All Entries Tagged With: "Football"
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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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: 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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Football, former quarterback move on
By Eric Townsend
Photo by James Kelley
As an elite local quarterback who played for his future college coach, Dan Nicholas was anointed by many as Pima Community College football team’s savior.
It initially came as a shock when Nicholas unexpectedly decided to leave the team in August.
“I just lost confidence,” Nicholas said. “I had a couple of injuries, and I lost confidence in my offensive line. I also lost confidence in myself and my game.”
Nicholas’ decision to quit the team was difficult.
“It was really tough,” he said. “I went back and forth many times before I decided I didn’t want to play anymore.”
When Pat Nugent left Canyon del Oro High School in January 2009 to take the full-time head coaching job at Pima, he quickly recruited Nicholas as his starting quarterback.
Nicholas was the 2007 Tucson Citizen Player of the Year and a two-year starter at quarterback for Nugent at CDO.
Nugent and Nicholas led the Dorados to their first state championship game in 30 years a 12-2 record in 2007.
Pima fans hoped Nicholas’ high school success would translate well to the junior college level, but 2009 proved rough. The Aztecs went 0-10, and a foot injury kept Nicholas out of action for the final two games of the season.
Pat Nugent, left, Daniel Nicholas, right
Even with the injury, Nicholas ranked sixth in passing last year in the Western States Football League, throwing for 924 yards, 92 for 144, with three touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games.
For 2010, fans pinned their hopes on a talented freshman lineup and sophomores with a year of experience under their belt.
They counted on Nicholas to lead the way, but things didn’t go quite as Nugent and the Aztecs had planned.
A shoulder injury in spring ball led to Nicholas’ unforeseen and abrupt departure from the team just before fall camp started.
“My first reaction was like, wow!” sophomore linebacker Brent Lush said. “I didn’t think he would quit like that, especially after going through the workouts and summer camp.”
Nugent was also surprised when his starting quarterback called it quits.
“When fall camp came around, we were anticipating he would be there. He texted me the first day of fall camp and basically said he’s not going to play,” Nugent said.
“When he told us he was leaving, we were kind of in shock,” Nugent added. “We didn’t try to fight it, and overall the team has handled it very well.”
In a sophomore-dominated league, Pima has coped with Nicholas’ absence by using capable freshmen quarterbacks Zach Schira and Zander McKean.
Recent events, such as the team’s first win against a conference opponent in 50 games, indicate the team is improving.
“They have done a good job,” Lush said of the new quarterbacks. “But they’re still learning. They’re just freshmen.”
Nicholas originally signed with football powerhouse Glendale Community College, but did not enroll and took the 2008 season off. He then turned down a scholarship to Adams State College, a four-year school in Colorado, to attend Pima.
He said he has now started a new chapter in his life, which brings lots of uncertainty.
“I might be looking to go out of state for school,” he said. “I still don’t know what I want to do academically.”
Nicholas is not sure whether he will play football again, but seemed open to the idea.
“I feel I could still play wherever I go,” he said.
He does not regret leaving the Pima team. “I feel I made the right decision.”
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ATHLETIC VOICE: Pros are paid too much
By Eric Townsend
$21 million.
That was last years’ salary for Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.
High paychecks seem to be the divider between professional sports and the viewing public. Ironically, those paychecks come with over-inflated egos.
The National Football League has drawn unnecessary attention this offseason. You couldn’t watch ESPN without hearing about the drama brewing in Washington with Haynesworth.
Other examples: Darrell Revis and his holdout with the Jets and Chris Johnson wanting more money in Tennessee.
Is that what professional sports have become? Are they solely about the money? What happened to the sheer enjoyment we all got from playing these sports when we were kids?
I’ll admit I watch pro sports for the entertainment. That’s what it is, isn’t it? However, pro sports just don’t seem to be what they used to be.
Nowadays it’s all about how much you can make, though I guess that’s partially our fault as a society. We put so much emphasis on good entertainment, and we pay good money to see the talent. Just look at Hollywood.
I understand these guys/gals are the best at what they do, and they pride themselves on being their best, but do they need so much money?
What can Alex Rodriguez do at $27.5 million per season that he couldn’t do at $10 million? Would he no longer be able to jog 360 feet when he hits a home run? Could he suddenly no longer stand at third base and pick up ground balls?
