Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets - State Champs

[Coach]

Let's hear about those Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets taking the 3A State Championship on Saturday! Went up to Flagstaff to watch a great game in the dome against our long-time rivals, the Show Low Cougars.

 

I have to say this - in a rivalry THAT heated between two great teams with decades of "bad blood" I was extremely impressed by the conduct of the young men on the field on both teams. Lots of respect and sportsmanship, and the persuit of "victory with honor".

 

GO JACKETS!!!!

[luvdemcoues]

Was it a close game at least? Does Blue Ridge finally have a good program again?!! I don't know about the bad blood. The games were always heated for sure, but I can't recall many if any at all that ever got out of control. Congrats to the Jackets. How exciting that must have been for the mountain to have both teams at state! Too cool.

[Coach]

I have to say, the first half - it was anybody's game. Both teams moved the ball incredibly well. Defense was another story - I've got to give props to Show Low's QB and recievers. They were fantastic. A couple of finger-tip defensive plays by the BR secondary were crucial. It would have been a much closer game without some truly outstanding defensive plays deep.

 

The second half, BR got their defense in gear and finally started forcing punts. Show Low could not stop our running game and BR was able to score on pretty much every offensive opportunity.

 

I hate to say it - gotta love ALL the kids that made it that far - but in the second half, Show Low was just looking more "beat up" and less determined.

 

BR is one of those teams that is always close, and usually in the playoffs. We *should* have beaten Payson last year based on the half-time score, but they came out and made the adjustments they needed to come from way behind and win - kudos to them for that.

 

As for "finally having good program again" - not trying to sound defensive, but Blue Ridge has had a very good program for a long, long time. Sure, they've missed a couple of close ones, but the coaching staff here does an AMAZING job. I graduated in '89 and played tight end and defensive end on the team that trounced everyone and then lost to Parker in the semi-finals, who eventually lost to Snowflake - a team we had beaten during regular play.

 

BR is pretty much always the "smaller" team on the field. We don't grow them big here like other schools do. Coach Moro and his staff - Williams, London, Thompson - really know how to put a team together and make the best out of the kids despite their size. For BR it's all about hard-hitting, assignment football, off-season training , speed and discipline - and most of those things come out of the coaching staff when it comes down to it.

 

I've got 3 boys involved in football now (I've been coaching the local, "mountain" leauge too), one in 7th grade, one in 5th and one in 2nd. I can't wait to see what Moro and his staff can do with these kids who have been playing together from 1st grade on up. No doubt about it, there will be some amazing high-school football in small-town Arizona. Gotta love it - this is one of the big reasons I moved out of the valley and back home to the mountains to raise my kids hunting, fishing and playing football and baseball.

 

 

 

 

[cmc]

Congrats to the Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets....!!!!

[bonecollector]

Congrats to Blue Ridge,I remember them as always being the powerhouse in the 3A conference. I watched them play in the state championship against Boys Ranch at MCC in Mesa back in the 90's that was a great game.

[firstcoueswas80]

Those dudes are BAD! They win state ALL the time!

 

my grandparents have a cabin in Pinetop and the old coaches mother lived behind my grandparents. Crazy lady, but he wasnt too bad. Tried to talk me into moving up there for football!

[ZBAR]

They will never have a program as good as HOLBROOK'S!!!! Actually, when we played BR that weeks practice was nothing but games.

[FlyingW]

I hate to admit it but Blue Ridge does have a great football program from pee wee all the way up . They sure put a whoopin on Round Valley at every level this year...Still an Elks fan to the end !!!

[WHT_MTNMAN]

Well I am a born and raised Cougar but congrats to the Jackets, I'm glad both teams were respectful. I played during the mid 90's when the BR beat us and everybody for many years. BR has always been a tough team to beat even when they were not state champs they usually went most of the way. Nice job.

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

 

 

The only reason BR has a program is because they have an exiled Longhorn at the core!!! But, I am glad they beat those big puddy Cats!

 

 

HaHaHaHa!!! I think we are all div. rivals now!!!

[luvdemcoues]

AZonecam, I did not mean any disrespect. I am very familiar with BR's outstanding football program. It was a sarcastic/jealous comment about them "finally being a good team again". BR has always dominated, and when they ever did loose, it was a close game. Congrats again to both teams making it that far and to BR pulling it off. Too exciting!