3A South: Pusch Ridge
2022 record: 11-2 overall, 4-1 3A South (second)
Head coach: Kent Middleton, 27-7, fourth year at Pusch Ridge and overall in his career. Middleton is a CDO grad and legendary IceCats player from the 1980’s who consistently made headlines playing for the late Leo Golembiewski. He coached as an assistant for nearly 30 years in Southern Arizona before getting his first head coaching opportunity at Pusch Ridge.
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Key returners:
- QB Bubba Mustain, 6-1, 180, Sr.
- RB/DE Blake Reed, 5-11, 190, Sr.
- SB/LB William Joyce, 5-7, 180, Sr.
- CB/WR Tyler Drescher, 6-0, 167, Sr.
- WR/CB Elliot Lovett, 5-11, 175, Jr.
PUSCH RIDGE COACH KENT MIDDLETON
PUSCH RIDGE QB BUBBA MUSTAIN
PUSCH RIDGE CB/WR TYLER DRESCHER
PUSCH RIDGE SB/LB WILLIAM JOYCE
Coaching staff:
- Head coach: Kent Middleton
- Offensive coordinator: Brent Bartz
- Defensive coordinator: Middleton
- Associate head coach/special teams: Calvin Knox
- Outside linebackers/tight ends: Doyle Butler
- Defensive/offensive line: Anthony Coronado
- Defensive/offensive line: Soma Helu
- Secondary: Jeff Drescher
- Linebackers: Steve Hancock
- Inside linebackers: Chuck Mustain
- Offensive assistant: Lamar Lovett
Notes: QB Bubba Mustain has a history of playing a winning style of quarterback, including leading the TYF Oro Valley Dolphins to the 13U city championship in 2019. After being the top receiving target as a freshman with 64 catches for 876 yards and 11 touchdowns, Mustain became one of the most prolific-passing quarterbacks in the state last year, passing for 2,637 yards while completing 165 of 257 passing attempts. He also had 30 touchdowns and five interceptions. … Mustain takes over as a senior captain, a role handled well last year by brother Tyler Mustain, who is now a walk-on linebacker at Arizona. … Pusch Ridge also lost impact seniors Bryce Jewell at wide receiver and defensive back and lineman Will Way from a year ago. … Pusch Ridge coach Kent Middleton expects seniors Tyler Drescher (cornerback/receiver) and William Joyce (slot back/linebacker) to take on leadership roles. Drescher is the younger brother of former Ironwood Ridge standout Cameron Drescher. … Former Arizona receiver Lamar Lovett is back as an assistant at the varsity level after serving as a junior varsity coach last season, largely because his son Elliot is a junior receiver with the Lions’ varsity team this year. … Pusch Ridge opens with consecutive home games against Show Low and Benjamin Franklin before playing at Yuma in the third game. Catalina Foothills, a 4A school, will visit Sept. 15.
Keep an eye out for: WR/CB Elliot Lovett is the son of former Arizona receiver Lamar Lovett and nephew of Wildcats’ radio broadcaster Lamont Lovett. Older brother Evan Lovett is a former Pusch Ridge standout who is a junior at Minot (N.D.) State. Elliot a top-notch athlete who qualified for the state meet in the long jump and triple jump as a freshman.
10. PUSCH RIDGE (5-2, 0-2)
Head coach: Kent MiddletonLions compete in the 3A South. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m. + Game at NAU
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/25 | Show Low+ | W, 24-21 | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| 9/1 | Benjamin Franklin | W, 34-7 | 2-0 | 0-0 |
| 9/8 | at Yuma | W, 38-14 | 3-0 | 0-0 |
| 9/14 | Catalina Foothills | W, 28-13 | 4-0 | 0-0 |
| 9/21 | at San Tan Foothills | W, 42-0 | 5-0 | 0-0 |
| 9/29 | at Sabino* | L, 40-27 | 5-1 | 0-1 |
| 10/6 | Morenci* | L, 14-7 | 5-2 | 0-2 |
| 10/13 | at Coolidge | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/20 | Thatcher* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/27 | at Safford* | -- | -- | -- |
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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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