Mingus sports roundup

Click here to read about Mingus Union High School football, golf, and the school’s new wrestling room.

Football
Mingus Union High School football won its second consecutive game, beating Mohave High School 36-25 on the road to improve to 2-3 on the year and 2-0 in Grand Canyon Region play.

The Marauders sit in second place as Flagstaff High School, which owns a better record against conference opponents [5-0], is in first also at 2-0.

Mohave scored first on a 46-yard run by junior running back William Robinzine in the second quarter. Mingus struck back with junior quarterback Antoine Zabala finding fellow 11th-grader Alex Nelson, a running back, for a 33-yard score. Zabala connected with senior full back Kendrew Streck for the two-point conversion.

Nelson extended the visitors’ lead to 15-6 with a 69-yard running score at the beginning of the third quarter. But the Thunderbirds scored three straight touchdowns.

Two were by junior quarterback Brent Moore from four and 55 yards away, sandwiching Robinzine’s second, to regain a 25-15 lead. It was the last the hosts would score.

Mingus junior running back Colby Fanning ran in a 37-yarder at the end of the quarter to cut the deficit to 25-22.
Nelson, who had five touchdowns against Lee Williams High School on Sept. 15, scored on 19- and four-yard runs in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback.

Zabala was nine for 19 and 113 yards with a touchdown and interception. Nelson had the majority of the carries in senior Tyler Kelly’s absence, finishing with 178 yards while Fanning had 74. Junior wide receiver Chaz Taylor was again the leading receiver with five catches for 69 yards.

Taylor also caught a pass attempt from Moore, along with Nelson and senior defensive back Marcos Valenzuela, to give the Marauders extra possessions. Fanning and senior safety Jordan Huey each recovered a fumble.

Friday, Sept. 29, marks the Marauders’ homecoming game when they welcome Bradshaw Mountain High School, last year’s region champion but winless in 2017. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Golf

The boys golf team hosted region opponents Bradshaw Mountain High School and Flagstaff High School on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Oakcreek Country Club.

The Marauders took second [+59/203] to Flagstaff [+37/181] while Bradshaw Mountain was third [+74/218]. Mingus junior Justin Tanner took first overall with one of his best scores on the season, carding a 3-over 39.

Senior Tyre Kim was seventh overall [+13/49], senior Ethan Brogden finished at a 14-over 50 for eighth place.
Senior Braden Munday [+27/63], took 12th and junior Cameron Machek [+29/65] 13th.

Wrestling

Mingus wrestling has a new home. On Saturday, Sept. 23, the new wrestling room on campus was officially opened.
Former coach Tom Wokasch was honored during the ribbon-cutting ceremony as well.

The room provides a dedicated space for the grapplers to practice without having to share with other sports teams.
Klint McKean has taken over as head coach of the team after Kirk Waddle’s one-year tenure at the helm. McKean was an assistant coach last season.