Pusch Ridge made it a mission to avenge a 50-7 drubbing last season at Safford when the Lions traveled there again yesterday.
The Lions’ mission was accomplished with a 31-19 win behind senior Evan Lovett’s 220 yards rushing on 21 carries. The son of former Arizona receiver Lamar Lovett had scoring runs of 63 and 30 yards and also hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass.
Javier Grajeda, a junior running back, added a 4-yard rushing touchdown and junior quarterback Hayden Hallett found Lovett for the touchdown pass.
Hallett also made a 25-yard field goal for the Lions, who are now 3-1 with three scheduled games remaining. They have reached the qualifying number of games — four — for the Class 3A state playoffs that start Nov. 27.
Pusch Ridge is scheduled to play at San Tan Foothills (0-2) on Friday followed by games at home against American Leadership Academy-Ironwood (0-4) on Nov. 6 and Florence (1-3) on Nov. 13. The remaining opponents are 1-9.
The game at San Tan Foothills is in doubt with that school shutting down recently for two weeks because of a COVID-19 outbreak. Pusch Ridge coach Kent Middleton said last week the Lions will look to fill Friday’s scheduled game if their game at San Tan Foothills is canceled.
Salpointe 37, Buena 6
.@SCLancerNation looked dominant despite its 3-week break after it was quarantined for 14 days because a player tested positive for COVID-19, never allowing a potent Buena offense to get on track. Six turnovers for Buena too many to overcome. The story: https://t.co/4eLgjZUB6f
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) October 24, 2020
Benson 42, Bisbee 0
Benson improved to 3-0 overall by defeating rival Bisbee behind quarterback Brok Determan accounting for a TD run and pass and Devin Bowling rushing for a 60-yard score.
End of 3rd: @BensonBobcat 35 @Bisbee_USD Pumas 0 @Sports360AZ #FridayNight360AZ @AZPreps365 pic.twitter.com/ftjUQaOOuj
— Michael Rincon Photo (@MRinconPhoto) October 24, 2020
Jace Barney also contributed scoring runs of 4 and 2 yards and Tristan Martinez added a 2-yard TD run.
Huge Class 2A game scheduled Friday with Benson traveling to Morenci, which is also 4-0.
Morenci 58, Tombstone 7
Morenci had a 44-0 lead by halftime against Tombstone (0-4).
The Yellow Jackets are scheduled to host Pima (0-2) on Friday.
Willcox 13, Pima 12
Willcox hung on to beat Pima by stopping a 4th-and-goal situation at the 1 to end the game.
Willcox leads the all-time series against Pima 17-4 dating back to their first game in 1985.
Ayden Fuentes‘ 1-yard scoring run with 1:11 left in the game was the go-ahead touchdown for Willcox.
St. David 36, Scottsdale Cicero Prep 0
Talon Haynie’s had 106 yards on only four carries, including a 65-yard touchdown run, and caught a 55-yard scoring strike from Logan Davis to help St. David improve to 4-0.
Davis passed for 67 yards and ran for 45 for the Tigers, who have outscored opponents 190-26 this season. They have two shutouts, the other against Valley Union in a 45-0 win Oct. 9.
Defensive lineman Jordan Merrill had two tackles for loss against Cicero Prep while safety Jeremiah Toyota-Gill had a team-high six tackles.
The Tigers have a significant game at San Manuel (3-0) on Friday. They are two games away from the qualifying number of six games to reach the 1A state playoffs.
San Manuel 28, Valley Union 6
San Manuel spoiled Valley Union’s homecoming to keep its season without a loss.
The Miners have three running backs who have combined for more than 600 yards rushing — Mathias Medina, Noah Huerta and T.J. Madrid.
The San Manuel High School Miners victory over Elfrida Valley Union High School Blue Devils 28-6 puts the team at 3-0 overall. The St. David High School Tigers roll into town for a Friday night match-up.
D. Navarro AZSPORTSNETWORK pic.twitter.com/SxonNAJmjS— David navarro (@Davidna09436445) October 24, 2020
Valley Union’s Jacob Sonke had the Blue Devils’ lone score in the second quarter, which cut the Miners’ lead to 16-6. Sonke and his three other senior teammates, Daniel Reyes, Levi Lawson and Luis Guzman were honored prior to the start of the game.
Sonke was also honored at the game for his Class 1A state record performance of 532 yards rushing (with seven touchdowns) in a 48-44 win over Mohave last week.
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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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