Young Badgers Show Promise : 2023 Football Preview

Photo: 21 Adam Lloyd carries the ball for the Badgers

The 2023 high school football season is upon us as every team starts with a clean slate and has hopes for a good year. The Badgers are no different, and despite losing nearly all their starters from a quarterfinals (9-3) squad, Prescott has some very capable players that could step up and make this season a very special one.

This year’s schedule features five new non-region opponents, three on the road, resulting in a lot of miles to get there.

Photo: A rainbow appeared during the monsoon season scrimmage between Poston Butte and the Badgers

The first look at this year’s squad was a home scrimmage versus the Poston Butte Broncos. Prescott returns quarterback senior Jaxon Rice, junior slot back/receiver Uriah Tenette, and senior tackle Tyson Gillette. All of whom feel that this team has a lot of potential. Rice said, “Felt really good to be back out there tonight. We have a lot of talent on this team. Practices have been good and we are working hard to get better all the time.” In regards to his personal play, Rice said, “I am really looking forward to this season and just playing my heart out. I need to keep on practicing and working to get better each week.” When asked about the new teams on this seasons schedule, Rice added, “Coach Collett is a great coach and he does his best to get us ready for whoever we have on the schedule.”

Despite the threatening skies, a good crowd was on hand to catch the action. A few raindrops fell, but nothing to dampen the spirits of anybody. Both teams got a look at all their players who displayed a lot of energy on the field.

Photo: 1 Uriah Tenette with the catch

Tenette said, “It is great to back out here. An exciting time for everybody. This team has a lot of speed. We just need to stick with what Coach Collett is asking of us. Being a so-called younger team gives us a lot of growing potential. Tonight I thought we did alright. Minimizing mistakes will be something that we will have to overcome.”

One new member of the varsity team is also a star soccer player for the Badgers. Johann Gundermann will play a vital part as he becomes one of the receivers Rice will look to. Add playing in the secondary, plus his kicking abilities and we should here this junior’s name called a lot. “It’s great to be out here playing with my friends. I have a lot for brothers out here and that makes it fun”, said Gundermann. When asked what his role on this team will be, the junior said, “I will be a receiver, runner, and play defensive back, plus kicker, basically get the ball and try to make plays. As for the physicality of football as opposed to soccer, Gundermann added, “Football I would say is more physical, but soccer has its moments, but I would have to say seeing girls’ soccer makes that a close second.”

Offensive tackle Tyson Gillette said, “Felt good to get back out there with my brothers. This team is a family and we have a good chance to build a great season. Lot of good players have moved up that brought a bunch of talent with them. We will just need to each play to our abilities. I am looking forward to my senior season and will leave it all on the field.”

Photo: Coach Collett talks to the Badgers about the scrimmage

First up will be a trip to Avondale to face the La Joya Fighting Lobos, who ended last season at (2-8) overall, and tied for third in the 5A Central Valley Region with a (2-3) record. La Joya Community will open at home tonight versus Verrado.

The Thunderbird Titans had a strong 2022 finishing (9-3) overall and with a perfect (4-0) in 4A Southwest lost 28-3 in quarterfinal round at Canyon Del Oro. One of those three loses was at home to Bradshaw Mountain.

Another team running the table in their region was the Northwest Christian Crusaders, who ended the season at (8-3), with a (4-0) 4A Valley West Region record. The Crusaders lost last season in the first round to Bradshaw Mountain 23-13. Northwest lost a pair of seniors at quarterback, who threw for over 2300 yards and 24 touchdowns. Returning is senior running back Benjamin Lueders who led the Crusaders in rushing with 414 yards and two touchdowns in his junior year.

Week four will be back on the road as the Badgers travel to Casa Grande to face the Vista Grande Spartans, who went (7-4) overall, and finished third at (3-2) in the Kino league behind Mica Mountain and Canyon del Oro.

Week five is a return trip down south to face the Combs Coyotes who split their region schedule at (2-2) and ended their season at (6-4).

The final leg of the three week road trip ends in Kingman, when the Badgers will face the pesky Lee Williams Volunteers. The Volunteers finished third last year at (3-2) in Grand Canyon Region and (6-4) overall. Look for the Volunteers to give the Badgers all they can handle. Last season the Badgers needed a last second Cole Gross field goal to win 23-21.

The Flagstaff Eagles had a season they would like to forget, going winless in the GCR, and just (2-8) overall. The Badgers steamrolled Eagles 58-14, and in all reality the game wasn’t even that close, as Prescott lead 55-7 at the half. Don’t look for the same lopsided game this year, although the Badgers should come out on top. Chase Brown was a freshmen starter at quarterback for the Eagles last season and will certainly be a better player in 2023.

The Badgers will take week eight off with a scheduled bye to get ready for the big rivalry game.

The Bradshaw Mountain Bears (5-0) and (8-4), are poised to claim the top spot in the Grand Canyon Region for the third straight year. Many returnees on the line, and with leading rusher Gabriel Ricketts (1554 yards and 12 touchdowns) back for his senior season, the Bears should have another dominate rushing attack that produced over 3000 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns. Last season the Bears beat the Badgers 20-14 in Prescott Valley.

Look for the Coconino Panthers to be a better team this year. They finished (2-3) and were (4-6) overall, suffering their first losing season since 2017, and failing to make the playoffs for the second straight year. Quarterback Enoch Watson threw about ten passes a game for 641 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. Look for Watson and fellow senior Bridger French to carry the load on the ground. French averaged 7.8 yards a carry with a total of 518 yards, and scoring seven touchdowns. Last year the Badgers won 35-13.

The Mingus Marauders will wrap up the regular season for the Badgers. The Marauders went (5-5) on the season, but only (1-4) in the GCR. Mingus has won just two of twenty-two games the last four seasons in the region, beating Flagstaff last year, and former league foe Mohave back in 2020. Last year, Prescott dominated the Marauders 55-7 in Cottonwood.

Playoff time begins on November 10, and another playoff run looks very promising for the Badgers.

2022 GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS

School W-L W-L

Bradshaw Mountain 5-0 8-4

PRESCOTT 4-1 9-3

Lee Williams 3-2 6-4

Coconino 2-3 4-6

Mingus 1-4 5-5

Flagstaff 0-5 2-8

2023 PRESCOTT BADGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

(All games on Friday at 7pm)

Date Opponent Location