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The Hayden football team finished the 2018 season as the 1A State Runner-Up and enters this season as one of only a handful of teams as legitimate contenders to prevent defending champion Superior from a repeat.
The Lobos recent success has produced greater depth for their team, which is beneficial when competing as one of the best in 1A.
“We’re doing something right,” Hayden head coach John Estrada recently told the Copper Basin News. “This year we have 33 kids playing football; Four years ago, we had 14.”
The Lobos’ top returning offensive players include Gibby Carmelo (TE), Jorge Rodriguez (RB), Peter Kame (C), AJ Castillo (QB), and Josiel Rodriguez (OL). On defense, the Lobos’ top returning players are Carmelo (DE), Jorge Rodriguez (LB), Vincente Aguirre (CB), Josiel Rodriguez (DE), Castillo (CB), and Moses Gonzales (DL).
What will be the Lobos’ greatest strength this season?
“We have seasoned players who know our schemes,” Estrada answered. “We have numbers. They just need to work hard and believe in themselves.”
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.
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