All Entries in the "Football" Category
ONLINE EXTRA: 2011 Football schedule
Photo by ED ADAMS
Home Field: Kino Stadium, 2500 E. Ajo Way
Game Admission: $7 General $5 Students
Saturday August 27 Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora (@ Douglas HS-Douglas, Ariz.): W 59-0
Saturday September 3 @ Glendale CC 7 p.m.
Saturday September 10 SCOTTSDALE CC 7 p.m.
Saturday September 17 *SNOW COLLEGE 7 p.m.
Saturday Sept. 24 @ *Phoenix College 7 p.m.
Saturday October 1 @ *Arizona Western College 7 p.m.
Saturday October 8 *EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE (@ TUCSON HS) 7 p.m.
Saturday October 15 @ *Scottsdale CC 7 p.m.
Saturday October 29 *MESA CC 1:30 p.m.
Saturday November 5 @ *New Mexico Military Institute 1 p.m.
Saturday November 12 *GLENDALE CC 1:30 p.m.
Zander McKean
*Western States Football League Game
Home games in BOLD
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Football expects to go to bowl
By NARCISO THOMAS VILLARREAL
Photo by ED ADAMS
As spring camp nears its end, the Pima Community College football team is optimistic about the upcoming fall season.
PCC will close out its spring practices with a football game in which the offense scrimmages the defense. The game will be played Saturday, April 23, at 9:30 a.m. at the West Campus soccer field.
Last year, Pima beat Phoenix College in its season opener, 17-14. The win ended a 48-game losing streak against college teams.
PCC got another monkey off its back by winning its first Western States Football League game in five years to close out the season.
“Our expectations are to go to a bowl game,” sophomore quarterback Zander McKean said. “We have no lower, and we’re not gonna celebrate anything less than that.”
Four WSFL teams advanced to bowl games last year. A new bowl game was added, the El Toro Bowl in Yuma.
McKean, who played in every game last year, is the projected starting quarterback. Last season, he threw for more than1,000 yards and10 touchdown passes.
Head coach Patrick Nugent said he thinks the team can win six games this year, and should have won six last year.
The Aztecs lost games by one point against Mesa Community College and Eastern Arizona College last year, 22-21 and 14-13 respectively.
“Last year we only won three games,” Nugent said. “We have to figure out how to win more games.”
Nugent said it’s difficult to maintain a championship caliber team in junior college because players are only eligible to play for two years.
Pima practices with 48 players during spring football. The new class of recruits doesn’t report to camp until Aug. 1.
Nugent said there have been good practices and great effort in the weight room.
Zander McKean
However, freshman receiver Cameron Gaddis said the team needs to improve its chemistry between the quarterbacks and wide receivers.
They need to “get a connection, get a flow,” Gaddis said. “It’s miscommunication and stuff. That’s it. Basically, we’re doing what we need to do, it’s just slow and not full speed.”
McKean is confident the Aztecs can find their rhythm.
“There’s a lot of guys that are new to the system,” McKean said. “It’s spring ball. There’s four quarterbacks, and that’s gonna come in time. We got a lot of time to figure that out. This is just the beginning stages.”
Spring Game
April 23: @ West Campus soccer field, 9:30 a.m.
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ONLINE EXTRA: Football signs recruits, sends players to universities
By NARCISO THOMAS VILLARREAL
The Pima Community College football team is already busting its tail in preparation for the 2011 season, despite it still being the offseason.
Official signing day for new football recruits began on Feb. 2, and head coach Patrick Nugent wasted no time. He has already acquired 17 new Aztec football players, all of whom are from Arizona high schools. There isn’t a deadline for recruiting players.
Seven new defensive players and 10 new offensive players signed. Twelve of the new recruits have been offered scholarships while the other five have been invited to join the team but will not receive scholarships.
Nugent said he was very happy to sign defensive back D’Anthony Easley from Millenium High School, offensive lineman Josue Miranda from Bisbee High School and running back Willie Willis from Cienega High School.
Willis was the second best running back among Southern Arizona high school football teams, according to the Arizona Daily Star website. For the 2010-2011 season, he rushed for 1,830 yards on 171 carries and had 21 rushing touchdowns.
Out-of-state players can’t be offered scholarships due to school policy, but Nugent said they are eligible to play on the team as walk-ons. Walk-ons have to cover their own tuition.
The team still has 14 more scholarships to offer, while 37 positions are still available out of 100.
“We’re cautiously optimistic for the season,” Nugent said. “Our kids know what we’re expecting of them, and we know what we need to do in this league now.”
Last year, the team finished 3-8 overall and 1-7 in the Western States Football League in Nugent’s second year as head coach.
“We’re looking forward to bigger and better things next year,” he said.
Nugent said there is an array of tasks to be completed before the start of the season. They include recruiting more players, adjusting to new coaches and spring play.
Eight football players from the 2010 squad have moved on to four-year colleges.
Some have already began their new academic careers at their new schools while others will finish out this semester at Pima before moving on.
John Hughes
Former offensive lineman Erick Marquez had planned to attend Pima this semester but was recruited by the University of Sioux Falls less than a month ago. Two weeks ago he chose to play for USF, and on Feb. 2 he was on his way.
