PIMA — The 2020 High School football season kicked off Friday night with Thatcher outlasting Pima 26-0.
Neither team was able to get any momentum offensively in the first half as the game was mostly played near midfield. The defense dominated for both teams and went into halftime tied at zero.
The first points of the season were scored at the 8:39 mark of the 3rd quarter as Thatcher running back Jacob Ward scored on a 9-yard touchdown run to take a 6-0 lead. The score was set up by a blocked punt by the Eagles special teams.
Four minutes later the Eagles found pay dirt again as quarterback Mark Wren found a wide open James Shumway for an 11 yard strike to extend the Eagles lead to 13-0.
Wren found sophomore receiver Brandon Napier on a 17-yard toss in the 4th quarter before Slade Shupe rounded out the Eagles’ scoring with a 9-yard TD run with 1:03 remaining in the game for the 26-0 win.
Ward led the Eagles on offense with 90 yards on 13 carries and the one touchdown. Wren finished the night 4 of 11 for 36 yards and 2 scores.
The Eagle defense held Pima to just 20 total yards. 28 passing yards and -8 rushing yards.
This is the 33rd straight win for Thatcher in the all-time series between the two teams.
Pima will be on the road at St. Johns next week. The Redskins lost to Round Valley in week 1. Thatcher will host Snowflake who beat American Leadership – Gilbert North.