Because we put so much emphasis on entertainment, we partly contribute to the egos. We buy their jerseys, chant their names, make the signs. They suddenly feel this need for more money just to show their worth as if it is their pay check and not their stats or importance to their team that matters.
The way pro sports has been heading makes it unattractive. That’s why I prefer college sports.
The college game hasn’t been completely polluted yet. The passion is still there. Money hasn’t affected those athletes.
Sure there are cases like the Reggie Bush scandal and the North Carolina football players recently stripped of their eligibility. But, those are a very smaller percentage of college athletes.
Agents, not coeds or professors, sunk their tentacles into those student athletes. They were trying to get a leg up on those players before they earn eight-figure paychecks.
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Online Extra: Scottsdale holds off Pima football
By Narciso Thomas Villarreal
Photo by Ed Adams
Video by James Kelley
The Pima Community College football team overcame an early 14-0 deficit to Scottsdale Community College on Oct. 2 but couldn’t hold on to their brief lead on a rainy night.
The Aztecs (2-3, 0-2 Western States Football League) fell to the Artichokes 26-20 at home. Scottsdale jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
“Another tough loss two weeks in a row,” head coach Patrick Nugent said. “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.
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.
Scottsdale was driving down the field in the last minute of the first half until sophomore linebacker Justin Kitchen intercepted the ball.
“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, Pima freshman quarterback Zander McKean threw an 86-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Scott 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, Pima took its first lead after freshman quarterback Zach Schira threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Ty Minkin. The score was 20-16 after the extra point.
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.”
John Hughes
In the game, Pima had 277 total offensive yards, with 159 passing yards and 118 rushing yards.
McKean and Schira 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 sophomore defensive back Ricky Solomon had two interceptions and six solo tackles. Kitchen also had four solo tackles.
Pima will host No. 9 Arizona Western College (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. at Tucson Electric Park.
Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for students and free for children under 12. Parking is free.
Too many UA/PCC football conflicts
By James Kelley
The Pima Community College football team’s recent renaissance is great and all, but the atmosphere is still decidedly JV.
The Aztecs need many things, like cheerleaders, a band, a fight song, but most of all they need more support.
The team has fans, but it needs enough fans to intimidate visiting teams. It would be just super if players got enough support to make foes waste timeouts (though not so fanatical that they strike opposing cheerleaders with water bottles, of course.)
Pima has upgraded its football coaching and players, ditched that Arena Football League name Storm, added better uniforms and secured a home stadium. However, football still plays home games as if it was in the witness protection program.
There is one thing that is contributing to that more than anything else. Pima football is inexplicably competing with the University of Arizona for football fans and that is a losing battle.
If 50,000 people attend a game at UA, there are obviously fewer college football fans available to watch the Aztecs. The UA is starting to compete for the Rose Bowl every year. Few people will skip a game on ESPN, or even Versus, to attend a junior college game.
UA has a bye on Oct. 2, when Pima hosts Scottsdale Community College at Tucson Electric Park. Every other Pima football home game is on the same day as a UA home date.
The Aztecs don’t play at a high school anymore and TEP doesn’t exactly have lots of tenants, so Pima should be free to schedule as they choose.
Why do games always have to be on Saturdays? PCC could have Thursday, Friday and Sunday games, all normal football dates.
Sunday could be a great day. I can understand if Snow College of Utah can’t go to Thursday night games or Pima wants to save Friday nights for high school but the Lord’s game on the Lord’s day makes sense.
The NFL is the most popular league in the world, but its Sunday afternoon games are usually lacking. They purposely give you butt-ugly games like the Raiders versus the Cardinals in order to convince you to buy Sunday Ticket or the Red Zone.
How cool would an extra day of college football be instead of the league of rapists, wife beaters, drunk drivers and dog-fighting millionaires who are getting ready to strike?
More Pima fans equals more money and maybe those cheerleaders and band in the future.
Surely Tucson has room in its heart for two college football teams. Give PCC a chance.
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Online Extra: Football scores first blow-out win, falls to Glendale
Story and photos by Narciso Thomas Villarreal
Video by Lindsey Weldon
The Pima Community College football team lost its opening conference game, but has secured its best record since 2004.
