TOP RETURNERS AND COACHES WITH HONORS
MORENCI
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
CB/WR Xavier Fernandez, Sr., 5-8, 145
QB/SS Derick Lytle, Jr.
PUSCH RIDGE
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
K/P/WR Tyler Nolan, Sr., 6-0, 160
RB/LB/QB Jacob Newborn, Sr. 6-0, 175
OL/DL Noah Morrison, Sr., 6-0, 185
RB/LB Sawyer Allen, Sr.
WR/DB Nata Campa, Jr., 5-8, 135
WR/LB Hunter Edmunds, Sr.
OL/DL Aaron Kenworthy, Jr., 6-2 170
WR/DB Elliot Lovett, Sr.
WR/DB Dominic Painter, Jr., 5-10, 152
TE/DE Charles Palmer, Sr.
TE/DB John Sunukjian, Sr.
SABINO
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
RB/LB Isaiah Robertson, Sr., 6-1, 230
SB/WR/CB Brit Roberson, Sr., 5-11, 160
RB/LB Zachari Haley, Jr., 6-0, 170
OT/DT Victor Alcantar, Soph., 5-10, 240
G/DT Miguel Burruel, Sr., 5-9, 230
LB/WR Tristan Jessup, Sr., 6-1, 180
QB/WR Max Trainer, Sr., 5-10, 155
SAFFORD
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
G/DE Xavier Owens, Sr., 5-11, 200
WR/CB Cole Goodman, Sr.
QB/RB/LB Carlos Arbizo, Sr., 5-8, 140
LB Micah Chaplin, Sr., 5-8, 182
RB/LB Manuel Dawson, Sr., 5-10, 164
LB Collin Gunnett, Sr.
WR/CB Jace Jameson, Sr.
LB/FB Zayden Sanchez, Sr., 5-8, 225
THATCHER
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
LB/TE Brett Jones, Sr., 6-3, 225
WR/DB Wyatt Nicholas, Sr., 6-2, 165
RB/LB Dylan Riney, Sr., 6-0, 190
RB/DE Will Chidester, Sr., 5-11, 175
RB/LB/K Jett Howard, Sr., 5-8, 165
WR/DB Madden Magill, Sr., 6-3, 175
Players to watch:
Thatcher LB/TE Brett Jones
Jones was the quarterback last season for Thatcher and coach Daniel Jones, Brett’s uncle, but he is focusing his senior season as being the tight end and linebacker at the hefty size of 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. He passed for 487 yards and rushed for 240 last season. His tackles production decreased last season with 24 after recording 68 as a sophomore, but he figures to be in on many tackles as he concentrates more on his defensive production.
Sabino LB/RB Isaiah Robertson
Robertson announced his transfer in January to Centennial but backtracked after it was a second transfer and he would have had to win an appeal to maintain eligibility. Robertson is the top returner for the state-champion Sabercats recording 44 tackles, recovering two fumbles and causing a couple of fumbles.
3A SOUTH NOTES:
— Every school lost pivotal seniors from last season, with Sabino quarterback Cameron Hackworth the most substantial graduate from the state-champion Sabercats. Hackworth’s career 8,799 passing yards and 97 touchdowns are the most in the history of Southern Arizona high school football. He is now at NCAA Division III program Lake Forest (Ill.). Morenci lost its top running back Michael Casillas and its head coach RIshard Davis. Casillas, who has exhausted his eligibility, rushed for 1,732 yards on 306 carries last season. He finished with 5,828 rushing yards in his career.
— Morenci will have alum Frankie Gonzalez as its head coach after Davis left to coach Jemison High School near his home in Huntsville, Ala. The other coaches in the league are at least in their fourth season at their respective school — Sabino’s Ryan McBrayer (eighth season), Pusch Ridge’s Kent Middleton (fifth year), Thatcher’s Daniel Jones (fifth year) and Safford’s Robert Park (fourth year).
— Morenci plays its first four games at home and has only four games on the road this season. The early home games will not be easy with ALA-Ironwood, Round Valley and Pima each coming off winning seasons. Pima went 13-1 with its loss in the 2A state championship game against Scottsdale Christian.
— Pusch Ridge will play three of its first four games on the road and its two games away from home in region play will be challenging against Morenci and Thatcher. The Lions’ annually anticipated game with Sabino is at home on Oct. 4.
