A series of postgame interviews done, and getting through countless hugs and handshakes from family, friends and well-wishers, Cienega athletic marvel Terrell Hayward and Marana’s impeccable quarterback Trenton Bourguet finally met on the field still in pads about 30 minutes after the Bobcats’ 49-28 win over Marana in the first round matchup of the Class 5A state playoffs.
They exchanged a hug and conversed for a while, friends to the core from all their years of competition in the Tucson area dating back to their youth football days and 7-on-7 competition from when they were in middle school.
“If there was any team that I had to go out on it would be these guys,” said Bourguet, whose team went 0-4 against the Bobcats in the last two years. “Terrell Hayward, he’s one of my best friends. Best athlete in the state in my mind. He’s been durable all year. You put him at running back, quarterback, wide receiver, corner and safety, he’s going to make you pay.
“It stinks that we had to lose to them four times in my career but I’m glad another Tucson team is advancing.”
Cienega celebrates after beating Marana in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs (AllSportsTucson.com video)
Cienega, the No. 8 seed despite losing only two games, heads to No. 1 Peoria Centennial (11-0) on Friday for a quarterfinal game. One of the losses for the Bobcats (9-2) was to Centennial 35-0 in Peoria in the third game of the season on Sept. 7.
Tucson rarely, if ever, had two players of their caliber on the same field in a playoff game playing on opposite sides like Hayward and Bourguet last night. The show each put on at Cienega was one for the ages, one that will be discussed for years to come, a fitting way for Bourguet’s high school career to end and Hayward’s illustrious time with the Bobcats to continue.
Hayward, getting more rushing opportunities with Geo Owens out with an injury, rushed for a career-high 306 yards on 23 carries, with touchdown runs of 96 and 74 yards. His 306 yards are second in school history behind the 313 yards gained on 20 carries by Willie Willis against Sahuaro on Nov. 5, 2010.
strong>Cienega Game Rushing Leaders
Source: MaxPreps
Hayward’s 96-yard run in the first quarter ties for the third-longest in school history. Willie Willis broke free for a 99-yard scoring run against Nogales on Oct. 22, 2010.
Hayward discusses his 96-yard run and his overall performance in this video interview:
According to the Marana statistician, Bourguet completed 32 of 36 pass attempts for 377 yards with four touchdowns last night. At one point, he completed 23 consecutive passes. Bourguet finished with 89 touchdown passes in his career, an Arizona Class 5A record, topping the 87 by Scottsdale Horizon’s Dalton Sneed.
Bourguet finished with a school-record 7,614 passing yards in his career, ranking second in the state record books.
Bourguet discusses his 5A state touchdown passing record and the game against Cienega in this video interview:
Other interviews from last night: Cienega coach Pat Nugent, Marana coach Louie Ramirez and Cienega running back Thomas Webb Jr. (who had four rushing touchdowns).
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