31-point margin. The opponents’ combined regular season records were 61-38 (.616).
This season, Pima (9-1, 5-0) has regular season wins of 41-3 over Safford (Aug. 26), 43-0 over Tanque Verde (Sept. 9), 42-7 over Scottsdale Christian (Sept. 16), 27-14 over Willcox (Sept. 23), 54-0 over San Carlos (Sept. 30), 49-0 over Globe (Oct. 7), 67-27 over San Tan Charter (Oct. 14), 64-6 over Miami (Oct. 21), and 21-20 over Morenci (Oct. 28). The loss was 0-19 to Thatcher (Sept. 2).
Last season, the Roughriders finished 7-4 overall, 3rd (3-1) in the region, averaging a 34-14 (371-151) score per game or a 20-point margin. Arizona Lutheran ended the No. 7 Roughriders’ season with a 27-33 state meet quarterfinal loss.
In the previous 10 seasons, the team played five in the 8-man format (2011-15) and five (2016-20) in its present format. The Roughriders went 22-25 (.125) overall, averaging a 25-23 (1,220-1,076) score per game or a 2-point margin in the current format. Pima was 10-13 (.435) at home and 12-12 (.500) on the road. There were six post-season games, two in the quarterfinals, with the most recent during the 2021 season.
Pima went 14-8 (.636) during two seasons (2016-17) under Jace Hancock, 6-13 (.316) during two seasons (2018-19) under John Bryant, and 9-8 (.529) during two seasons (2020-21) under Jim Hughes.
