Nov 18- Arizona will conclude their preseason today with the 2nd Annual Red-Blue Game taking place at William David Sitton Field. This year's event features a new aspect, as The Humane Society of Southern Arizona has signed on as this year's partner, with 100% of the proceeds going towards the cause. Adoptable puppies will be on hand, making this event a fun, family-friendly culmination to the preseason. In addition, Honorary Guest Coaches Paul Enegren and Tony Marcotte will lead the teams as these two loyal alumni contine the tradition started last year with Mike Veth and Rick Rendon. 

 

The intrasquad scrimmage will be the final audition before the regular season starts this coming January, and the sides have been selected to make for a fantastic exhibition. Tony Marcotte's Red Team will be captained by Kyle Rogers at Flyhalf. In the front row, Vice Captain Steven Branham, Jake Hedge, and Hector Ramirez get the nod, with Carter Harris and Zachary Knobbe-Hewitt at Lock. In the back row, PAC Sevens All Tournament Team selectee Ben Scoular joins Patrick Evans and Zach Heisterkamp. In the backline, Scrumhalf Matt Rogers pairs with his brother in the halfbacks, with Jeremy Fleet and Ricky Lindsay pairing at Center. Garrett Walker, Luke Thayer, and Korbin Miller make up the back three for the Red Team.

 

On the Blue Team, Paul Enegren has Lock Sean Coleman leading the side, with the USA Under-20 pairing with fellow U20 and Mark Loane Medal Winner Bronson Teles. The front row features Kurt Vecchio, Zach Biggs, and Cody Hunt, with a back row of Bryce Mantell, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and last year's Mark Shively Award winner Tyler Hansen. High School teammates Calvin Brannon and Anton Grigoriou pair at Scrumhalf and Flyhalf, with the veteran center combo of Blue Team Vice Captain Shane Dempsey and Ben Joseph. Lou MacLaughlin, Nick Fadelli, and Jack San Pietro make up the back three for the Blue Team.

 

The game looks to be evenly matched again, as last year's 33-32 victory for Red came down to the wire in an exciting finish. The teams will play two shortened periods, with the goal being a fun end to what has been a hard-worked preseason. "This is a great way to end the Fall, and a nice preview for our fans of what's to come in January" said Head Coach Sean Duffy "we have told the boys to get creative in their movements and the teams have been working separately to put together some surprises. More importantly, we hope our fans will join us in supporting the great work of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, as every dollar from today will go towards their cause." Coach Duffy also pointed to the great aspect of the honorary guest coaches. "Reconnecting our alumni with our current team is what this is all about, and both Paul and Tony have really gotten a kick out of working with the team and seeing the campus and how it's changed. Our boys have loved it too, and this should be a lot of fun."

 

The event starts at 4:00 PM with kickoff slated for 5:00 PM. Following Red-Blue, the team will shift thier focus to Spring, with the regular season schedule to be announced shortly.

 

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the main gate of William David Sitton Field. If you would like to donate but are unable to attend, click here.

 

 

RED TEAM

1- Branham (VC)

2- Hedge

3- Ramirez

4- Harris

5- Knobbe-Hewitt

6- Evans

7- Scoular

8- Heisterkamp

9- M. Rogers

10- K. Rogers

11- Walker

12- Fleet

13- Lindsay

14- Thayer

15- Miller

--

16- Van Order

17- K. Steffany

18- Hirshman

19- Harden

20- Becker

21- Lyle

22- Bartzis

23- Easton

 

 

BLUE TEAM
1- Vecchio

2- Biggs

3- Hunt

4- Coleman (C)

5- Teles

6- Mantell

7- Fitzpatrick

8- Hansen

9- Brannon

10- Grigoriou

11- MacLaughlin

12- Dempsey (VC)

13- B. Joseph

14- Fadelli

15- San Pietro

--

16- McBride

17- Brown

18- Gybyrov

19- Wood

20- Villalobos

21- Sanchez

22- Neary

23- M. Joseph