Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci opened on offense to start the quarterfinal game, driving 60 yards in seven plays to score. Donovan Vozza sprinted 25 yards to paydirt and Anthony Ballesteros added the conversion kick for a 7-0 advantage with 3:19 elapsed in the game. Paradise Honors eventually advanced with a 42-35 score, and will face Valley Christian in the semifinals at Mesa High School, 1630 E. Southern Ave. at 2 p.m.
South Region third placer earns semifinal berth
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MESA – Tucson Sabino (9-3 overall), the South Region third place team, earned a semifinal berth with a 28-20 triumph over No. 12 and East Region champion Eagar Round Valley (7-5) on Nov. 9. The No. 4 Sabercats face the top-ranked and West Region champion Bullhead City Mohave Thunderbirds (11-1) on the Mesa High campus, 1630 E. Southern Ave., Saturday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. The afternoon game on the same site has the No. 3 Surprise Paradise Honors Panthers (10-2) meeting the No. 2 Chandler Valley Christian Trojans (11-1) at 2 p.m.
The South Region first-place Morenci Wildcats (8-4) and the second-place Thatcher Eagles (7-5) both succumbed in the other quarterfinals, the No. 6 Wildcats 35-42 to Metro West Region runner-up Paradise Honors and the No. 7 Eagles 20-21 to Metro East Region champion Valley Christian. Mohave eliminated No. 9 and East Region runner-up Lakeside Blue Ridge (9-3) 54-14.
It was Mohave 28-14 over No. 16 Safford (4-7 overall), Valley Christian 24-21 over No. 15 Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (6-5), Paradise Honors 64-23 over No. 14 Gilbert Christian (6-5), and Sabino 46-31 over No. 13 Mohave Valley River Valley (7-4) in the first round.
Other first-round exits were 35-7 by No. 11 Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (7-4) to Morenci, 35-14 by No. 10 Florence (8-3) to Thatcher, 20-17 by No. 8 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (8-3) to Blue Ridge, and 32-7 by No. 5 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (8-3) to Round Valley.
No. 4 Sabino Sabercats (9-3 overall)
The Ryan McBrayer-coached Sabercats (9-3 overall, 7-3 seeding, 13.9715 rating, 2-2 3A South Region) averaged a score of 35-26 (349-259) per game or a 9-point margin through the regular season. Sabino averaged a 37-26 (74-51) score per game or an 11-point margin during two post-season contests, defeating No. 13 River Valley 46-31 in the first round and No. 12 Round Valley 28-20 in the quarterfinals.
Sabino had regular season wins over Coolidge (55-28, Aug. 18), Tucson Sahuaro (19-6, Aug. 25), Queen Creek Crimson (53-20, Sept. 1), Safford (50-21, Sept. 15), Pusch Ridge (40-27, Sept. 29), Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (42-21, Oct. 13), and Mohave (34-29, Oct. 27).
The losses were to 4A Tucson Mica Mountain (7-49, Sept. 8), Thatcher (21-27, Oct. 6), and Morenci (28-31, Oct. 20).
Through 12 games, the Sabercats have gained 5,524 offensive yards, averaging 7.5 (263-1,978) yards per carry and 16.3 (217-3,546) yards per catch. Sabino has scored 19 rushing touchdowns and 37 by the pass.
Defensively, the Sabercats have posted 13 quarterback sacks, 11 interceptions, and 14 fumble recoveries.
Seven of Sabino’s regular season opponents qualified for the 2023 state playoffs, four advanced to the quarterfinals, and one remains.
No. 1 Mohave Thunderbirds (11-1)
The Rudy Olvera-coached Thunderbirds (11-1, 9-1, 17.4497, 4-0 3A West Region) averaged a score of 45-10 (452-102) per game or a 35-point margin during the regular season. Mohave averaged a 41-14 (82-28) score per game or a 27-point margin during two post-season contests, defeating No. 16 Safford 28-14 in the first round and No. 9 Blue Ridge 54-14 in the quarterfinals.
Mohave had regular season wins over Bourgade Catholic (75-6, Aug. 18), Surprise Paradise Honors (56-28, Aug. 25), Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (28-20, Sept. 1), 4A Lake Havasu (42-0, Sept. 8), Kingman (43-0, Sept. 15), 4A Kingman Lee Williams (40-6, Sept. 22), Chino Valley (70-0, Sept. 29), Wickenburg (21-2, Oct. 7), and Mohave Valley River Valley (48-6, Oct. 20).
