Hayden Lobos win back-to-back state championships! Photo by Debbie Torres
The Hayden Lobos have done it again, and claimed another back-to-back state title, this time on the football field.
On Saturday, Nov. 16, the battle for the 1A state football championship took place on Ed Anderson Field at Coronado High School in Scottsdale. The Hayden Lobos took on the Bagdad Sultans.
It was the blue and white Lobos versus the white and blue Sultans.
The Lobos were first to kick off the ball, with Mj Oropeza giving the starting kick. The boys started with a focus on not letting Bagdad gain any yards. After getting the turnover, Kino Lorona ran 55 yards to score the first touchdown. Followed by Paul Gaither faking a handoff and landing a pass to Tyler Garner for the 2-point conversion, making the score sit at 8-0. The Lobos continued to swarm the ball carrier anytime one of the Sultans carried the ball. During a successful 47-yard pass, Bagdad scored a touchdown and 2-point conversion and the score sat at 8-8.
During the kickoff, the Lobos fumbled the ball and it ended up back in the Sultans’ possession. The Lobos continued to attempt to stop Bagdad, but the Sultans were able to score a touchdown, making it 8-14. Tyler Garner ran 65 yards, getting the Lobos closer to the end-zone. Jordan Rodriguez ran the ball in for a touchdown, followed by Kino Lorona running in the 2-point conversion. By the end of the first quarter, the score sat at 16-14.
Hayden’s Kino Lorona (#22) carries the ball. Photo by Debbie Torres
The second quarter started with the Sultans’ being in possession of the ball. Kino Lorona intercepted the second play of the quarter, running it in 12 yards for the touchdown, making it 22-14. The Sultans struggled to keep the Lobos back and had to gain yards slowly. The Sultans scored a touchdown off of a pass, making the score 22-20. Matthew Armenta and Kino Lorona ran the ball hard. Tyler Garner ran 55 yards for the touchdown, making it 28-20. Going back on to the defensive, Kino Lorona was able to intercept a pass, giving possession back to the Lobos. Kino Lorona then ran a 57-yard touchdown, followed by Tyler Garner scoring the 2-point conversion, making it 36-20, which was the score of the first half.
During the start of the third quarter, the Lobos were set to receive the kickoff. After gaining yards with help of quarterback Paul Gaither, Kino Lorona caught a pass for a touchdown, making the score 42-20. Once the ball was in the Sultans’ possession, it became a heavy pass game. Three touchdowns from Bagdad got called back, flagged for penalties. Tyler Garner intercepted the ball, getting it back into the Lobos’ possession. The Lobos struggled to breakthrough, so they ended up punting it to Bagdad. The Sultans continued to use passes for their first downs, until Matthew Armenta was able to stop a pass, getting the turnover. The third quarter ended with a 42-20 score.
The fourth quarter started with the Lobos having the ball. Quarterback Paul Gaither ran the ball himself, giving them some forward movement. Kino Lorona ran in a 21-yard touchdown, making it 48-20. After kicking the ball to the Sultans, Mj Oropeza was able to hop on a fumble, making it the Lobos’ ball. Jj Manriquez ran tough, gaining the team yards. Kino Lorona once again ran in a touchdown, followed by a 2-point conversion by Mario Hong, making it 56-20.
Hayden’s Tyler Garner (#4) keeps ahead of the Sultans. Photo by Debbie Torres
Bagdad continued to play a passing game, scoring a touchdown, followed by a 2-point conversion, and a score of 56-34. The Lobos ran the ball hard, all the way up to the end. As the time on the clock expired, it was apparent through the 56-34 final score, that the Hayden Lobos had done it, and collected their back-to-back football state championship title and closing out their 2024 season with an undefeated 12-0 record.
Post-game while responding to reporters asking what should Arizona know about Hayden football, Head coach John Estrada commented, “We’re for real. It took us a few years to get to where we’re at right now, but with these young kids, we work extremely hard. It’s rewarded us.”
“The dedication and hard work that we put in everyday. Day in, day out, work hard at practice, and strive to improve everyday,” Kino Lorona commented on how Hayden won the championship.
When asked why Hayden has won two championships, coach Estrada said, “We’ve got an excellent assistant coaching staff that does a heck of a job, we’ve got kids who bust their butt everyday in practice, I’m just there for the ride.”
Congratulations to the Hayden Lobo football team on their 2024 back-to-back 1A State Championship! Viva los Lobos!
Hayden’s Head Coach John Estrada celebrates back-to-back state championships. Photo by Debbie Torres