Top returners and coaches with honors
BABOQUIVARI
2023 COACH OF THE YEAR
Cody Garcia
2023 ALL REGION SELECTIONS
DB Tahj Mease, Sr.
ATH Elliot Antone, Sr.
ATH Lukan Arvicio, Sr.
OL/DL/LB Jarell Buendia, Sr.
ATH Jesse Buendia, Sr.
ATH Noah Segundo, Jr.
ST. DAVID
2023 REGION DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
RB/LB Chase Pacheco, Jr., 5-11, 180
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
PK/WR/DB Gannon Carrafa, Sr., 6-4, 195
RB/DB Mason Dever, Sr., 5-5, 150
SB/LB Luke Haymore, Sr., 6-0, 175
RB/LB Cedar Haynie, Jr., 5-9, 165
P/ATH/QB/DB Grayson Merrill, Sr., 5-10, 165
RB/DL Tot Pacheco, Soph., 5-10, 205
TE/DE Keston Richardson, Soph., 6-4, 195
TE/DE/QB Roman Tilton, Sr., 6-1, 185
SAN MANUEL
2023 COACH OF THE YEAR
Ernie Ivy
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
OL/DL Alfonso Celeya, Sr., 5-10, 205
WR/DB Nico Chavez, Sr., 5-6, 125
WR/DB Tanner Decker, Jr., 5-9, 145
OL/DL Ivan Flores, Jr., 5-10, 200
ATH Adrian Garibay, Soph.
LB Eddie Guerrero, Sr., 5-8, 180
ATH Brayden Martinez, Sr., 5-6, 140
ATH Daniel Najero, Soph.
RB/SS Dominic Rodriguez, Sr., 5-6
VALLEY UNION
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
QB/DB Dylan Mitchell, Sr., 5-9, 152
RB/LB Steve De La Cruz, Sr., 5-8, 145
Player to watch:
St. David running back/linebacker Chase Pacheco, a junior
Pacheco rushed for 774 yards on 154 carries last season. He tallied 13 touchdowns. He also had 17 receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He had 122 tackles, including 20 for loss.
Scheduling notes:
— Desert Chrisitian will play only one 1A South program this season — St. David to conclude the regular season on Oct. 18. The Eagles will likely join the 1A South next season.
— Baboquivari, coming off its first winning season since 2005 (5-4 under first-year coach Cody Garcia), has only seven games scheduled. The last two games are tough on the road against Hayden and San Manuel and the Warriors must also play at St. David in Week Two.
— San Manuel has nine games scheduled with five on the road, including the always anticipated game with St. David on Oct. 4.
— St. David does not play 1A power Hayden this season but has traditionally strong Mogollon visiting Sept. 20.
— Valley Union looks to build off last year’s 5-4 season under coach Skyler Hill with a schedule that includes both San Manuel and St. David at home Sept. 20 and 27, respectively.
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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