“It feels different, but it feels really good,” Marquez said about his new team.
Marquez will play offensive guard for the Cougars and said he is confident he will be a starter.
Recruits
Daniel Boice, DE - Cienega High School
Andres Carcino, OL - Catalina High School
Wes Clausen, TE - Sabino High School
D’Anthony Easley, DB - Millennium High School
Jose Esquivel, WR - Nogales High School
Chris Fergoso, DB - Bisbee High School
Bobby Henkel, LB - CDO High School
Darrian McIver, WR - Catalina High School
Carson Martin, OL - CDO High School
Josue Miranda, OL - Bisbee High School
Graham Newcomb, OL - Higley High School
Chad Paineau, DE - Mount Pointe High School
Robert Palacios, OL – Coolidge High School
Matt Rockhill, LB - Wickenburg High School
Clarence Williams, LB - Amphitheater High School
Willie Willis, RB - Cienega High School
James Wimberly, RB - Cholla High School
Moving On
Andy Garcia, RB - Adams State College
Brent Lush, LB - Adams State College
Griffin Ronstadt, DB - Adams State College
Aubura Taylor, RB - Fairmont State University
John Hughes, RB - Fayetteville State University
Nick Carlson, DB - Midland Lutheran College
Tyrone Williams, DL - University of San Diego
Erick Marquez, OL - University of Sioux Falls
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AAA Padres may affect Pima football team
By ERIC TOWNSEND
Triple-A baseball is returning to Tucson. Although that is good news for the Tucson community, the Pima Community College football team may face scheduling issues.
In 2010, Pima began playing its football games at Tucson Electric Park, which is now called Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.
At least during 2011 and possibly into 2012, the Aztecs will share the stadium with the Tucson Padres, a minor league baseball team that moved from Portland.
The AAA Padres begin their season in April.
“So far the scheduling works out,” PCC football head coach Pat Nugent said. “Their last week of the regular season will be away, when we are at home.”
Scheduling could become a problem for Pima if the Padres make the playoffs in September.
“It definitely could put us in a tough spot,” Nugent said.
If that is the case, Pima is looking into a few options. PCC previously played football at Tucson High School, Amphitheater High School and Santa Rita High School.
“We could really play at any high school in Tucson,” Nugent said.
The Aztec have also looked into playing at Hi Corbett Field, a baseball park previously used by the Tucson Toros and Colorado Rockies. However, Nugent said Hi Corbett representatives “are not too pumped about the idea.”
None of those choices is as good as their current stadium, Nugent said.
“Those places aren’t really home for us,” he said. “At TEP, even though it isn’t our actual home, it’s a place that we’ve been able to call home.”
The Padres, top affiliate of the San Diego Padres, moved to Tucson from Oregon after their stadium was taken over by a Major League Soccer expansion team, the Portland Timbers.
Last year, as the Portland Beavers, the team went 59-85, fourth out of four teams in their division. Only division winners make the playoffs in the Pacific Coast League.
The Triple-A playoffs are three rounds, two series and then a single game championship between the PCL and International League champions. The Padres are expected to play in Tucson for two seasons before moving to a San Diego suburb.
Pima football will briefly lose access to the Kino Stadium outfield if the Tucson Padres make the playoffs.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Early Pima newspapers record beginning of Aztec Sports
By JAMES KELLEY
Pima Community College student newspapers and Aztec sports both had humble and confusing beginnings.
The college held its first classes in 1969 and officially opened in 1970, but the start of the Aztec Press and Pima sports are a bit more hazy.
A student newspaper named Graffiti Press started in 1970. That was the first of six names before the publication became Aztec Press in 1981.
A “Department of Mass Communications” launched a publication called Campus News in 1973. The Library of Congress believes that newspaper evolved into the Aztec Press after a few name changes, but is also unsure when publication of the Graffiti Press ceased.
In 1975, the Campus News newspaper and Pima's athletic department held a logo contest.
In the sports arena, Pima’s first athletes played on club teams.
A judo martial arts team started in 1970, and was the first Pima team to advance to Nationals. It even hosted Nationals in 1974, where it finished second.
In 1971, teams included “girls’” volleyball, men’s softball (Pima Suns) and baseball (Pima Giants.) Softball and baseball played in a city league, while against teams like Frontier Liquor and the Jewish Community Center.
Intercollegiate sports officially began in 1973, when Pima launched men’s cross country, wrestling, men’s basketball, men’s track and baseball teams.
The athletic department celebrated the 25th anniversary of Pima sports in 1995, but now considers 1973 its launch year.
A 1973 fencing team won Pima’s first trophy.
In 1974, when only men played on the golf team, coach Bill Johnson was 20 years old. He coached one player who was 42 and another who was 30 years old.
The first successful team sport was “girls’” basketball, which in 1975 notched Pima’s first back-to-back winning seasons.
During the 1970s, the Campus News played a significant role with Pima’s logos.
In a Sept. 28, 1973 story, the CN explained Pima’s logo, designed by Gill Kenny, coordinator of Communigraphics and Reprographics Services. The logo is a “stylized ‘P’” that is repeated in a circle and is used today.
