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ABOUT THIS BLOGGER
High school sports editor and general assignment sports reporter for the Tucson Citizen.
E-mail him at ggrammer@tucsoncitizen.com
While the Amphi Panthers were giving their coach his 304th career coaching victory Friday night, two other southern Arizona teams were winning their first games under their new head coaches.
Amphi turned back the clock, rushing for 496 yards to give coach Vern Friedli his 304th victory, pulling him within four of the all-time wins record in Arizona.
Panthers running backs Damian Henry and and Chris Johnson combined for 364 yards rushing while Henry and quarterback Zach Roth each ran for three touchdowns in a 61-21 blowout of Flowing Wells.
It was Amphi's highest scoring game since dropping 65 on Tucson High in 1999.
Meanwhile, Catalina's Sam Rolfe and Catalina Foothills' Matt Johnson got their first wins at their respective schools.
For Rolfe, it was his first win ever as the rookie head coach led his team to score 20 unanswered points and rally for a 20-14 win over Desert View in the Trojans' home opener.
Foothills' 61-0 blowout of Rio Rico gave Johnson, a former player and assistant coach under Friedli, his first win with the Falcons. Johnson also had 22 wins at Rincon/University from 2003-06.
The Class 4A Gila Region isn't exactly recognized as the most powerful of regions in Arizona, but it sure has held its own, for the most part, in the early going this season.
The Division II Gila Region has seven wins in the first two weeks of the season against 4A-I schools: Santa Rita has two (Pueblo and Marana); Palo Verde has two (Sahuaro and Pueblo); Amphi has one (Flowing Wells); Catalina has one (Desert View); Sahuarita has one (Cholla).
In 2007, against the same schedule in the first two weeks, the Gila Region teams had just four wins against 4A-I opponents.
I realize the opponents they've been beating aren't exactly the upper tier of the 4A-I, but plaing up a level and winning that many games is somthing the region should be commended for.
While names like AuBura Taylor (2006), Chris Johnson (2006), and J.J. Holliday (06-07) make everyone take notice of the Santa Rita offense, make no mistake, the Eagles defense is for real.
The 4A-II Eagles have yet to allow a point through two weeks of play this season, pitching a 26-0 shutout of Pueblo in Week 1 and a 37-0 shutout of Marana on Friday night. In 2007, those same two schools scored 33 points on Santa Rita.
Ironwood Ridge lost 10-6 Friday night at Phoenix Pinnacle, but don't blame that on the defense, which will again prove to be the best in southern Arizona.
The Nighthawks D, led by UA linebacker commit Jake Fischer, surrendered just two first downs in the game and the only time Pinnacle's offense cross the 50 yard line was after recovering two fumbles – one in the Ironwood Ridge end zone for the team's lone touchdown and another that set up a field goal.
"We wasted an outstanding defensive game," Ironwood Ridge coach Gary Minor said.
Sabino going on the road to open the season and putting up 55 points on anyone should make people think another 10-0 regular season just may be possible for the Sabercats again.
As I mentioned in my week 2 high school picks, Sabino will control the trenches against just about anyone they'll play this season.
Arizona Republic reporter Richard Obert, who predicted last week a Cienega upset at Scottsdale Chaparral, said Friday's game was as good as any he's ever seen. Here's a link to Richard's blog talking about the game: Obert: A game for the ages
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