Tanque Verde, which started its program as a 1A school in 2007 playing without stands at their field, will host a state playoff game for the first time on Friday at 7 p.m. when Parker visits for a 2A first-round game.
The seventh-seeded Hawks, under first-year coach Jeff Bollnow, hold the school record with eight wins at 8-2 overall. Parker, the No. 10 seed, is 7-3.
Tanque Verde is coming off its first playoff appearance last season when Jay Dobyns was coach. The team is senior heavy building on the foundation laid by Dobyns with the energetic and strategic Bollnow.
Willcox, the 2A San Pedro region champion at 6-4 overall under coach Eric Hjalmarson is No. 14 seed. The Cowboys will play at No. 3 Scottsdale Christian (8-2) on Friday in the first round.
The other 2A San Pedro team in the state playoffs is No. 11 Tombsone, which is 8-2 under coach Dominic Bonilla. The Yellow Jackets are in the postseason for the first time since 2016. They will play at No. 6 Eloy Santa Cruz Valley (8-2) in a first-round game Friday.
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