Pima hopes to even 27-game Lawson Stadium series
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – Pima brings a 1-1 overall record into Lawson Stadium on Friday, Sept. 13. It is the Roughriders’ second road game and the Wildcats’ fourth straight home game.
Morenci is 19-8 overall, 19-6 in the region, 0-1 at state, 14-13 at home, and averaged a score per game of 25 – 14 (677 – 389) or an 11-point margin versus Pima from 1985-2023.
Last season, the Roughriders slipped past the Wildcats 19-16 in overtime on Edd Hubbard Field, with final regular season rankings of No. 6 in 3A for Morenci and No. 1 in 2A for Pima. It was a third straight win over Morenci and fifth in the most recent 10 pairings, averaging a 22-23 (222-232) score per game or a 1-point deficit for the Blue and Gold-clad boys.
Pima’s other four wins were 50-19 (Nov. 26, 2022), 21-20 (Oct. 28, 2022), 30-0 (Oct. 28, 2016), and 40-36 (Oct. 22, 2010).
Meanwhile, Morenci’s wins were 33-19 (Oct. 29, 2021), 21-15 (Nov. 13, 2020), 44-16 (Oct. 25, 2019), 29-12 (Oct. 19, 2018), and 14-0 (Oct. 27, 2017).
There have been 17 Friday the 13th games played by Morenci during the past 50 seasons (1974-2023), ending 10-5 with 4-3 in September having an average score per game of 21-12 (145-85) or a 9-point margin, 3-4 in October having an average score per game of 31-14 (214-100) or a 17-point margin, and 3-0 in November having an average score per game of 33-7 (74-23) or a 17-point margin.
The ninth-month wins were 12-7 over Globe (1974) “on the Hill,” and 38-0 over New Mexico Lordsburg (1991) in Lawson Stadium, 50-18 over Queen Creek Canyon State (2002) in Lawson Stadium, and 14-6 at Willcox (2019). The losses were 6-12 at New Mexico Bayard Cobre (1985), 12-19 at New Mexico Animas (1996), and 13-23 to Saint Johns (2013) in Lawson Stadium.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Pima Roughriders (1-1, 1-0)
Thus far, the Roughriders are averaging a 24-7 (48-14) score per game or a 17-point margin. Pima has a 41-0 seeding win over Globe (Aug. 23) and a 7-14 loss to Safford (Aug. 29).
The Roughriders were idle last week, and begin region play by hosting Saint Johns (Sept. 20). Pioma will then visit Miami (Sept. 27) and Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (Oct. 4), host Scottsdale Christian (Oct. 11), visit Whiteriver Alcheasy (Oct. 18), host San Carlos (Oct. 25), and visit Eloy Santa Cruz (Nov. 1) to complete their regular season schedule. The Scottsdale Christian and Santa Cruz games are non-region.
Pima is competing with Alchesay, American Leadership – Anthem South, Globe, Miami, Saint Johns, and San Carlos in the 2A San Pedro Region.
Morenci Wildcats (2-1, 0-0)
Morenci is averaging a 25-21 (75-63) score per game or a 4-point margin. Morenci has wins of 6-3 over Eagar Round Valley (Aug. 30) and 35-25 over Benson (Sept. 6), and a 34-35 loss to Queen Creek American – Leadership (Aug. 23).
The Wildcats follow this week’s non-region contest with road games at Lakeside Blue Ridge (Sept. 20) and Safford (Oct. 4), host Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (Oct. 11), visit Fountain Hills (Oct. 18) and Tucson Sabino (Oct. 25), and host Thatcher (Nov. 1).
Morenci is in the 3A South Region with Pusch Ridge Christian, Sabino, Safford, and Thatcher.
3A South Region
Region standings are Thatcher (3-0 overall, 0-0 region), Pusch Ridge Christian (1-1, 0-0), Sabino (2-1, 0-0), Morenci (2-1, 0-0), and Safford (1-2, 0-0).
Thatcher has seeding wins of 32-0 over Surprise Paradise Honors (Aug. 23), 15-0 over Queen Creek Crimson (Aug. 30), and 31-13 over Chandler Valley Christian; Pusch Ridge has a 42-3 win over Show Low (Aug. 30) and 7-31 loss to Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin; Sabino has wins of 40-0 over Coolidge (Aug. 23) and 13-0 over Crimson, and a 14-15 loss to Tucson Sahuaro (Aug. 30); Morenci has wins of 6-3 over Eagar Round Valley (Aug. 30) and 35-25 over Benson (Sept. 6), and a 34-35 loss to Queen Creek American – Leadership (Aug. 23); and Safford has a 14-7 win over Pima (Aug. 29) and losses of 6-20 loss to Payson (Aug. 23) and 13-34 to Florence (Sept. 6).