In 1975, the Campus News and the athletic department sponsored a “Draw the Aztec” contest after the sports editor and Pima’s first athletic director, Larry Toledo, decided the college needed an Aztec logo to go with the standard circle “P” logo.
Pima's logo is a "stylized P," repeated and highlighted here in orange, PCC's orignal color.
The contest offered more than $200 in prizes, including a $100 scholarship.
In May 1975, judges chose a logo by design major Bob Einfrank. The multi-Aztec head was put on sports uniforms and used as the newspaper’s logo.
The athletic department drew criticism in the 2000s when it began limiting recruitment to in-state athletes, but the philosophy was not new. Pima originally recruited only Tucson athletes, though it welcomed out-of-state athletes who decided on their own to enroll.
Pima’s most recent sport – football – was almost one of the first. In the mid-1970s, it seemed likely that football would be added, but the program stalled when voters rejected a $9.5 million bond by an almost 2-1 margin. Football was eventually added in 2001.
The Campus News alternately supported and trashed the potential football team.
A 1974 column said Pima students should follow Scottsdale Community College’s lead. At Scottsdale, students voted against a football team. When the school added one anyway, students voted to name the team the “Fighting Artichokes” and make pink their color.
In the early 1970s, PCC teams didn’t have an on-campus gym or home fields. The school did have cheerleaders and song leaders, and composers were working on a fight song. Two “authentic” Aztec mascots were also in the works.
Men’s basketball got off to a grand start in 1973, hosting the International Friendship Festival Tournament that opened on (tape delayed) TV. The athletic director, Toledo, gave 1,000 free tickets to students.
The start of Aztec sports coincided with the 1972 adoption of Title IX, the federal legislation that forbids schools to discriminate on the basis of gender.
Gradually, Pima’s female sports teams moved from club to varsity status and changed their names from “girls’” to “women’s.”
Progress wasn’t immediate. In 1974, Pima’s first women’s softball team had just 12 players. Stories didn’t indicate how many outfielders the team used.
In a 1974 story, the Campus News revealed that both basketball teams shared locker rooms. The men dressed while the females were playing their second half, and the women changed during the guys’ game.
The Arizona Community College Athletic Conference voted in 1975 to add women’s sports.
Only a few Pima teams (cross country, volleyball and baseball) currently compete against four-year schools. In the 1970s, however, the Aztecs regularly played university club teams.
If it had added football, Pima would have played junior varsity teams from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University.
The men’s basketball team did play against JV teams, and the Campus News couldn’t resist an occasionally snarky comment. When Pima beat UA’s JV team in 1975, a cutline said the Aztecs beat the “Wildkittens” 95-71.
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Aztec Press History
Graffiti Press: 1970-1973
Campus News: 1973-1977
The Downtowner: 1975-1981
Aztec Campus News: 1977-1978
Aztec News: 1978-1981
Aztec Press (merger of Downtowner and Aztec News): 1981-1986
Aztec: 1986-1987
Aztec Press: 1987-
AztecPressOnline.com: 2010-
Pima deals with concussions
By JAMES SARGENT
Photo by ED ADAMS
aztecpress@pima.edu
Last year, former Aztec basketball player Travares Peterson sustained a concussion in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Tournament.
He was diagnosed hours after it happened by receiving an X-ray from the hospital. Once he was cleared from the hospital, he was told not to be active for seven days due to the chance of having a severe second concussion.
“The steps I took to become cleared to play was paying attention to all the guidelines the trainers and doctors had for me,” Peterson said.
When asked for tips to avoid concussions, he replied, “Concussions in sports are gonna happen. I would just suggest that athletes should do what they are comfortable doing on the playing field/court and have no worries about getting hurt.”
A concussion is defined as the most common type of traumatic brain injury. The term is most frequently used when talking about sports and sports medicine.
Physical symptoms of concussions include headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, lack of motor coordination and difficulty balancing.
Cognitive and emotional symptoms of concussions include confusion, disorientation and difficulty focusing attention.
“Concussions aren’t really classified anymore,” Pima Community College football athletic trainer Scott Horton said. “A concussion’s a concussion. The severity aspect you kind of see just in terms of recovery time. A more severe concussion takes longer to recover. Personally, that’s kind of how I classify them.”
Treatment involves monitoring and rest. Athletes typically receive tests and the trainer decides when the athlete can play again.
“A typical recovery time, I would say, is about a little over a week to be game-ready,” Horton said.
This year in the NFL, concussions have risen at an astounding rate. There have been more than 100 concussions coming from clean hits and dirty ones, big hits and relatively minor ones.
Some notable players receiving concussions in 2010 were Indianapolis Colts’ receiver Austin Collie, Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Kevin Kolb, Dallas Cowboys’ tight end Jason Witten, Chicago Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler, Philadelphia Eagles’ receiver DeSean Jackson, Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and Pittsburgh Steelers’ receiver Hines Ward.
PCC is also taking concussions very seriously, just like the NFL.
With the football season over and many concussions coming and going, the athletic trainers had many tests to perform on the athletes sustaining the injury.
