Dawgs boast a 36-12-1 advantage since 1945
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Frankie Gonzalez-coached Morenci Wildcats open their 2025 football campaign by hosting the Safford Bulldogs on Friday, Aug. 22. It will mark the 50th meeting of the two programs since the end of the Second World War. The Bulldogs have a 36-12-1 overall and an 18-9 region advantage, are 15-7-1 in Morenci and 4-1 in Lawson Stadium, and have outscored the Wildcats by an average score per game of 17-11 (856-521) or a 6-point margin during the previous 80 (1945-2024) seasons.
Safford has won the last two of three contests, edging Morenci 13-12 in Herman BB Andrews Track and Field during 2024 (Oct. 4), plus prevailed 26-14 during 2023 (Sept. 29) in Lawson Stadium. Morenci shut out the Bulldogs 44-0 in Safford during 2022 (Sept. 2) en route to a 2A state runner-up finish under Joseph Garcia (34-14 overall, 13-6 region, 7-4 state playoffs, 20-5 home). Morenci’s previous win, 29-21 during 2012 (Aug. 24), also led to a state 2A second-place finish under Frank Ogas (37-18 overall, 4-8 region, 19-1 section, 4-4 state, 18-5 home). Garcia was the head coach during four seasons (2019-22) while Ogas went five (2009-13).
The Bulldogs’ largest win margin has been by 42 points, 42-0 during 1979 (Sept. 21), and posted an 11-game win streak from 1977-2011, while the Wildcats list a 5-game win streak from 1955-59.
The Pride Band has earmarked about 60 of the 1,240 bleacher seats available on the Lawson Stadium home side, while 594, or half as many, are on the visitors’ side. There is also standing room along the all-weather track fence, usually from gate to gate on the home side.
The price of admission is $4 for adults, $3 for students, and $2 for senior citizens (age 55 or older) and military. Kick-off is 7 p.m.
Other area games this week in the 2A East Region include Pima visiting Scottsdale Christian (Thursday, Aug. 21), Globe hosting Whiteriver Alchesay (Aug. 22), Miami hosting Tombstone, and Saint Johns hosting Kayenta Monument Valley. In the 3A South Region, Thatcher hosts Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood, Coolidge hosts Eloy Santa Cruz, Florence hosts Show Low, Tucson Sabino visits Chandler Valley Christian, and Tucson Pusch Ridge hosts San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (Aug. 23).
Safford Bulldogs
Safford officially had a student enrollment count of 920 for the 2024-25 school year, and there were 15 Bulldogs landing all-region honors, two first team, eight second team, and five honorable mention, along with one all-conference (all-state) honorable mention. Senior Jevyn Elliott, one of five listed all-region honorable mentions, is the lone returning all-region honoree. He completed 39-52 passes for 788 yards with three interceptions, averaging 20.2 yards per completion.
The 2024 Wranglers went 7-4 overall, 2-2 region for third of five, 0-1 state playoffs, and 3-2 at home while averaging a 23-13 (253-140) score per game or a 10-point margin.
The current 42-member roster includes 12 seniors, 10 juniors, 15 sophomores, and five freshmen. The other 11 seniors are Adrien Casillas (8), David Cruz (62), James Curtis (54), Gabriel Espinoza (7), Bruno Gavin (69), Aiden Gutierrez (13), Alexander Heath (70), Brandon Heesaker (55), Kyler Kuney (65), Sawyer Layton (66), Damian Nunez (9), and Juan Ramirez III (19); juniors Boston Arbizo (11), Andrew Baker (26), Aaron Barnes (27), Mario Chavez (28), Matteo Chavez (5), Lamarr Ellis (2), Jacob Gomez (22), Price Harsh (10), Dane Jacobson (0), and Arias Peru (74); and sophomores Anthony Arreola (50), Easton Ballejos (23), Layne Bell (67), Cooper Canter (31), Trae Gaines (3), Chris Garcia (79), Samuel Harmon (30), Eric Legarda (51), Ryatt Lopez (4), Killian Morris (76), Tristan Ogas (73), Josiah Pena (61), Diego Rios (17), Gavin Rios (60), and Parker Whisman (6); and freshmen Juanito Blancarte (87), Kyle Decker (), Drake Miller (21), Enrique Ortega (53), Nivek Ruskin (58).
Ishmael MacNeil follows Robert Park as the Bulldogs’ head coach, with assistance from Hunter Cochran, Marcus Gaethje, Tanner Johnson, Jason Linden, Samuel MacNeil, Brad Reynolds, Addin Soto, and Leland Warren.
McNeil was at 3A West Region Wickenburg for three seasons (2022-24), going 14-17 overall, 5-9 region, 0-1 state playoffs, and 7-8 at home with an average score per game of 20-23 (623-708) or a 3-point deficit through 31 games.
Last season, the Bulldogs finished 4-6 (.400) overall, 2-2 (.500) in the 3A South Region, and 2-3 (.400) at home, averaging a 12-24 (121-237) score per game or a 12-point deficit while listing an official enrollment of 920 students.
