Cibola earns top GVR honors

Gila Valley Region champion Cibola swept the region's postseason honors Thursday, taking home the top three honors.

Running back Roy Thompson was the offensive player of the year, while linebacker Adrian Lugo was the defensive player of the year. Coach Lucky Arvizo was tapped as the coach of the year.

Thompson ran for 1,458 yards and 18 touchdowns, while Lugo led the Raiders (5-5, 4-1 region) with 80 tackles. The Raiders had three other players on the first-team offense - tight end Jacob Gauna and linemen Jeff Bickle and Robin Acevedo.

Yuma High, which took second in the region for the second straight year under Tom Fox, had four first-team offense selections - quarterback Donte Jackson, running back JC Baker, receiver Andrew Herrarte and lineman Matt Clifton.

Jackson completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,147 yards and 14 touchdowns to just six interceptions and also ran for 406 yards and five touchdowns. Baker ran for 1,087 yards and 14 scores, reaching the end zone 22 total times this season to become Yuma High's all-time leader in career touchdowns. Herrarte had 23 catches for 435 yards and six scores. He and Baker combined for 55 of Jackson's 68 completions.

Last year's offensive player of the year, Timmy Lee, made the first team despite an injury-plagued season season, topping 1,000 yards (1,040) and scoring 13 times. Receiver Dominic Castaneda (29 catches, 445 yards, five touchdowns) was the other Kofa offensive representative.

Gila Ridge receiver L'Jey Younger rounded out the area first-team offense selections.

The Raiders also led the way with four defensive first-team nominations. Linemen Leo Aranda and Andre Hernandez made the team along with Lugo and defensive back Cody Pletsch. Gila Ridge had three defensive selections - lineman Esteban Ruano, defensive back Nate Pancrazi and linebacker Andy Meza. Kofa also put three on the defensive team - lineman Tyler Masson, linebacker Trevor Montgomery and defensive back Tevin Alford. Defensive back David Chavoya was the Criminals' lone representative on the defensive side.

Gila Ridge kicker Javier Bon made the first team. Gila Ridge quarterback Mike Pancrazi and Yuma High's Anthony Jackson (seven catches, 159 yards, touchdown at receiver) were the first-team all-purpose selections.

Cibola had three players on the second team (linebacker Cody England, defensive lineman Ted Morgan and kicker Dylan Arviso), while Yuma High had four (offensive lineman Mario Castro, running back Travon Clark, defensive lineman Daniel Reyes and linebacker Donte Jackson). San Luis, which had no one on the first team, had three second-team selections: offensive lineman Gilbert Dominguez, receiver Jose Hernandez, and all-purpose player Daniel Slusher.

Kofa placed four on the second-team (quarterback Lucky Castaneda, offensive lineman Kyle Harper, defensive back Phuc Chao and all-purpose player Tevin Alford) while Gila Ridge had eight representatives (quarterback Mike Pancrazi, offensive lineman Angel Marrero, running back Javier Bon, receiver Corey Semler, defensive lineman Luke Egloff, linebacker Rory Stewart, tight end Nate Pancrazi and Bon as a punter).