The Arizona Interscholastic Association has also put an emphasis on concussions in high school sports in Arizona this year.
Helmet to helmet hits are the most likely source of concussions in football and new ways of preventing head and neck damage are being undertaken.
The new Xenith helmet is the talk of the NFL. According to NFL inside reports, it supposedly lowers the risk of concussions.
When asked if Pima Football would take a different approach in the use of their helmets, Horton said, “if there was a helmet on the market that absolutely eliminated concussions, then everyone would have it.”
“It’s hard to say what helmets are more effective or less effective,” Horton said.
Pima uses Riddell helmets and Horton says the Aztecs have not considered changing to a different helmet.
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Aztecs receive post-season honors
Photo by ED ADAMS
aztecpress@pima.edu
The Pima Community College football team hasn’t had much to celebrate lately but it was handsomely recognized.
Six players from the 2010 team were honored for their regular season performances.
This total matches the number of awards Pima players received during the last four years combined.
“The program overall is much improved, and therefore some players deserve the recognition they got,” Sports Information Director Don Stopa said.
The awards are based on two categories: All-Western States Football League and All-National Junior College Athletic Association Region 1.
Return specialist Auburá Taylor earned All-WSFL First Team and All-Region 1 First Team. He led the league in both kickoff return yards and punt return yards.
From the Aztecs’ offensive side, sophomore wide receiver Scott Campbell earned All-WSFL Second Team and All-Region 1 First Team awards.
Campbell had 515 receiving yards, which was sixth in the WSFL. He was third in the league with 16.6 yards per catch.
Sophomore offensive lineman Tony Alicea made the All-WSFL Second Team and All-Region 1 Second Team.
Sophomore defensive back Ricky Solomon, sophomore linebacker Brent Lush and freshman defensive lineman Pepa Fonokalafi each earned All-WSFL Second Team and All-Region 1 Second Team awards.
Solomon finished second in the WSFL with 32 solo tackles. He led the league in interceptions with five.
Sophomore safety Griffin Ronstadt was named NJCAA National Player of the Week after the Aztecs snapped their 29-game losing streak in the first game of the season.
-By Narciso Thomas Villarreal
Vu named All-American, again
Sophomore forward Minh Vu of the men’s soccer team went two-for-two in being awarded All-American honors.
Vu was named to the first-team NJCAA All-American team, after being named to the second team last year. Vu, also the Region 1 Player of the Year, led the Region and ACCAC in scoring with 44 points, including 15 goals.
Minh Vu
-By James Kelley
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ATHLETIC VOICE: Cardinals QB woes plentiful
By JAMES SARGENT
aztecpress@pima.edu
Arizona Cardinals’ fans knew it would be tough when likely Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner retired after last season, but they didn’t know Derek Anderson would be this bad.
No one believed a free-fall of this magnitude would occur—one that has the Red Birds at 3-9 and in the midst of a seven-game losing streak.
The season started poorly when head coach Ken Whisenhunt made the horrible decision to trade quarterback Matt Leinart.
Whisenhunt gave Anderson the starting job out of the gate, then promoted undrafted rookie Max Hall to lead the Big Red passing attack. After a couple of games and almost the same results (except for a miracle win against the defending champion New Orleans Saints), Anderson got his number called again.
Anderson ranks last in the NFL in completion percentage (52.8) and has yet to get on page with elite receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Among 32 NFL teams, the Arizona offense ranks 31st in total offense, 31st in rushing offense and 30th in passing offense. Way to go Anderson! It sure seems as if your 2007 Pro Bowl season was a fluke.
As for the defense, the Cardinals rank 29th in total defense, 31st in rushing defense and 25th in passing defense.
Personally, I don’t believe the defense is as bad as these numbers suggest. Would you want to play outstanding defense every game only to then watch one of the worst offensive outposts in football? I sure wouldn’t.
The defense, at times, shows it has playmakers that can improve the defense to a middle range.
Frustration is definitely playing a role in the demise of Bill Bidwell’s franchise.
Statistically the Cardinals still have a shot at the postseason, but surely it won’t happen. The team should lose out to set up for a top 10 draft pick and land a quarterback for the future.
Stanford’s Andrew Luck will likely be the No. 1 overall player and quarterback taken in the 2011 NFL draft, so he won’t be available when it’s Arizona’s turn to pick. Therefore, Arizona should settle on the arm of Arkansas standout Ryan Mallett.
He has great size at 6 foot 6 inches and 238 pounds. He has been blessed with arm strength. His touch and accuracy need a little work, but give him a couple of years in the pros. Mallett has the potential to be a great NFL quarterback.
For the rest of this Cardinals’ season, it will be a struggle to watch as the team continues to rely on the questionable arm of Derek Anderson.
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ONLINE EXTRA: Football wins first WSFL game since 2004
Story and Video By NARCISO THOMAS VILLARREAL
Photos by ED ADAMS and JAMES KELLEY
aztecpress@pima.edu
After defeating Phoenix College Nov. 13, the Pima Community College football team was finally able to bury two losing streaks that have lingered throughout the season.
The Aztecs (3-8, 1-7 Western States Football League) were able to tame the Bears for a second time this season with a 35-14 victory during a rare day game at Tucson Electric Park.
