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Lobos’ WR Chris Rabago (88) makes the catch between two Panthers’ defenders.
James Carnes | Copper Basin News
Lobos’ OL Adrien Encinas (72) makes a block for RB Austin White (30). James Carnes | Copper Basin News
Hayden’s Devin Santa Maria (21) tries to make the catch last Friday night at Superior.
James Carnes | Copper Basin News
Copper Basin News
The Hayden football team closed out its regular season with a shutout loss to Superior last Friday night. The ninth-ranked Panthers defeated the Lobos, 58 – 0.
The Lobos finished their season with a record of 2 – 6, including 1 – 4 in sectional play. Their record this season was identical to 2013; however, the Lobos were winless in sectional play last year, improving this year by one win.
Although the Lobos may not have experienced the desired results in 2014, the future promises to yield better outcomes.
This season’s roster was filled with mostly underclassmen who earned valuable playing experience that will pay dividends in the future. The Lobos don’t have to look past last week’s opponent to find a blueprint of how the experience of this season can be beneficial next year.
Superior won a single game last year, ironically against the Lobos, with a roster filled with freshmen and sophomores just like the Lobos this season. The experience gained last year by the younger players propelled the Panthers into the playoffs this season, finishing with a record of 5 – 3. They enter the playoffs later this week as the ninth-ranked team in Division VI.
The Lobos could be in a similar spot next year.
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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