State Champs!
The 2025 1A State Football championship trophy returns to the Copper Area with the Hayden Lobos football team!
Last Saturday, Nov. 15, the Lobos played under the stadium lights of Coronado High School, taking on the Bagdad Sultans in a rematch from the previous year.
The game started off with the Lobos receiving the kick. Tyler Garner was the first Lobo to find the end-zone off the second play of the game, running a 32-yard touchdown, with Kino Lorona scoring the two-point conversion, making the score 8-0. The Lobos played a tough defense and made sure to keep the Sultans from moving forward. Kino Lorona ran an 88-yard touchdown, but it was called back due to a flag on the play. Tyler Garner ran a 56-yard touchdown, breaking off tackles while moving forward. Kino Lorona once again helped secure the two-point conversion making it 16-0. The Sultans ended up scoring a touchdown, and a field goal, moving the score to 16-7 where it would stay for the remainder of the first quarter.
Mario Hong helped move the Lobos down the field, and ended up scoring a touchdown, moving the score to 22-7. The Sultans began to make their way down the field as the Lobos kept trying to stop them. The Sultans scored a touchdown and field goal making it 22-14. Kino Lorona ran a 44-yard touchdown, while Mario Hong made the two-point conversion. Before the end of the first half, Kino Lorona scored one more touchdown making the score 36-14 by halftime.
The Lobos kicked to start off the second half of the game, and the boys came out just as strong as the first half. The Sultans tried to move forward but the ball was turned over to the Lobos. Kino Lorona ran a 54-yard touchdown, moving the score to 42-14. Tyler Garner scored a touchdown, with Kino Lorona securing the two-point conversion, making it 50-14. The Lobos were able to get possession of the ball again when they recovered a fumble off of the kickoff. Tyler Garner ran a touchdown, with Ryan Garner securing the two-point conversion, making it 58-14 at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter saw Tyler Garner catch an interception to make it the Lobos’ ball. Kino Lorona ran a touchdown with Tyler Garner making the two-point conversion. The Sultans were able to get one last touchdown before the remaining seconds of the game. The game concluded with a 66-20 final score, making the Hayden Lobos the 2025 1A State Champions and back-to-back-to-back champions, and finishing off the 2025 season 12-0!
For the first time in AIA history, they awarded defensive and offensive MVPs for the game. Tyler Garner claimed the defensive MVP, and Kino Lorona received the offensive MVP. Kino Lorona had rushed over 2,000 yards this season. Lorona also received a special recognition belt from the Fiesta Bowl committee.
“I don’t know. It’ll hit me tomorrow. It’s awesome to know that Hayden will be in the record books for many years, I hope, you know, way after me. I’m happy for these guys, they’ve worked their butts off, well deserved,” head coach Estrada commented when asked how it felt to claim their third consecutive state championship. “Look at our crowd, we couldn’t do it without. I have some awesome coaches that do the job; the fans follow us all over the place – it’s a great feeling!”
The Lobos have had three undefeated seasons, with 36 consecutive wins since 2023. In their 2022 season, the Lobos only suffered one loss: to Williams in the Semifinals. From 2022 to 2025 Hayden High School’s football team has a record of 46-1. Congratulations to the team and coaches of Hayden on your 2025 football state championship! Viva los Lobos!