The Thunderbirds’ lone loss was to Sabino (29-34, Oct. 27).
Through 12 games, the Thunderbirds have gained 5,073 offensive yards, averaging 8.9 (332-2,950) yards per carry and 15.5 (137-2,123) yards per catch. Mohave has scored 39 rushing touchdowns and 28 by the pass.
Defensively, the Thunderbirds have posted 37 quarterback sacks, 20 interceptions, and 16 fumble recoveries.
Four of Mohave’s regular season opponents qualified for the 2023 state playoffs, two advanced to the quarterfinals, and two remain.
No. 3 Paradise Honors Panthers (10-2)
The Josh Goodloe-coached Panthers (10-2, 8-2, 14.4400, 4-0 3A Central Region) averaged a score of 53-24 (529-237) per game or a 29-point margin during the regular season. Paradise Honors averaged a 53-29 (106-58) score per game or a 24-point margin during two post-season contests, defeating No. 14 Gilbert Christian 64-23 in the first round and No. 6 Morenci 42-35 in the quarterfinals.
Paradise Honors had regular season wins over Thatcher (35-14, Aug. 18), River Valley (60-19, Sept. 1), Dysart (53-21, Sept. 7), Show Low (69-15, Sept. 15), Valley Christian (52-33, Sept. 22), Buckeye Odyssey Institute (57-23, Oct. 6), Yuma (50-7, Oct. 20), and Yuma Kofa (77-0, Oct. 27).
The Panthers lost to Mohave (28-56, Aug. 25) and American Leadership – West Foothills (48-49, Sept. 29).
Through 12 games, the Panthers have gained 5,415 offensive yards with averages of 3.5 (126-442) yards per carry and 16.4 (304-4,973) yards per catch. Paradise Honors has scored five rushing touchdowns and 76 by the pass.
Defensively, the Panthers have posted 37 quarterback sacks, 13 interceptions, and 10 fumble recoveries.
Five of Paradise Honors’ regular season opponents qualified for the 2023 state playoffs, three advanced to the quarterfinals, and two are in the semifinals.
No. 2 Valley Christian Trojans (11-1)
The Jacob Peterson-coached Trojans (11-1, 9-1, 16.5311, 4-0 3A Metro East Region) averaged a score of 38-19 (382-187) per game or a 19-point margin. Valley Christian averaged a 23-21 (45-41) score per game or a 2-point margin during two post-season contests, defeating No. 15 American Leadership – Ironwood 24-21 in the first round and No. 7 Thatcher 21-20 in the quarterfinals.
Valley Christian had regular season wins over Tempe (44-2, Aug. 18), Florence (27-24, Aug. 25), Thatcher (15-14, Sept. 1), Chandler Seton Catholic (44-7, Sept. 7), Scottsdale Christian (37-28, Sept. 15), Gilbert Christian (42-27, Sept. 29), Bourgade Catholic (57-12, Oct. 6), Payson (41-7, Oct. 20), and Benjamin Franklin (42-14, Oct. 27).
The Trojans’ lone loss was to Paradise Honors (33-52, Sept. 22).
Through 11 (Thatcher game not included) games, the Trojans gained 3,585 offensive yards, averaging 5.5 (199-1,101) yards per carry and 15.1 (164-2,484) yards per catch. Valley Christian scored 10 rushing touchdowns and 59 by the pass.
Defensively, the Trojans have posted 12 quarterback sacks, 12 interceptions, and three fumble recoveries.
Six of Valley Christian’s regular season opponents qualified for the 2023 state playoffs, three advanced to the quarterfinals, and one is in the semifinals.
Paradise Honors – 42, Morenci – 35
“Oz never gave nothing to the Tin Man that he didn’t already have,” from Tin Man by Dewey Bunnell of the band called America, 1974.
The Tin Man, along with three compatriots, went to see the Wizard of Oz to obtain a heart, unaware he already had one.
Morenci dropped three consecutive games after winning three straight. In this case, faith or confidence was missing. The Wildcats won their next four regular season games and a first-round post-season pairing. The confidence in themselves, each other, the coaching staff, and the system in place resurfaced.