“It’s a long haul,” head coach Patrick Nugent said. “We were in a lot of football games and our kids played their butts off all year long, just couldn’t get a win. I’m just glad these guys can go out on a winning note.”
Andy Garcia
With the victory, the Aztecs snapped their seven-game overall losing streak and their 50-game WSFL losing streak.
“It’s what we’re trying to do at Pima,” Nugent said. “We’re trying to believe in accomplishments. It’s been a long battle taking over a program that was really low. We had a win at the beginning of the year to get their losing streak over and now we got a league win that’s no longer on our stats. Now we can move forward and get better here at Pima.”
Pima beat Phoenix 17-14 in the first game of the season, snapping its 29-game losing streak as well as its 48-game losing streak to college teams.
Except for a 63-2 win over semi-pro Verde Valley in 2007, Pima had not won since 2004 before the first win over the Bears.
In the Nov. 13 conference game, freshman quarterback Zander McKean connected with sophomore receiver Scott Campbell on the first snap for a 53-yard touchdown pass to give Pima the early advantage.
Zander McKean
Pima’s defense and special teams were key factors in the win, providing points. The Bears scored one touchdown each half.
Pima defenders had three interceptions. Sophomore linebacker Ernesto Escarcega returned one pick 37 yards for a touchdown just before the half ended. Sophomore cornerback Nick Carlson and freshman defensive back Adrian Brahler each had an interception as well.
On special teams, the Aztecs blocked two punts. Carlson had one block and returned the other blocked punt for a touchdown.
“We’ve been writing it up,” Carlson said after the game. “(Special teams) coach (Christian) Vitale sent me off the edge. They’ve been sending me through the middle all season. Came off the edge, just got free and blocked it. That’s how we draw it up.”
On the offensive end, the Aztecs finished with 309 total yards of offense. McKean threw three touchdowns and went 11-14 for 138 passing yards.
The receiving game was led by Campbell, who caught two passes for a total of 66 yards.
The team gained 171 yards on the ground and was led by freshman signal caller McKean, who rushed for 59 yards on 14 carries.
“It’s really good that we won a game because we had our doubts,” Garcia said after being asked about breaking the WSFL streak. “It’s a good thing we had the whole Tucson community behind us. It’s really good that our coaches were there every step of the way.”
Andy Garcia, left, Tranton Kamins, center and Pat Nugent
Garcia said that despite injuries and ineligibility issues, nobody on the team gave up. He said players still went to practice knowing that they might or might not play and that getting three victories on the season was good for them.
Sophomore defensive back Ricky Solomon finished the season ranked No. 12 in the National Junior College Athletic this year and garnered 67 return yards.
Nugent hopes the recent wins will help give the football program legitimacy.
“We got to get on the trail recruiting come Monday (Nov. 17) and hopefully kids believe in our program now and know what we’re trying to do,” Nugent said when asked about next season.
“We got a really good freshman class that we’re excited about. Now we got to add to it and come out hard, work all year and get better.”
ATHLETIC VOICE: Football on the right track
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ATHLETIC VOICE: Football on the right track
By JAMES KELLEY
In 2005, I visited relatives living in America’s armpit (Texas) and one of them asked how the University of Arizona football team was doing.
They laughed when I told them UA’s record was 3-8, but I explained the school was beginning an extensive rebuilding program. It took four years for the Wildcats to get back to a bowl game.
That’s where the Pima Community College football team is now.
The Aztecs didn’t have anything like the Wildcats’ infamous player revolt, but their program had fallen much further.
PCC didn’t beat a real football team from 2005-2009 and the last head coach wasn’t much better than John Mackovic at UA. Bill Laslett held 15-minute practices and his 2008 teams were outscored 509-37.
In 2009, new head coach Pat Nugent started the rebuilding process with a 0-10 season. The Aztecs were outscored 352-138, narrowing the gap a bit.
This year they went 3-8 and were outscored just 280-220.
Pima was three plays from being 6-5, substantial improvement.
A losing football team usually crumbles at the end of the season, but Pima lost at Eastern Arizona College only after a failed two-point conversion.
When Pima played Eastern at home in September, the Gila Monsters went all Hernán Cortés on the Aztecs, winning 42-14.
Had quarterback Daniel Nicholas, the 2007 Tucson Citizen Player of the Year, not quit the team right before the season started, it is not hard to imagine the Aztecs in a bowl game even though just four conference teams go bowling.
PCC also lost superstars Doug Steele (to University of Northern Colorado) and Jordan Christensen (injury).
Sure, new Canyon del Oro High School varsity head coach Dustin Pearce hasn’t lost since replacing Nugent, but this isn’t a Boise State University situation.
University of Colorado hired Dan Hawkins in 2006 after he did well at Boise State, then fired him a few weeks ago because of his subpar performance at Colorado. Meanwhile, replacement coach Chris Pederson turned Boise State into a superpower.
Nugent rebuilt CDO from a 0-10 season en route to winning five coach of the year awards.
In addition, Pearce has Ka’Deem Carey running the ball for him. Even I could win a 4A state title if I had Carey, and I rarely punt (in video games).
