11/20/2009 11:27:00 PM Prep Football: No. 12 Bradshaw Mountain's 4A, D-I
state title hopes dashed
By Chris Davis
VAIL - Size, it turns out, doesn't always matter along the line of scrimmage.
Cienega entered the second round of the Class 4A, Division I state playoffs, supposedly undersized up front compared to its opponent, the No. 12 Bradshaw Mountain Bears.
It might have made a difference on a few plays, but the Bobcats controlled both sides of the line and advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in the program's history with a 50-7 win.
"I think Bradshaw Mountain thought they were going to out-physical us tonight and I think they thought they were going to punch us in the mouth," Cienega coach Nemer Hassey said. "Our kids responded and played good Cienega football."
A week after holding Nogales to 132 total yards, the Bobcats defense came up big again, limiting a potent Bradshaw Mountain rushing game to just 82 yards and the team to a total of 134 yards.
In fact, the Bears recorded just five first downs in the game - two in the first half and three late in the fourth quarter.
Leading the way for Cienega's defense was 185-pound lineman, Pat Murphy, who tallied a team-high four solo tackles and four assisted.
"Our entire defense played amazing," Murphy said. "During the week we had a lot of tough practices and there were times we got yelled at but we pulled together and got the job done."
Cienega's leading rusher, Willlie Willis, made the defense's job a little easier and at the same time eclipsed his first-round performance by returning the opening kickoff 89 yards for a score.
A week after rushing for just 12 yards, the junior running back found the end zone three times and rushed for a game-high 65 yards.
"My coach told me I was a little bit off track at practice," Willis said. "But I picked it up this week and wanted to redeem myself.
"Our offensive line was amazing. They had to go up against D-I prospects and they handled them."
The Bobcats balanced offense mixed the pass and run throughout the first half. Quarterback Jordan Mills found Trent Simon for a 31-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give the Bobcats a 14-0 lead.
Mills would add two more touchdown throws of 17 and 80 yards - both to Ronnie Burton.
"He's phenomenal," Burton said. "He did really well throwing the ball tonight."
Cienega will now play No. 1 Canyon del Oro for the opportunity to advance to the state championship game.
Hassey says that it will be good to have the chance to practice on Thanksgiving.
"I just want to keep working," he said. "We have to get back to work (Saturday) because the closer you get to the state championship the games get tougher. We have stuff to work on and we have to get better."
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Good Game...
"QAURTER"
Theres that Great Prescott education
Obviously you dont know much about Bradshaw football history...
Back in the day Bradshaw dominated.
Had Shout out after shut out
The Black Plauge days...
Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Article comment by:
Love That CROW!!
"Size, it turns out, doesn't always matter along the line of scrimmage."
But it does matter if you are trying to sell a hat to Chuck Apap!! His ego is SO big, I'm not sure how he walks through doors! Way to stick your foot in your OVERSIZED mouth again, Chucky! You must LOVE the taste of crow! YUM,YUM!
Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
PHS and PV fans can argue year after year about who is better. All i know is MINGUS will beat you both every year and remain the best football team in Yavapai County.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Lets stop all the hating. Both teams have respectable programs. Both have had good and bad years. Lets remember what Football is about. Its about building boys into men. Yes there is rivalry and that makes this sport awesome. It seems that there is more hatred between adults of both programs than the kids themselves and thats a shame. As a coach for one of these programs and no I won't name myself as that is inappropriate, I have to say that these games have been great but lets not rip kids apart as they are still kids growing into men. I always say respect the game and your rivals, play hard and you will earn respect. Good job to both programs.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Kendall
I would also like to point out...as an English teacher at a school that is choosing excellence (unlike Prescott).....
There are about 3-4 grammatical errors in this last line of your post....
GOOD JOB BRADSHAW YOU DID REALLY GOOD AGAINST CIENEGA!!!!!!! NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEEP UM COMMING BRADSHAW FANS I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY LONG.
Really did well - not good.
