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The seventh-seeded San Manuel football team qualified for the playoffs in its first year in the 1A Division. The top two teams in each region earned automatic qualification in the eight-team postseason. The Miners were second in the 1A South Region.
The Miners played No. 2 Mogollon, who finished the season undefeated and won the 1A North Region.
The Mustangs defeated San Manuel last Friday, 50 – 6.
“We never gave up and it was a good learning experience for our young team,” San Manuel head coach Ernie Ivy told the Miner.
The Miners reached the playoffs for the first time since 2011, an achievement they hope to repeat more frequently in the future.
“The kids know now how much harder we need to work to win in the playoffs,” Ivy answered when asked how the playoff experience this season will help build his program. “I’m hoping we can have an off-season workout [program] and some passing tournaments.”
For the Miners’ seniors, their last game was memorable despite the ending. Qualifying for the playoffs was a great accomplishment.
“Our seniors worked hard, and they were leaders,” Ivy said.
Author: Andy Luberda
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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