2A San Pedro — Bisbee Pumas
2022 record: 4-6 overall, 2-2 2A San Pedro (third)
2023 record: 1-0 overall, 1-0 2A San Pedro
Head coach: Shawn Holley, 1-0, first year at Bisbee, and 12-9, third year overall.
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Key returners:
- RB/LB Bryceton Meyer, Jr., 6-0, 185
- QB/CB Sebastian Lopez, Jr. 6-1, 165
- WR/DE Michael Coronado, Jr., 6-1, 155
- WR/CB Jose Mendez, Sr., 5-9, 170
- WR/CB Juan Pablo Navarro, Sr., 5-9, 190
- RB/LB Emilio Diaz-Lopez, Jr., 5-9, 190
- WR/CB David Chapman, Sr., 5-7, 135
- T/DE Fabian Hernandez, Soph., 6-1, 210
BISBEE COACH SHAWN HOLLEY
BISBEE QB/CB SEBASTIAN LOPEZ
Coaching staff:
- Head coach: Shawn Holley
- Running backs: Adrian Borquez
- Linebackers: Carlos Lopez
- Quarterbacks and JV offensive coordinator: Daniel Barrow
- Offensive and defensive lines: Danny Escarcega
- Defensive coordinator and defensive backs: Donald Lollis
- Wide receivers and special teams: Robert Coronado
Notes: Interesting coaching trail experienced by Shawn Holley, who hails from Elizabeth City, N.C. Has mentioned he has wanted to be a coach since he was a child. He got his first head-coaching job at Pasquotank County High School in Elizabeth City in 2021 and went 0-8 that season. He took the job at Holbrook last year and went 11-1, ending in the 2A quarterfinals with a loss to Willcox. He pursued the coaching and athletic director positions at Bisbee and was hired in the spring. He wanted to relocate to Arizona because his wife Jennifer is from here. He was an assistant coach at River Valley in Mohave Valley in 2020 before returning to North Carolina because of COVID-19 to coach at Pasquotank County. … Holley took over for Brian Vertrees, who completed his sixth season as Bisbee’s coach last year. Vertrees’ dad Chris Vertrees, also was a head coach for the Pumas. Brian Vertrees resigned from his coaching and teaching position at Bisbee to open and operate a brewery in Bisbee. … QB Sebastian Lopez, a junior, played as advertised in Friday’s 43-13 season-opening win at Benson. He completed 22 of 33 pass attempts for a career-high 287 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 140 yards on 13 carries with a touchdowns. … Assistant coach Danny Escarcega was on James Fitzgerald’s staff at Douglas in 2018 when the Bulldogs were 8-2. He is a Douglas alum who is on the other side of the storied rivalry for The Pick between Bisbee and Douglas (to be played Sept. 1 at Douglas). … RB/LB Bryceton Meyer is a prolific junior running back on Friday nights and a talented racer at Tucson Speedway on Saturdays. Meyer, who rushed for 121 yards on 17 carries against Benson, has raced automobiles since he was 5 years old. He is a championship racer with his No. 7 Legend car and the No. 22 Thunder Truck at Tucson Speedway. Also a talented baseball player, Meyer batted .357 with the Pumas in the spring. He also had a 3.46 ERA in 26 1/3 innings. … Holley’s top performers are juniors, which means next two seasons should evolve into something special.
Keep an eye out for: RB Emilio Diaz-Lopez, bruising junior running back at 5-9 and 190 pounds. Diaz-Lopez rushed three times for 30 yards with a touchdown in the win over Benson. Figures to get more opportunities behind Meyer.
12. BISBEE (5-2, 4-0)
Head coach: Shawn HolleyPumas compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/18 | at Benson* | W, 43-13 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 9/1 | at Douglas | L, 39-38 | 1-1 | 1-0 |
| 9/8 | at Santa Cruz Valley | L, 42-0 | 1-2 | 1-0 |
| 9/15 | Catalina* | W, 39-0 | 2-2 | 2-0 |
| 9/18 | Madison Highland | W, 40-22 | 3-2 | 2-0 |
| 9/29 | at Willcox* | W, 30-28 | 4-2 | 3-0 |
| 10/5 | Palo Verde* | W, 74-26 | 5-2 | 4-0 |
| 10/13 | at Tanque Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/20 | Tombstone* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/27 | at Camp Verde | -- | -- | -- |
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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 Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District
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