by 
A total of six football players from Superior, Ray and Hayden high schools were named to the 2017 Arizona Football Coaches Association 1A All-State Team.
#56 Dyllin Sanders-Lopez was selected to the AZFCA and AIA All State 1st team – Defensive Line and also to the AZFCA DIV 1A Top 30. Dyllin was also selected DIV 1A East Defensive Player of the Year and led all of DIV 1A with 15.5 sacks for a total of 144 total yards lost; #25 Fabian Valenzuela was also selected to the AZFCA and AIA All State 1st team – Offensive Wide Receiver and also to the AZFCA DIV 1A Top 30. Fabian ended the season with Touchdowns in 6 of 7 categories ( 6-Passing, 7- Rushing, 4-Receiving, 1- Interception Return, 1- Punt Return and 2 Kick Return ) coming up short only in the Fumble Return Category.; #22 Nathan Molar was selected to the AZFCA and AIA All State 2nd Team – Defensive Linebacker. Nathan had a total of 80 tackles in which 30 of them were solo tackles that lead the team. Nathan’s speed and agility allowed him to close in quickly on opposing ball carriers with a force “Second to None” on the Bearcats defense.
Three members of the Ray football team – Dyllin Lopez, Fabian Valenzuela and Nathan Molar – earned honors.
“The awards of these three Seniors are made possible only by the ‘Total Team Contribution’ that was displayed on and off the field,” Ray head coach Frank Lechuga wrote in an email to Copper Basin News.
2017 AzFCA All-State 1st Team – Fabian Valenzuela (Ray – WR), Steven Ybarra (Superior – Off Flex & LB), Dyllin Lopez (Ray – DL), Cedric Mendoza (Superior – WR), and Robert Bohrn (Hayden – Long Snapper).
2017 AzFCA All-State 2nd Team – Nathan Molar (Ray – LB).
Hayden’s outstanding players in volleyball and football are, from left: standing, Josiel Rodriguez, Gibby Carmelo, Gavin Torrez, Joel Rodriguez, Frankie Valencia, Robert Bohrn, Mario Mariscal; kneeling, Jorge Rodriguez, Aliyana Perez, Omar Lopez. Congratulations to all the Lobos!
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
by by