NOTE: With the AIA officially releasing the 2024 football schedules last week, AllSportsTucson.com will take a look at the schedules of each region 1A-6A in Southern Arizona in a series of posts.
2A San Pedro scheduling notes:
— Five of the eight schools in the region will feature new coaches — Benson’s Chris Rasmussen, Bisbee’s Carlos Lopez, Catalina’s Andy Fetsis, Santa Rita’s Douglas Smith and Willcox’s Jeston Lotts. The dean of coaches is Tombstone’s Dominik Bonilla, who is only in his fourth season.
— Santa Rita is tentatively returning to varsity football after having only a junior varsity program last season due to lack of participants. Although the Eagles are in the 2A San Pedro, none of their games this season factor into the region standings. The move to have all their games “freedom” games was done in case the Eagles are unable to play certain weeks due to number of players on the roster.
— Rasmussen has it difficult early with Benson opening at Phoenix Shadow Mountain followed by a game at 3A power Morenci in Week 3. But Benson has only four road games scheduled and it has four straight home games against Palo Verde, Santa Rita, Catalina and Willcox scheduled from Oct. 4 to Oct. 25.
— Two of Bisbee’s freedom games are at home at historic Warren Ballpark against good opponents — longtime rival Douglas and Santa Cruz Valley. Bisbee is slated to make three trips to Tucson with games scheduled at Catalina, Palo Verde and Santa Rita.
— Catalina’s three freedom opponents — Highland Prep, NFL Yet and ALA-Anthem South — were a combined 6-24 last season. Fetsis has long been a successful boys and girls tennis coach at Pusch Ridge and he served on the football staff at the school when his son Christian, a quarterback, led the Lions to the 2017 3A state championship game, finishing with a 13-1 record. Andy Fetsis was also on the staff when Pusch Ridge won the title in 2015, when Christian was a sophomore. He coached Christian and the boys tennis team to a 2018 state championship and his daughters Sofia and Estelle to state titles in tennis. Sofia and the Lions were state champs from 2017-19 and Estelle won the doubles state title last season. Fetsis became involved with the Catalina program when Greg McKinstry III coached there when Fetsis toured the school as an area representative of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Fetsis told AllSportsTucson.com that he will coach Pusch Ridge’s tennis program and Estelle (a senior) in tennis one last year in the spring of 2024-25 after leading the Trojans’ football program in the fall.
— Palo Verde will play 4A school Rincon/University on the road in the second week of the season Sept. 6. Last season, the Rangers defeated the Titans 20-6 at Palo Verde.
— After starting the Jeff Bollnow era on the road for the first two games last season, Tanque Verde welcomes Phoenix Christian and Glendale Prep the first two weeks this season.
— Tombstone has two important games in October scheduled at home — against Tanque Verde on Oct. 4 and Bisbee on Oct. 25.
— Willcox starts the Lotts era on the road at Arizona Lutheran, but then the Cowboys play three of the next four games at home sandwiched around a trip to Santa Rita. Lotts coached Parker to the 2A semifinals in 2021 and the quarterfinals in 2019 before joining Eric Hjalmarson’s staff at Willcox in 2022 and was on the staff there the last two seasons. Hjalmarson is now at his alma mater Blue Ridge. Lotts, a counselor at Willcox, was 61-40 in his 10 years at Parker.