Keep 'em coming Bradshaw Fans. I can do this all day. (that is the correct sentence)
Way to represent that school on the hill that is supposed to be sooooo much better than us.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
BearsFan
To I Love Prescott Haters......we are not haters, you guys are.
Let's remember that in all seasons except this one you were in divisions above us and you should have been better than us.
Now.....it all changes, and that began this year.
Kudos to the last no namer - that is all right. Bears did win the sportsmanship award and Cienega showed more class in their little pinkie than the Badgers and the Courier ever could dream of.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
What happened at BMHS this football season? Dallas is going to Idaho, Mychael Eikenberry rushed for over a thousand yards - again, Jeremiah H. had a great season, the seniors has a great season. Shame on all of you who put them down. Those young men deserve a lot of credit. Maybe they didn't win State but they did win The Sportsmanship Award. Did THAT make the Courier news????? Of course not. Shame on the Courier. A BMHS supporter!!!
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
I LOVE PRESCOTT HATERS
Thats wierd that bradshaw has only beaten prescott 4 times out of 20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE HAVE TO LET YOU WIN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE OR YOU WILL COMPLAIN TOO MUCH AND NOT WANT TO PLAY PRESCOTT ANY MORE. Bradshaw has won only a small fraction of there games against prescott.GOOD JOB BRADSHAW FOR WINNING NOT EVEN A QAURTER OF YOUR GAMES AGAINST PRESCOTT. I loved it when bradshaw won there game against prescott in 2007 and 2009 because it was the first acomplishments the bradshaw team has had in over 20 years of football!!!!!! Bradshaw is real good.......NOT. And to Kendall the score was 14 to 7 in the 1st quarter and thats when you lost your so called stars of the team. If your team is as good as you say they are then why couldnt they score again????? it was such a good game considering the fact that they lost 50 to 7. GOOD JOB BRADSHAW YOU DID REALLY GOOD AGAINST CIENEGA!!!!!!! NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEEP UM COMMING BRADSHAW FANS I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY LONG.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Someone Somewhere
People, you seem to forget these are kids are our future, show good sportsmanship. Both teams played a good game, they earned their right into this playoff, Bradshaw and Cienega Athletes both demonstrated respect and high class for each other! Kudos to all the seniors and all Athletes, near and far!
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Kendall
To no name 1....as I said - it was 14-7 before we lost those 2...facts speak for themselves.
To no name 2....Hoo-ray Bradshaw! 2 out of the last 3 years just isn't good enough for u - we just need to stretch that to 3 of 4 and then 4 of 5....eventually the Badger faithful will shush up.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
prescott will run circles around bradshaw next year? they will be lucky if they keep the score within 30 points next year
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Ya bradshaws region was real hard!!! At least teams from Prescotts region actually do good in the playoffs and win some games. Prescott will run circles around bradshaw next year. And to all those people that said that bradshaw lost because Audsley and Rosas were out in the 1st quarter thats just stupid. Im pretty sure the score would of been 70 to 7 if they played thats how bad they are.
Just have to say that we were PROUD to be from Prescott Valley on Friday nite. The boys never gave up and they played with class to a better opponent. It was great to see the students, parents and band there to support the Bears. Tough way to end for the Seniors, but their legacy will be remembered in the way they never gave up. Good job to all.
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Article comment by:
NB in PV
I will be the first one to admit, that I am not a fan of Apap. ... With that said, I am still a fan of Bradshaw Football and want to see it succeed, because it's such a part of this community. I would like to say congrats to the players. You fought hard, but there are somethings that you can't control. Good job. The season may be over, but now is when you prepare for next year and the state title run. Hit the weight room non-stop, with a fire and a desire to be the best. Keep the grades up so that you can and will be eligible to continue playing. Lastly, if you want to go to the next level, get proactive. Make your own film and send it out and pursue that. Enjoy the rest of the year but get ready for next, DON'T STOP!
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Yes Sir - pretty good post all up to the part where you say PV should have won state the past 2 or 3 years. Thats a JOKE!!! PV couldn't win the 3A championship!