The Nuge has Pima headed in the right direction.
It won’t be long before UA and Pima go bowling in the same year for the first time ever.
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Football seeks to end streaks against familiar foe
By Narciso Thomas Villarreal
aztecpress@pima.edu
Don’t tell people associated with the Pima Community College Aztecs’ football team that seven is a lucky number because they might give you a mean glare.
The Aztecs (2-8, 0-7 Western States Football League) lost their seventh game in a row after they were edged by Eastern Arizona College by one point on Nov. 6 by a score of 14-13.
“It’s frustrating,” head coach Patrick Nugent said. “Nobody expected us to be where we’re at. Hopefully this week we can end that streak.”
In week two, in a non-conference game, Eastern spanked Pima 42-14 in Tucson.
PCC has not won a WSFL game since Oct. 30, 2004 when it beat Arizona Western College 62-20. In 2004, they were called the Pima Storm.
On Saturday, Nov. 13, the Aztecs wrap up the season by hosting Phoenix College (2-7, 2-5) at 1 p.m. at Tucson Electric Park. Pima snapped its 29-game losing streak by beating the Bears in Phoenix to open the season in non-conference play.
Eastern took control of the November game in the first quarter by scoring all of its 14 points.
The Aztecs pulled within seven by halftime to make the score 14-7.
In the third quarter, Pima had a holding penalty called against it that took away a long touchdown run.
In the final two minutes of the game, Pima scored a touchdown to pull within one.
Instead of kicking the extra point after the touchdown and tying the game, Nugent decided to have his offense go for the lead by going for a two-point conversion.
The Aztecs’ attempt was unsuccessful after sophomore tight end Trenton Kamins caught the pass but was called out of bounds.
“There was tension the whole game,” freshman offensive lineman Daniel Ballesteros said. “They called back two touchdowns from bad reffing. At the end of it all, the pass to Kamins was in but the refs called it out.”
In the game, freshman quarterback Zander McKean took charge of the offense. He threw two touchdown passes and had 161 passing yards.
Sophomore receiver Scott Campbell led the team in receiving yards with 79. Sophomore running back Auburá Taylor had Pima’s other receiving touchdown in the game.
On Oct. 30, Pima was able to keep pace with Snow College in the first half but was eventually bullied in the second half. The Aztecs fell to the Badgers in Ephraim, Utah, by a final score of 47-11.
The Aztecs played well in the first half. After the first quarter, the score was 10-7 in favor of the No. 13 Badgers. Snow won the WSFL title by blowing out Phoenix on Nov. 6.
Neither team scored in the second quarter, so Pima still only trailed by three at halftime.
The second half started out well for the Aztecs. They made it 10-9 after forcing a safety.
After that, the fireworks were over for Pima. The team surrendered 37 points to the Badgers in the second half.
Pima just managed to squeeze out two more points for the rest of the game after they returned a blocked field goal attempt by Snow and took it to the end zone for the score.
Freshmen quarterbacks Zach Schira and McKean each threw two interceptions and Pima fumbled the ball three times.
In the game, the Aztecs had 201 total yards of offense with 93 passing yards and 108 rushing yards.
McKean and Schira threw a combined 24 passes in the game and completed 10.
Taylor led the Aztecs’ ground attack with 50 rushing yards on nine carries.
Sophomore running back Ronald Hopper led the team in receiving yards with 39.
Defensively, Pima gave up 288 total offensive yards to Snow. Sophomore defensive back Michael Holloway had the Aztecs’ sole interception of the game.
Zander McKean drops back to pass as his offensive line and Anthony Hughes protect him against Western. Photo by James Kelley
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Watch as Narciso talks about his goals.
ONLINE EXTRA: Football snowed in on Utah road trip
By Narciso Thomas Villarreal
Photo by Ed Adams
Despite a final score of 47-11, the Pima Community College football team put up a good effort on the road Oct. 30 against Snow College.
Pima (2-7, 0-6 Western States Football League) was handed its sixth straight loss by the home team from Ephraim, Utah.
The Aztecs played well in the first half. After the first quarter, the score was 10-7 in favor of the No. 17 Badgers.
Neither team scored in the second quarter, so Pima still only trailed by three at halftime.
The second half started out well for the Aztecs. They returned a blocked field goal attempt by Snow and returned it to the end zone for two points to make the score 10-9.
After that, the fireworks were over for PCC. The team surrendered 37 points to the Badgers in the second half.
Pima would manage to get just two more points for the rest of the game.
Zander McKean
The Aztecs turned the ball over seven times. Freshmen quarterbacks Zander McKean and Zach Schira each threw two interceptions and Pima fumbled the ball three times.
The Aztecs will play their final road game of the season in Thatcher against Eastern Arizona College on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m.
Football drops fifth straight
By Narciso Thomas Villarreal
Photo by Ed Adams
aztecpress@pima.edu
The Pima Community College football team hung around with New Mexico Military Institute in the first half but was eventually blown away.
The Broncos from Roswell, N.M., handed the Aztecs their fifth consecutive loss overall with their 35-7 victory on a chilly Saturday night at Tucson Electric Park on Oct. 23.
