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SIERRA VISTA — There was a time not too long ago, when Buena could look at the end of a brutal schedule and know respite was coming at the expense of a Tucson High program that was anything but challenging.
Through perseverence however, the Tucson Badgers are no longer a doormat and tonight’s game on the million-dollar field turf at THS will be no cakewalk for the 1-6 Buena Colts.
“They’ve come a long way in a short amount of time,” Buena head coach Kent Holland said. “The biggest thing is, they’re keeping the same kids (going) out (for football). The system is the same, they’re just getting established.”
Tonight’s game will be an elimination game for the loser. With neither team threatening to crack the top 16 in power points standings, the only way into the state playoffs is to win the 5A Southern Region Division I outright. That means winning all three final regular season games.
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Tucson comes in with a 3-4 record and last month defeted Mountain View 21-13. Mountain View defeated Buena last Friday 22-12.
Billy Grant will get his third straight start at quarterback tonight for Buena. Sophomore quarterback Jeremy Tuttle still has not received doctors’ clearance after suffering rib injuries three weeks ago against Ironwood Ridge.
“We’ve had some key injuries, some key guys go down and we’ve seen other guys step up,” Holland said. “For some guys this is going to be an opportunity to get some minutes, some good, quality time on the field.”
To prepare for the state-of-the-art field turf at Tucson High, Holland has had his team practice at the artificial turf facility on Fort Huachuca, where the University of Arizona football team held preseason practices in August.
“We just wanted to get the guys familiar with a similar surface,” Holland said. “To see the footing and to get an idea of how it’s going to feel. That’s an advantage we have as far as having that facility on Fort Huachuca.”
Trey Brown leads the Buena rushing attack with 169 yards. As a team, Buena has just 360 yards and last week at Mountain View, managed a meager two yards. Tucson hasn’t fared much better with the rushing game, totaling 775 yards with Markes Reed leading the way with 428 yards.
Kickoff tonight is at 7 p.m.
Bisbee faces long drive, tough challenge at Thatcher
BISBEE —Bisbee’s hopes for a third straight state playoff appearance face a daunting challenge tonight tonight in Thatcher where the pair of 4-4 teams clash helmets, and jockey for position in the power point standings.
Bisbee enters the game ranked 14th in 2A power points after its last-second win against Willcox last Friday. Thatcher beat Willcox two weeks ago and Tombstone last week to be ranked 11th.
“I’m not scared to death, the kids aren’t scared to death,” Bisbee head coach Truman Williamson said.
“We think we can move the ball and play some defense. We’ve got a chance to win and we’ll go get it.”
The Pumas will be without receiver/defensive back Jacob Amos, who is still sidelined with a knee injury, and lineman Roberto Marquez. Center Eric Olander will be back in play after bruising his shoulder in last week’s game.
For Thatcher, quarterback Landon Williams enters tonight’s game completing 45 of 96 passes for 732 yards. He’s the second-leading rusher on the team with 76 carries for 548 yards. Blaine Taylor is Thatcher’s top rusher with 80 carries for 557 yards.
Cody Thatcher and Isaac Morris are leading the Eagles in receiving, Morris with 13 receptions for 153 yards and Thatcher with 10 for 168 yards.
As a team, the Eagles are averaging about 51 tackles per game.
Both Bisbee and Thatcher were shut out by Benson earlier in the season, Bisbee by a score of 21-0 and Thatcher 32-0.
“If the weather’s cool, we’ll be able to throw the ball, and I think we’ll do just fine,” Willaimson said.
The Bisbee JV lost to Thatcher on Thursday night 26-0.
Yellowjackets look to knock off league-leading Benson
TOMBSTONE — Tombstone goes into tonight’s home game against Class 2A East Region-leading Benson as heavy underdogs.
But after a tough loss at home to Thatcher last week, the Jackets look to pull off the upset.
“Miracles happen — we could beat these guys,” Tombstone head coach Mike Hayhurst said. “We’re not like most teams with two wins under their belts at this time. The kids are still hustling and anything can happen.”
The key to stopping Benson is stopping diminutive, but fast and powerful tailback Kyle Graf who has 1,264 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the season.
“With the way they run their offense, it’s real hard to see that Graf kid sometimes,” Hayhurst said. “But their fullback dives in there pretty doggone tough. They’re a tough, tough team and they play defense.”
Hayhurst figures his team will have to make some noise in the passing game, which burned them with three interceptions last week.
“Sooner or later you’re going to have to pass to win,” Hayhurst said. “It’s not that we don’t want to pass, we’re just having a tough time throwing the ball.”
me wrote on Oct 24, 2008 11:19 AM: