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By Nolberto Waddell
When the Hayden Lobo football team has their mind on playing football, they can play with anybody but when their mind is not on the game……8 to 53.
That was the score of the Lobos’ homecoming game last Friday when the Superior High School Panthers came onto Lalo A. Serrano Stadium and put on a clinic on how to play eight man football.
Before the fans were comfortably in their seats the Panthers had a touchdown scored when their speedy kick returner took the opening kick-off on a 90 yard run for a touchdown. The missed two point try gave them a 0 to 6 lead with only 12 seconds off the first quarter clock.
The Lobos took the next kickoff, got a first down but soon were stopped forcing a punt that never materialized when the snap from center sailed over the punter’s head landing at the 20 yard line where it was covered by the punter. It did not take the Panthers long to score. Two running plays had them at the 8 yard line and a pass on the next play gave Superior their next touchdown. The two point play was again stopped giving Superior a 0 to 12 score at 8:49 of the first period.
The Lobos took the kick-off but two negative yard plays forced another Lobo punt. Superior took over at the 46 yard line, completed a nine yard pass and on the next play their speedy running back took the ball on a 55 yard run for a touchdown only to have the play brought back on a holding penalty. A quarterback sack by Thomas Cabrera and Adrian Ochoa forced a Panther punt but again the Lobos could not move the chains when their fourth down pass attempt fell harmlessly to the ground turning the football over to the Panthers at the 41 yard line. Two runs got them to the 30 yard line and on the next play the Panther quarterback took of on a run but fumbled on a hard hit by Dylan Smith. Luck was on Superior’s side. The loose ball was picked up by a Superior player who took the ball over the goal line from the 25 yard line for the Panther’s third touchdown of the first quarter. The two point play was good giving the Panthers a 0 to 20 lead with 1:06 left on the first period clock.
The Lobos took the kick-off, started a drive but ran out of downs after another fourth down pass fell incomplete. The Panthers could not move the football forcing a punt with luck again on their side when the official threw a flag saying that the Lobo’s Rodney Ortiz had run into the punter instead of being pushed into the punter for an automatic first down. A fresh set of downs had Superior moving down to the 35 yard line but on the next play Adrian Ochoa’s hard hit forced a Panther fumble that was recovered by Francisco Moreno at the 35 yard line. The Panthers got the football right back forcing a fumble on a quarterback sack at the 29 yard line. The Panthers quickly scored on the next play completing a 29 yard pass for the score. The two point play failed for a 0 to 26 Panther lead with 6:24 left on the first half clock.
Hayden took the football at the 39 yard line and again failed to move the chains forcing a punt. Superior took the punt at the 31 yard line scoring on the next play when their speedy running back went on a 61 yard run into the end zone but again a holding penalty brought the ball back. It did not deter the Panthers; three plays later their fast running back scored from 51 yards out with the two point pass good for a 0 to 34 lead with 4:01 left before the end of the first half.
On the kick-off, three personal foul penalties, two on Hayden and one on Superior, finally gave the football to the Lobos at the 12 yard line. The Lobos started to move down field but time ran out on the clock with the score 0 to 34 Superior.
Hayden received the second half kick-off with Eric Rivera returning the ball 30 yards to the 48 yard line. The Lobos started to move the football with Adrian Ochoa’s 21yard run giving Hayden a first and goal from the one yard line. Thomas Cabrera bulled his way over the goal line for a Hayden touchdown with the two points scored on a pass to Roman Padilla to cut the Panther lead to 8 to 34 with 9:40 on the third period clock.
It would be as close as Hayden would get.
The Lobos kicked off, held the Panthers forcing a punt but soon gave the football back when Superior recovered a Lobo fumble at the 40 yard line. Several plays later, Superior scored again on a six yard pass completion with the extra point try blocked by the Lobos giving Superior an 8 to 40 lead at 2:52 of the third quarter.
Hayden took the kick-off starting a drive that came to an end when they could not convert on a fourth and one yard to go as time was running out on the third quarter clock.
The fourth quarter started like the third quarter ended, with a penalty on Superior. On the next play, the Panther quarterback fumbled the snap with Hayden’s Robert Sandoval recovering the football. With a new set of backs for the Lobos, they moved the football but the Superior defense soon stiffened forcing another incomplete pass on a fourth down play. The Panthers were on the move again this time scoring on a 40 yard run with a two point play failing for an 8 to 46 Panther lead at 4:49 of the second half.
Hayden took the kick-off but a penalty and two short runs had them facing another fourth down play. On the pass attempt, Thomas Cabrera slipped and fell giving the football back to the Panthers on the failed fourth down play. Clean jerseys were now on the field for both teams. The Panthers moved to the 15 yard line but a bad snap and a penalty had them at their 35 yard line. On the next play, poor tackling by the young Lobo players on defense allowed for a 35 yard scoring run by the Panthers. The extra point was good for the final 8 to 53 score as time was coming to an end on the disappointing homecoming game.
During a pregame ceremony, the Hayden Student Council honored three men who were the 2011 Homecoming Parade Marshals. Two of the honorees retired from the school and the other retired from the town of Hayden. Enrique Silva retired after 10 years of service to the Hayden-Winkelman School District. Mr. Silva was known by the Hayden students as a very kind man with a big heart. Johnny Hinojos retired from the Hayden-Winkelman School District after 24 years of service. Mr. Hinojos was somewhat of a celebrity especially with the elementary children. Every time Mr. Hinojos would drive up in his Gator, the elementary children would stop and start chanting “Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny.” He enjoys the kids and is always willing to lend a hand to the school. The final honoree was Robert “Pee Wee” Lorona. He retired from the Town of Hayden after 36 years of service saying it was a blessing and an honor to have served such a great community. Mr. Lorona was one of the community leaders that helped start the Hayden-Winkelman Cyber Café and serves as its board president. He served on the Copper Basin Chamber of Commerce Board and is a big supporter of the Jr. Chamber program. Mr. Lorona also coached Lobo baseball for numerous years. Mr. Lorona left this thought with the young students of Hayden: “Be a good citizen; Have a good attitude; Get involved with school and community events; Reach out and help those in need and most of all PREPARE FOR LIFE.”
During the half time ceremonies, the Homecoming Royalty was introduced to the fans in attendance. The freshman class of 2015 was represented by Nick Dominquez and Brittany Paton. The sophomore class of 2014 was represented by prince Robert Sandoval and princess Adrianna Cruz. The junior class of 2013 had as their representatives prince Roman Padilla and princess Melinda Marinez.
This year’s homecoming king and queen are King Matthew Manriquez and Queen Demitria Boltarez. Mathew is the son of Nanny Quesada and the late Randy Manriquez. His goal is to go on to college, try out for their baseball team and study to become an archaeologist. Demetria is the daughter of Mark and Lena Boltarez and sister to Liberty and brothers Mark, Isaiah and Ezekiel. She plans on going to college on a softball scholarship to study medicine and become either a registered nurse or a psychiatrist. Congratulations to the 2011 Hayden High School Homecoming Royalty.
Lest we forget: in the class float completion, the senior class float was given fourth place, the freshman class took third place honors, the sophomore class float was voted second place with the juniors taking top honors in the 2011 Hayden High School Homecoming Class Float Competition. Congratulations to all the students that participated for all the hard work put into building the floats.
The Hayden Lobos next game will be a contest against the Tigers of St. David High School and their highly regarded quarterback that the Arizona Republic labels as the best in Division Six football. Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23.
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