Six youth football games over 12 hours — that’s not a long day. It is a full day of watching young players with long futures.
The first game started at 8 a.m. with the No. 2 Rams beating the No. 1 Redskins 12-6 for the 8U championship. The last game ended past 8 p.m with the No. 3 Dolphins beating the No. 1 49ers 38-0 in the 13/14U title game.
The other finals:
9U: No. 1 Rams 20, No. 3 Thunder 12
10U: No. 2 Rams 14, No. 1 Jaguars 12
11U: No. 1 Scorpions 21, No. 3 Jaguars 6.
12U: No. 1 Jaguars 53, No. 3 Scorpions 8
Another kid with a promising future, WR/DB Chance Cassel, had a TD reception for Oro Valley 13U in its TYF championship victory. pic.twitter.com/5BIf17L052
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 3, 2019
Aaron Ramirez with the tough TD run for the Oro Valley Dolphins, who lead the 13U championship game over the 49ers 32-0 in the fourth quarter. pic.twitter.com/08gea8jLYP
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 3, 2019
That’s six games with approximately 30 players per roster as well as the cheerleaders for each team and their contingent. Factor in parents and family members of each player attending throughout the day.
When I pulled up at Tucson High School after leaving Arizona Stadium following coverage of the Oregon State-Arizona game there, I was amazed at the size of the crowd for the 13/14U championship game. It was similar or more than the 2,000 or so fans who attend high school football games locally on Fridays.
“We did very well at the gate. There was at least 10,000 fans who came to watch the games throughout the day,” Tucson Youth Football and Sports Federation president Julius Holt said.
The 13U Oro Valley Dolphins capped the evening with the exhilarating win that snapped for many of their players a three-game championship drought (losing the 10U, 11U and 12U titles).
What made the win even more special for the Dolphins was the fact that all but one of their roster returned from playing together for the 12U team. It is truly a team in every sense.
Oro Valley 13U lineman Morgan Narcaroti, bound for CDO to play for Dustin Peace, talks about winning his first TYF title after starting to play football 9 years ago. pic.twitter.com/w90GmXcvsP
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 3, 2019
Jacob “Bubba” Mustain three three TD passes to different receivers — Chase Laux, Kayden Luke and Chance Cassel. Two different rushers scored on the ground — Aaron Ramirez and John Alba IV.
The team has players who will likely play either at the varsity or junior varsity level in high school next year, including linemen Sa’Kylee Woodard and Morgan Narcaroti. It also has role players culminating their careers on the field.
QB Jacob "Bubba" Mustain threw three TD passes for Oro Valley 13U in its championship win over the Sahuarita 49ers. pic.twitter.com/w4DnC5hI9m
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 3, 2019
TYFSF president Julius Holt presents the 13U championship trophy to the Oro Valley Dolphins. pic.twitter.com/wNXLHiZfLt
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 3, 2019
Oro Valley 13U coach Neal Harris comments on his team really being like a family with 23 of the 24 players returning from 12U. Championship Dolphins bounced back from 2 regular season losses. Came together. pic.twitter.com/qV357qIzBV
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 3, 2019
Woodard — remember his name because he will be a headliner later in his career — started a “thank you” cheer after the game with his teammates for parents and family members in the stands.
The city championships are complete, but the Dolphins will advance to the regional tournament in Phoenix in two weeks. If they win there, they head to nationals in Florida.
QB Jacob "Bubba" Mustain threw three TD passes for Oro Valley 13U in its championship win over the Sahuarita 49ers. pic.twitter.com/w4DnC5hI9m
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 3, 2019
TYFSF is also still in operation with its 13/14U All-Star team that will be at practice at 8 a.m. Sunday. The roster of that team that is preparing for the national tournament at Orlando in January:
Linemen
33 Alexandro Vargas Felix/Oro Valley Dolphins
77 Giovanna Arenas/Tucson Raiders
75 Jaime Charles/Marana Broncos
13 Luis Cordova/Tucson Raiders
98 Jacob Cota/Tucson Redskins
85 Frank Dicochen/Southwest Rams
99 Jose Roberto Heredia/Tucson Raiders
63 Julian Lopez/Tucson Raiders
7 Leland Marshall/Tucson Redskins
70 Jayden Noperi/Marana Broncos
56 Brayden Wolfe/Vail Vikings
55 Sa’Kylee Woodard/Oro Valley Dolphins
Reserve All-Star Linemen
60 Kennedy Ellsworth/Tucson Wildcats
38 Martin Gonzalez/Tucson Redskins
86 Hector Reyes/Tucson Redskins
55 Izaiah Reyes/Southwest Rams
Skill Players
11 Chris Acuna/Tucson Raider
36 Joe Alba/Oro Valley Dolphins
25 Diego Arellano/Southwest Rams
5 Jackson Banhie/Sahuarita 49er’s
86 Savaughn Berryhill/Tucson Falcons
25 Chance Cassel/Oro Valley Dolphins
23 Edgardo Flores/Sahuarita 49ers
22 Ciaosen Fuller/Tucson Raiders
5 Samario Garcia/Tucson Raiders
34 Orlando Gonzalez/Tucson Raiders
1 Cameron Hackworth/Tucson Raiders
4 De Sean Jaiman/Sahuarita 49ers
17 Michael Brody Jones/Oro Valley Dolphins
14 Chase Laux/Oro Valley Dolphins
30 Kaden Luke/Oro Valley Dolphins
5 Tyler Martinez/Oro Valley Dolphins
7 Gabriel Smith/Sahuarita 49ers
33 Devon Waxwood/Tucson Falcons
Reserve All-Star Skill Players
Dylan Carrillo/Tucson Redskins
88 Zavian Lopez/Marana Broncos
24 Tristan McClelland/Oro Valley Dolphins
4 Josiah Thornwell/Southwest Rams
43 Manny Morales/Tucson Raiders
50 Jaimie Ramirez/Marana Broncos
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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