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A Hayden ball carrier heads down the field while his teammates attempt to clear the way for him.
The fifth-ranked Hayden football team defeated its rival, the Ray Bearcats, for the third-straight time last Friday night in Winkelman, 56 – 0.
The Bearcats last victory against the Lobos was in 2015, a 30 – 14 win.
The 56-point margin of victory was the largest by either school since 2012, when the Lobos won by an identical score, 56 – 0.
“Our kids played tough and were very physical,” Hayden head coach John Estrada said. “It was total dominance in all aspects of the game. It’s always a great win when you beat your rivals. Especially for our seniors, who left it all on the field.”
The loss snapped the eighth-ranked Bearcats’ three-game winning streak.
Hayden Lobos #4 Omar Lopez had just completed a 45 yard touchdown pass teammate #12 Gibby Carmelo was down field blocking on the play, was hampered by a leg cramp and Omar piggybacked Gibby to the sidelines.
Photo courtesty D. J. Navarro, Nav6photography
“The biggest thing that changed from our wins to the Hayden game was intensity,” Ray assistant coach Jimmy Fessenden told Copper Basin News. “I think we left that in Kearny.
“(Our players) can learn that they need to work harder and never give up no matter what if we want to reach the playoffs and make some noise,” he added.
The Lobos celebration will be short-lived as it looks forward to its next game at Superior.
“We need to move on and we need to concentrate on what’s at hand this coming Friday and play at our best against the (No. 2) team in the state in (1A),” Estrada said.
Hayden up next: The Lobos play at No. 2 and undefeated Superior this Friday in what could be a preview of a future playoff game. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
“Superior is well coached and have some seasoned players on their team, especially at quarterback,” Estrada said. “We’ll need to do our jobs Friday, play Hayden football, and have fun.”
Ray up next: Ray visits Arete Prep for its second-consecutive road game this Friday. The Chargers are 3 – 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Ray’s Dakota Willis (15) and Hayden’s Jorge Rodriguez (33) reach for the ball at the same time.
Ray’s Eric Manriquez (21) carries the ball trying to avoid a Lobo defender.
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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