Badgers Ready For New Season – Ron Williams

Photo: 4 Jake Hilton tries to get away from a pair of Poston Butte Broncos

The 2022 Prescott Badgers will take the field for their first game on Friday against the Carl Hayden Falcons in the first of their 10 game regular season. “We are ready for a really good season,” said senior receiver Jake Hilton. “Practices have been good and everyone is working hard to make this team strong.”

The first look at the Badgers came at the scrimmage between fellow Division 4A opponent Poston Butte, and Division 5A Betty Fairfax. Prescott looked good on both sides of the ball, which could be a very good indication that the Badgers plan to go further than the second round of the playoffs. Prescott knocked off rival Bradshaw Mountain before losing big at Poston Butte in the quarterfinals.

Senior center and defensive lineman Greg Bickel said, “We have some really good skilled position players and our line is ready to go to give them the chances to make the plays. Guys like Jake Hilton will be pulling in a lot of deep balls this season. Our defense will be giving other teams problems all year. Can’t wait to get started.”

The Badgers will play four new opponents this season with Glendale being the only one back on the non-region schedule. The Cardinals lost the opener to Prescott, and their final game in the playoffs ending a very good year at (11-2). Carl Hayden is coming off a (6-4) season in the Copper Sky Conference. American Leadership Academy-Gilbert North has been bumped up to 4A after an (11-2) finish last year, losing in the 3A semifinals to Yuma Catholic. Greenway ended (5-4) last season and missed the playoffs. Sierra Linda, also out of the Copper Sky Region, did not make the playoffs last season after finishing (8-2).

Athletic Trainer Trent James was asked how he prepares the student volunteer staff for the upcoming season. “The goal is to make sure the sports med kids are ready by knowing the basic things to start, and then it is a matter of addressing things as they come up,” said James. “They are all great kids. The cool things with sports med is I get a lot of students that find interest in it, so getting enough involved in the program is never a problem. The interest comes from being able to learn more because it’s more hands on, it’s real, and we do some things in class to keep it interesting for them as well.”

Jaxon Rice finished the season at QB and is primed to be the starter for game one this year. The junior picked up some valuable experience in his eight games, completing 60% of his passes for 485 yards, six touchdowns, and three picks. Leading rusher Cody Leopold had 1394 yards and 17 touchdowns and will get some help in the backfield by Cian Mckelvey, 584 yards , five TDs. Leading receiver Jake Hilton returns for his senior campaign after pulling in 24 catches for 458 yards and two touchdowns. Look for that TD total to go up this season. Landon Aurich caught only 11 passes, but led the receivers in TDs with five.

Defensively, the two Cody’s, Cody Hanna and Cody Leopold combined for 263 tackles last year, both averaging in double figures. The third linebacker back is Cian Mckelvey, averaging nine tackles, and with Landen Francis on the line will make offenses uncomfortable once again.

PRESCOTT BADGERS 2022 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

(All games on Friday at 7 pm) (Home games in CAPS)

September 2 vs. CARL HAYDEN

September 9 at Glendale

September 23 ALA – GILBERT NORTH

September 30 at Greenway

October 7 vs. SIERRA LINDA

October 14 at Flagstaff +

October 21 at Bradshaw Mountain +

October 28 vs. LEE WILLIAMS +

November 4 vs. COCONINO +

November 11 at Mingus +