This week (Sept. 6), Thatcher visits Round Valley, Pusch Ridge hosts Yuma, Sabino hosts Tucson Mica Mountain, Morenci hosts Pima, and Safford hosts Tucson Rincon/University.
2A Black Region
Region standing are Pima (1-1 overall, 1-0 region), San Carlos (1-2, 1-0), Whiteriver Alchesay (1-1, 0-0), Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (1-2, 0-1), Globe (1-2, 0-1), Saint Johns (0-2, 0-0), and Miami (0-2, 0-0).
Pima has a seeding win of 41-0 over Globe (Aug. 23) and 7-14 loss to Safford (Aug. 29); San Carlos a 24-12 win over ALA – Anthem South (Aug. 23) and losses of 14-25 to Whittman Mountainside (Aug. 30) and 6-58 to Tombstone (Sept. 6); Alchesay a 52-0 win over Sanders Valley (Sept. 5) and 12-20 loss to Chinle (Aug. 30), ALA – Anthem South a 28-26 win over Tucson Catalina (Sept. 6) and losses of 12-24 to San Carlos (Aug. 23) and 0-38 to Gilbert Arete Prep (Aug. 30); Globe a 37-0 win over Tucson Santa Rita (Aug. 30) and losses of 0-41 to Pima (Aug. 23) and 6-7 to Gilbert Arete Prep (Sept. 6); Saint Johns losses of 8-28 to Lakeside Blue Ridge (Aug. 30) and 0-36 to Eagar Round Valley (Sept. 6); and Miami losses of 6-13 to Scottsdale Prep (Aug. 23) and 12-28 to Phoenix Veritas Prep (Aug. 30).
This week, Pima visits Morenci, San Carlos hosts Pinon, Alchesay visits Teec Nos Pos Red Mesa, ALA-Anthem South hosts Tucson Santa Rita, Globe visits Tombstone, Saint Johns visits Holbrook, and Miami hosts Chandler Prep.
2A San Pedro Region
Region standings are Bisbee (2-0 seeding, 0-0 region), Tanque Verde (1-1, 0-0), Tombstone (1-1, 0-0), Benson (1-2, 0-0), Willcox (1-2, 0-0), Palo Verde Magnet (1-1, 0-0), Santa Rita (0-2, 0-0), and Catalina (0-3, 0-0).
Bisbee has seeding wins of 67-7 over Phoenix Madison Highland (Aug. 30) and 26-20 over Douglas (Sept. 6); Tanque Verde a 40-26 win over Glendale Prep (Sept. 6) and 13-26 loss to Phoenix Christian (Aug. 23); Tombstone a 58-6 win over San Carlos (Sept. 6) and a 6-7 loss to Laveen Heritage (Aug. 29); Benson a 27-10 win over Phoenix Shadow Mountain (Aug. 23) and losses of 20-22 to Phoenix Christian (Aug. 30) and 25-35 to Morenci (Sept. 6); Willcox an 18-16 win over Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (Aug. 23) and losses of 20-65 to Tonopah Valley (Aug. 30) and 7-21 to Show Low (Sept. 6); Palo Verde a 16-15 win over Tucson Rincon/University (Sept. 6) and a 6-35 loss to Wellton Antelope Union (Aug. 30); Santa Rita losses of 0-37 to Globe (Aug. 30) and 14-48 to California Winterhaven San Pasqual; and Catalina losses of 6-46 to Surprise Highland Prep (Aug. 23), 8-17 to Phoenix NFL Yet (Aug. 30), and 26-28 to ALA-Anthem South (Sept 6).
This week, Bisbee hosts Eloy Santa Cruz, Tanque Verde visits Phoenix Cortez, Tombstone hosts Globe, Benson and Willcox are idle, Palo Verde visits Scottsdale Coronado, Santa Rita visits ALA-Anthem South, and Catalina is idle.
1A South Region
Region standings are Saint David (3-0 overall, 2-0 region), Fort Thomas (2-1, 2-0), Elfrida Valley Union (1-1, 1-0), Duncan (1-2, 1-1), Kearny Ray (1-2, 1-1), San Manuel (0-3, 0-2), and Sells Baboquivari (0-3, 0-3).
