Duncan is 15-5 for homecoming game
By Raymundo Frasquillo
DUNCAN – The Dan Coats-coached Duncan Wildkats host the Kearny Ray Bearcats on Friday, Oct. 4. The Bearcats are ranked No. 13 (3-3 seeding, minus 0.59969) and the Wildkats No. 20 (1-4, minus 8.3730). It is Duncan’s 22nd homecoming in the 8-man format.
Duncan is 15-5 versus 13 opponents, with an average score of 40-22 (792-439) for its homecoming game. Although the 2021 game with Ray (Oct. 8) was not played, a ceremony was held in the gymnasium, a king and queen were crowned, and a picnic followed on Packer Field.
The Wildkats are 4-0 over Saint David (42-20 in 2003, 36-5 in 2006, 66-20 in 2017, 28-18 in 2019), 3-0 over Fort Thomas (26-12 in 2009, 58-14 in 2011, 26-20 in 2016), 2-1 over Valley Union (60-26 in 2020, 54-12 in 2022, 6-46 in 2023), and 1-0 over Tempe Prep (52-8 in 2004), Phoenix Veritas Prep (48-0 in 2007), Scottsdale Salt River (36-0 in 2010), Superior (72-30 in 2012), Anthem Prep (36-8 in 2015), and Sells Baboquivari (70-26 in 2018).
Clifton, Pima, Ray, and Gilbert Christian left with wins in 2005 (22-16), 2008 (66-14), 2013 (14-6), and 2014 (61-12), respectively.
Just as a large pizza was too much for the 2023 Duncan homecoming couch winner, Valley Union was too much for the Wildkats. Following a scoreless first quarter, the visitors led 30-0 at halftime and 46-0 with 2:05 left in the third quarter.
Drawning winner freshman McKenzie Jones along with friends Lily Ford and Sophie Harris were treated to the comfortable sideline viewing area, complete with a large pepperoni pizza and a bottled beverage of their choice. Three slices remained in the box after the game.
The Wildkats trailed 46-0 with a running clock activated before they could mount a sustained scoring drive. It was their second possession of the second half with the first ending in a fumble on 2nd-and-10.
Duncan covered 65 yards in 14 plays, starting with 1:28 left in the third quarter and they crossed the goal line with 3:24 left to play.
The 2023 Wildkats (1-7 overall, 1-5 region) averaged an 18-41 (140-331) score per game or a 23-point deficit. Duncan had a win over Fort Thomas (12-0, Aug. 24) along with losses to New Mexico Lordsburg (36-64, Aug. 18), San Manuel (12-50, Sept. 1), Saint David (14-45, Sept. 8), Baboquivari (32-42, Sept. 22), Ray (16-36, Sept. 29), Valley Union (6-46, Oct. 6), and Lincoln Prep (14-48, Oct. 13).
This week, No. 6 Saint David hosts No. 17 San Manuel, No. 12 Elfrida Valley Union visits No. 16 Fort Thomas, and No. 18 Sells Baboquivari visits No. 1 Winkelman Hayden.
Ray Bearcats (3-3, 3-2)
Ray (3-3 seeding, 3-2 region) is averaging a score of 25-35 (147-207) per game or a 10-point deficit. The Bearcats have wins over San Manuel (32-12, Aug. 30), Sells Baboquivari (40-22, Sept. 20), and Fort Thomas (63-20, Sept. 27).
The losses are to Heber Mogollon (6-52, Aug. 23), Saint David (0-65, Sept. 6), and Valley Union (6-36, Sept. 13).
Ray visits Superior (Oct. 11) and hosts Hayden (Oct. 18) to conclude its regular season.
Duncan Wildkats (1-4, 1-3)
Duncan (1-4, 1-3) is averaging a score of 32-54 (160-271) per game or a 22-point deficit. The Wildkats have a win over San Manuel (22-16, Sept. 6).
The losses are to Lordsburg, NM (66-98, Aug. 23), Fort Thomas (36-58, Aug. 30), Saint David (8-59, Sept. 13), and Baboquivari (28-40, Sept. 27).
