1A Football: Same Final Four, but Williams Is Healthy and the Heavy Favorite

2019-20 Executive Board EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT MEMBER MEMBER DAVID HINES JEANNINE BRANDEL TONI CORONA WILLIAM DUARTE MARK SHOWERS Athletic Director Athletic Director/Asst. Principal Principal/Athletic Director Athletic Director Flagstaff HS Safford HS Superior HS Camp Verde HS 4A Conference 3A Conference 1A Conference 2A Conference MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MARK CISTERNA ZACH MUNOZ DR. MICHAEL FOWLER Athletic Director District Administrator District Athletic Director Notre Dame Prep Phoenix Union District Higley Unified 5A Conference 6A Conference Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER JIM LOVE DR. CAMILLE CASTEEL TRAVIS UDALL Governing Board Member Superintendent Superintendent Flowing Wells Unified Chandler Unified School District Round Valley School District Arizona Superintendents AdvancED Arizona School Boards Association Association page 3 Welcome to the State Championships On behalf of the Arizona Interscholastic Association, I would like to welcome all the participants, coaches, family and friends to our state championships. It is our pleasure to create an event that fans will enjoy and think about for years to come. The AIA recognizes the hard work strength it took to get here, as well as the sacrifices made along the way. The membership continues to grow, opening more avenues for participation. And for that, we say thank you. The student-athletes, administrators, coaches and families have all earned our gratitude. You are what drives us. While attending this championship, we hope that it is an enjoyable experience for all. The lessons learned regarding sportsmanship and fair play are elevated here. Athletics are an extension of the classroom, which is why we accentuate the “student” in student-ath- lete. State championships are just a springboard to the success these student-athletes will achieve when the competition is over. In the process of deriving enjoyment from participation in athletics, our student-athletes are learning lifelong skills that will help them develop into healthy adults and productive citizens. National research continues to validate that students involved in extracurricular activities attend more days of school, perform better in the classroom and have less behavioral issues. This also includes lower dropout, alcohol and drug abuse rates as compared to those who do not participate. The benefits of participation are extensive. Since the AIA’s inception in 1913, the association vigorously defends and promotes the positive develop- ments of athletics, creates a culture that fosters self-governance and ethical behavior, and teaches, enforces, advocates and models the principles of the Arizona Accord and “Pursuing Victory With Honor.” Today, over 130,000 student-athletes statewide benefit from the leadership of our Board, administrators and hard-working coaches on an annual basis as we are “building character now … for the future.” As you enjoy all the championship contests, please show respect to those around you. Displays of good sportsmanship will place you in high regard along with your school and your community, and remind us all that, sports are meant to be fun and enjoyed by not only those participating, but those in attendance. The AIA hopes this championship, as well as any others you may attend, achieves the level of excellence our student-athletes deserve. Remember that these are “our students, our teams … our future.” DAVID HINES AIA Executive Director page 5 1A FB State Championship Bracket Oct 25 Nov 1 Nov 8-9 Nov 16 Anthem Prep (#9) AP, 7:00 pm Arete Prep Arete Prep (#8) (34-22) Williams HS 6:00 pm Williams (78-8) Williams (#1) Coronado HS 11/8/19, 7:00 pm St. David (#12) HHS, 6:00 pm Hayden Hayden (#5) (48-6) Salome HS 6:00 pm Hayden (30-8) Salome (#4) Coronado HS 6:00 pm Fort Thomas (#11) State DHS, 6:00 pm Fort Thomas Champion Duncan (#6) (26-6) Superior HS 7:00 pm Superior (48-0) Superior (#3) Coronado HS 11/9/19, 6:00 pm Joseph City (#10) MHS, 6:00 pm Mogollon Mogollon (#7) (58-14) Bagdad HS 6:00 pm Mogollon (28-18) Bagdad (#2) page 9 1A Football: Same Final Four, But Williams Is Healthy and the Heavy Favorite Superior running back Adam Navarratte will likely continue to attract a crowd of defenders in the semifinals (photo by Mark Jones of maxpreps.com). By Jose Garcia But Mogollon’s defense held its ground, forcing Bagdad to turn azpreps365.com the ball over on downs. Mogollon’s offense then marched down the field and scored, completing the momentum shifting drive for Hayden, Mogollon, Superior and Williams returned to the 1A the Mustangs. Conference football semifinals, but the 2018 plots did not. “It (quarterfinal victory) surprised a lot of the people in our com- For starters, Williams isn’t missing injured key cast members munity,” Tenney said. “Our team has been resilient and kept fight- like last year, making it tougher for Hayden to pull off another ing. It sure created quite the stir for the community when we got semifinal upset. back into town after the game.” In the other Nov. 8 state semifinal at Coronado High, Superior Against Superior on Nov. 8, Tenney’s boys will be the under- is the defending champ and playing a Mogollon program under a dogs again despite beating a Bagdad team that defeated Superior different but very familiar coach, Ron Tenney. 