Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: The Morenci Wildcats return to Lawson Stadium for a home game with Willcox on Friday, Sept. 16. The game features two unbeaten teams no longer in the same region. Josh Smith (50), Gavin Baca (5), Austyn Nelson (53), Michael Casillas (7), Tyler Aguilera (55), and Derek Saenz (2) run out of the tunnel. The Wildcats have a current 11-game win streak versus the Cowboys, averaging a 35-12 (177-61) score per game during the most recent five home games and 36-10 (397-114) from 2011-21. Morenci has posted eight winning seasons during that span compared to three by Willcox.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Salt Region Morenci Wildcats welcome the San Pedro Region Willcox Cowboys to Lawson Stadium on Friday, Sept. 16. The Wildcats have outscored the Cowboys 35-12 (177-61) or a 23-point margin during five prior home games, and have prevailed in 11 straight previous pairings, averaging a 36-10 (397-114) score per game or a 26-point margin.
Also this week for Morenci’s 2022 opponents on Friday (Sept. 16), Scottsdale Christian (2-1) hosts Pima (2-1), Tanque Verde (1-2) hosts San Tan Charter (3-1), Safford (1-3) hosts Thatcher (3-0), Tombstone (1-2) visitsAvondale Saint John Paul II Catholic (0-3), Globe (1-2) hosts Whiteriver Alchesay (2-0), Miami (2-2) visitsScottsdale Coronado (0-3), San Carlos (0-2) hosts Sanders Valley (0-4).
The Thatcher Eagles are 12-3 versus the Safford Bulldogs during the most recent 15 seasons (2007-2021),have an average score per game of 37-18 (443-275) or 19-point margin, and a current 6-game win streak.
Thatcher’s wins have been 55-0 (2021) in Thatcher, 27-14 (2020) in Safford, 14-0 (2019) in Thatcher, 28-20 (2018) in Safford, 42-41 (2017) in Thatcher, 20-14 (2016) in Safford, 27-20 (2014) in Safford, 28-21 (2013) in Thatcher, 51-7 (2012) in Safford, 63-28 (2011) in Thatcher, 33-21 (2008) in Thatcher, and 21-14 (2007) in Safford.
The Bulldogs have wins of 26-6 (2015) in Thatcher, 42-22 (2010) in Thatcher, and 7-6 (2009) in Safford.
3A South Region
The Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Lions are 4-0 overall, the Tucson Sabino Sabercats (3-0), The Thatcher Eagles (3-0), the Benson Bobcats (3-1), the Safford Bulldogs (1-3), and the Tucson Palo Verde Magnet Titans(2-2).
Willcox Cowboys
This season, Willcox (3-0 overall) has 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), averaging a 48-13 (144-39) score per game or 35-point margin. The opponents’ combined records are 8-4.
The Cowboys have gained 1,239 offensive yards, 1,119 on 102 carries and 120 on six receptions, with averages of 11.0 yards per carry and 20.0 per catch.
Senior Ayden Fuentes has averaged 15.8 (37-586) yards per carry, sophomore Landon Ward 12.3 (4-49) yards, senior Cristian Pando 8.8 (50-439) yards, sophomore Remington Todd 5.6 (5-28) yards, senior Seth Verdugo 3.4 (5-17) yards, and sophomore Mario Fernandez 1-0.
Junior Kash Macumber has completed 6-12 passes for 120 yards with no interceptions. Pando has averaged 22.3 (4-89) yards per catch and Fuentes 15.5 (2-31) yards.
Pando has crossed the goal line 10 times, Fuentes nine, and Ward once. The 21st touchdown was scored on a Macumber 28-yard interception return. Two conversion runs, one each by Fuentes and Pando, along with a Fuentes 30-yard field goal and 11-16 (.688) conversion kicks round out the scoring.
The return yards total 160, 75 on five kick returns, 56 by Fuentes, 13 by Todd, 12 by Verdugo, and seven by Ward; 50 on a Pando punt return; and 35 on two interception returns, 28 by Macumber and seven by Todd.
Fuentes has averaged 40.7 (21-855) yards per kickoff.
Defensively, 19 Cowboys have totaled 158 tackles, 70 solo and 88 assisted. Pando has averaged 8.7 (26, 12 solo, 14 assisted) tackles per game, Fuentes 8.0 (24, 9 solo, 15 assisted), and senior Evann Truschke 6.7 (20, 7 solo, 13 assisted). Senior Michael Martinez and Verdugo have two quarterback sacks apiece while juniors David Allred, Alec Fuentes, and Ed Tingle along with freshman Christian Teeters each have one: Allred has two fumble recoveries, and Alec Fuentes, Truschke, Verdugo, and junior Jose Arriquives one each.