Duncan finishes its regular season hosting Valley Union (Oct. 11) and visiting Chandler Lincoln Prep (Oct. 18).
1A State Rankings
Initial 1A Class (8-man) statewide rankings (Oct. 1) had Hayden (6-0 overall, 16.4283 rating) as No. 1 of 22, Heber Mogollon (5-1, 9.8429) No. 2, Bagdad (4-1, 9.2381) No. 3, Tucson Desert Christian (4-0, 8.3806) No. 4, Lincoln Prep (5-1, 5.7938) No. 5, Saint David (5-1, 5.3708) No. 6, Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (5-1, 4.2958) No. 7, Colorado City El Capitan (4-2, 3.3967) No. 8, Williams (3-3, 2.2789) No. 9, Glendale Desert Heights Prep (3-3, 2.1973) No. 10, Salome (3-3, 0.8152) No. 11, and Valley Union (3-2, 0.5921) No. 12.
The Top 12 teams listed after Oct. 18 regular season pairings will be involved in the playoffs.
Other South Region member rankings were Ray (3-3, minus 0.59969) No. 13, Fort Thomas (2-4, minus 6.2608) No. 16, San Manuel (2-4, minus 6.3449) No. 17, Baboquivari (1-5, minus 7.7871) No. 18, and Duncan (1-4, minus 8.3730) No. 20.
1A South Region Standings
Region standings are Saint David (5-1 overall, 4-0 region), Valley Union (3-2, 3-1), Ray (3-3, 3-2), Fort Thomas (2-4, 2-2), Duncan (1-4, 1-3), San Manuel (2-4, 1-4), and Baboquivari (1-5, 1-4).
Saint David (5-1, 4-0) has seeding wins over Scottsdale Cicero Prep (60-6, Aug. 23), Baboquivari (70-22, Aug. 31), Ray (65-0, Sept. 6), Duncan (59-8, Sept. 13), and Valley Union (66-6, Sept. 27). The loss is to Heber Mogollon (36-66, Sept. 20).
Valley Union (3-2, 3-1) has wins over Baboquivari (24-13, Sept. 6), Ray (36-6, Sept. 13), and San Manuel (52-20, Sept. 20) along with losses to Desert Heights Prep (36-40, Aug. 23) and Saint David (6-66, Sept. 27).
Ray (3-3, 3-2) has wins over San Manuel (32-12, Aug. 30), Baboquivari (40-22, Sept. 20), and Fort Thomas (63-20, Sept. 27) as well as losses to Heber Mogollon (6-52, Aug. 23), Saint David (0-65, Sept. 6), and Valley Union (6-36, Sept. 13).
Fort Thomas (2-4, 2-2) has wins over Baboquivari (36-20, Aug. 23) and Duncan (58-36, Aug. 30) along with losses to Lincoln Prep (6-40, Sept. 6), San Manuel (32-40, Sept. 13), Superior (22-50, Sept. 20), and Ray (20-63, Sept. 27).
Duncan (1-4, 1-3) has a win over San Manuel (22-16, Sept. 6) and losses to Lordsburg, NM (66-98, Aug. 23), Fort Thomas (36-58, Aug. 30), Saint David (8-59, Sept. 13), and Baboquivari (28-40, Sept. 27).
San Manuel (2-4, 1-4) has wins over Fort Thomas (40-32, Sept. 13) and Cicero Prep (48-20, Sept. 27) along with losses to Lincoln Prep (6-14, Aug. 23), Ray (12-32, Aug. 30), Duncan (16-22, Sept. 6), and Valley Union (20-52, Sept. 20).
Baboquivari (1-5, 1-4) has a win over Duncan (40-28, Sept. 27) as well as losses to Fort Thomas (20-36, Aug. 23), Saint David (22-70, Aug. 30), Valley Union (13-24, Sept. 6), Mohave Accelerated (12-45, Sept. 13), and Ray (22-40, Sept. 20).