A second-round or quarterfinal contest wasn’t decided until the last play in the closing seconds. A 3rd-and-10 pass play, 30 yards away with 4.7 seconds remaining fell incomplete. Game and season over for the Greenlee County boys.
The Wildcats ended with a 65 percent (430-665) offensive efficiency rate compared to 57 percent (391-692) by the Panthers. Morenci gained 430 of 665 needed yards versus 391 of 692 needed yards by Paradise Honors. The teams both scored five touchdowns on their strengths, the Wildcats on five rushes and the Panthers on five receptions. The difference was the break, a fumble recovery returned for a score.
In the first half, Morenci covered 60 yards in seven plays, fumbled on 3rd-and-2, covered 60 yards in seven plays, gained 16 yards before turning the ball over on 4th-and-4, and gained 15 yards before being intercepted on 2nd-and-10.
Senior Donovan Vozza capped the first possession with a 25-yard run on 3rd-and-3 and senior Anthony Ballesteros added the first of five conversion kicks. Morenci led 7-0 with 3:19 elapsed in the game. Senior Michael Casillas bulldozed in from a yard out on 3rd-and-goal and Ballesteros added the conversion kick for a 14-12 advantage with 56 seconds left in the first quarter.
Paradise Honors covered 80 yards in eight plays, 60 yards in one play, 73 yards in six plays, and gained 17 of 63 yards before running out of time.
Senior Gage Baker connected with senior Isaiah Thomas for a 23-yard pass play and the conversion pass was deflected with 5:32 left in the first quarter. A forced fumble was recovered and returned for a touchdown by junior Cougar Holt 1:01 later (12-7). Baker connected with senior Josh Morales for a 60-yard pass play and a senior Coleman Burkhart conversion reception. The Panthers led 20-14 with 49 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Panthers received the second-half kick, stalled on 4th-and-1 after gaining 30 of 67 yards, went three-and-out to punt on 4th-and-12, covered 37 yards in five plays, netted nine of 80 yards before punting on 4th-and-1, were intercepted on 1st-and-10, and covered 87 yards in 11 plays.
Baker connected with Morales for a 25-yard touchdown on 2nd-and-10, the conversion pass failed, but the Panthers led 34-21 with 9:52 left in the fourth quarter. The same combination was used again as Morales caught a 15-yard pass and conversion pass to go ahead 42-35 with 17.4 seconds remaining.
Morenci covered 63 yards in five plays, gained 19 of 80 yards in eight plays before yielding possession on 4th-and-15, covered 60 yards in 10 plays, covered 60 yards in eight plays, netted 25 of 46 yards in seven plays before yielding possession on 4th-and-9, and gained 13 of 43 yards in three plays before running out of time.
Vozza capped the 63-yard drive from four yards out on nd-and-goal and Ballesteros added the conversion kick for a 21-28 deficit with 7:05 left in the third quarter; Casillas ran in from two yards out on 3rd-and-goal and Ballesteros added the conversion kick for a 28-34 deficit with 9:52 left in the fourth quarter; and Vozza ran 11 yards on 1st-and-10 and Ballesteros added the conversion kick (35-34) with 4:49 left to play. It would be the final advantage held by the Wildcats.
Officially, Morenci netted 395 offensive yards in 64 plays, 382 on 56 carries, and 13 on one reception compared to 381 yards in 46 plays, eight on five carries, and 373 on 30 receptions by Paradise Honors.
Vozza averaged 9.5 (11-104) yards per carry, Casillas 6.8 (37-250), senior Emilio Roybal 3.5 (2-7) yards, and senior Tristen Sanchez 2.5 (2-5).
Sanchez completed 1-1 pass attempts for 13 yards with no interceptions and Seballos went incomplete on seven attempts with one interception. Seballos caught a pass for 13 yards.
For the Panthers, Baker averaged 7.0 (1-7) yards per carry and senior Logan Pruett 0.3 (4-1) yards. Baker completed 30-41 passes for 373 yards with one interception. Morales averaged 18.9 (10-189) yards per catch, Holt 13.0 (1-13) yards, Burkhart 12.7 (6-76) yards, Thomas 10.4 (8-83) yards, and Pruett 2.4 (5-12) yards.
Defensively, Holt scored on a recovered fumble and intercepted a pass, and junior Darrian Zeeb sacked the quarterback.
