Morenci enters the 2026 football season with experience at several important positions, but the Wildcats must replace most of the production that carried them to seven victories and the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs last fall.
Season Outlook
The Wildcats finished 7-5 overall and 2-2 in the 2A East, placing third in the region. They defeated Tuba City 45-6 in the opening round of the playoffs before eventual state champion Scottsdale Christian ended their season with a 55-0 victory.
Morenci scored 288 points and allowed 206, but much of that offense came from a senior class that included running back Julien Aragon and quarterback Derick Lytle. Aragon rushed for 1,645 yards — an average of 137.1 per game — and scored 19 total touchdowns. Lytle averaged 58 rushing yards and accounted for six touchdowns.
Replacing that production will be Morenci’s central task. The Wildcats have an experienced candidate to direct the offense in junior Deegan Miller. Miller led Morenci with five touchdown passes as a sophomore and is one of 25 players listed on both the 2025 and 2026 MaxPreps rosters.
Senior Joel Baca is the most accomplished returning runner listed among last year’s statistical leaders. Baca averaged 22.3 rushing yards per game, finishing behind Aragon and Lytle on the team leaderboard. He is positioned to take on a larger workload.
Key Players
Junior Jeremya Cruz, listed at running back and free safety, provides another option in the backfield. Fullback Joshwa Sandoval also returns as a junior and is listed as a middle linebacker.
Morenci brings back experience on the perimeter with senior Mason Clark and junior Brennen Burkhead, both listed as wide receivers and cornerbacks. Clark is one of only four seniors listed on the current 44-player roster.
The Wildcats’ roster includes 14 freshmen, nine sophomores, 17 juniors and four seniors. That gives Morenci a substantial group to develop while placing added responsibility on a small senior class.
Experience should be more evident along the line. Junior James Davis, listed at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, returns at offensive tackle and linebacker.
Defense
The defense faces a significant rebuilding job after graduating its top three tacklers. Anthony Rogers averaged a team-leading 6.3 tackles per game, followed by Lytle at 5.8 and Isaiah Cook at 4.
Cruz, Clark and Burkhead could help fill those openings in the defensive backfield. Sandoval and Davis are among the returning players listed at linebacker.
Morenci opens Aug. 20 at Safford after beating the Bulldogs 20-14 last year. The Wildcats then visit Tanque Verde, which defeated them 24-16, before hosting Willcox on Sept. 4 and traveling to Bisbee.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