Saint David has seeding wins of 60-6 over Scottsdale Cicero Prep (Aug. 23), 70-22 over Baboquivari (Aug. 31), and 65-0 over Ray (Sept. 6); Fort Thomas wins of 36-20 over Sells Baboquivari (Aug. 23) and 58-36 over Duncan (Aug. 30), and a 6-40 loss to Chandler Lincoln Prep (Sept. 6); Ray a 32-12 win over San Manuel (Aug. 30), and losses of 6-52 to Heber Mogollon (Aug. 23) and 0-65 to Saint David (Sept. 6); Valley Union a 24-13 win over Baboquivari (Sept. 6) and a 36-40 loss to Glendale Desert Heights Prep (Aug. 23); Duncan a 22-16 win over San Manuel (Sept. 6) and losses of 66-98 to Lordsburg, NM (Aug. 23) and 36-58 to Fort Thomas (Aug. 30); San Manuel losses of 6-14 to Chandler Lincoln Prep (Aug. 23), 12-32 to Ray (Aug. 30), and 16-22 to Duncan (Sept. 6); and Baboquivari losses of 20-36 to Fort Thomas (Aug. 23), 22-70 to Saint David (Aug. 30), and 13-24 to Valley Union (Sept. 6).
This week, Saint David visits Duncan, Fort Thomas visits San Manuel, Valley Union hosts Ray, and Baboquivari hosts Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated.
Morenci vs. Benson
Scores of 6-0 following the opening quarter, 20-13 at halftime, and 28-13 heading into the fourth quarter favored the host Wildcats. The visiting Bobcats came within a point, 14-13 as the conversion kick was blocked with 1:17 left in the first half, but no closer the remainder of the game.
Morenci scored on four of 11 possessions, its third and fifth of five in the first half as well as its first and sixth of six in the second half.
Benson scored on four of 12 possessions, its fourth and fifth of five in the first half along with fifth and seventh of seven in the second half.
In the first half, Morenci yielded the ball after losing three yards on 4th-and-5, having gained 37 of 63 yards; punted on 4th-and-11 after losing one of 55 yards; covered 17 yards in four plays; and punted on 4th-and-27 after losing three of 65 yards.
Senior Marcus Lucero picked up the necessary inches on 3rd-and-goal and junior Julien Aragon dove in for the conversion run (14-0) with 10:51 left in the second quarter, and senior Christopher Lopez connected with senior Xavier Fernandez for a 26-yard score (20-13) in the closing seconds before the half.
Benson punted on 4th-and-11 after losing one of 74 yards; lost three yards on a 1st-and-10 fumble 80 yards away; covered 80 yards in 12 plays; covered 54 yards in nine plays;
Junior quarterback Dawson Judd connected with junior wide receiver Rawley Evans for a 30-yard score and the conversion kick was added (14-7) with 7:24 left in the second quarter, and senior Flint Davis scooted in from nine yards out on 1st-and-goal (14-13) with 1:17 left in the first half.
In the second half, the Bobcats fumbled the ball on 4th-and-6 after gaining four yards, punted on 4th-and-21 after gaining two of 80 yards in seven plays, were intercepted on 3rd-and-17 after gaining 33 yards, fumbled on 2nd-and-5 after gaining five yards, covered 45 yards in four plays, were intercepted on 3rd-and-11 after gaining a yard, and covered 80 yards in 11 plays.
Davis bowled in from two yards out on 2nd-and-goal (28-19) with 7:30 left in the fourth quarter, and Judd connected with senior David Harris for a TD with no time remaining (35-25). The conversion kick was no good.
The Wildcats covered 30 yards in one play, fumbled on 4th-and-17 after losing seven yards, turned the ball over on an errant 4th-and-5 snap after gaining 38 yards, fumbled on 4th-and-1 exchange after gaining nine yards, turned the ball over on 4th-and-1 after gaining 19 yards, and covered 60 yards in seven plays.
Lucero crossed the goal line on 1st-and-10 and the conversion run was added, and Aragon dashed in from two yards out on 3rd-and-goal and senior Jossue Vaca Jr. added the conversion kick with 2:09 remaining.
For the game, the Wildcats gained 338 yards, 292 on 50 carries, and 46 yards on two receptions while the Bobcats gained 341, 131 yards on 19 carries, and 210 on 18 receptions.
Defensively, Morenci had 64 tackles (56 solo, 8 assisted) while Benson totaled 90 (52 solo, 38 assisted).