The Bulldogs went 18-24 (.429) overall, 6-11 (.353) region, 0-2 state playoffs, and 8-12 (.400) at home with an average score per game of 19-27 (804-1,149) or an 8-point deficit during four seasons (2021-24) under Park.
Safford opens in Morenci (Aug. 22), hosts Lakeside Blue Ridge (Aug. 29) and Chandler Seton Catholic (Sept. 5), travels to Winslow (Sept. 12) and Coolidge (Sept. 18), hosts San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (Sept. 26), visits Thatcher (Oct. 3), hosts Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (Oct. 11), is open on Oct. 18, hosts Florence (Oct. 24), and visits Tucson Sabino (Oct. 31).
The Bulldogs are competing in the 7-member 3A South Region with the Coolidge Bears (882), the Florence Gophers (858), the San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills Sabercats (819), the Thatcher Eagles (562), the Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Lions (428), and the Tucson Sabino Sabercats (867).
Morenci Wildcats
Five Class of 2026 Wildcats return with three varsity seasons under their belts in Julian Aragon (13), Dean Chee (65), Isaiah Cook (77), Jaymz Guzzo (4), and Derick Lytle (9); three with two varsity “M” letters in Michael Chavez (50), Richard Rodriguez (7), and Anthony Rogers (11); and three with a lone varsity letter in Matthew Hernandez (0), Andre McCauley (12), and Kiano Torres (3).
Last season, Cook was a 3A all-conference (all-state) honorable mention as an offensive lineman, as well as a first team 3A South Region member and on the all-region second team as a junior; Aragon was a region second team running back and Torres a region defensive utility player; and both Chee and Guzzo were all-region honorable mentions.
Defensively, Cook ended third on the team in both solo tackles (23) and total tackles (42), Torres totaled 39 tackles (14 solo, 25 assisted), Guzzo 35 (14 solo, 21 assisted), and Chee 26 (17 solo, 9 assisted).
Offensively, Lytle averaged 19.8 (5-10- 99-0) yards per pass while playing in three of 10 games, and Guzzo 17.6 (5-9-88-0) yards per pass while playing in 9-10 games. Aragon averaged 6.0 (126-756) yards per carry with three of 17 touchdowns while playing in 7-10 games, and Lytle 5.3 (14-74) yards per carry with a TD.
Returning two-year lettered juniors include Joel Baca (28), Mason Clark (17), and Heston Winters (88); one-year lettered juniors Camron Dodson (55) and Jesse Strickland (70); and one-year lettered sophomores Brennen Burkhead (5), Jeremya Cruz (8), James Davis (59), Luz Hernandez (54), Eli Laney (1), David Licano (78), Hunter Roumell (68), Joshwa Sandoval (52), and Loghan Szymanski (75).
Others out for the program include seniors Zach Biggs (66) and Anthony Roybal (56); sophomores Jacob Bracamonte (21), Sonny Gobert (33), Braxton Merrill (18), Deegan Miller (10), Zane Randle (72), and Joseph Rodriguez (23); and freshmen Kyson Abril (6), Andres Aguilera (51), Bryden Herrera (74), Ceejay Madrid (60), Damian Paz (40), and Keston Armstrong (2).
Frankie Gonzalez is in his second season as the head coach. His staff includes Chance Brewer, Brennen Enriquez, Frank Gonzalez, Chuck Lopez, Jason McEuen, Benji Morales, and Josh Sandoval.
Morenci returns to the 2A ranks for 2025 following two seasons in 3A, posting marks of 11-11 (.500) overall, 3-5 (.375) region, 1-1 (.500) state playoffs, and 5-6 (.455) at home while averaging a score of 22-19 (479-422) per game or a 3-point margin.
The Wildcats were elevated to the larger enrollment class, not due to a spike in enrollment, but because they had posted a combined 30-7 overall record during the three previous seasons (2020-22), finishing as state finalists in the last two seasons.
Prior to the recent 2-year 3A stint, the Wildcats competed in the 2A ranks from 1982-2022 or 41 seasons, going 228-163 (.583) overall, 110-87 (.558) region, 26-4 (.867) section, 24-24 (.500) state meet, and 123-71 (.634) at home.
Last season, the Wildcats finished as No. 24 with records of 3-7 (.300) overall, 0-4 in the 3A South Region for fifth of five, and 2-4 (.333) at home, averaging a 16-25 (164-249) score per game or a 9-point deficit with an official enrollment of 367 students.
Morenci kicks off the season with Safford (Aug. 22) and Tucson Tanque Verde (Aug. 29), visits Willcox (Sept. 5), hosts Bisbee (Sept. 12), visits Globe (Sept. 19) and Benson (Sept. 26), hosts Miami (Oct. 3), and visits Pima (Oct. 10) and Saint Johns (Oct. 17).
The Wildcats (367) are competing in the 2A East Region with the Globe Tigers (514), the Miami Vandals (287), the Pima Roughriders (357), and the Saint Johns Redskins (337).
