Advertisement

Arizona high school football 2-a-days: 2A Gila Region, 3A South Region

Richard Obert, Arizona Republic
·2 min read

This is part of the countdown to the opening week of the Arizona Interscholastic Association high school football season with two region previews a day. The schools in 1A, 2A and 3A open their seasons on Aug. 19. The 6A, 5A and 4A schools open on Sept. 2.

We call these 2-a-days.

November 27, 2021; Gilbert, AZ; 2a football championship game between Morenci and Arizona Lutheran at Campo Verde High School; Morenci #7 Michael Casillas, #2 Derek Saenz
November 27, 2021; Gilbert, AZ; 2a football championship game between Morenci and Arizona Lutheran at Campo Verde High School; Morenci #7 Michael Casillas, #2 Derek Saenz

2A Gila Region

The teams: Antelope Union, Arizona Lutheran, Parker, San Pasqual, St. John Paul II, Tonopah Valley, Trivium Prep.

The favorite: Arizona Lutheran. Great depth at the skill positions, returning back to 2A, where it won state two years ago.

The challenger: Tonopah Valley. One of the most explosive offenses at any level.

The dark horse: Parker. It’s a young team but enough key returners will help them finish strong.

Predicted order of finish: 1. Arizona Lutheran; 2. Tonopah Valley; 3. Parker; 4. Trivium Prep; 5. Antelope; 6. St. John Paul II.

Key players: Gideon Enter, Arizona Lutheran,  RB/LB; Rylan Bass, Arizona Lutheran, RB/DB; Jerren Vaughn, Arizona Lutheran, RB/DB; Jorge Lomeli, Arizona Lutheran, QB/DB; Luis Guerrero, Arizona Lutheran, QB/DB; Elijah Fisher, Parker, OL/DL, Sr.; Angel Velarde, Parker, RB/LB, Sr.; Dirk Maxwell, Parker, RB/DB, Sr.; Maddix Young, Parker, QB/LB, Jr.; Adrian Valdez, Parker, TE/LB, Jr.; Tito Aguilar, Parker, RB/LB, So.; Alex Acuna, San Pasqual, WR/S, Fr.; Isaiah Martinez, San Pasqual, WR/S, So.; Chance Gatley, San Pasqual, QB/LB, So.; Malachi Wilt, Tonopah Valley, QB, So.; Sir-Izzik Sánchez Caldwell, Tonopah Valley, WR, Jr.; Chevy Diaz, Tonopah Valley, RB, Jr.; Vern Wolfley IV, Trivium Prep, QB, Matthew Lee, Trivium Prep, WR/LB; Caedon MacDonald, Trivium Prep, OL/DL; Gannon McMillan, Trivium Prep, OL/DL.

Key date: Aug. 18 – Arizona Lutheran opens with a tough one against Willcox, a 2A title contender, on the road.

3A South Region

The teams: Morenci, Pusch Ridge, Sabino, Safford, Thatcher.

The favorite: Sabino. Got to pick someone in the most loaded 3A region in the state, but with QB Cameron Hackworth returning, the Sabercats get the edge.

The challenger: Morenci. This is a perennial power that might get over the hump and win state with former Santa Cruz  coach Rishard Davis now at the helm and workhorse RB Michael Casillas returning.

The dark horse: Thatcher. The Eagles were seemingly invincible last year and will be strong, despite needing to replace some key players.

Predicted order of finish:  1. Sabino; 2. Morenci; 3. Thatcher; 4. Pusch Ridge; 5. Safford.

Key players: Cameron Hackworth, Sabino, QB, Sr.; Shamar Berryhill, Sabino, WR; Savaughn Berryhill, Sabino, WR; Mason Cade, Sabino, RB; Michael Casillas, Morenci, RB, Sr.; Wyatt Nickolas, Thatcher, WR/S, Jr.; Brett Jones, Thatcher, LB, Jr.; Bubba Mustain, Pusch Ridge, QB, Sr.; Blake Reed, Pusch Ridge, RB, Sr.; Tyler Shoaff, Pusch Ridge, LB, Jr.

Key date: Oct. 20 – Circle this one. But can circle  a lot of them. Sabino plays at Morenci for maybe the No. 1 seed in 3A.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona HS football 2-a-days: 2A Gila Region, 3A South Region