“We’re not a very good football team right now,” head coach Patrick Nugent said. “We just got to figure out a way to try to keep playing.”
With the loss, the Aztecs remain winless against opponents in the Western States Football League since 2004. The Aztecs’ last winning record against conference opponents was also in 2004 when they finished 6-3.
This year, Pima trailed 21-7 at halftime, but the deficit would increase after NMMI scored 14 more points in the third quarter.
Pima finished the game with 219 total yards of offense.
The Aztecs’ only score of the game came when sophomore running back Auburá Taylor returned a kickoff from the Broncos for 85 yards for a touchdown.
Auburá Taylor
The Broncos had 371 yards in the game.
“We just didn’t really execute on offense or defense side of the ball,” sophomore defensive middle linebacker Brent Lush said after the game. “It’s another heartbreaker. I didn’t really feel that they were a better team than us, that’s for sure.”
After the loss, Pima fell to 2-6, 0-5 WSFL. The Broncos forfeited two games, this season, one non-conference and one WSFL game, due to using an ineligible player, so their record is a deceiving 3-6.
On Oct. 16, the worst team in the WSFL, Mesa Community College defeated Pima 22-21.
“Mistakes came back and cost us,” Nugent said. “It was a tough defeat. We played well, put up a lot of numbers offensively, and the defense really played a great game.”
Pima had two back-breaking misplayed snaps that both times went over the punter’s head and led to points for Mesa.
One of the bad snaps put Mesa on the Pima 10-yard line, and the Thunderbirds capitalized with a touchdown. The other bad snap resulted in a safety, giving MCC two points in the fourth quarter.
The Aztecs also fumbled the ball five times but mostly recovered it, lost it only once.
Pima freshman quarterback Zach Schira was intercepted before the first half came to an end. The ball was taken back 96 yards for a Thunderbirds’ touchdown.
“We outplayed them the whole game,” Nugent said. “We were a better football team than them. If you take away our miscues, we would’ve won that game easily.”
Pima had 359 total offensive yards, with 131 passing yards and 228 rushing yards.
Freshman quarterback Zander McKean started the game and finished 7-18 for 126 passing yards.
McKean’s sole touchdown pass was completed to Taylor.
Schira completed one pass in three attempts for five passing yards and was intercepted once.
Pima had 228 total rushing yards in 41 total rushing attempts.
Taylor earned both of Pima’s rushing touchdowns in the game as he ran for 81 yards in four carries. He finished with 268 all-purpose yards on the night.
The Thunderbirds gained 201 total offensive yards against the Aztecs’ defense.
Freshman defensive back Adrian Brahler had an interception.
“In reality, the defense only gave up three points all night,” Nugent said. “The defense gave the offense plenty of opportunities to score.”
Pima will head north to Ephraim, Utah, to face No. 17 Snow College on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 1:30 p.m. The Aztecs will leave for the 700-mile, 12 hour bus trip on Friday, Oct. 29.
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ONLINE EXTRA: Bad snaps cost football in loss to lowly Mesa
By Narciso Thomas Villarreal
Photo by Ed Adams
The wheels have fallen off for the Pima Community College football team after losing to the team with the worst record in the conference, Mesa Community College.
Mesa defeated Pima 22-21 on Oct. 16 as the Aztecs dropped their second road game in a row and fourth game overall. With the loss, the Aztecs fell to 2-5 overall and remain winless in the Western States Football League at 0-4.
“Mistakes came back and cost us,” head coach Patrick Nugent said. “It was a tough defeat. We played well, put up a lot of numbers offensively and the defense really played a great game.”
Pima had two misplayed snaps that both times went over the punter’s head and led to points for Mesa.
One of the bad snaps put Mesa on the Pima 10-yard line, and Mesa capitalized with a touchdown. The other bad snap resulted in a safety, which gave the Thunderbirds two points in the fourth quarter.
The Aztecs also fumbled the ball five times but lost it only once.
Pima freshman quarterback Zach Schira was picked off before the first half came to an end, and it was taken back 96 yards for a Thunderbirds’ touchdown.
“We outplayed them the whole game,” Nugent said. “We were a better football team than them. If you take away our miscues, we would’ve won that game easily.”
Pima had 359 total offensive yards, with 131 passing yards and 228 rushing yards.
Zander McKean
Freshman quarterback Zander McKean started the game and finished 7-18 for 126 passing yards.
McKean’s sole touchdown pass was completed to sophomore running back Auburá Taylor.
Schira completed one pass in three attempts for five passing yards and was intercepted once.
Pima had 228 total rushing yards in 41 total rushing attempts.
Taylor earned both of Pima’s rushing touchdowns in the game as he ran for 81 yards in four carries. He finished with 268 all-purpose yards.
The Thunderbirds gained 201 total offensive yards against the Aztecs’ defense.
Freshman defensive back Adrian Brahler had an interception.
“In reality, the defense only gave up three points all night,” Nugent said. “The defense gave the offense plenty of opportunities to score.”
The New Mexico Military Institute Broncos will travel from Roswell, NM to Tucson Electric Park to face the Aztecs on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.
