Category: Football

Mr. Carpenter: ‘Building’ Relationships, Chiseling Character

By Esmeralda Almazan & Iraith Arce

For the past month, Mr. Mike Carpenter has been Pueblo’s newest campus monitor, replacing Ms. Vickie Bellay who retired at the end of August.

If he looks familiar to some students, he should—as Carpenter has been coaching Pueblo’s junior varsity football team for the past three years, although he boasts 29 years of football and baseball coaching experience. He can also boast about his JV football Warriors experiencing a very successful (6-2) season.

“I’ve been building relationships with students for a long time as a coach,” Carpenter said, “so my approach to being a security monitor is the same—we’re all like one, big team.”

He said that interacts with students to guide them to create a safer place. By focusing on an inclusive environment, Carpenter said that he can easily connect with students.

“I don’t want to blow my whistle in students’ faces,” he said. “I don’t want to interact negatively with students, and I’ve found that using words works better to motivate them to get to class.”

Carpenter said that he uses the skills he learned during his 24-year military career to become a better coach and now a monitor.

“I was a Resource Protection Officer in the military as well as a security police officer for the Arizona National Guard—and this has made me alert and observant,” he said. “I’m here [at Pueblo] to protect people and to keep everybody safe.”

He added, “My favorite part of being a monitor at Pueblo is being able to interact with students. I can easily make their days better with a simple, ‘Hey, how are you?’”

Although Carpenter did not graduate from PHS, he has family connections to Pueblo. His father graduated from PHS in 1969, and his wife was a Class of 1998 Warrior.

Unsportsmanlike Behavior Taints Homecoming Game

By Victoria Cazares

When one thinks of the word “sportsmanship”, one generally thinks of playing fairly and losing with grace and winning with dignity. However, that’s not exactly what happened during and after Pueblo’s homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 1.

Pueblo hosted Arcadia High School from Phoenix, Ariz., and although our guests were a heavy favorite, the Warriors barely missed the opportunity for a victory in the last seconds of the game. In the end, the Bulldogs clenched the win with a score of 12-7.

One might think that our victors would show some grace for their win—especially on another team’s field in another city.

According to our varsity players and our coaches, members on the opposing team showed disgraceful and unfortunate disrespect as well as blatantly unsportsmanlike behavior during and after the game.

“Name-calling and negative comments were already posted by Arcadia High School [on social media] days before the game was played, saying they were going to beat us 49-0,” said Miguel Moreira, a junior. “Despite our loss, we definitely made Arcadia earn that win. However, their name-calling during the game was uncalled for.”

Our Warrior football players heard a series of classless names from opposing team members, referring to Pueblo’s players as “South Side trash,” “a team of thugs,” and “beaners.” A few players said that they heard Arcadia football players wishing that our school would have a “boring homecoming.”

“What Arcadia did was very was disrespectful and immature,” said senior Daidryan Mendivil. “Their behavior was uncalled for. Why couldn’t they just enjoy their win and acknowledge that it was a well-played game for both teams?”

“We felt really disrespected,” said quarterback Diego Ramirez, a junior. “The bad sportsmanship after the game got out of hand, and there was no need for all of that.”

According to observers, Arcadia’s coaches failed to control their team or to show true leadership—as they, too, were part of the unsportsmanlike behavior.

“I was really shocked that [Arcadia] coaches were laughing at their players mocking us,” said senior George Molina, who is an “unofficial” manager of the team and a formidable mentor to many of the Pueblo’s football players. “I thought that coaches were supposed to be positive role models for their team members.”

Pueblo’s head coach, Mr. Jake Allen, was glad the tensions did not escalate to the point where things got physical.

“Things got a little out of hands, for sure,” said Allen. “The way Arcadia behaved created a pretty intense and uncomfortable environment for us, but we managed to keep our cool.”

Pueblo’s cheerleaders were also verbally harassed by some of Arcadia’s players, as many of the cheerleaders had to endure “unpleasant” comments.

One of those cheerleaders, junior Karolina Carrillo, said, “At the end of game, I heard some of the Arcadia players calling us ‘sluts’, and they kept bothering us. I had to ask [security monitor Ms.] Nellie [Rivera] to walk with me so that I felt safer.”

Pueblo High School Principal Mr. Frank Rosthenhausler said, “Everything begins with leadership, and it’s clear that the Arcadia High School coaches failed to show this to their players.”

He paused and said, “I’m proud of our football team and how they handled themselve

Kickoff Game 2021 Against Sahuaro Postponed

by Marla Terminel

After members of both teams went under isolation for COVID-19 risk and exposure, Pueblo’s first kickoff game against Sahuaro High School, originally scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 2, was postponed due to protocols.

The match was one of two that are a part of Southern Arizona’s 11th annual “Coaches for Charity Kickoff” event.

“It [the cancelation] was unfortunate, but due to an abundance of caution, it had to happen,” said Pueblo’s athletic director, Coach Miguel “Miggs” Sandoval.

Pueblo’s football season will now open on Friday, Sept. 10, at Rincon/University High School.

“It was sad at the moment, but I realized the season wouldn’t be cancelled,” said Josiah Gastelum, a sophomore on this year’s varsity squad. He added that despite the untimely circumstances, postponing the game would also give the team more time to practice for the late kickoff game. “Having more time to prepare for this season may be a blessing from the football gods.”

Mr. Jesus Jacquez, Pueblo’s band director and music teacher, said that COVID-19 has been a constant barrier on everyone’s lives, as it is one that impacts athletes, performers, as well as the entire student body and staff individually.

Through the heightened health procedures and cancelled events, the team has not only learned to overcome challenges, but have thrived with their resources.

The Kickoff game against Sahuaro will now be held Thursday, Oct. 29.

