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Ray Bearcats get ready for the coming game.
The Ray football team faced a stiff test in its season opener last Friday when they started the 2016 season at No. 2 St. David. The Tigers showed why they are considered a state title contender, doubling up the Bearcats in the first game of the year for both teams, 52 – 26.
The game marked the varsity debut of Ray head coach Frank Lechuga.
“Offensively we ran the offense well and put some points on the board in the first three quarters,” the Cats’ first-year head coach told the Copper Basin News. “We made some mistakes and they took advantage of some turnovers and onside kicks.”
St. David is a well-disciplined and high powered team, which doesn’t allow opponents to get away with mistakes.
The Tigers started fast and kept going, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and 16 each in the second and third quarters. The Bearcats couldn’t match that scoring pace and combined with the turnovers, accounted for the lopsided scoring margin.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and that’s what we’re doing this week,” Lechuga said.
Senior Paul Wormwood earned Player of the Game honors after leading the Cats in rushing yards, scoring two touchdowns and finishing with nine tackles on defense.
Nathan Molar, a junior, was named Defensive Player of the Game after leading the team with a game-high 14 tackles.
Quarterback Fabian Valenzuela was named Offensive Player of the Game. The junior totaled 81 all-purpose yards and scored the Cats’ other two touchdowns in the loss.
Losses generally provide coaching opportunities and Lechuga identified one area he wants to see his team improve in.
“The overall aggressiveness of the team in general,” he said. “We basically had five guys who were aggressive on both sides of the ball. I’d like to see more of our team making plays and contributions.”
Upcoming schedule: Ray plays its second-straight road game, traveling to take on NFL Yet Academy on Friday, Aug. 26. Kickoff is schedule for 7 p.m.
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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