The No. 7 Glendale Community College Gauchos, the only remaining undefeated team in the Western States Football League, beat the Aztecs 34-21 on Sept. 25 in the Valley of the Sun.
The loss to Glendale brings Pima to the .500 mark at 2-2. Glendale improved to a perfect 4-0 this season with the victory.
“It was a tough team,” Pima head coach Patrick Nugent said. “We gave them some points off turnovers, but I thought we played really well all the way around. We just couldn’t find a way to win it.”
Anthony Hughes
The Aztecs gained 256 total offensive yards with 192 passing yards and 64 rushing yards.
Pima’s starting freshman quarterback Zander McKean went 13-26 for a total of 151 passing yards and threw one interception.
“I just went out there, tried to give it my best, make good reads,” McKean said. “I feel like I played well but definitely room for improvement. I had some freshman mistakes.”
Sophomore tight end Trenton Kamins threw one pass and completed it for 41 yards.
Freshman running back Anthony Hughes scored a touchdown and led the team in rushing with 27 yards in four carries.
John Hughes
Sophomore receiver Scott Campbell had four catches for 44 total receiving yards. Freshman receiver Chris Howard had a 50-yard reception for a touchdown.
On the defensive end, Pima had 54 total tackles along with four sacks. Sophomore defensive back Ricky Solomon had an interception at Glendale.
Sophomore middle linebacker Brent Lush led Pima with seven total tackles, five of which were solo tackles.
“Even though I didn’t have as many tackles I was hoping for, the type of defense that we were running kind of just set it up that everybody made tackles,” Lush said.
Nine football players from the 2009 Glendale football team committed or signed to four-year college institutions. They were Adams State College, Emporia State University and the University of South Dakota.
The Aztecs beat the Bandits of New Mexico Prep Sports Academy in a 48-0 rout on Sept. 18.
In the blow-out victory, Pima gained 250 total offensive yards with 88 passing yards and 162 yards on the ground.
“We blew a lot of opportunities in the first half, fumbled a couple of times, had some bad mistakes,” Nugent said. “Putting up 48 points is something we need to do. It’s kind of a confidence builder. We got to know we can play football.”
Against New Mexico Prep, Pima scored a touchdown in each of the first two quarters and added 34 points in the second half while not allowing NMP to get on the scoreboard.
Aztec sophomore running back Andy Garcia scored three touchdowns as he rushed for 16 yards in five carries.
Adrian Brahler
McKean threw for 41 yards as he finished 10-12 and threw one touchdown pass. Campbell gained 36 receiving yards while making four catches.
On the defensive end, freshman cornerback Ronnie Burton intercepted a Bandits’ pass and returned the football 55 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
“That felt good,” Burton said. “I just felt good to give our team a little momentum, pick our team up because we were down a little bit.”
Special teams also contributed. After sophomore linebacker Justin Kitchen blocked a punt in the fourth quarter, sophomore safety Griffin Ronstadt recovered the football and returned it 21 yards for the touchdown.
“It felt pretty exciting,” Kitchen said about blocking the punt. “I told everyone I was going to block one.”
Ronstadt is tied for first in the WSFL in interceptions with two. Sophomore running back John Hughes is first in the league in punt returns with a 16.3 average.
New Mexico Prep is a post-high school academy for New Mexico student athletes. One goal of the academy is to prepare students both athletically and academically for universities.
Bandits must attend Central New Mexico Community College, which is located in Albuquerque. Student-athletes must take fewer than 12 credits.
The last time Pima hosted Scottsdale Community College, there were fireworks on the field in the Aztecs’ first game at Tucson Electric Park. This year, on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m., there will also be a fireworks show after the game.
Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for students and free for children under 12. Parking is free.
Too Many UA/PCC football Conflicts
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Online Extra: Football takes New Mexico Prep to school
Story and Photo by Narciso Thomas Villarreal
The football team from New Mexico Prep Sports Academy was no match for the Pima Community College squad.
The Aztecs (2-1) started slow but ended up routing the Bandits 48-0 on Sept. 18 at Tucson Electric Park. Pima gained 250 total offensive yards with 88 passing yards and 162 rushing yards.
