Pima College football

Head coach Jim Monaco watches from the sidelines during the Pima Community College Aztecs' football scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, at The North Stadium at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Pima College opened its football season Friday by driving 824 miles in two buses to Colorado Springs, Colo., where the Aztecs beat the Air Force Prep Academy 42-24. The Aztecs then hopped back on the buses and returned to Tucson at about 4 a.m. But coachΒ Jim MonacoΒ probably had a smile on his face into the wee hours, noting that newbie quarterbackΒ Justin Martin, a freshman from Pueblo High School, passed for 400 yards and threw five touchdown passes in his JC debut. A year ago, Martin rushed for 812 yards at Pueblo, and passed for 1,609 with 16 touchdowns. He’ll need to be at his best on Saturday when the Aztecs make another long bus journey to play No. 12 Arizona Western in Yuma.


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