Mica Mountain coach Jay Campos has reached 150 career victories with his team’s 42-7 win at Sahuarita on Friday night, and he has remarkably achieved that feat in only 16 years as a head coach.
That comes out to an average of 9.4 wins a year, and this season is only at the midway point. He will undoubtedly increase that average by season’s end. His program is presently on a 15-game winning streak dating to last season.
Campos is 150-37 (80.2 winning percentage), which includes a 133-35 record in 14 seasons at Sabino (2003 to 2016). He is 17-2 with a 4A state championship in his two years as Mica Mountain’s head coach.
And he has yet to reach 50 years old, although he is close. He turns 50 on Nov. 2. He can thereotically coach for another 15 to 20 years. That means he could surpass 300 coaching victories.
Only four coaches in the state’s history have reached that mark — Mike Morgan of Ganado and St. Johns, 349-99-4; Paul Moro of Blue Ridge, Poston Butte and Marcos de Niza, 336-72; Larry Fetkenhier of Cactus, 331-96-3; Vern Friedli of Morenci, San Manuel and Amphitheater, 331-148-1; and Karl Kiefer of McClintock and Mountain Pointe, 309-138-3.
Campos is certainly in reach of surpassing 200 career victories.
Among Southern Arizona coaches, only Friedli, Jeff Scurran (235 wins at Canyon del Oro, Sabino, Santa Rita, Catalina Foothills and Rio Rico), Jerry Loper (224 wins at Antelope, Amphitheater, Westwood and Chandler), and Mike Hayhurst (220 wins at Benson, Marana, Casa Grande, Buena and Tombstone) have reached that plateau.
Two other local coaches are on the brink of reaching 150 career victories — Buena’s Chris Determan with 147 and Mountain View’s Matt Johnson at 146.
RECLASSIFICATION COULD CREATE SUPER 5A REGION IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA
The football reclassification process will begin in December following the sport participation survey to be completed by the member schools early that month.
That step will then lead to conference placements, region placements, and ultimately scheduling.
On Feb. 27, we will know for certain where schools will be placed in a conference.
Will Salpointe go from 6A to 5A? Will Mica Mountain go from 4A to 5A?
Both scenarios are highly likely based on Mica Mountain’s success at the 4A level with consecutive state titles and Salpointe’s struggles in 6A, including travel complications of often trips to Phoenix being the only 6A team in Southern Arizona.
This could mean that a power region in 5A could include Salpointe, Mica Mountain, Marana, Tucson, and Desert View. Buena, Canyon del Oro, Ironwood Ridge and/or Casa Grande possibly could be part of this region as well.
The initial football conferences will be posted on Dec. 10. The deadline for appeals is Dec. 17. Conference meetings to hear appeals will be Jan. 7 with the deadline Jan. 12 to appeal to the AIA Executive Board the conference decision.
The AIA Executive Board will hear the appeals Jan. 19, and the final football conference placements will be posted Jan. 20.
The region alignments will be posted Jan. 27. The deadline to appeal those alignments is Feb. 4. The AIA Executive Board will hear those appeals on Feb. 16. The final football region placements will be posted Feb. 17.
Scheduling will follow. Schools will be in a new two-year block to schedule non-region opponents.
DESERT VIEW CONTINUES TO ROLL AS ONE OF FOUR REMAINING SOUTHERN ARIZONA UNBEATEN TEAMS
Desert View’s winning streak in regular season games has reached 15 after its 46-6 win at Maricopa on Friday night.
The Jaguars have not skipped a beat after the transfer of high-profile Class of 2028 running back/safety Jaylee Abraham to Peoria Centennial during the summer.
Robert Bonillas’ unbeaten team has outscored its five opponents 230-22, an average victory margin of nearly 42 points a game.
Mica Mountain, Benson and Willcox all remained unbeaten Friday with blowout victories as well. In addition to Desert View, all won on the road.
Mica Mountain topped Sahuarita 42-7, Benson beat Morenci 42-0 and Willcox walloped Scottsdale Prep 50-7.
Benson hosts Eloy Santa Cruz Valley on Friday at 7 p.m. The Dust Devils (5-1) are no longer undefeated after losing 28-21 at Phoenix Arizona Lutheran Academy on Friday.
Willcox will play at Desert Christian (2-4).
Benson will host Willcox on Oct. 16.
Desert View’s Duel in the District game with Sunnyside (2-3) on the road is Thursday at 7 p.m.
Mica Mountain will start 4A Kino play at Douglas (4-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.
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