In the final game of the regular season, Cienega did something it hadnโt done in three years: lose at home.
Last weekโs 20-17 defeat by Ironwood Ridge was the first ugly night in Vail since Oct. 9, 2015. It also marked Cienegaโs first loss to a Southern Arizona team in three years.
โIt was a tough one for all of us,โ quarterback Luis Morales said. โIt was tough for the entire organization, being such a powerhouse that we were. But weโre ready to look past it and now weโre just focusing on the next week.โ
But even with such an uncharacteristic loss, the Bobcats finished the regular season 8-2 and earned the No. 8 seed in the Class 5A state playoffs. Cienega will host No. 9 seed Marana in the first round Friday, the latest chapter in whatโs turned into one of Southern Arizonaโs fiercest rivalries.
The teams played twice last year โ once in the regular season and once in the playoffs โ and met earlier this season.
Cienega beat Marana 44-28 when they met earlier this year. The Bobcats won 57-50 in the season opener last year and 38-35 in the state quarterfinals.
Bobcats senior Diego Rivas is expecting a dogfight on Friday.
โWeโre going to expect a lot from them, but theyโve got to expect a lot from us, also,โ Rivas said.
And theyโre expecting to see a lot of Trenton Bourguet.
Maranaโs starting quarterback suffered a concussion the week before the regular-season matchup with Cienega, and was limited in the game. Bourguetโs younger brother, Treyson, played against the Bobcats and had some success.
Now, Cienega is expecting to see the Trenton thatโs given them a hard time in close games. Bourguet is the Class 5A Southern passing leader with 2,085 yards; he leads the region with 2,541 total yards.
Cienega coach Pat Nugent said his team will make some adjustments based on its last game against Marana.
โIโm sure theyโll counter with a few different looks themselves, but we feel good,โ Nugent said. โIf weโve beaten them a few times, thereโs no reason why we canโt go out and do it again the next time. Itโll be a tough game, we know that, but weโre glad weโre at home.โ
As for the last weekโs home loss, Rivas said heโs excited to start a new streak.
โWe realized that we have to work hard and every game we need to fight. Weโll never know the outcome until we play all four quarters,โ Rivas said. โRight now, weโre 0-0. Itโs a new start for us right now.โ