RIO RICO — The first noticeable aspect of Rio Rico’s new stadium from afar, with its synthetic turf field, are press boxes on each side, one of the few unique features of the facilities enhancements at the school about 60 miles from Tucson.
The setting itself with the football field situated near the base of large rolling green hills make it seem like Thursday’s game, won by Glendale over Rio Rico 24-14, was different than a spectator would see in Arizona other than the northern part of the state.
An athletic training fieldhouse, with a state-of-the-art weight room set to open in October, is adjacent to the home side of the stadium to the east. The former home side on the west has its same seating so the stadium is one of the largest in terms of seating capacity in the state.
To the north of the stadium is a new swimming facility, and beyond the home stands on the east side, is a practice field designated for football. The field is lined with two goal posts.
The school also has new tennis courts as part of a $22.5 million bond measure with the Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District in 2019.
“We want our facilities to be the hub of our community,” John Fanning, the district’s outreach coordinator, told Nogales International.
Rio Rico girls basketball coach Frank Arellano and new athletic director Angel Vidal were in attendance at Thursday’s game and each remarked how the enhanced, new facilities have ignited student engagement and brought a sense of pride to the school.
RIO RICO FALLS SHORT IN BID TO START 2-0 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2014
Rio Rico led 7-0 after the first possession of the game and was ahead 14-12 at halftime against Glendale.
What looked promising for Rio Rico’s chance to start 2-0 for the first time since 2014, turned into frustration as the Hawks went scoreless in the second half.
Coming off a 27-20 win at Maricopa Desert Sunrise last week, Rio Rico started strong in its first drive that was capped by a 32-yard run by quarterback Sebastian Castro. The run culminated a 10-play, 65-yard drive to open the game.
Symbolic of Rio Rico’s frustration in the game: the Hawks drove to the Glendale 3 wiith an opportunity to go ahead by two touchdowns but consecutive false-start penalties and a sack relegated them to a 40-yard field goal attempt that was off the mark.
Rio Rico first-year coach Carlos Duran talks about what his team can learn from tonight’s 24-14 loss to visiting Glendale heading into next week’s rivalry game with Nogales. Hawks are 1-1 going into that game against the Apaches at home. pic.twitter.com/D0pQEesBcb
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) September 6, 2024
The Hawks had an other golden opportunity to build a two-touchdown lead but could not cash in, turning the ball over on downs after recovering a fumble at the Glendale 25.
“What it showed us is our weakness and what have to grow on,” Duran said. “What I’m trying to change here with this progam is realistically, self-acceptance of the errors that are happening.
“That’s just a life lesson. If you mess up in life, you’ve to be able to accept and say, ‘Hey, I messed up; how can I get better?’ This is a growing point for our team, realistically.”
DURAN TRYING TO KEEP HIS PLAYERS “LASER FOCUSED”
Duran spent eight years at the freshman and junior varsity levels with the Hawks until finally getting his chance after Jeff Scurran stepped down following last season.
He has helped develop most of his players who have come up the ranks at Rio Rico.
“I’m happy they competed and duked it out until the final quarter,” Duran said. “But now we have to move on to the next step and that’s finish.”
Rio Rico scored its second and last touchdown with 4:15 left in the second quarter on a freak play in which Bryant Limon ran 15 yards before a tackle forced the ball in the air. Jahred Bravo snagged it and ran it in from 30 yards for the touchdown, giving Rio Rico a 14-6 lead.
A quick touchdown-scoring drive for Glendale cut the lead to 14-12 with 2:36 left in the half.
Twice more in the third quarter, Rio Rico began possessions deep in Glendale territory only to turn the ball over on downs.
Rio Rico’s opportunities to score in the second half included a 50-yard pass from Castro to Bravo that took the ball to the Glendale 16. The play was nullified, however, by a holding penalty.
After Rio Rico was forced to punt, Glendale scored a touchdown on a fourth down and 9 situation on the Hawks’ 15-yard line to put the game out of reach 24-14 with 1:24 left.
“We just have to focus,” said Duran, who will coach against his alma mater, Nogales, next Friday in the rivalry game at Rio Rico. “For some odd reason, everybody plays harder when we play Nogales. I’ve been saying it that was should be playing them at the end of the season.
“Moving forward, they have to laser focus, work harder than their opponent, and realistically, not get hung up too much on the rivalry. At the end of the day, it’s big brother (Nogales) vs. little brother (Rio Rico). Brothers are going to fight and that’s what’s going on next week.”
Nogales won the first 13 games in the series dating to after Rio Rico opened in 2005. The Hawks won the last two meetings, not allowing the Apaches a point in the process, with both games under Scurran.
Rio Rico won 10-0 in 2022 and 39-0 last season.
ED DOHERTY WATCH LIST RELEASED
The Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC) and its managed entity, the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC) have released the Ed Doherty Award Week 3 Watch List for the 2024 season.
Nearly 150 high school football players across Arizona — representing all divisions, from 1A to 6A — were selected, based on their participation and exceptional performances to-date this season, as well as for exemplifying the character and commitment that defines a true champion, according to the ASEC.
Watch List players could potentially receive an Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallion when the Selection Committee announces its weekly picks beginning Wednesday. However, nominees are not limited to those appearing on the Watch List. Players chosen will be presented with a medallion at their respective schools each week.
New this season will be the opportunity for the general public to submit its weekly nominations for consideration by the committee. Fans can share their selections by visiting FootballArizona.com and clicking on “Public Voting” in the menu. Public nominations are due each Monday by 5 p.m.
Here are the players from Southern Arizona who are on the Week 3 Ed Doherty Watch List:
1A
Chase Pacheco RB JR St. David
Cooper Payne QB JR Desert Christian
2A
Ismael Cuevas RB JR Willcox
Rocco Haggard ATH JR Pusch Ridge
Sebastian Lopez QB SR Bisbee
3A
Brett Jones LB SR Thatcher
Brit Roberson WR SR Sabino
Jacob Newborn RB SR Pusch Ridge
Paul Ortiz DT SR Sabino
Tyler Nolan KR SR Pusch Ridge
Xavier Owens DE SR Safford
4A
Carlos Montoya RB/MLB SR Walden Grove
Conner Hangartner RB/SS SR Mica Mountain
Jayden Thoreson QB SR Mica Mountain
Jimmy Leon DE/TE SR Mica Mountain
Ngonkra Fuangunyi RB SR Empire
5A
Colten Meyer QB JR Marana
Dezmen Roebuck WR/DB SR Marana
Grant Dooling CB SR Ironwood Ridge
Matthew Kroner WR SR Ironwood Ridge
Nicholas Horrocks RB SR Mountain View Marana
Noah Chanez WR JR Tucson
6A
Dinos Drossos LB SR Salpointe
Morgan Quiri SR SR Salpointe
Nathan Spivey DB SR Salpointe
Roman Fina OL SR Salpointe
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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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