Lightning stopped the game early, but not before the Thunderbolts handled business on the field.
The Mica Mountain Thunderbolts won in Vail against the visiting Poston Butte Broncos 41-8 on Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.
Mica Mountain converted on fourth down three times on its way to a third straight win against the Broncos in the last three years.
Additionally, Mica Mountain extended its winning streak to 15 games, dating to last season when they won the 4A state championship.
Jaidyn Crist, a senior starting for the first time after Jayden Thoreson exhausted his eligibility, threw for 189 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. Riley Carson had 51 yards and two touchdowns on four catches, while fellow receiver Evan Wheeler had 118 yards with two touchdowns on three catches.
It was the first time Wheeler, a senior who is a baseball prospect, played an organized football game.
“It was just a lot of repetition over the summer, I mean we came in with a whole new playbook. … it was just a lot of hours, but it’s going to pay off,” Crist said.
“You’re always nervous to get that first touchdown and my quarterback put a perfect ball for me to go up and get,” said Carson of his first touchdown reception that put Mica Mountain ahead 6-0 with 7:56 left in the first quarter.
“We got the momentum rolling from there.”
Mica Mountain led 20-2 at halftime, but the coaches were not satisfied.
“We were a little bit shaky towards the end of the second quarter. … We made some adjustments and I thought we played a lot cleaner in the second half,” said veteran coach Jay Campos, formerly at Sabino, after his first win as Mica Mountain’s head coach.
As thunderstorms were gathering in the distance, the Thunderbolts came out rejuvenated in the second half.
Mica Mountain scored within the opening minute thanks to a 70-yard pass Wheeler took the distance.
The rest of the game went much like the first half, apart from a touchdown on a tough run from Broncos running back Easton Filetti in the fourth quarter.
The game ended with about four minutes left in the fourth quarter due to the storm with lightning rolling in.
“I’m grateful for all of you,” said Campos following the game to his players. “We’re going to watch that film and learn from it.”
Mica Mountain looks to keep its win streak going when it plays former 4A Kino rival Canyon del Oro next Friday in Oro Valley at 7 p.m.
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