Mingus football’s winning streak extends to five games as the Marauders defeated Prescott 12-10 on Friday, Oct. 26.
With the win, Mingus ends the regular season with an 8-2 record overall and 5-1 in sectional play.
“It feels pretty good to finish the regular season 8-2 but I think my kids accomplished everything, Mingus Union High coach Robert Ortiz said. “What they have accomplished in the short amount of time we have had to prepare for this season never ceases to amaze me.”
Ortiz became the Marauders’ head coach last May, only three months before the regular season started.
Mingus and Prescott were locked in a defensive struggle to start the game as both teams traded punts.
After neither team scored in the first quarter, Mingus took a 6-0 lead in the second quarter on a 28-yard pass from Antoine Zabala to Chaz Taylor.
Prescott took a 7-6 lead on the next drive after Badgers running back Sylas Espitia scored on a 28-yard rushing play.
The Marauders went into halftime trailing the Badgers 7-6.
In the second half, Prescott took a 10-6 lead with 4:50 left in the third quarter after Bryce Peters nailed a 27-yard field goal.
The Marauders scored the go-ahead touchdown just 23 seconds later as Zabala found running back Alex Nelson for a 70-yard touchdown.
Mingus’ defense protected the Marauders’ 14-12 lead and the Marauders ended their regular season with the win.
Playoff Rivalry
The Marauders will see a familiar foe to open the playoffs as Mingus plays Bradshaw Mountain on Friday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m.
“We know what they are good at and they know what we are good at so it comes down to who executes better Friday,” Ortiz said. “There is definitely fuel to the fire for them knowing that it is a rematch and with them feeling they should have beat us the first time.”
When Mingus and Bradshaw last met on Oct. 12, the Marauders won 28-6 in what was a hotly-contested match.
With two minutes remaining and with Mingus possessing the ball, multiple players were ejected and shoving ensued after the play. Mingus quarterback Antoine Zabala was one of those ejected.
“We told them to keep their cool, play the game the way it was meant to be played and execute just like last time,” Ortiz said.
Despite Mingus owning the tiebreaker while having an identical overall record to Bradshaw, the Badgers will host Mingus on Friday.
“In all honesty, your guess is as good as mine as to why they were given a higher seed than us,” Ortiz said. “I know the answer coming from the AIA would be power points, but I would love an explanation because we beat Bradshaw and the team that beat them.”
Bradshaw lost to Prescott 26-21 on Friday, Oct. 5.
Zabala paced the Marauders offense with 205 yards and two touchdowns, good for a quarterbackrating of 128.1.
Kendrew Streck led Mingus’ defense with 21 tackles and two of the Marauders’ five hurries.
Prescott’s 10 points were their lowest point total since Oct. 6, 2017, when Mingus held the Badgers to six points.
“Last week, with the regional title on the line, our defense stepped up and we shut down their quarterback,” Ortiz said.
After allowing 78-points during a midseason two-game losing streak, the Mingus defense has rebounded to allow less than 15 points a game since those two losses.
“I think our defense has understood over the last couple of weeks that our success will hinge on them holding offenses to as few points as possible,” Ortiz said.
