TOP RETURNERS AND COACHES WITH HONORS
BENSON
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
FS/RB Flint Davis, Sr., 5-8, 160
WR/DB Rawley Evans, Jr., 5-9, 125
OG/LB Buck Garrett, Jr., 5-9, 170
RB/SS David Harris, Sr., 5-8, 160
G/LB Matthew Volker, Sr., 6-2, 179
RB/LB Andrew Workman, Jr., 5-8, 145
BISBEE
2023 REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR
QB/CB Sebastian Lopez, Sr., 6-1, 165
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
LB/FB Jaxxon Alvarez, Soph., 5-10
OL/LB Spencer Anthony, Sr., 5-10
P/WR/LB Michael Coronado, Sr., 6-1, 155
RB/LB Emilio Diaz-Lopez, Sr., 5-10, 195
T/DE Fabian Hernandez, Jr., 6-1, 210
RB/S Bryceton Meyer, Sr., 6-0, 190
LB/WR Xavier Montiel, Sr., 5-10, 180
OL/DL Landyn Siria, Jr., 6-3, 210
WR/CB Hunter Wright, Jr., 5-11, 150
CATALINA
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTION
OL/DL Larenz Blackowl, Sr., 6-3, 260
PALO VERDE
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
TE/DE Logen Ballard, Sr.
ATH Julian Blackburne, Sr.
OL/DL Shaun Howard, Jr.
WR/DB Luis Molina, Sr.
OL/DL Isaac Ndatimana, Jr.
QB/DE/FB Daniel Ortiz, Sr.
ATH Kameron Pippen, Jr.
DL/OL Gabriel Pratoomratana, Sr.
SANTA RITA
Did not field a varsity team in 2023
TANQUE VERDE
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
QB/S Rocco Haggard, Jr., 6-3, 160
CB/WR Delon Harrison, Sr., 5-10, 150
ATH Dylan Lewis, Sr. 6-1, 150
OL Carter Filip, Sr., 6-1, 245
TOMBSTONE
2023 REGION OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
QB/DB DJ Elias, Sr., 5-9, 150
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
LB Ivan Amaya, Sr., 5-7, 140
OL/DL Caiden Bidgood, Sr., 5-9, 180
LB/WR Andrew Griesemer, Sr. 6-0, 170
WR/DB Hunter Griesemer, Sr., 5-11, 140
RB/LB Sebastian Jones, Sr., 5-9, 165
DL/OL Aiden Luna, Sr., 6-3, 255
RB/LB Jacob MacLagan, Jr., 5-7, 140
DL/OL Terrell Smith, Sr. 5-9, 330
OL/LB Thomas Smith, Sr., 5-8, 150
WR/DB Jabari Thomas, Jr., 5-10, 160
WILLCOX
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
LB/RB Ismael Cuevas, Jr., 5-11, 185
OL/DL Travis Larson, Sr., 5-9
OL/DL Christian Teeters, Jr., 5-11, 195
LB/RB Remington Todd, Sr., 5-9, 155
DB/WR Landon Ward, Sr., 5-11
Players to watch:
Bisbee senior quarterback/cornerback Sebastian Lopez
Lopez is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the state passing for 1,808 yards and rushing for 1,185 on 92 carries. He rushed for 20 touchdowns and threw for 12. He completed 133 of 225 pass attempts (59.1 percent). He had 105 tackles (five for loss) and had two interceptions and seven pass deflections as a cornerback. Lopez is also a budding baseball prospect as an outfielder who helped lead the Pumas to the 2A state championship in the spring.
Tombstone senior quarterback/safety DJ Elias
Very similar to Lopez, Elias is a dual-threat quarterback, a solid defender in the defensive secondary and a baseball talent at catcher. Elias completed 68 of 120 pass attempts for 1,536 yards with 18 touchdowns and only four interceptions last year. He rushed for 485 yards on 68 carries with 13 touchdowns. He also had 45 tackles with an interception.
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.