“We blew a lot of opportunities in the first half, fumbled a couple of times, had some bad mistakes,” Pima head coach Patrick Nugent said. “Putting up 48 points is something we need to do. It’s kind of a confidence builder. We got to know we can play football. We got a tough game next week.”
The Aztecs travel to No. 9 Glendale Community College on Sept. 25 to open Western States Football League play. Pima’s next home game is Oct. 2 against Scottsdale Community College.
Against New Mexico Prep, Pima scored a touchdown in each of the first two quarters and added 34 points in the second half while not allowing NMP to get on the scoreboard.
Aztec sophomore running back Andy Garcia scored three touchdowns as he rushed for 16 yards in five carries.
Freshman quarterback Zander McKean threw for 41 yards as he finished 10-12 and threw one touchdown pass. Sophomore receiver Scott Campbell gained 36 receiving yards while making four catches.
On the defensive end, Pima freshman cornerback Ronnie Burton intercepted a Bandits’ pass and returned the football 55 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
“That felt good,” Burton said. “I just felt good to give our team a little momentum, pick our team up because we were down a little bit.”
Special teams also contributed. After sophomore linebacker Justin Kitchen blocked a punt in the fourth quarter, sophomore safety Griffin Ronstadt recovered the football and went 21 yards for the touchdown.
“It felt pretty exciting,” Kitchen said about blocking the punt. “I told everyone I was going to block one.”
John Hughes
New Mexico Prep is a post-high school academy for New Mexico student athletes. One goal of the academy is to prepare students both athletically and academically for universities.
Bandits must attend Central New Mexico Community College, which is located in Albuquerque and take less than 12 credits.
Pima travels to No. 9 Glendale on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. GCC defeated then No. 1 Arizona Western College on the road on Sept. 18 by a final score of 20-9.
Nine football players from the 2009 Glendale football team committed or signed to four-year college institutions, which are Adams State College, Emporia State University and the University of South Dakota.
Online Extra: Football team snaps losing streak
Story by Narciso Thomas Villarreal
Photos by Ed Adams
Video by Lindsey Weldon
The Pima Community College football squad ended its 29-game overall losing streak with a 17-14 road-victory against the Phoenix College Bears on Sept. 4, but then lost its second game.
The Aztecs (1-1) lost their home opener on Sept. 11 against No. 16 Eastern Arizona College 42-14 a week after the win.
The win over Phoenix was the Aztecs’ first victory since Aug. 25, 2007, when they defeated a semi-pro Verde Valley team 63-2. Pima gained 257 offensive yards against Phoenix, with 76 passing yards and 181 rushing yards.
Brent Lush, Ty Minkin and Griffin Ronstadt
“It was an emotional high, but we kind of rode it out too long, and we weren’t too prepared this week, obviously,” sophomore safety Griffin Ronstadt said after the Eastern game.
Ronstadt intercepted two Phoenix passes and returned one for 53 yards. The National Junior College Athletic Association named him the defensive national player of the week for games Sept. 2 through Sept. 5.
“That’s huge for our school,” head coach Pat Nugent said. “Pima football has been non-existent for a long time. Just to get our name to national prestige is great.”
The win against Phoenix also ended the Aztecs’ 48-game losing streak against college teams. Pima’s last win against a college team was in 2004, when they beat No. 4 Kilgore College in the Pilgrim’s Pride Bowl.
“It was a fun win last week, it was exciting,” Nugent said after the Sept. 11 game.
Freshman quarterbacks Zander McKean and Zach Schira shared time behind the center against the Bears. The two threw for a combined 7-16, with McKean going 3-7 for 22 yards and Schira going 4-9 for 54 yards.
The Aztecs struck first after sophomore running back Ronald Hopper scored a Pima’s first touchdown of the season on a one-yard run. Freshman kicker Adam Valenzuela added a 39-yard field goal in the third quarter for the Aztecs.
Andy Garcia
Sophomore running back Andy Garcia scored Pima’s game-winning points with a four-yard touchdown run. Garcia led PCC’s rushing attack with 80 yards in eight carries.
Damion Bracy, a freshman running back for the Aztecs, finished second in Pima’s rushing game with 49 yards in five carries.
Pima’s freshman wide receiver Chris Howard led the Aztecs in receiving with four catches for 28 yards on the night.