— Sabino opens defense of its 3A state championship facing one of the most difficult schedules in the state. The Sabercats play local 4A schools Sahuaro and Mica Mountain at home and have a tough three road games consecutively in the middle of the season against Pusch Ridge, Thatcher and ALA-West Foothills (8-3 last year) from Oct. 4-18. The regular season ends with a home game against Morenci followed by a road game at Mohave (11-2).
— Safford hosts Rincon/University as part of its non-region schedule. The Bulldogs play four of their last six games on the road against challenging opponents including Sabino, Blue Ridge, Round Valley and Pusch Ridge. Safford also plays at Pima on the road in the second week of the season.
— Thatcher plays the runner-up in the 4A state title game (Yuma Catholic) and faces both teams involved in the 3A state championship last year (Sabino and Paradise Honors). The Eagles again open against Paradise Honors, this time at home after losing 35-14 in the opener last year at Paradise Honors (which went on to lose the 3A state championship game to Sabino). Much like the rest of the 3A South, Thatcher faces a daunting schedule that includes home games against Valley Christian (11-2 last season), Yuma Catholic (13-1 with lone loss against CDO in the 4A championship game), Sabino and Pusch Ridge.
3A SOUTH
MORENCI
Head coach: Frankie Gonzalez (first year at Morenci and overall).Wildcats compete in the 3A South. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | ALA - Ironwood | -- | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | Round Valley | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Benson | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Pima | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Blue Ridge | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Safford* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Pusch Ridge* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at Fountain Hills | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Sabino* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Thatcher* | -- | -- | -- |
PUSCH RIDGE (10-2)
Head coach: Kent Middleton (57-14, sixth year at Pusch Ridge and overall)Lions compete in the 3A East. *Region game. +Playoff game
&-at Mesa Westwood
| Date | Opponent | W/L | PR | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | San Tan Foothills* | W | 53 | 10 |
| 8/29 | at ALA-Ironwood | W | 41 | 14 |
| 9/5 | at Crismon | W | 28 | 27 |
| 9/11 | Catalina Foothills | W | 35 | 0 |
| 9/19 | Florence* | W | 39 | 27 |
| 9/26 | at Thatcher* | L | 14 | 28 |
| 10/3 | at Sabino* | W | 27 | 8 |
| 10/10 | Coolidge* | W | 45 | 6 |
| 10/17 | at Safford* | W | 48 | 0 |
| 10/31 | Benjamin Franklin | L | 14 | 35 |
| 11/7 | Page+ | W | 42 | 14 |
| 11/14 | Florence+ | W | 51 | 38 |
| 11/22 | Benjamin Franklin+& |
SABINO (1-2)
Head coach: Ryan McBrayer (61-29, ninth year at Sabino and overall)Sabercats compete in the 3A East. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | SHS | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | at Valley Christian | L | 14 | 18 |
| 8/29 | Gilbert Christian | L | 20 | 28 |
| 9/5 | Dysart | W | 38 | 24 |
| 9/12 | Coolidge* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/18 | at San Tan Foothills* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/26 | at Sahuaro | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/3 | Pusch Ridge* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/17 | at Florence* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/24 | at Thatcher* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/31 | Safford* | -- | -- | -- |
SAFFORD (0-3)
Head coach: Ishmael MacNeil (0-3, first year at Safford; 14-20, fourth year overall)Bulldogs compete in the 3A East. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Opp | SHS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | at Morenci | L | 20 | 14 |
| 8/29 | Blue Ridge | L | 30 | 14 |
| 9/5 | Seton Catholic | L | 36 | 8 |
| 9/12 | at Winslow | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/18 | at Coolidge* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/26 | San Tan Foothills* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/3 | at Thatcher* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/17 | Pusch Ridge* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/24 | Florence* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/31 | at Sabino* | -- | -- | -- |
THATCHER (2-1)
Head coach: Daniel Jones (45-18, sixth season at Thatcher and overall.)Eagles compete in the 3A East. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | THS | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/22 | ALA-Ironwood | W | 41 | 29 |
| 8/28 | at Apache Junction | W | 47 | 0 |
| 9/5 | at Benjamin Franklin | L | 12 | 27 |
| 9/12 | at Florence* | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/26 | Pusch Ridge* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/3 | Safford* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/10 | at San Tan Foothills* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/17 | Payson | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/24 | Sabino* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/31 | at Coolidge* | -- | -- | -- |
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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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