48-40 in the regular season. “That speaks volumes of the traditions of the programs that we The results of the last two meetings between Superior and have the same teams back in the semis,” Superior coach Ryan Mogollon are the reasons why. Mogollon lost those games by a Palmer said. “We do have a rematch in each game, but Williams combined 68 points, including last year’s semifinal game. is the heavy favorite. It’s a deep team, and that goes a long way “Superior is a solid team,” Tenney said. “I feel like our boys in our conference. But you never know.” have a little chip on their shoulder with something to prove. The last time Tenney, the superintendent of the Heber- Confidence wise we are in a better place than when we faced Overgaard Unified School District and volunteer coach the last them before.” four years, wore the Mogollon head coach cap was in 2009. Junior quarterback Caden Owens is one of the players whose But Mogollon’s winning ways continued while Tenney was confidence continues to grow. coaching at Snowflake and as an assistant at Mogollon. Last He’s in his first year under center after Tenney’s son, Trey, held week, he and his program resumed their postseason prowess. that post the previous three seasons. Owens is doing a better job But last week’s victory was somewhat of a stunner. of reading defenses and has a great touch, Tenney said. Mogollon surprised even its fans with a 28-18 win over Bagdad, In the quarterfinals, Mogollon started three freshmen, Trexton considered the No. 2 ranked team in 1A this season, in the quar- Reidhead, Landon Stephens and Jayk Kelton. But Kelton has terfinals. started for most of the year at wide receiver and corner, and Mogollon turned the ball over only once, kept the penalty flags Reidhead stepped up at defensive end when a senior, Denin away and tallied few negative yardage plays in that game, Tenney Porter, went down with an injury. said. Also, with the score tied at 12-12, Bagdad was a couple of Mogollon doesn’t post its stats until after the season, but oppo- yards away from scoring during its opening drive of the second nents know that seniors Dallin Rice, DB/RB Timmy Porter, LB/RB half. Rhett Mclaws and linemen Bruno Corrales and Diego Amaya and page 10 Corales’ brother, Edy, are Tenney’s leaders. Superior’s big-play bounce. I think it’s going to be a different game. But don’t get me ability hurt Mogollon in their last two games. wrong, Williams is tougher than heck.” One of Superior’s smallest players caused the biggest damage. Hayden suffered a big blow when it lost its starting quarterback, Adam Navarrette (5-7, 140) rushed for 169 yards and two touch- A.J. Castillo, for the year with a collar bone injury. downs on 14 carries in Superior’s 52-14 regular season win over Estrada said that Castillo won’t play in the semifinals. Senior Mogollon. running backs Jorge Rodriguez and Gilberto Carmelo have car- The other home run guy for 8-1 Superior is Sammy Lopez, who ried the load in Castillo’s absence and while back up quarterback is tied with Navarrette for the team lead in touchdowns with 17. Manny Guillen learned the offense. Lopez is also a ball hawk on defense and is tied for the state lead Rodriguez has been playing with an injured toe but refuses to in interceptions with 10. sit until the season is over. In 2018, Superior won its first official state title behind the 1A “We have fought through some adversity, and that has really Conference Player of the Year, quarterback Steven Ybarra. defined our team,” Estrada said. This year, sophomore Matthew Cruz (31 touchdowns, 3 inter- Other than its out of state game this year, Williams hasn’t faced ceptions) stepped in while the 2019 Superior Panthers found their much in-state adversity this season. identity. Last year was a different story, though. The team was poised to “At the beginning of the preseason we had a meeting and told reach its third consecutive 8-man championship game, but its run the guys that last year we did something for the first time in 64 ended in the semifinals due to injuries.

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