2024 SOUTHERN ARIZONA COACHING CHANGES
| School | Class | Former coach | New coach |
| Benson | 2A | Dustin Cluff | Chris Rasmussen |
| Bisbee | 2A | Shawn Holley | Carlos Lopez |
| Canyon del Oro | 4A | Dustin Peace | Scott McKee |
| Catalina | 2A | Greg McKinstry III | Andy Fetsis |
| Catalina Foothills | 4A | Daniel Sainz | Greg McKinstry III |
| Cholla | 4A | Virgil Henderson | Paul Tripp |
| Desert Christian | 1A | (New program) | Jason McKibben |
| Pueblo | 4A | Jake Allen | Sly Lewis |
| Rincon/University | 4A | Khyree Copeland | Johnny Chan |
| Rio Rico | 4A | Jeff Scurran | Carlos Duran |
| Sahuarita | 4A | Jake Price | Jake Allen |
| Salpointe | 6A | Eric Rogers | Pat Ryden |
| Willcox | 2A | Eric Hjalmarson | Jeston Lotts |
2A SAN PEDRO SCHEDULES
BENSON
Head coach: Chris Rasmussen (first year at Benson and overall)Bobcats compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | at Shadow Mountain | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | Phoenix Christian | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Morenci | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Tombstone* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Bisbee* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Palo Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Santa Rita | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Catalina* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | Willcox* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Tanque Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
BISBEE
Head coach: Carlos Lopez (first year at Bisbee and overall)Pumas compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | at Madison Highland | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Douglas | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Santa Cruz Valley | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Catalina* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Benson* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Willcox* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Palo Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Tanque Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Tombstone* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Santa Rita | -- | -- | -- |
CATALINA
Head coach: Andy Fetsis (first year at Catalina and overall)Trojans compete in the 2A San Pedro, *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | at Highland Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | NFL Yet | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at ALA-Anthem South | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Bisbee* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Tanque Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Santa Rita | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Tombstone* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at Benson* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | Palo Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Willcox* | -- | -- | -- |
PALO VERDE
Head coach: Jamal Chatman (4-16, third year at Palo Verde and overall)Titans compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Antelope Union | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Rincon/University | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Coronado | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Tanque Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Santa Rita | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Benson* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Bisbee* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at Willcox* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Catalina* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Tombstone* | -- | -- | -- |
SANTA RITA
Head coach: Douglas Smith (first year at Santa Rita and overall)Eagles are in the 2A San Pedro but have no region games scheduled. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Globe | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at San Pasqual | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/12 | at ALA-Anthem South | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Willcox | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Palo Verde | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Catalina | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Benson | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at Tombstone | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | Tanque Verde | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Bisbee | -- | -- | -- |
TANQUE VERDE
Head coach: Jeffrey Bollnow (9-3, second year at Tanque Verde and overall)Hawks compete in the 2A San Pedro. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | TV | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | Phoenix Christian | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Glendale Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Cortez | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Palo Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Catalina* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Tombstone* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Willcox* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at Bisbee* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Santa Rita | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Benson* | -- | -- | -- |
TOMBSTONE
Head coach: Dominik Bonilla (15-16, fourth year at Tombstone and overall)Yellowjackets compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/29 | at Heritage Academy Laveen | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | San Carlos | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Globe | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Benson* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Willcox* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Tanque Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Catalina* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Santa Rita | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | Bisbee* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Palo Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
WILLCOX
Head coach: Jeston Lotts (first year at Willcox, 61-40, 10 years overall).Cowboys compete in the 2A San Pedro. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | at Arizona Lutheran | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | Tonopah Valley | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Show Low | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Santa Rita | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Tombstone* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Bisbee* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Tanque Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Palo Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Benson* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Catalina* | -- | -- | -- |
1A CONFERENCE
Beginning a series of posts looking at the 2024 Southern Arizona high school football schedules that were recently released by the AIA, starting with 1A that includes newcomer Desert Christian (competing as an independent in its first season): https://t.co/FM2J758fZ3
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 10, 2024
BABOQUIVARI
Head coach: Cody Garcia (5-4, second year at Baboquivari and overall)Warriors compete in the 1A South (8-man football). *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | Fort Thomas* | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | at St. David* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Valley Union* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Ray* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Duncan* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Hayden | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at San Manuel* | -- | -- | -- |
DESERT CHRISTIAN
Head coach: Jason McKibben (first year at Desert Christian and overall)Eagles are a 1A independent team (8-man football). Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | at Bagdad | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | Anthem Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Desert Heights | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Maryvale Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Cicero Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Salome | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Mohave Accelerated | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at St. David | -- | -- | -- |
SAN MANUEL
Head coach: Ernest Ivy (29-17, sixth year at San Manuel and overall)Miners compete in the 1A South (8-man football). *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | Lincoln Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | at Ray* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Duncan* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Fort Thomas* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Valley Union* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Cicero Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at St. David* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Desert Heights | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Baboquivari* | -- | -- | -- |
ST. DAVID
Head coach: Braden Davis (41-25, eighth year at St. David and overall)Tigers compete in the 1A South (8-man football). *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | at Cicero Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | Baboquivari* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Ray* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Duncan* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Mogollon | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Valley Union* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | San Manuel* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/10 | at Fort Thomas* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Desert Christian | -- | -- | -- |
VALLEY UNION
Head coach: Skyler Hill (6-11, third year at Valley Union and overall)Blue Devils compete in the 1A South (8-man football). *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Desert Heights | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Baboquivari* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Ray* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | San Manuel* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | St. David* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Fort Thomas* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Duncan* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Superior | -- | -- | -- |
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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 in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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