Thatcher's seniors go out as winners

November 24, 2018 by Jose Garcia, AZPreps365


Thatcher’s senior class actually set out to become a 4-time champion as soon as it stepped foot on campus as freshmen.

That didn't happen, but the look on Thatcher's football players faces wasn't one of disappointment. Completing a rare three-peat is something to be very proud of.

Thatcher’s seniors and their teammates were a confident bunch and played like it, having competed in only two close games this season. They entered this season’s 2A Conference final at Campo Verde High as heavy favorites since it had already posted a 42-3 regular season victory over its opponent Friday, Round Valley.

Thatcher jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back, capping a 14-0 season with a 35-12 victory over Round Valley.

“The goal of the seniors was to a be a 4-time champ,” said one of Thatcher’s 4-year standouts, running back Riley Morris said. “But you really can’t control your freshman year.”

Thatcher’s seniors started forging a strong bond beginning in fourth grade.

By the time they got to Thatcher, with two middle school conference titles, they set the bar high. They lived up to expectations, losing only six career varsity games and becoming just the second 2A program to ever win three in a row.

The score doesn’t reflect it, but Round Valley, the only program that’s defeated Thatcher since Oct. 2016, moved the ball in chunk plays at times early in the game but failed to capitalize. A 55-yard run by quarterback Kason Woolf set up a first and 10 in the red zone, but Thatcher blocked a field goal attempt to end the drive.

In the second quarter, Round Valley got near the red zone again, but a running back was stripped of the ball. Quarterback/safety Jack Kortsen scooped it up and ran 84 yards for Thatcher’s second touchdown. Kortsen also scored his team’s first touchdown during a very successful play Thatcher ran in its final two games, a quarterback keeper around either edge.

The Kortsen keeper Friday went for 47 yards. The first half also was noteworthy because of two injuries.

Round Valley defensive back/wide receiver LJ Foster was carted off by emergency personnel and taken to a local hospital. He was moving his extremities but felt some back pain, said the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s executive director David Hines who was the game.

Morris also had to go to a hospital after suffering an ankle injury. He returned to Campo Verde in the second half to a nice ovation by Thatcher’s crowd.

“They (hospital staff) took an hour to take the splint off, so that made me get impatient,” Morris said. “I just wanted to get back and watch my brothers finish out.”

When play resumed after the two injuries, Thatcher went back to work.

Two other senior leaders, Quinton Turley and Brock Jones, scored on a long, broken coverage pass play and touchdown run, respectively, just before halftime. Thatcher was well on its way to clinching the title.

What’s left to figure out is where this year’s Thatcher team ranks.

Two of the folks who might know were on Thatcher’s sidelines. Ramon Morales started coaching at Thatcher in the 1970s and was named the interim head coach this year.

Don Conrad, Thatcher’s athletic director, has been at Thatcher for 25 years.

“I think overall depth wise and talent wise this team would be right at the top that I’ve associated with,” Conrad said. “These kids are great kids. They’ve worked hard and have left a great legacy.”

Morales will let others settle the best Thatcher team discussion.

“I’m going to let the people in Thatcher argue about that,” Morales said. “I don’t want to slight the kids that I’ve coached before, because we’ve had some really, really great kids. We’ll leave that for the fans to debate and the players. But it’s been a lot of fun.”

The Motes will certainly have a lot to add to the discussion.

Senior tight end Cole Motes’ dad, Rick, won a state football championship 30 years ago at Thatcher High. Rick’s father, Nathan, also helped Thatcher bring home a championship back in 1958.

That's five football titles, including the three Cole participated in, in the Motes family. 

Let the discussion begin.

Cole Motes and his grandfather, Nathan, helped Thatcher win four state football championships. Photo courtesy of the Motes.