Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Junior Isaiah Cook, right, blocks for senior running back Marcus Lucero during an intrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 9. Morenci opens the 2024 season in Lawson Stadium against American Leadership – Ironwood on Friday, Aug. 23.
Gonzalez Era kicks off in Lawson Stadium
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Loren Dawson-coached American Leadership – Ironwood Warriors will step onto the artificial playing field in Lawson Stadium on Friday, Aug. 23. It will be the second meeting of the two teams for a season opener, with a fumble recovery deciding the initial pairing during the first 10 seconds of the fourth quarter last season.
American Leadership – Ironwood Warriors
American Leadership – Ironwood finished 6-5 overall and 3-1 for 2nd in the five-team 3A Central Region, averaging a 22-18 (243-202) score per game or 4-point margin last season.
It was the first in six seasons that the Warriors ended above .500 (6-4) during the regular season and the first for a post-season bid, a 21-24 first-round loss to No. 2 Chandler Valley Christian as No. 15. Three of the Warriors’ 2023 opponents went a combined 2-4 in the post-season, with ALA – Ironwood bowing out in the first round.
During the previous five (2018-22) seasons, the Warriors were ranked No. 34, 33, 29, 30, and 30, respectively, posted records of 7-39 overall and 2-20 region, and averaged a score per game of 16-39 (737-1,781) or a 23-point deficit during 43 games.
American Leadership – Ironwood heads to Douglas (Aug. 30), hosts Gilbert Christian (Spt. 5), visits Phoenix Sierra Linda (Sept. 13), hosts Coolidge (Sept. 20) and Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (Sept. 27), visits Queen Creek Crimson (Oct. 4), hosts Tempe (Oct. 18), visits San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (Oct. 25), and hosts Florence (Nov. 1) to complete its regular season schedule.
The Warriors compete with Coolidge, Crimson, Florence, and San Tan Foothills in the region.
Morenci Wildcats
Morenci ended 8-4 overall and 3-1 for 1st in the 3A South Region and averaged a score per game of 26-14 (315-173) or a 12-point margin last season. Seven of the Wildcats’ 2023 opponents went a combined 10-6 in the post-season, with all five region members qualifying and Morenci going 1-1 as No. 6.
During the previous five (2018-22) seasons, the Wildcats were ranked No. 4, 15, 8, 4, and 2 in 2A, respectively, posted records of 43-17 overall and 15-8 region, and averaged a score per game of 33-15 (1,959-912) or an 18-point margin during 60 games.
The Wildcats follow this week’s non-region contest with three consecutive home pairings, against Eagar Round Valley (Aug. 30), Benson (Sept. 6), and Pima (Sept. 13) before heading to 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’s region pairings are with Safford, Pusch Ridge Christian, Sabino, and Thatcher.
A lone 3-year letterman is returning for the Wildcats, senior Yeddidia Luputa Kanyinda; sixteen 2-year lettermen, seven seniors in Peyton Basteen, Xavier Fernandez, Santi Gallegos, Christopher Lopez, Marcus Lucero, Gage Rodriguez, and Jordan Romero along with nine juniors including Julien Aragon, Dean Chee, Isaiah Cook, Jaymz Guzzo, Derick Lytle, Aundre McCauley, Richard Rodriguez, Anthony Rogers, and Anthony Roybal; and 1-year lettered senior Jonathan Vasquez Jr. and sophomores Michael Chavez and Heston Winters.
Others out for the program include seniors Shane Seballos, Jossue Vaca Jr., and Marques Varela; junior Kiano Torres; sophomores Joel Baca, Mason Clark, Cameron Dodson, Marques Gaethje, and Hector Vasquez; and freshmen Brennen Burkhead, Jeremya Cruz, James Davis, Luz Hernandez, Eli Laney, David Licano, Arick Martinez, Zane Mcandle, Mariano Roybal, Joseph Rodriguez, Hunter Roumell, Andres Sanders, Joshwa Sandoval, and Loghan Szymanski.
Homegrown Morenci Class of 2017 grad Frankie Gonzalez is in his initial season as a head coach, following region and state Coach-of-the-Year Rishard Davis.
On the defensive coordinator’s staff are eight Morenci grads and grads from Clifton, Pima, and Show Low. Handling offensive and defensive linemen are Art Martinez (1989), Damiene Rivera (1997), and Matthew Garcia (2019); linemen and linebackers Frank Gonzalez (1993); offensive linemen and defensive ends Esai Vanegas (2017); special teams and safeties Brenden Enriquez (2022); offensive coordinator Benji Morales (1990); statistics Joseph Seballos (2024); Joseph Chavarria (2014) hydration; linemen Josh Sandoval (Clifton Class of 2005); running backs and linebackers Jason McEuen (Pima Class of 1994); and defensive backs and receivers Chance Brewer (Show Low Class of 2012).
Morenci was elevated a class, not because of a spike in enrollment as was the standard, but because of a 30-7 (.822) combined overall record during the most recent three (2020-22) seasons. The Wildcats posted records of 7-2 (2020), 11-3 (2021), and 12-2 (2022).
Playing in the Class 3A level was not new for Morenci as the Wildcats did so from 1953-1981, going 163-131-5 during the 29 seasons versus 34 different opponents. One state title (1976) and one runner-up finish (1973) were attained.
A decline in enrollment prompted the switch to Class 2A, lasting from 1982-2022 with a 258-177 overall record versus 58 different opponents during 41 seasons. Five runner-up (1984, 1992, 2012, 2021, 2022) finishes were recorded.
Morenci’s combined overall record for those previous 70 seasons was 421-308-5.
