1A South: Baboquivari Warriors
2022 record: 3-5 overall, 3-3 1A South (fourth)
Head coach: Pueblo High School graduate (Class of 1997) Cody Garcia first season as a head coach at Baboquivari. Replaces Pete Delgado, who is now the offensive line coach at Tanque Verde. Garcia has been part of Delgado’s staff the last four years, including when the football team in 2019 went 4-4 — the first non-losing season at the school since 2004.
Key returners:
- WR/DB Taj Mease, Jr.
- QB Xavier Mease, Sr.
- OL/DL Bryson Garcia, Sr.
- DE Elliot Antone, Jr.
- RB/LB Jesse Buendia, Jr.
- RB/DB Jarell Buendia, Jr.
- WR/DB Noah Segundo, Soph.
- RB/DB LaAunzae Antone, Sr.
BABOQUIVARI COACH CODY GARCIA
BABOQUIVARI QB XAVIER MEASE
BABOQUIVARI OL/DL BRYSON GARCIA
BABOQUIVARI DE ELLIOT ANTONE
COACHING STAFF:
- Head coach: Cody Garcia
- Offensive coordinator: Joe Mease Jr.
- Defensive coordinator: Jaylan Juan
Notes: New head coach Cody Garcia played for legendary Pueblo coach Saturnino “Curly” Santa Cruz and he attributes Santa Cruz’s coaching style as a teacher of the game and for strong character for him wanting to get into the profession. … Garcia has implemented more of a regimented weight-training and fitness routine for his players, including in the summer with early sessions, a departure from the past. … QB Xavier Mease passed for 333 yards and rushed for 384 yards last season. Expect both of those numbers to approach 1,000 this season. Baboquivari’s top two rushers from last season — Seth Castro and Jesus Buendia — have graduated. Mease will have to develop top receiving targets with Castro and Buendia gone as well. One will be his brother Taj, who should have a breakout season for the Warriors. … Baboquivari’s size on the line is impressive including Garcia’s son Bryson, a senior captain. The linemen appear to be physically in good shape thanks to Cody Garcia’s scheduled workouts throughout the summer. DE Elliot Antone, a junior, is also poised for a productive year. … Baboquivari’s early schedule is demanding with three of the first four games on the road with the home game in that stretch against traditional 1A power St. David.
Keep an eye out for: Mease at quarterback. Has good size and athleticism at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds. Very athletic. Plays baseball and basketball and is also a quality distance runner. His grandfather is longtime Baboquivari girls basketball coach Joseph Mease Sr. His father Joseph Jr., an assistant coach, was a standout at Baboquivari in the early 2000s.
13. BABOQUIVARI (4-3, 3-2)
Head coach: Cody GarciaWarriors compete in the 1A South (8-man football). *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/18 | at Fort Thomas* | W, 44-0 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 8/25 | St. David* | L, 47-8 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| 9/1 | at Valley Union* | L, 50-48 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| 9/8 | at Cicero Prep | L, 50-6 | 1-3 | 1-2 |
| 9/15 | Ray* | W, 28-24 | 2-3 | 2-2 |
| 9/22 | at Duncan* | W, 42-32 | 3-3 | 3-2 |
| 9/29 | Desert Heights | W, 64-46 | 4-3 | 3-2 |
| 10/13 | San Manuel* | -- | -- | -- |
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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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