COTTONWOOD — Mikey Grijalva ran for three touchdowns and Mingus earned its second straight victory with a 42-12 win over Copper Canyon on Friday night.

Grijalva had two scores in the first half, but his 63-yard touchdown strike to begin the third quarter was all the Marauders (2-2, 0-0 4A Grand Canyon) needed to cruise to victory.

“I have to give thanks to our line. They did an amazing job blocking,” Grijalva said. “Once I saw those holes, I had to hit them full intensity, get those touchdowns … let’s go.”

Copper Canyon (1-3, 0-0 4A Copper Sky) came out of the gates firing, scoring on their first possession of the evening after Markeese Wright caught a deep ball to help his offense convert a fourth-and-long play in Mingus territory.

On the ensuing play, Henry Soto Quintero took a direct snap from 4 yards out and scored to put the Aztecs on the board, 6-0 with 7:20 to play in first quarter.

“We were a little nervous when they drove down the field and scored. That whole thing is, ‘How are the kids are going to react right now,’” Mingus head coach Dave Moncibaez said. “I feel like they are believing in themselves and that reaction, they brushed it off their shoulders and moved on.”

Mingus answered quickly with Grijalva’s first score, a 5-yard touchdown run to tie it 6-6, then Seth Brueland found some daylight on a 1-yard run with 12 ticks left in the first quarter to make it 14-6.

The Marauders offense kept at it offensively in the second quarter as Brueland and Grijalva each scored to make it 27-6 at halftime.

After Grijalva opened the second half with his third touchdown of the night, Jose Felix picked off Copper Canyon quarterback Nolan Huizar, setting up Mingus receiver Koby De La Haye’s 19-yard touchdown catch from Reighns Stokes, making it 42-6 with 5:20 to play in the third and it was all over.

 “We told them it was 0-0 in second half. Opening the second half with a long touchdown run really helped out,” Moncibaez said, adding that Grijalva is a welcome addition to his club after the senior missed all of 2022 with injury.

“Mikey is one of those guys we missed last year. He’s just hungry. He doesn’t take play off, and he’s looking to score when he touches it,” Moncibaez said.

After the win, Grijalva was already thinking about Mingus’ next opponent, Deer Valley in Week 6.

“We’re ready to get this win against Deer Valley. We’re prepping for homecoming, and we’re not going to lose on our field anymore. It’s our homefield,” Grijalva said.

MINGUS IN MIX FOR REGION TITLE TALK?

Despite the early season talk about potentially Bradshaw Mountain and Lee Williams playing for a Grand Canyon region title at the end of the regular season Nov. 3, if Mingus continues to improve, things could get interesting.

“We want to be competitive, it’s hard to tell early in the season based on who people are playing and seeing film on them. We feel confident going in, and we want to be in these games and be competitive and gets some wins in our region,” Moncibaez said.

Moncibaez said the 28-27 Blue Ridge win in Week 4 really helped Mingus players’ confidence and leaves them “hopeful” for a good 2023.

“Blue Ridge was a tough task going there. The way we won that game got the kids to buy back in. Practices went great. Let’s make winning contagious, you know how that feels,” Moncibaez said. “So, I felt like that win got them in that mode that ‘Winning feels pretty good.’”

Mingus running back Mikey Grijalva (4) goes out of bounds after a run against Copper Canyon on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Cottonwood. Grijalva had three touchdowns in the 42-12 win. (Brian M. Bergner Jr./AzPreps365)UP NEXT

Mingus is scheduled to host Deer Valley in Week 6 action Friday, Sept. 22. The Skyhawks (2-2, 0-0 4A Copper Sky) defeated La Joya on Friday, 7-0.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Aztecs are scheduled to host Flagstaff, which lost 27-0 to Desert Sunrise on Friday night.

Kickoff in that game is set for 7 p.m.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.