Like a broken record, the Mingus Union High School football team proved once again they are the team to beat in the 4A-II Grand Canyon region, taking rival Flagstaff High School behind the woodshed, 41-7.
“I thought our boys played well. We did the things that needed to be done which is why we won,” Mingus Head Coach Bob Young said.
The 15,000-seat stadium at Walkup Skydome on the campus of Northern Arizona University was mostly empty, but the scoreboard for Mingus filled up quickly as the Marauders tallied all 41 points in the first half.
“With the luck we’ve been having lately with injuries, after the first half, I took most of our starters out,” Young laughed. “I didn’t want to risk any more injuries.”
The 41-7 victory over the Eagles on Friday, Oct. 15, improves Mingus’ record to a perfect 2-0 in the Grand Canyon region and 6-1 overall this season.
The Marauders are currently ranked No. 5 in the Arizona Interscholastic Association power point polls, which were released Monday, Oct. 18.
Mingus may have to go on without another star player in senior Juan Gonzalez after a knee injury in the second quarter sidelined him for the remainder of the contest Friday.
X-rays were negative and Gonzalez received an MRI on Monday, Oct. 18. Results of the MRI were unavailable at press time.
“Right now, the most recent update we have is Juan [Gonzalez] has a sprained knee,” Young said Tuesday, Oct. 19.
It would be the second major blow the Marauders have suffered after losing senior quarterback Nick Alred to a serious leg injury in the beginning of the season.
Chances are good Gonzalez will be unavailable to play this week, according to Young.
In Friday’s game against Flagstaff, Mingus running backs had over 300 yards rushing including senior Logan Couch who had eight carries for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Ronald Morones had five carries for 12 yards but completed all six passes he threw for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Other standouts included Josh Longfellow who had 11 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Gonzalez had five carries for 42 yards and a touchdown before exiting with the injury.
Senior receiver Eric Quesada chipped in with four catches for 77 yards and a touchdown in the victory over Flagstaff.
Next up, Mingus will take its 6-1 record south to Peoria on Thursday, Oct. 21, when it plays Liberty High School.
Liberty is currently a perfect 7-0 on the season and is ranked No. 1 in the 4A-II conference.
If Mingus can beat Liberty on its home turf, the win would go a long way in determining if the Marauders will get a No. 1 seed heading into the state playoffs.
“We’re a pretty good team and so are they. It should be quite a battle,” Young said.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