A week later, Gila Monsters from Eastern Arizona College spoiled Pima’s home opener at Tucson Electric Park with a 42-14 victory on Sept. 11.
“We didn’t have a very good game, we didn’t have a very good week of practice,” Nugent said. “We were pretty excited about our win, but we didn’t come out to work this week.”
After a quarter and a half, No. 16 EAC went up 14-0. Pima scored their first points after Garcia scored on a 59-yard passing play before the first half ended.
PCC scored their final points of the game to tie the game at 14 after the defense recovered a fumble and scored a touchdown early in the third quarter.
After the game was tied at 14, the Gila Monsters stepped on the gas pedal and scored 28 unanswered points to put Pima away and pick up the road victory.
“Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong,” sophomore offensive lineman Erick Marquez said. “We could have put more heart out there.”
The Aztecs had a total of 167 yards offensively, with 96 passing yards and 71 rushing yards.
Sophomore wide receiver Scott Campbell led the Aztecs in air with two catches for 33 yards.
Scott Campbell
Freshman wide receiver Ty Minkin led PCC in rushing with 29 yards on the ground.
Pima will play its final non-conference game on Sept. 18, when they host New Mexico Prep. School at TEP at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $6 for non-students and $4 for students.
Milestone Pima football wins
Aug. 25, 2001: Pima Storm beats defending national champion Glendale Community College 28-20 in their first game
Dec. 4, 2004: Storm beats No. 4 Kilgore College 10-7 in the Pilgrim’s Pride Bowl
Aug. 25, 2007: Aztecs snap 19-game losing streak, beating Verde Valley 63-2
Sept. 4: Aztecs snap 29-game losing streak by beating Phoenix College 17-14
Damion Bracy
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Football ready to end losing streaks
Editor’s note: the football team snapped its 29-game losing streak on Sept. 4
Ronald Hopper, left, and Nick Carlson do battle during training camp. Aztec Press photo by Ed Adams.
By Narciso Thomas Villarreal
It took the last game of the 2007 season, the entire 2008 season and the first two games of the 2009 season before the Detroit Lions of the National Football League ended their 19-game regular-season losing streak by defeating the Washington Redskins 19-14.
This fall, Pima Community College football team hopes for a similar stop to the bleeding of a 50-game losing streak in the Western States Football League. The Aztecs’ last victory against a conference opponent was over Arizona Western College, 62-20, on Oct. 30, 2004.
“I think this group of kids could put us over the hump,” head coach Pat Nugent said. “We have a lot of bad history here in the conference, but we feel our team is going to be a little bit better this year, so we’re hoping for a lot better season.”
The Aztecs have not beaten any college team since winning the 2004 Pilgrim’s Pride Bowl 10-7 over No. 3 Kilgore College. Pima’s overall losing streak is 29 games.
Their last win was 63-2 over the Verde Valley Coyotes, a now-defunct semi pro team.
In Nugent’s first season, PCC again went 0-10 but in 2009 the Aztecs used mostly freshmen. This year, the team returns 17 starters.
In 2009, Pima narrowly lost a number of games instead of getting blown out every week. Last year the Aztecs surrendered 352 points and scored 138. In 2008, they gave up 509 and scored 37.
The preseason coaches’ poll picked Pima to finish last in the nine-team WSFL, but Nugent was nominated for coach of the year last year despite going 0-10.
Nugent said offseason training and preseason camp have the players excited about playing this season. The Aztecs had a more extensive off-season training regime than last year.
The toughest teams this year will be conference rivals No. 2 Arizona Western, No. 16 Eastern Arizona College and Snow College, according to Nugent. Pima plays Eastern twice, at home in a non-conference game and on the road.
Scott Campbell sprints for more yards last year against Eastern Arizona. Aztec Press photo by Daniel Gaona.
“We got a lot more talent and there’s a lot more chemistry,” sophomore starting offensive lineman Erick Marquez said. “If we win the first game, it’ll pump everyone up for the season and help us get a better mindset to go to a bowl game.”
“I am very excited; we’re real fast at all positions,” sophomore linebacker Ernie Escarcega said. “We just want to play one game at a time.”
According to Nugent, the team is completely different compared to last season due to the addition of several new players.
