Photos: Cienega falls at Walden Grove 26-7, high school football
Walden Grove High School notches its first win of the 2023 high school football season, scoring first and last on visiting Cienega on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Sahuarita, Arizona. The Red Wolves improved to 1-3 with the win; the Bobcats fell to 2-2.
Cienega's Ethan Billings (7) gets a handful of face mask trying to bring down Walden Grove's Eduard Lopez (9) after his catch and run in the first quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Cienega's Matt Feibush (52) hits Walden Grove's Gabriel Smith (7), foiling his pass attempt on fourth and short inside the 15 in the third quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Walden Grove's Buddy Davis (6) makes a seat of the pants interception after defecting the pass in the second quarter of their game against Cienega at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
ABOVE: During a matchup last season, Walden Grove’s Carlos Montoya Jr (20) slips by Cienega’s Liam Moore (80) on his way to the end zone for a score in the second quarter a Sept. 15, 2023, game at Walden Grove High School. BELOW: Montoya Jr gets wrapped up by Cienega’s Kadin Thomas.
Cienega's Matt Feibush (52) arrives in time to disrupt the hand off from Walden Grove's Gabriel Smith (7) to Robert Cash III (30) in the second quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Cienega's Ledainean Moore (4) gets to Walden Grove's Gabriel Smith (7) for a sack in the second quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023. No penalty was called on the play.
Walden Grove's Jose JD Chafin (5) holds on to stop Cienega's Manny Morales (10) after his catch in the second quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Cienega's Ari Dubin (13) jumps over Walden Grove's Enzo Morales (22) to haul in a touchdown catch in the second quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Cienega's Kadin Thomas (88) almost comes up with the interception on a pass intended for Walden Grove's Jayvon Coleman (18) in the third quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Last season, Walden Grove’s Carlos Montoya Jr (20) gets wrapped up by Cienega’s Kadin Thomas (88) on a sweep in the third quarter of their matchup on Sept. 15, 2023, at Walden Grove High School.
Cienega's Riley Easterling (73), left, and Amandre Alvarez (15) team up to stop Walden Grove's Robert Cash III (30) in the third quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Walden Grove's Jaxsen Philistine (28) goes low to stop Cienega's Jimmy Mccormack (5) after his catch in the fourth quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Walden Grove's Steven Valdez (99) hits Cienega's Evan Weber (1) stopping his throw and flushing him from the pocket in the fourth quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Cienega's Evan Weber (1) slips out of the grip of Walden Grove's Rodrigo Carrizosa (75), temporarily avoiding a fourth quarter sack in their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Walden Grove's Robert Cash III (30) runs over Cienega's Ledainean Moore (4) in the fourth quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Walden Grove's Robert Cash III (30) batters his way to the one through Cienega's Malcolm Egnew (83), left, and Amandre Alvarez (15) late in the fourth quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Walden Grove's Gabriel Smith (7) drops a pass over the head of Cienega's Ledainean Moore (4) at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Cienega's Evan Weber (1) slings a pass around the rush of Walden Grove's Pierce Elliott (23) in the fourth quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Walden Grove's players start grabbing their helmets as they head for pre-game drills before their home game against Cienega, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Walden Grove's head coach Corey Noble, left, and assistant offensive line coach Jacob Montano signal in a formation in the second quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School against Cienega, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023.
Cienega's head coach Justin Argraves argues that Walden Grove had an ineligible player upfield on a Red Wolves reception in the third quarter of their game at Walden Grove High School, Tucson, Ariz., September 15, 2023. Argraves picked up a penalty.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
High school football: Flowing Wells, Mountain View, Walden Grove earn first wins of 2023Five teams from Tucson and surrounding areas (Buena, Canyon del Oro, Pusch Ridge, Mica Mountain and Salpointe Catholic) remain unbeaten after Week 5 of local high school football action, while a trio of teams got in the "W" column for the first time.
As the Arizona high school football season enters Week 5, the Star presents our weekly look back at the best of last week while charging ahead toward what we might be able to expect from programs across Tucson and surrounding communities this Friday night.
Walden Grove went 8-2 last season but missed the state playoffs due in part to a weaker-than-average schedule. Despite 1-2 start (against a touch opening schedule), the Red Wolves are determined not to let that happen again.