“COVID isn’t stopping us,” Gastelum said. “We’ll keep getting better and work hard through our problems as a team.”

Pueblo Welcomes New Teacher, Varsity Football Coach

By Diego Pro 

On December 17, 2019, Pueblo High School hired football head coach Mr. Jacob Allen. Coach Allen has been a teacher for three years and a high school football coach for 11 years. 

Coach Jake Allen talks to team.

He started his career at Ironwood Ridge High School and coached for 10 years before coaching at Mountain View for one year. Then he decided to come coach here at Pueblo. This is his first year as a varsity head coach. 

“Teaching at Pueblo is the only job I applied for,” said Allen. “Pueblo was everything I was looking for. Pueblo has a very strong community and rich history.” 

Allen said that he had an interesting life before coming to Pueblo. After graduating high school, he wanted to join the military, but an injury from football made him unable to join. 

“My family has always been involved in the community and has been involved with the military,” he said. “I needed to find another way to contribute to my community.” 

After graduating from the University of Arizona, he became a government/economics teacher but eventually became a math and weight training teacher. 

On his first day hired as coach, Allen held a meeting with his players, and he talked about his coaching strategies as well as defined his expectations for his new team. 

He said, “I wanted the team to know that we were going to simplify the game, become explosive, be hard-hitting and to let the team know that they will be disciplined.” 

Coach Allen also stressed that his players have to value their academics to be eligible to play. 

“Earning high grades is always a priority,” he said. 

Coach Allen said that he believes that the effort he and the team put in class, will reflect how we play on the field and believes that whoever we are on the field and in the classroom, is a reflection of who we are as a person. 

For a few months, playing football this school year looked like a long shot because of the Covid-19 pandemic. On August 17, the football team was given the green light to start Phase 1: to practice in small 7-person pods. A few weeks later, players were given the green light to start Phase 2 in which players could practice as a whole team. 

“I know there are rumors going around right now that might indicate that we may not have a season,” said Allen. “However, as of right now, it’s not a matter of if we’ll have a season, it’s when.” 

Allen said, “Life is never easy. Sometimes it will come up and smack you in the face. No matter how hard and difficult it may seem, you can overcome those obstacles. No matter what obstacles you face, ninety-nine percent of the time someone will help you attack those obstacles. So stay strong and be patient because pretty soon, those obstacles will no longer be there.”

Welcome To Pueblo, Football Coach Allen!

by Xylenn Nevarez & Mariel Ponce

Pueblo High School welcomes the new football coach, Mr. Jacob Allen, to our community. Allen was born and raised in Tucson, and he expressed that he always wanted to become the head coach of a team that represents Tucson on the State level.

“Pueblo has an incredible community and rich history which made the job impossible to pass up,” Allen said.

He added that he has big plans for Pueblo’s varsity football program.

“I want to build a program that competes with the very best in our State at the 4A level year in and year out,” Allen said. “Our goal every year is to qualify for the State playoffs and compete with the best in the state once we get there.”

He already has next year’s football program practicing for about an hour every day after school, Monday through Friday.

Truly, Allen said that he is “incredibly excited” to have this position as a new coach and hopes to inspire his players. 

“I want to let my actions speak louder than my words,” Coach Allen said. “I am here every day, working with our athletes to get them better and prepared for the fall. I expect a lot out of our players, and I try to hold myself to the same standards when it comes to enthusiasm and effort.”

Varsity Football Sails to 4-2; Remains Hopeful For 4 Last Games

By Esperanza Landeros

Pueblo vs. Rincon ready to kick off season

As of week six of the varsity football season, our Warriors have cruised into a 4-2 record, one of the more successful seasons in recent years—and celebrating some very triumphant moments along the way.

The season began on Friday, Aug. 18—at Rincon. Pueblo was a heavy favorite to win—and that is exactly what our Warriors did. The final score was 58-0! This game definitely set the tone for a winning season.

A week later, on Friday, Aug. 25, Pueblo was victorious again. After 28 years, the Warriors edged out the Sunnyside Blue Devils, with a final score of 7-6. Junior Omar Ibañez was known as “Sunnyside’s Nightmare” that evening for completing countless sacks. In fact, he earned “Player of the Week” and was interviewed on Channel 4 (KVOA).

The winning streak continued—as we hosted the Cholla Chargers for the first time in recent years. This evening coincided with Pueblo’s Homecoming on Friday, Sept. 8. Omar Ibañez had six touchdowns during the game, and our Warriors slaughtered the Chargers with a final score of 66-46. Coach Sanders said, “We prepared ourselves and worked hard. Also, we knew what we were doing—offensively and defensively.”

Unfortunately, the undefeated Warriors were devastated after their first loss of the season when they played the next week, on Friday, Sept. 15, as the Walden Grove Red Wolves devoured Pueblo, with a final score of 40-8. “Despite the loss, players stayed positive and continued to fight like the Warriors we are,” said senior Ernesto Estopellan.

Game Five of the season also proved to be heartbreaking—as Pueblo traveled to Salpointe Catholic High School. Although the Warriors lost this game by a score of 42-0, the loss allowed them to become even more motivated to be triumphant during their next game. Many defensive players needed to improve their tackling skills.

The Warriors did, indeed, come back fiercer than before—playing Rio Rico on Thursday, Sept. 28. Senior Raúl German completed three sacks, and defense put up a great fight and didn’t let any of the Hawks come through our Warriors. In the end, our Warriors had the Hawks flying back to their nest. Junior Ruben Rivera scored three touchdowns alone in this game, and the offense also did great, but senior quarterback Dominic Carrillo had difficulty completing the passes to add more to the scoreboard. The final score was 35-0.

The Warriors still have four games left this season, including Friday, Oct. 6. The team wishes that we continue to have our Warriors support us at each of these games.