4A KINO — MICA MOUNTAIN THUNDERBOLTS
2022 record: 6-4 overall, 5-0 in 4A Kino (first)
2023 record: 1-0 overall
Head coach: Pat Nugent, 10-7, third season at Mica Mountain, 148-64, 21st season overall.
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Key returners:
- QB Jayden Thoreson, 6-0, 175, Jr.
- TE/DE Jimmy Leon, 6-4, 235, Jr.
- WR/S Devin Hayward, 5-11, 175, Sr.
- RB/S Josiah Thornwell, 5-8, 175, Jr.
- RB/S Conner Hangarner, 5-6, 170, Jr.
- WR/S Jonah Garcia, 5-9, 165, Sr.
- WR/CB Nathaniel Bryant, 6-0, 177, Jr.
- WR/CB Xavior Johnson, 5-11, 170, Sr.
- TE/LB Kason Colbert, 6-1, 220, Sr.
- OT/DT KJ Ellsworth, 6-2, 285, Sr.
MICA MOUNTAIN COACH PAT NUGENT
MICA MOUNTAIN TE/DE JIMMY LEON
MICA MOUNTAIN TE/LB KASON COLBERT
Notes: Pat Nugent has the most career wins (148) among active coaches in Southern Arizona. He is an Arizona grad who served as a student manager with the Wildcats when the late Dick Tomey was head coach. His previous head coaching stints were at Flowing Wells, CDO, Pima College and Cienega. … Richard Sanchez, in his second year as Mica Mountain’s offensive line coach, was 162-86 in 22 years as a head coach at Sunnyside, Santa Rita and Tucson. He coached Sunnyside to state titles in 2001 and 2003. … QB Jayden Thoreson is in his third year of varsity football, playing each of Mica Mountain’s years of existence. His career numbers: 178 of 296 pass attempts for 2,423 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He is on pace to eclipse 5,000 career passing yards by the end of his senior season. …
.@MicaMountainFB forced to do indoor practice for the time being, until lightning outside clears for the Thunderbolts. Presented senior LB/TE @KasonColbert1 the @APSMailroom/@FrognFirkinAZ Player of the Week banner for his performance in last week’s 34-28 win at Poston Butte.… pic.twitter.com/WChVa7wXZ6
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) August 31, 2023
TE/LB Kason Colbert, a senior captain who has also played all three years of the Thunderbolts’ existence, was selected the APS Digital Print/Frog & Firkin’ Player of the Week for his performance in Mica Mountain’s 34-28 win at Bradshaw Mountain. He rushed 11 times for 137 yards with two touchdowns and he collected 16 tackles and two fumble recoveries. His brother Kaspen Colbert, a running back and defensive end, exhausted his eligibility last season after unfortunately suffering an early season-ending knee injury. … DE Jimmy Leon, a junior, was offered a scholarship by Arizona State during the summer. Leon had nine tackles, two for loss, in the win over Bradshaw Mountain. Mica Mountain is on a six-game winning streak after starting last season 1-4. All six of those games were with Leon after he had to sit the first five games last season after transferring from Salpointe. An indication of the Thunderbolts’ strong emergence — they were blown out 41-14 by Bradshaw Mountain at home last season. … Mica Mountain rivals Marana and Sabino for the skill positions with the most depth in Southern Arizona with Devin Hayward, Jonah Garcia, Nathaniel Bryant and Xavior Johnson. …
Keep an eye out for: LB Broden Schmidt, a sophomore, had 10 tackles in the win at Poston Butte. He also caused a fumble.
MICA MOUNTAIN
Head coach: Pat Nugent (20-9, fourth season at Mica Mountain; 158-66, 22nd season overall)Thunderbolts compete in the 4A Kino. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | MM | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Poston Butte | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Mesquite | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Sabino | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Sunnyside | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Casa Grande | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Pueblo* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Canyon del Oro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Sahuaro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Walden Grove* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | Catalina Foothills* | -- | -- | -- |
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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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