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Hayden’s Omar Lopez (#4) outruns a Flames defender looking to bring him down.
The eighth-ranked Hayden football team improved to 3 – 1 on the season following a 42 – 28 victory against Valley Lutheran last Friday night.
The loss was the first for the Flames, who entered the game 3 – 0.
Hayden’s Gibby Carmelo (#12) douses the Flame in his sight.
“Overall, we performed well,” Hayden head coach John Estrada told Copper Basin News. “We continue to improve every week. I am very proud of our kids and their hard work.”
Hayden scored 40-plus points for the second consecutive week and is averaging nearly 42 points per game in its three victories this season.
“Our offense is starting to click,” Estrada said. “Every week we’ll throw something new in our offensive scheme.”
The Lobos will need all the points it can muster this Friday, when they host undefeated and fifth-ranked Superior. The seemingly perennial state title contender Panthers have scored 60 or more points in their last three games and are outscoring opponents 218 – 38 in four games this season.
2017 Hayden High School Cheerleaders are, from left, Brandi Lopez, Lyana Romero, Sonia Urias and Brittney Arbizo. Not pictured are Ali Perez and Mariana Garcia.
“Superior has dominated for years,” Estrada said about the Panthers. “They are well-coached and have some good athletes.
“We’ll need to play our best on Friday night,” he added. “We’ll need to play Hayden football – no mistakes.”
Friday’s kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Hayden’s Robert Bohrn (#5) makes a leap for the ball in the end zone.
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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