Four Corners of Sports

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

COMBS

Football – The Coyotes faced a stiff test in their opener, traveling to the far west side of the Valley to take on Estrella Foothills, which was a playoff team a year ago. The Yotes started poorly, trailing 14 – 0 at the end of the first quarter and 21 – 0 at the half.

The Wolves ultimately came away with a 21 – 8 victory.

“We made a lot of game-one mistakes,” Combs’ head coach Jesse Hart told the Ledger. “We weren’t lining up right and defensively we had two really big breakdowns, which allowed huge runs. We had a costly turnover that led to a touchdown at the end of the first half.”

The Yotes’ defense improved in the second half, playing the way many expected before the season started. This is a deep and experienced Combs’ team across the board, but make no mistake, its strength is the defense.

“We buckled down when we went into the second half,” Hart said.

The offense, however, remains a work-in-progress. It was held scoreless for three quarters last Friday night before a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown by junior Erick Guerra and a two-point conversion by junior quarterback Skylar Johnson accounted for the Yotes’ only scoring in the game.

Hart is confident the offense can build off the fourth-quarter success during last week’s game.

“There’s nothing that can’t be fixed,” he said. “It’s a matter of us getting back to work this week, making sure we’re getting lined up and working on our blocking schemes.”

Combs hosts cross-San Tan Valley team San Tan Foothills in its home opener on Friday night. After a long road trip last week, the Coyotes are looking forward to playing at home.

“The boys are excited to finally get to play in front of the home crowd,” Hart said. “They get to play in front of their family and friends.”

Kickoff for Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

REMINDER: The Combs’s Football Booster Club is organizing the first annual Golf Tournament and Fundraiser Dinner with proceeds benefitting the Coyotes’ football program. The event will take place at Encanterra Country Club on September 5, 2015.

Golf check-in starts at 11 a.m. with tee-off scheduled for 1 p.m.

The cost for the event is $120 per person, which includes entry into all events, 18 holes of golf with a cart, lunch, dinner, and various awards.

An awards presentation and dinner will take place immediately after golf at Mallocra @ Encanterra Country Club.

Dinner is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Dinner-only packages starting at $20 are available for those not interested in the golf tournament.

There will be raffles and a silent auction at the event as well as guest speakers to address those in attendance, including head coach Jesse Hart.

For more information visit the Coyotes’ football website at www.combscoyotesfootball.com.

SAN TAN FOOTHILLS

Football – The third-ranked Sabercats entered last Friday’s game versus top-ranked Joy Christian seeking redemption after the Eagles defeated the Cats in the first-round of the playoffs last year, 42 – 14.

Instead, the Eagles’ 77 – 7 lopsided victory was only a harsh reminder of their dominance against the Cats.

Joy Christian scored 49 unanswered first-half points – 28 in the first quarter and 21 more in the second quarter – before scoring 21 more unanswered points in the third quarter.

Senior Kyle Stanifer scored the Cats only touchdown of the game on a 42-yard reception.

Head coach John Sanders is dealing with a thinner-than-thin roster that can’t afford any injuries, especially to the team’s playmakers. But unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened when Manny Armenta, last week’s star, left the game with an apparent ankle injury.

Despite a short roster, injuries, and a difficult loss, Sanders remains upbeat and optimistic, believing his team will get better as the season progresses.

The Cats face another difficult road game this week when they travel across town to play Division IV Combs, a playoff team a year ago.

Friday’s kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

POSTON BUTTE

Football – The Broncos lost their second-straight game of the new season last Friday night, falling to Desert Mountain at home, 28 – 15.

Hopefully, the game was the only loss of the night for Poston Butte, which was playing its first home game of the season. Junior running back, and last week’s Ledger Athlete of the Week, Josh Hatfield left the game in fourth quarter after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet blow and did not return.

Senior Chase Taylor filled in and rushed for almost 85 yards in the game.

Before that though, Hatfield was stellar once again, scoring the Broncos’ first touchdown of the game on a 75-yard punt return in the first quarter. He later hauled in a 35-yard reception to setup the Broncos’ other score, a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Shavez Hawkins.

Desert Mountain held a 7 – 0 lead in the second quarter before Hatfield’s return pulled the Broncos within in one. With only three seconds remaining in the half, Wolves’ quarterback Austin Nuessle launched a 37-yard hail-mary-like throw to the end zone that was hauled in by receiver Donovan Dalton to give the Wolves a 14 – 6 halftime lead.

The Wolves extended the lead in the third quarter to 21 – 6 before Hawkins’ touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos’ own mistakes proved costly in the game, including two interceptions near the end zone that thwarted excellent scoring chances. They also missed two extra points.

The Broncos hit the road this week, traveling to Gilbert to face the Tigers, who won their first game of the season against Canyon del Oro. Gilbert is now 1 – 1 after winning last week’s home opener.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

QUEEN CREEK

Girls’ Volleyball – The Bulldogs opened their season on Tuesday by hosting Horizon Honors. New head coach Stefany Pew will lead her team against Chaparral at home (Sept. 3, 6 p.m.) and at Gilbert (Sept. 8, 6 p.m.).

Other Football Scores

ALA (Ironwood) – The Warriors came away victorious in their inaugural game, shutting out Skyline Prep, 17 – 0.

ALA (Queen Creek) – The 10th-ranked Patriots scored a fourth quarter touchdown to earn a come-from-behind victory at Scottsdale Christian Academy, 25 – 22.

Benjamin Franklin – The Chargers picked up their first win under new head coach Dave Jefferies last Friday night, defeating San Carlos, 34 – 6. The Chargers scored 28 unanswered points to open a 28 – 0 lead at the end of the third quarter.

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.


Facebooktwitterby feather
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

Comments are closed.

  • Additional Stories

    Kearny Police Dispatch to begin serving Dudleyville Fire

    December 19th, 2023
    by

      Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, residents of Dudleyville will be served by the Kearny Police Dispatch services at Kearny Police […]


    Valerie Garcia-Denogean honored at ASU football game

    November 20th, 2023
    by

      On Oct. 28, during the Sun Devil ‘Shout Out’ at the ASU Sun Devils football game, Superior’s very own […]


    Alfred Trejo Jr.

    October 17th, 2023
    by

        Alfred (Al) Trejo Jr., 65, of Oracle, AZ passed away in his home on Oct. 10, 2023. He […]


    Hayden-Winkelman Little League officially opens 2023 season

    May 1st, 2023
    by

          Over the weekend the Hayden Winkleman Little League had opening ceremonies for its 54th year of Little […]


  • Additional Stories

    Hayden ranked first in 1A East

    May 1st, 2023
    by

    By Nathaniel A. Lopez   The Hayden baseball team played some solid ball on the field last week.   The […]


    Lady Bearcats win strong against Duncan, Baboquivari, Valley Union

    May 1st, 2023
    by

    By Nathaniel A. Lopez   It was a busy week for the Ray softball team, who played four games last […]


    CASA of Arizona celebrates National Adoption Day with hundreds of adoptions this year; More CASA advocates are needed to help pave the way for children to find loving homes in times of crisis

    November 8th, 2022
    by

      With adoptions taking place across the country for National Adoption Day in November, CASA of Arizona (Court Appointed Special Advocates) […]


    Free virtual diabetes prevention program

    October 15th, 2022
    by

      One in three adults are estimated to have prediabetes, and most do not know it. In Arizona, this means […]


  • Copperarea

  • Southeast Valley Ledger