In 2009, Nugent was hired just a month before signing day, so he scrambled to get recruits. This year Nugent was able to recruit athletes from outside of Tucson.
Two new freshman quarterbacks from Phoenix high schools, Zach Schira and Zander McKean, are competing for the starting quarterback job. Last year’s starter, Daniel Nicholas, left the team because of injuries.
Nicholas, the 2007 Tucson Citizen Player of the Year, missed the end of last season. Pima’s lack of quarterback depth led Nugent to move starting tight end Doug Steele to quarterback.
Nugent said the Aztecs go six deep at the running back position.
“We’re cautiously optimistic,” Nugent said.
Another hole Pima filled was at kicker. Last year the Aztecs lost to Scottsdale Community College because of three missed extra points. All-Southern Arizona kicker Chris Mayer joined the team this year.
“We finally got a kicker,” Nugent said on Signing Day.
Sophomore receiver Scott Campbell is expected to be the Aztecs’ top weapon on offense. Last year he led PCC in receiving, with 40 catches for 434 yards, good enough for sixth in the WSFL.
Returning players such as sophomore middle linebacker Brent Lush and sophomore safety Griffin Ronstadt will help bolster the defensive side.
“We are really excited about the defense we’re going to put out there,” Nugent said.
On the flip side, the Aztecs lost a couple of key players early. All-WSFL cornerback Avante Johnson went back to Florida and Steele transferred to the University of Northern Colorado.
Eligibility ran out on Pima’s leading rusher, running back Tony Sims, who ran for 481 yards, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
The team’s first game will be on the road against Phoenix College in a non-conference game on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. Pima’s home opener will be Sept. 11 against Eastern Arizona at 7 p.m. at Tucson Electric Park, the Aztecs’ new home.
Last year Pima mostly played at Tucson High School but this year moved to TEP, located at 2500 E. Ajo Way. Tickets are $6 and $4 for students.
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Pima football losing streaks
Overall: 29
To college teams: 48
Western States
Football League: 43
ONLINE EXTRA: 2010 Football results
Photo by Daniel Gaona
3-8, 1-7 WSFL
Sept. 4 @ Phoenix College W 17-14
SEPT. 11 EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE L 42-14
SEPT. 18 NEW MEXICO PREP SCHOOL W 48-0
Sept. 25 @ *Glendale Community College L 34-21
OCT. 2 *SCOTTSDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE L 26-20
OCT. 9 *ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE L 32-13
Oct. 16 @ *Mesa Community College L 22-21
OCT. 23 *NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE L 35-7
Oct. 30 @ *Snow College L 47-11
Nov. 6 @ *Eastern Arizona College L 14-13
NOV. 13 *PHOENIX COLLEGE W 35-14
Home games in BOLD
*Western States Football League game
Scott Campbell
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Football practices conclude
By Daniel Gaona
Spring practices are just about over and the Pima Community College football team is ready for its spring game.
Head coach Pat Nugent was hoping to play the game at a high school stadium, but none were available.
“We wanted a stadium to play in for people to watch and film and have the kids in a different environment more than anything,” Nugent said.
Instead, the Aztecs will be playing on the West Campus Field at 10 a.m. on April 24.
“We’re going to bring some bleachers out and let people sit on the sidelines,” Nugent said. “We’re home, this is our place and our kids can get dressed in their own locker room.”
Overall, Nugent said the team made “huge progress” in the spring camp, which is key for the sophomores settling in at the college level.
“We’re a lot further along than we were last year, and a lot of the kids have gotten extra reps and have gotten better,” he said. “We’re really getting the fundamentals of where we need to be.”
As far as weak points go, Nugent said it is tough to tell without the recruits.
“We have some thin positions because our recruits aren’t here, but we’re excited about having those guys come in,” he added.
After the spring game, the team will lift for two weeks and then have a break until June, when it will return to the weight room.
“June and July will be a huge growth time for these kids,” Nugent said. “They have to get physically stronger and faster, and that will prove how far we’re going to go next year.”
Fall camp begins Aug. 2 and will be held at Tucson Electric Park. Nugent is optimistic about the future.
“We’ve got a great recruiting class coming in, and I think there’s high hopes for us to really get this program rolling.”
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