Pat Ryden as football coach of the Salpointe Lancers has a job similar to being the manager of the New York Yankees.
It is difficult to ever be fully appreciated.
Salpointe is expected to win as a traditional magnet for some of the top talent in Southern Arizona. If anything is perceivably amiss, such as losing six games in a season, or having seniors transfer to other established programs, the reaction for some is the Lancers are no longer the juggernaut of those teams that had Kris O’Dowd, Cam Denson, Bijan Robinson, Lathan Ransom, Elijah Rushing, Treyson Bourguet and Keona Davis.
Skeptics start having their say and Ryden bears the brunt of the criticism.
Matthew Avelar, a quarterback, who has committed to Idaho, transferred to Walden Grove. One of Avelar’s targets last year, R.J. Gory, transferred to Queen Creek Casteel — the school that eliminated Salpointe in the semifinal round of the 6A state tournament en route to its title last year. Chris Chaney, Salpointe’s top running back last year, transferred to Chandler Basha.
Ryden did not hold back his comments of people critical of his performance and the state of the program after Salpointe dominated a competitive program such as Marana on Thursday night at the Tigers’ field in a 28-7 victory.
“Our kids have worked their asses off since January,” Ryden said. “The amount of time they put in, the effort they put in, and really when a lot of people have doubted them. you know it’s huge. Shoot, they’ve been told that they’re not going to be good, so fantastic one tonight.”
.@SCLancerNation coach Pat Ryden had an edge about him that was different. He and his team heard the noise that Salpointe was not as good with the transfer of a couple of players to the Phoenix area. The Lancers responded strongly feeding off Ryden’s energy, especially on D,… pic.twitter.com/ULDSvI0ggt
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) August 28, 2026
Salpointe must keep that edge with the schedule it faces, including must-watch games at home against Chandler and Basha (which features former Salpointe quarterback Jake Rogers, son of ex-Lancer head coach Eric Rogers).
The Lancers are coming off a 7-6 season, Ryden’s second at Salpointe, largely because of the demanding schedule.
The six teams that beat Salpointe — Mesa Red Mountain, Mesa, Basha, Gilbert Perry, Phoenix Pinnacle and Casteel — had a combined record of 50-25. Only two of the games were at home, against Mesa and Perry. That means the four other losses included the lengthy bus trips up and back to the Phoenix area.
Salpointe, the only 6A team in Southern Arizona, also had to travel to ALA-Queen Creek and Queen Creek (games the Lancers won).
The extremely tough schedule and unique challenge of travel gets lost in that criticism Ryden and his players say they heard of their program.
“It’s been since spring football … it’s just been a different feel,” Ryden said of the mood of the coaching staff and the Lancers. “It’s been a different atmosphere really since since January in the weight room. Again, our our kids were hearing all the the chatter out there. I think they take it personally.
“We’ve got good kids in our program, and we’re still Salpointe.”
.@SCLancerNation senior Jake Bondi’s 85-yard kickoff return for a TD in the third quarter quickly answered a pick-6 by Marana. Bondi’s return restored a two-touchdown lead that proved to be too much for Marana to overcome in Salpointe’s 28-7 win. Bondi was chosen the Arizona… pic.twitter.com/H42vk6CjCf
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) August 28, 2026
Salpointe’s defense will not be easy for opponents to solve.
Marana’s traditionally potent offense was subdued, albeit without graduated prolific passing quarterback Colten Meyer, and talented receiver Sean Roebuck Jr., out for the season because of severe injuries suffered in an automobile accident earlier this month.
Roebuck was on hand, involved in the coin toss as a captain, and he stood with his teammates on the sidelines.
Marana coach Phillip Steward, embroiled in controversy also earlier this month with his resignation and rescinding of the resignation, had to turn to three inexperienced quarterbacks who struggled.
They combined for 89 yards while completing 13 of 24 passes.
Meyer, now at NAIA program Northern State at Aberdeen, S.D., averaged 347.8 yards a game last season. He completed 28 of 43 passes for 262 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Marana’s 20-18 loss at Salpointe last year.
.@SCLancerNation junior cornerback Jeremiah Wells’ 30-yard pick-6 was a double-whammy for the Lancers, occurring on Marana’s first offensive play after Salpointe finally broke the scoreless struggle on Adrian Jett’s 47-yard scoring run in the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/BKjwmPC554
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) August 28, 2026
Jeremiah Wells’ pick-6 late in the first half that increased the lead to 14-0 was one of two interceptions thrown by the Tigers. The other was a pick in the end zone by Soren Goodman that stopped a scoring threat in the third quarter.
Marana also mustered only 60 yards on the ground on 19 carries.
“(Defensive coordinator) Coach (Joe) Bernier and (assistant) coach (Jeff) Pierce, those guys on the defensive side, did a fantastic job tonight,” Ryden said. “Shut out for our defense, right? (Marana’s only score was on an interception return for a touchdown). I can’t say enough about them. They were on the field an awful lot tonight. Did a great job.”
Wells and free safety Jake Bondi (who returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown) spoke of Salpointe’s mindset with Ryden as their leader.
“Our defense came out and played with heart today,” Wells said. “We only put up seven points against one of the best offenses in all of Arizona. … They were talking online. We heard all the noise. We just kept our mouths shut because we knew this game was going to come and we were going to show it on the field.”
Bondi agreed that he has seen more intensity from Ryden this season.
“Yeah, I do, and I definitely enjoy it more,” Bondi said. “I think that’s a big thing, coaching hard is what makes us players stronger mentally … mentally tougher.
“When you have a coach who isn’t willing to (get on) players for messing up, you have players who show up to the field not wanting to play.”
The next challenge: Salpointe hosts Tucson next Friday in one of the most historic rivalries in Southern Arizona. The Badgers are coached by Zach Neveleff, a Salpointe alum who was the Lancers’ running backs coach when Bijan Robinson was breaking state records.
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