Admission prices are $6 for adults, $4 for students and free for children under 12. Parking is free.
The Broncos have forfeited two games, one non-conference and one WSFL, this season due to a player playing while ineligible.
ONLINE EXTRA: Football shows promise despite losses
By Narciso Thomas Villarreal
Photo by Ed Adams
Scottsdale Videos by James Kelley
The Pima Community College football team has lost three games in a row, but that includes a close call to an undefeated team and a deceiving score against the preseason No. 1 ranked team.
The Aztecs (2-4, 0-3 Western States Football League) lost their third consecutive game after being beat 32-13 by the No. 8 Arizona Western College Matadors on Oct. 9 at home. Pima was close early on, but Western pulled away in the second half.
“That’s a great football team we just played, and I thought our kids gave every ounce of effort they could,” head coach Patrick Nugent said after the game. “We just fell a little bit short tonight.”
The Aztecs struck first after sophomore defensive back Michael Holloway intercepted the ball and took it 11 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
The first half ended with Pima trailing 18-7.
Pima would only muster six more points after sophomore running back Auburá Taylor had a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
“It was good to finally get back there,” Taylor said. “I ain’t been starting back there all year. Our starter went down. I felt like it would be a big chance to step up there and definitely make a big play and keep the team in it.”
Taylor had 107 total punt return yards in four attempts. He also had four kickoff returns totaling 101 yards.
“I think we can definitely make some big plays,” Taylor said about the team’s overall performance on special teams. “As long as they keep kicking it to me, I’m going to do the best I can.”
Pima’s special teams also prevented AWC from scoring a two-point conversion and blocked two point-after-touchdown attempts.
The Aztecs’ true freshmen pair of quarterbacks threw for 80 passing yards in total, with Zander McKean taking most of the snaps.
McKean went 7-20 for 75 yards. He was picked off once and sacked twice.
Zach Schira completed one pass in six attempts worth five total passing yards. The Matadors intercepted two of his passes and sacked him five times on the other hand.
“We definitely had a chance in that ball game,” Schira said. “They were a hell of a football team. They’re big, they’re strong and they’re fast. We were real close. We got a few breaks here and there. We minimize a couple mistakes, and we’re right in that ball game.”
Ricky Solomon
Pima rushed for 65 total yards with freshman receiver Ty Minkin leading the team with 34 yards in three carries. Sophomore running back Andy Garcia finished second with 28 yards in six carries.
“We moved the ball,” Nugent said. “We just had some mess-ups down in their zones. We just couldn’t put it in the end zone.”
Nugent said he thought the team got some decent yardage, but they just couldn’t score.
Pima had 80 total receiving yards with sophomore receiver Scott Campbell making four catches worth 41 yards.
As of Oct. 11, Western is ranked third in the National Junior College Athletic Association in total team defense.
The Matadors had 366 total yards of offense in the game. AWC is also ranked seventh in the NJCAA in total team offense.
Pima had two interceptions in the game, including one by sophomore defensive back Ricky Solomon, who leads the team this season with four.
On Oct. 2, the Pima football team overcame an early 14-0 deficit to Scottsdale Community College but couldn’t hold on to their brief lead on a rainy night.
The Aztecs fell to the then undefeated Fighting Artichokes 26-20 at home. Scottsdale quickly jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter but PCC soon answered back.
“Another tough loss two weeks in a row,” Nugent said after the SCC game. “We gave up points early.”
Pima freshman running back Damion Bracy scored a 33-yard rushing touchdown to get Pima on the board in the second quarter. The Fighting Artichokes struck back instantly though.
Scottsdale blocked the extra point attempt and returned the ball 90-plus yards for two points to give the Fighting Artichokes a 16-6 lead.
The last time Pima played SCC at home, in 2009, the Aztecs missed three extra points and the Fighting Artichokes won on a last second field goal 35-32.
SCC was driving down the field in the last minute of the first until sophomore linebacker Justin Kitchen got an interception.
“I just read it and cut across in front of him and picked it off,” Kitchen said. “I tried to return it like Reggie Bush.”
In the third quarter, McKean threw an 86-yard touchdown pass to Campbell. This time the extra point was good, and the third quarter ended with Scottsdale leading 16-13.
“We battled back. It was a great comeback for our guys to get out,” Nugent said.
In the fourth quarter, Pima took its first lead after Schira threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Minkin. The score was 20-16 after the extra point.
Zach Schira
Scottdale came back by scoring a touchdown and a field goal that put them up 26-20.
“We gave up a bad touchdown in the fourth quarter,” Nugent said. “We just can’t figure out a way to find a win. We just got to keep battling.”
In the game, Pima had 277 total offensive yards, with 159 passing yards and 118 rushing yards.
McKean and Schira again split time behind the center. McKean went 3-10 for 94 passing yards while Schira went 4-10 for 63 passing yards.
Schira lead the Pima rushing game with 62 yards in eight carries. Bracy finished the game with 37 rushing yards in three carries.
Campbell led Pima in receiving with 99 yards in four catches.
On the defensive end, Pima allowed 415 yards.
Pima’s Solomon had two interceptions and six solo tackles. Kitchen also had four solo tackles.
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