Gridiron Guide: Santa Rita eager to bring success back home
Santa Rita fans can enjoy an amazing panoramic view of the Santa Catalina and the Rincon Mountains.
School: Santa Rita
Name: None
Address: 3951 S. Pantano Road
Opened: 1973
The lowdown: A welcoming mural marks the entrance to Santa Rita’s football field, which is tucked into the northwest corner of Lincoln Park on Tucson’s east side. The venue isn’t far removed from housing some of the city’s toughest teams, when coach Jeff Scurran led the Eagles to two state title game appearances and a trip to the state semifinals from 2007 to 2009. With five different coaches and no winning seasons since then, any traditions from those times have eroded. First-year coach Felix Jamero hopes to bring those winning ways back but he’ll have to wait until the fourth week of the season to play at home because the Eagles are on the road for their first three games. What Santa Rita’s stadium might lack in modern amenities, it makes up for in history: It was home to Eric Drage and J.J. Holliday, two of the most memorable wide receivers the city has seen.
Don’t miss: Its location. The stunning view from the home side features both the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains. Plus, if the timing is right, you could catch a picturesque moonrise during a game.
Biggest game: Santa Rita opened 2003 with a 41-10 victory over east-side rival Palo Verde, snapping a six-game skid against the Titans and notching its first win in the series since 1994. Senior quarterback Bryan Tubaugh was intercepted on his first pass but went on to complete 8 of 15 passes for 156 yards and four TDs. Meanwhile, Santa Rita finished the season 7-4 and qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in nine years.
Performance for the ages: Senior running back AuBurá Taylor rushed for a game-high 241 yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries to help Santa Rita rally for a 38-37 win in overtime against visiting Scottsdale Coronado in the first round of the 2007 Class 4A-II state playoffs. The dramatic victory extended a nine-game winning streak and came just one year after the Eagles finished off a winless campaign in 2006. It also sent Santa Rita on to the state quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
Quotable: “I like how things look. In the forefront, we have the desert there. It’s kind of like when you’re on NCAA football. You can build your own stadium and we have that luxury of having our desert in the back.” – Jamero
Jason Harris
