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3A South: Pusch Ridge
2020 record: 8-2, reached Class 3A state semifinals, where it lost to Yuma Catholic 36-20. Defending 3A South champions.
Head coach: Kent Middleton, 8-2, second year and overall in his career. CDO grad and legendary IceCats player from the 1980’s who consistently made headlines playing for Leo Golembiewski.
Key returners:
- QB/CB Ryan Fontaine, 5-11, 170, Sr.
- RB Jon Goodwillie, 6-1, 170, Sr.
- RB Javier Grajeda, 5-8, 185, Sr.
- QB/CB Hayden Hallett, 6-2, 172, Sr.
- WR/CB/KR Bryce Jewell, 5-10, 160, Jr.
- MLB/OG Ethan Jones, 5-11, 175, Sr.
- OT/DT Jordan Kouba, 5-10, 185, Sr.
- TE/MLB Tyler Mustain, 6-2, 190, Jr.
- C/LB Jackson Orr, 5-7, 160, Sr.
- TE/DE Will Way, 6-4, 240, Jr.
- DE/TE Gabe Witt, 6-0, 205, Sr.
Coaching staff:
- Head coach: Kent Middleton
- Offensive coordinator: Brent Bartz
- Defensive coordinator: Middleton
- Associate head coach/special teams: Calvin Knox
- Strength and conditioning/offensive line: Tommy Steele
- Outside linebackers/tight ends: Doyle Butler
- Defensive line: Anthony Coronado
- Secondary: Jeff Drescher
- Quarterbacks/defensive secondary: Gary Minor
- Linebackers: Steve Hancock
- Inside linebackers: Chuck Mustain
Notes: Fontaine and Hallett combined to complete 115 of 199 passes for 1,467 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2020. They also combined to rush for 282 yards on 85 carries with seven touchdowns. … RB Evan Lovett is off to his career at Minot (ND) State after rushing for 1,401 yards on 117 carries with 17 touchdowns. Grajeda was impressive sharing time in the backfield with 649 yards on 114 carries. He rushed for 10 touchdowns. … Two potential D1 prospects are Class of 2023 standouts for Pusch Ridge — Mustain and Way. They have garnered attention from high-level colleges and figure to boost their profiles in 2021. … The Lions will try to make up for the loss of WR Jayden Rittenbach, a senior who has opted to stick to track and field after having 33 receptions for 603 yards with six touchdowns last season. … Butler is a 1998 Sabino grad who spent three seasons at USC as a tight end after initially enrolling at Purdue. … Pusch Ridge’s field is undergoing a renovation with new grass turf installed and the project is set to be completed by the Lions’ home opener Sept. 3 against Vista Grande.
Schedule:
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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. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District
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