MESA – On Saturday, the Arizona Interscholastic Association honored the 1973 Mohave High School football team during the 3A state championship game between Sabino High School and Paradise Honors High School.
At halftime, Larry DeLeon, Tim Fontenot, John Frawley, and Frank Nelson received recognition. Jeff Burgess, unable to attend, was represented by a creative poster cutout made by his wife Sherri, joining the former players on the field for acknowledgment.
“It was nice to catch up and see what they were doing with their lives,” said Nelson. “When you develop camaraderie, it feels like you are going back in time and continuing the conversation.”
The 1973 Mohave coaching staff included Fred Skolung, Jim Jones, John Blackburn, Jim Hutcherson, and Phil Staggs. The roster featured players like Mel Higgins, Jim Davis, John Burgess, Robert Roman, and others.
During the 1973 season, Mohave lost only two games, outscoring opponents 236-92, culminating in a 12-0 win in the state championship final.
DeLeon recalled being considered major underdogs but highlighted the team’s strong effort on both sides of the ball and the significant community support. “It was going to show that we were an up-and-coming town,” DeLeon said.
Former players still maintain strong connections to the area. Fontenot’s wife, Danielle, heads the board for TRACES, and Nelson coached alongside Coach Mark Ruckle, who mentored current head coach Rudy Olvera and assistant coach Shane Pollock during their teenage years at Mohave High School.
Nelson is related to the Burgess brothers and spent this season watching Ben Pollock, son of current assistant coach Shane Pollock, and the Thunderbirds during their impressive run to the state semifinals.
Sabino ultimately won the championship game 68-46, finishing the season 11-3 and being the only team to beat Mohave in the regular season. Paradise Honors, previously defeated by the Thunderbirds, finished a historic season with quarterback Gage Baker tying the national record for touchdown passes in a season with 91.
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