As high school football nears the end of the regular season, Mingus faces their biggest challenge yet as the Marauders host Bradshaw Mountain.
On Friday, October. 12. the 5-2 Marauders take on a 7-1 Bradshaw team that has won by an average margin of 23 points this season.
“The kids are excited because last year they took Bradshaw lightly and got a pretty good beat down put on them,” Mingus coach Robert Ortiz said. “They know what the game entails and the seniors want another crack at beating Bradshaw before graduating.”
Last season, Bradshaw Mountain defeated Mingus 45-16.
The matchup features two highly functioning units as Mingus’s offense is averaging 41 points while Bradshaw’s defense only allows 12 points a game.
“Their defense lines up and blitz because they think they can get home before you make a play,” Ortiz said. “Whether or not they blitz, I know their front four is very good and can generate pressure on its own.”
Bradshaw’s defense has registered 43 sacks this season from 12 different players.
Connor Scott leads Bradshaw in sacks with 11.5 sacks and has recorded at least half a sack in every game this season.
“We cannot waste afford to opportunities against Bradshaw, our offense has to stand tough and our running backs will need to run hard all game,” Ortiz said.“ I think we have been pretty balanced this season so it all comes down to attacking certain areas and execute they way we are capable of.”
Offensively, Bradshaw relies on a punishing running-game that averages 256 yards and three touchdowns per game.
“Bradshaw runs a power game from the shotgun formation to force teams to defend the entire field,” Ortiz said. “ Bradshaw has the same mentality of playing more physical than their opponents but they use a slightly different approach.”
Running back Anthony Mata paces the Bears offense and has carried the ball 86 times for 739 yards and 11 touchdowns this year.
“We are treating Bradshaw like Coconino or Mohave in the sense that you kind of know what they are doing but you still have to execute,” Ortiz said. “ Their running game is diverse and the staple of their offense but they will throw to keep the defense on their toes.”