2A SAN PEDRO SCHEDULES
BENSON (2-1)
Head coach: Chris Rasmussen (7-6, second year at Benson and overall)Bobcats compete in the 2A South II. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ben | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | at Bisbee | W | 34 | 0 |
| 8/29 | at Phoenix Christian | L | 14 | 49 |
| 9/5 | Tombstone | W | 61 | 14 |
| 9/12 | Tanque Verde | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/19 | Veritas Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/26 | Morenci | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/3 | at Santa Cruz Valley* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/10 | Desert Christian* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/17 | at Willcox* | -- | -- | -- |
BISBEE (1-2)
Head coach: Carlos Lopez (11-4, second year at Bisbee and overall)Pumas compete in the 2A South I. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Opp | Bis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | Benson | L | 34 | 0 |
| 8/29 | at Cortez | W | 20 | 26 |
| 9/5 | at Douglas | L | 25 | 0 |
| 9/12 | at Morenci | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/19 | Santa Rita* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/26 | Chandler Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/3 | at Tanque Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/10 | Tombstone* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/17 | at Palo Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
CATALINA (2-0)
Head coach: Virgil Henderson (2-0, first year at Catalina; 19-44, eighth year overall)Trojans compete in the 2A Independent. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Cat | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | at Santa Rita | W | 36 | 6 |
| 9/5 | NFL Yet | W | 24 | 0 |
| 9/12 | at Desert Christian | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/19 | Lincoln Prep | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/26 | at St. John Paul II* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/3 | Palo Verde | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/10 | Coronado* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/17 | Globe | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/24 | at San Carlos* | -- | -- | -- |
PALO VERDE (1-2, 0-1)
Head coach: Jamal Chatman (9-24, fourth year at Palo Verde and overall)Titans compete in the 2A South I. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | PV | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | Willcox | L | 0 | 49 |
| 8/29 | at ALA-Anthem South | W | 28 | 14 |
| 9/5 | at Tanque Verde* | L | 0 | 69 |
| 9/12 | at Rincon/UHS | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/19 | Coronado | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/26 | Tombstone* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/3 | at Catalina | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/10 | at Santa Rita* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/17 | Bisbee* | -- | -- | -- |
SANTA RITA (0-3)
Head coach: Douglas Smith (0-13, second year at Santa Rita and overall)Eagles are in the 2A South I. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | SR | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | Catalina | L | 6 | 36 |
| 8/29 | at Miami | L | 0 | 64 |
| 9/5 | Desert Christian | L | 0 | 64 |
| 9/11 | San Pasqual | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/19 | at Bisbee* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/26 | Tanque Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/3 | at Tombstone* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/10 | Palo Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/17 | at San Carlos | -- | -- | -- |
TANQUE VERDE (11-2)
Head coach: Jeffrey Bollnow (26-9, third year at Tanque Verde and overall)Hawks compete in the 2A South I. *Region games. +Playoffs
&-at Tempe McClintock High School
| Date | Opponent | W/L | TV | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | Phoenix Christian | L | 7 | 47 |
| 8/29 | at Morenci | W | 24 | 16 |
| 9/5 | Palo Verde* | W | 69 | 0 |
| 9/12 | at Benson | L | 21 | 30 |
| 9/18 | at Trivium Prep | W | 38 | 0 |
| 9/26 | at Santa Rita* | W | 59 | 6 |
| 10/3 | Bisbee* | W | 62 | 8 |
| 10/10 | Highland Prep | W | 57 | 0 |
| 10/17 | at Tombstone* | W | 64 | 0 |
| 10/24 | Willcox* | W | 42 | 14 |
| 10/31 | Tonopah Valley+ | W | 43 | 6 |
| 11/7 | at Camp Verde+ | W | 39 | 15 |
| 11/14 | at Veritas Prep+ | W | 28 | 23 |
| 11/22 | vs. St. Johns+& |
TOMBSTONE (0-2)
Head coach: Jerry Rhoades (2-17, third year at Tombstone; 30-45, ninth year overall)Yellow Jackets of the 2A South I have decided to forfeit their season. *Region game.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | THS | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | at Miami | L | 7 | 28 |
| 8/29 | Pima | CCD | -- | -- |
| 9/5 | at Benson | L | 14 | 61 |
| 9/12 | Santa Cruz Valley | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/19 | at Willcox | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/26 | at Palo Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/3 | Santa Rita* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/10 | at Bisbee* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/17 | Tanque Verde* | -- | -- | -- |
WILLCOX (10-2)
Head coach: Jeston Lotts (17-6, second year at Willcox; 78-46, 12th year overall).Cowboys compete in the 2A South II. *Region game. +Playoff games.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Wil | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | at Palo Verde | W | 49 | 0 |
| 8/29 | at Arizona Lutheran | L | 0 | 19 |
| 9/5 | Morenci | W | 23 | 14 |
| 9/12 | at Pima | W | 7 | 0 |
| 9/19 | Tombstone | W | 49 | 0 |
| 9/26 | Scottsdale Prep | W | 48 | 14 |
| 10/3 | Desert Christian* | W | 58 | 0 |
| 10/10 | at Santa Cruz Valley* | W | 42 | 23 |
| 10/17 | Benson* | W | 26 | 17 |
| 10/24 | at Tanque Verde* | L | 14 | 42 |
| 11/7 | Trivium Prep+ | W | 55 | 6 |
| 11/14 | Benson+ | W | 26 | 6 |
| 11/22 | Scottsdale Christian& |
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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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