By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – Morenci previously hosted a football state first-round playoff game during the 2012 season. The Wildcats advanced 53-29 as No. 2 over No. 15 Phoenix Bourgade Catholic.
Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Morenci linemen negotiate a chute as they return to fundamentals in preparation for the post-season. The Wildcats host Arizona Lutheran for a state play-off first round contest Nov. 4.
In the next four post-seasons, Morenci qualified thrice and went one-and-done each time, succumbing 7-28 as No. 10 at No. 7 Thatcher (2013), 13-27 as No. 14 at No. 3 Eagar Round Valley (2015), and 19-33 as No. 11 at No. 6 Phoenix Christian (2016).
This weekend, the eighth-ranked Wildcats (7-3 seeding record, 5.6287 rating, 3-3 East Region No. 4) welcome the No. 9 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran Coyotes (7-3, 5.3251, 4-2 Metro West No. 2) to Lawson Stadium for a first-round game Saturday, Nov. 4. Morenci will have the home-field advantage, relaxed, confident, and prepared. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
During the most recent 10 seasons of the Top 16 Class 2A (2007-09, 2016) and Division V (2010-15) playoffs combined, the higher seeds have records of 60-20 in the first round, 31-9 in the quarterfinals, 15-5 in the semifinals, and 5-5 in the championship for an overall record of 111-39. The No. 9 seed is 6-4 versus No. 8 and 9-10 overall while No. 8 is 4-10 in the same 10-year span.
However, history favors Morenci in head-to-head competition. The Wildcats have met the Coyotes twice in the state playoffs during the 21st century, in the 2011 first round and the 2012 quarterfinals. Morenci prevailed in both, 35-21 as No. 11 versus No. 6 at Phoenix during 2011 and 54-21 as No. 2 vs. No. 7 at Gilbert Higley during 2012.
Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Linemen block in unison as part of game preparation.
Arizona Lutheran has a 14-11 record for 11 post-seasons since 2003, averaged a 34-24 (841-607) score per game or a 10-point margin, but was absent from the playoffs for two years. The Coyotes reached the quarterfinals seven times, the semifinals five times and the final twice.
Morenci has a 5-10 record for 10 post-seasons since 2001, averaged a 22-29 (324-441) score per game or a 7-point deficit, and is making a third consecutive appearance. The Wildcats have advanced to the quarterfinals thrice, the semifinals once, and the final once.
This season, Arizona Lutheran averaged a 34-17 (339-170) score per game or a 17-point margin while Morenci averaged a 31-19 (311-193) score per game or a 12-point margin.
Arizona Lutheran’s wins were 70-0 over Scottsdale Prep (0-10, minus 21.4897 for No. 40), 44-0 over Surprise Paradise Honors (4-5, minus 2.7726 for No. 24), 30-0 over Willcox, 60-0 over Glendale Joy Christian (1-9, minus 14.6926 for No. 36), 8-7 over Scottsdale Christian (9-2, 7.6457 for No. 5), 50-0 over Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (3-7, minus 2.4488 for No. 23), and 66-35 over Gilbert Christian (7-3, 5.9695 for No. 7).
Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: A blocking sled is driven for a distance as linemen hone their skills.
The Coyotes’ losses were 38-44 to Benson, 8-42 to Phoenix Christian (10-0, 16.1991 for No. 2), and 28-42 to Tempe Prep (6-4, 4.6959 for No. 10).
Morenci’s wins were 21-7 over Tonopah Valley (5-4, minus 1.0164 rating for No. 19), 32-26 over Benson (3-6, minus 1.3020 for No. 21), 47-13 over Willcox (5-5, 0.4725 for No. 14), 65-6 over San Carlos (2-8, minus 13.1287 for No. 34), 69-14 over Tombstone (0-10, minus 18.1512 for No. 38), 45-0 over Miami (3-8, minus 8.3920 for No.30), and 14-0 over Pima (5-5, 1.2113 for No. 13).
The Wildcats’ losses were 6-36 to Thatcher (9-1, 13.3723 for No. 3), 12-47 to Saint Johns (7-3, 6.9196 for No. 6), and 0-44 to Round Valley (10-0, 18.5378 for No. 1).
