4 Corners of Sports: Football Season Begins for Two STV Schools

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San Tan Foothills

Football – Sophomore Manny Armenta had a huge night in the Cats season-opening victory against North Pointe Prep last Friday, scoring two touchdowns and making several other big plays to lead his team to the 34 – 20 win. Armenta, playing in his first varsity season at San Tan after transferring from Chandler, returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. He added a 109-yard touchdown after picking up an errant punt snap nine yards deep in his own end zone and running the length of the field for the score. He also added an interception on defense. The game also marked the debut of new Cats’ head coach John Sanders, who knows a thing or two about winning games. The Cats will try to avenge last year’s playoff loss to Joy Christian on Friday when they travel to Glendale to face the Eagles, who defeated San Tan 42 – 14 in the first round of the state playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Poston Butte

Football – Last Friday’s game at Tolleson was like two different games in one for the Broncos. Unfortunately, the net result was a third-straight season-opening loss as Tolleson scored 27 unanswered points in the second half to steal a 34 – 28 victory. After trailing 7 – 0, the Broncos scored the game’s next 28 points to take a commanding 28 – 7 lead only 2 minutes in to the second half. Junior running back Josh Hatfield scored three touchdowns and quarterback Shavez Hawkins, also a junior, threw a touchdown pass to Carter White to account for the other score. That’s when Tolleson turned the tables, scoring the final 27 points in less than a half of play. The Wolverines effectively wore down the Broncos’ defense and the Broncos’ offense couldn’t convert a final scoring near the end of the game. A turnover with about a minute left in the game cost the Broncos’ a chance for a dramatic victory, instead leaving them with a heart-wrenching loss. Poston Butte opens its home season this Friday against Desert Mountain, which lost its own home opener in overtime last week against Queen Creek. Friday’s kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Combs

Football – The Yotes were among the teams that didn’t open its season on Friday. Instead the Yotes hosted Globe in a scrimmage on Thursday and by all accounts the Coyotes’ defense is as good as advertised and ready for the season opener this Friday at Estrella Foothills. The Yotes will be going for their third-straight season-opening victory under head coach Jesse Hart but it won’t be easy. They’re facing a Wolves’ team that advanced to the second round of last year’s playoffs, where they lost to eventual State Champion River Valley. Estrella Foothills is one of seven playoff teams from a year ago on the Coyotes’ schedule this season. Kickoff for Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Andy Luberda (1149 Posts)

Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.


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