Jeff Heidrick was one of a kind for Salpointe Catholic High School football | Greg Hansen's Notebook

On Sept. 12, 1980, Salpointe Catholic linebacker/fullback Jeff Heidrick sacked the quarterback 11 times in a victory at Cholla High School, and ended the night with 25 tackles. It might’ve been the top defensive game ever played by a Tucson prep ballplayer.

Heidrick was such a good high school football player that Salpotine retired his jersey, No. 45, the first Lancer so honored. (John Fina, Kris O’Dowd and Zach Morgan have since been similarly honored).

Heidrick was Tucson’s 1980 high school football Player of the Year, leading the Lancers to their first state championship game (a 20-0 loss to Phoenix Trevor Browne). At 5-8, 195 pounds, he was a ball of fire, an achiever like few in the history of Tucson prep football.

Sadly, Heidrick died here last week from complications of a lingering medical issue. He was just 61. The former New Mexico Lobo linebacker was a qualified mechanical contractor, and also was an assistant coach on legendary former Salpointe coach Dennis Bene’s Lancer teams.

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This entry is part of longtime Star columnist Greg Hansen's weekly notebook. Looking for more? Find updates and Greg's archive at Tucson.com/Hansen.

Upon learning of Heidrick’s death, Bene posted this on X (Twitter): “He was the fiercest player I’ve ever seen at Salpointe. He was a gladiator who bled maroon and gold. He taught me how to be a Lancer.’’

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