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.
Willcox hosts Pima (Sept. 23), visits Bisbee (Sept. 30) and Tucson Santa Rita (Oct. 7), hosts Tombstone (Oct. 14) and Tucson Catalina (Oct. 21), and visits Tanque Verde (Oct. 28).
2A San Pedro Region
The Willcox Cowboys are 3-0 overall, the Bisbee Pumas (1-2), Tombstone Yellow Jackets (1-2), Tucson Tanque Verde Hawks (1-2), Tucson Catalina Trojans (0-3), and Santa Rita Eagles (0-4).
Morenci (3-0) has wins of 30-6 over 2-1 Scottsdale Christian (Aug. 19), 44-0 over 1-2 Tanque Verde (Aug. 26), and 44-0 over 1-3 Safford (Sept. 2), averaging a 39-2 (118-6) score per game or a 37-point margin. The opponents’ combined records are 4-6.
The Wildcats totaled 1,140 offensive yards, 1,000 on 118 carries and 140 on seven receptions with averages of 8.5 yards per carry and 20.0 yards per catch.
Senior Derek Saenz has averaged 21.4 (10-214) yards per carry, senior Dillen Aker 16.0 (1-16) yards, senior Daylen Johnson 9.2 (9-83) yards, senior Patrick Chavez 8.9 (42-373) yards, sophomore Marcus Lucero 5.8 (6-35) yards, junior Michael Casillas 5.6 (49-275) yards, and freshman Julien Aragon 4.0 (1-4) yards.
Johnson has completed 7-17 passes for 140 yards with one interception. Junior Tristen Sanchez has averaged 25.0 (6-125) yards per catch and senior Gavin Baca 7.5 (2-15) yards.
Return yards number 190, 87 on kickoffs, 37 by junior Donovan Vozza, 33 by Saenz, and 17 by Baca; 55 oninterceptions with 37 by Lucero and 18 by Aker; and 48 on two punts by Saenz.
Sanchez has averaged 49.3 (4-197) yards per punt and 49.9 (7-349) yards per kickoff, and Nelson 52.8 (10-528) yards per kickoff.
Casillas has rushed for six touchdowns, Chavez four, Saenz three, and Aker one; Sanchez has caught two TD passes; Casillas and Sanchez have two conversion runs apiece and Johnson one; and junior Austyn Nelson, Sanchez, and junior Joseph Seballos one conversion pass each; and Nelson 4-5 (.800) conversion kicks. A safety was credited to Sanchez.
Defensively, 21 Wildcats have totaled 187 tackles, 117 solo and 70 assisted. Chavez has averaged 7.0 (21, 10 solo, 11 assisted) tackles per game, Vozza 6.7 (20, 11 solo, 9 assisted), Sanchez 6.3 (19, 15 solo, 4 assisted), senior Rick Funari 5.7 (17, 7 solo, 10 assisted), Nelson 5.3 (16, 11 solo, 5 assisted), Baca 5.0 (15, 6 solo, 9 assisted), and Lucero 5.0 (15, 7 solo, 8 assisted).
Sanchez has six quarterback sacks, Vozza three, and both Funari and Nelson one apiece; Nelson recovered two fumbles, Johnson, freshman Derrick Lytle, Sanchez, and Vozza one each; and Saenz has two interceptions, and Aker, Baca, and Lucero one each.
Last season, Morenci finished 11-3 (.786) overall and 4-1 (.800) for 2nd in the region, averaging a 33-15 (467-214) 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.
Morenci visits Tombstone (Sept. 23), hosts Globe (Sept. 30), visits Gilbert San Tan Charter (Oct. 7), Miami (Oct. 14), and San Carlos (Oct. 21) prior to the regular season home finale with Pima (Oct. 28).
2A Salt Region
Through four weeks of competition, the San Tan Charter Roadrunners are 3-1 overall and 1-0 region, the Morenci Wildcats (3-0, 0-0), the Pima Roughriders (2-1, 0-0), the Miami Vandals (2-2, 0-1), the Globe Tigers (1-2, 0-0), and the San Carlos Braves (0-2, 0-0).
Week 3 Results:
Week 3 results for Morenci’s 2022 opponents were Scottsdale Christian was idle, Pima defeated Tanque Verde 43-0, Safford fell 27-35 to Tucson Pueblo, Willcox defeated Maricopa Sequoia Pathway 49-0, Tombstone defeated Globe 47-8), Miami defeated Gilbert Arete Prep 21-0, San Carlos fell 0-44 to Surprise Highland Prepon Sept. 9. San Tan Charter defeated 0-3 Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic 53-6 on Sept. 10.
