Photos: Mica Mountain High School navigates first full football season
Mica Mountain is playing its first full season as a varsity program after making its debut last year with an abbreviated schedule.
It hasn’t been easy. Mica Mountain lost 55-14 to Salpointe Catholic on Friday night, falling to 1-4 this season. The Thunderbolts’ lone win came Sept. 1 against Ironwood Ridge.
“We as a team, as a school, we went through a lot of adversity with COVID messing everything up, being a new school, not having a full schedule, players being injured and trying to find people to play varsity football,” said Octavio "Tavo" Vidrio Jr., a senior linebacker and tight end. “I think our team has really shown a lot of perseverance through fighting through that adversity and being really patient and having the process go the right way even if it takes a while.”
It has been a challenge putting on a new football program, said Pat Nugent, Mica Mountain’s coach. Nugent coached at Canyon del Oro and Cienega, established programs where the facilities, equipment and finances were already taken care of.
At Mica Mountain, Nugent started from scratch.
Mica Mountain opened in August of 2020, during the pandemic. For the first year, Brett Darling, former defensive coordinator at Cienega and current defensive coordinator at Mica Mountain, ran the program while Nugent helped from his former school, Cienega.
Nugent was named coach in 2021. He and Nemer Hassey, principal of Mica Mountain and a former Sahuaro and Cienega coach, worked together to create the program. Nugent provided insight about the facilities, weight room, class schedules, uniforms, equipment, finances and design, among other things.
“It was neat to be a part of it and see the whole Mica Mountain process come together,” said Nugent.
Mica Mountain continues to work on building a tradition and winning atmosphere.
“That’s been a hard thing,” Nugent admitted. “We don’t have a lot of seniors still this year and we are trying to build our young kids into a winning tradition.”
Mica Mountain wide receiver and safety Devin Hayward, center, dances with a teammates inside a dance circle before heading out to the bus for an away game on Sept. 15, 2022. Having dances huddles and listening to loud music is a common occurrence inside the locker room. It’s a constant thing that always happens, said Octavio "Tavo" Vidrio Jr., a senior linebacker and tight end. Keyshia Cole’s 2005 R&B hit "Love" is one of the teams favorite songs along with Miley Cyrus’ hit “Party in the USA," said Josiah Thornwell, a sophomore running back and safety. Free style rap is also a favorite music choice of the team, added Vidrio.
Mica Mountain linemen KJ Ellsworth, left, and George Flores push running back and nose guard Jacob Ford to finish his reps during weight training class. Players have their zero-hour class for studying film and their first period is weight training.
Mica Mountain tight end and linebacker Jacob Flores (42) runs through drills with teammates during practice. Flores has the best dance moves on the team, according to teammates. “His 'Dougie' is undefeated,” said running back and safety Josiah Thornwell.
Mica Mountain running back and cornerback Zach Brent, center, watches game film during the morning film session. Last year’s season was a trial run, with the team going 3-3. This year is different. “We are playing a 10-game season and our expectations are higher and our demand of our kids are higher,” said coach Pat Nugent. “We are expecting our kids to play at an elite level.”
Defensive coordinator Brett Darling huddles with players before running a play at practice.
Mica Mountain players practice under a rainbow stretching over Vail.
Mica Mountain wide receiver and cornerback Xavior Johnson, center, works out using a sled with fellow teammates during weight training class at Mica Mountain High School on Sept. 19, 2022.
Mica Mountain offensive and defensive lineman Geovanie Randall (54), wide receiver and cornerback Will White (11) and running back and safety Josiah Thornwell (5) rap towards tight end and linebacker Kason Colbert (44) while waiting for the bus at Mica Mountain High School on Sept. 15, 2022.
Mica Mountain offensive lineman and nose guard Kaleb Marrow (72) runs through a drill with teammates during practice at Mica Mountain High School on Sept. 14, 2022.
Mica Mountain safeties coach Jason Jones leads the teams warm-up routine during practice at Mica Mountain High School on Sept. 14, 2022.
Mica Mountain offensive lineman George Flores squats during weight training class at Mica Mountain High School in Tucson, Ariz. on Sept. 19, 2022.
After running through some drills, Mica Mountain Head Coach Pat Nugent talks to players on Sept. 14, 2022.
Mica Mountain wide receiver and safety Devin Hayward sits under a basketball hoop while listening to music before the team leaves for an away game.
Mica Mountain running back and safety Josiah Thornwell, center, leads the team huddle in between drills during practice on Sept. 19, 2022. One of the challenges of being a new team was the lack of seniors. Thornwell started as a freshman last year and was “thrown into the fire” and “nervous,” he said. “But now, this year, knowing what we are capable of and, like, what our plans are, it’s a really a good driving force.”
Mica Mountain’s running back and linebacker Octavio Jr. Vidrio, foreground, and running back and nose guard Jacob Ford cheer following a team stretching exercise. “We all have a pretty good relationship with each other so we can easily have fun with each other,” said Ford.
Mica Mountain linemen Jaysen Criswell (51) and George Flores (78) run through a drill during practice at Mica Mountain High School.
Mica Mountain lineman KJ Ellsworth squats during weight training class.
Byrionna “B” Brockington, sophomore sports manager, moves jerseys before the varsity team takes off for an away game.
Mica Mountain defensive coordinator Brett Darling, left, helps running backs and linebackers Riley Paul, right, and Octavio Jr. Vidrio with a drill during practice at Mica Mountain High School on Sept. 14, 2022. Darling helped head coach Pat Nugent and principal Nemer Hassey build the varsity football program.
Varsity and junior varsity players gather together to watch a Mica Mountain volleyball game while their practice was delayed due to weather at Mica Mountain High School. “We are committed to our sport, to the weight room, to our grades and everything. We are one unit that is on and off the field together and we are a family," said Jacob Ford, senior running back and nose guard.
Mica Mountain wide receivers Devin Hayward, left, and Jonah Garcia perform rear foot elevated lunges during weight training class.
Mica Mountain wide receiver and safety Jonah Garcia (13) stretches with teammates during practice at Mica Mountain High School.
Mica Mountain offensive lineman George Flores gets in a quick stretch before weight training class at Mica Mountain High School.
Mica Mountain defensive linemen coach WT Jefferies, center, smiles while talking with players on the sideline during practice.
Mica Mountain quarterback Jayden Thoreson (2) loosens up his arm before running through plays during practice at Mica Mountain High School on Sept. 14, 2022.
Rebecca Sasnett
Photojournalist
Marana defeated Cienega, 41-31, high school football at Cienega High School, on October 7, 2022, in Tucson.
Salpointe Catholic defeated Mica Mountain, 55-14, high school football at Salpointe Catholic High School on Oct. 7, 2022 in Tucson.