Football Game Preview: Nogales Apaches vs. Maricopa Rams + Official Tickets

The Nogales Apaches will square off against the Maricopa Rams at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Nogales has struggled recently with six defeats in a row, while Maricopa will arrive with three straight wins.

Nogales is headed into the game out to prove that what happened against Mountain View on Friday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. The Apaches came up short against the Mountain Lions, falling 35-13. The last quarter was a mere formality, since the game's final score was reached by the end of the third quarter.

Meanwhile, Maricopa was able to grind out a solid victory over Sunnyside on Friday, taking the game 21-14.

Nogales better keep an eye on Jose Cardona Jr. He was instrumental in Maricopa's win, throwing for 184 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 64 yards and one score on only seven carries. A healthy portion of Cardona Jr's aerial production (80 yards to be exact) went to Julian Lopez, who also brought in a receiving touchdown.

Nogales' loss dropped their record down to 2-6. As for Maricopa, the win was their first on the road , bumping their record up to 5-3.

Nogales was dealt a bruising 34-0 defeat at the hands of Maricopa when the teams last played back in October of 2024. A big factor in that loss was the dominant performance of the Rams' Azarious James, who rushed for 115 yards and three TDs. Now that the Apaches know the damage he can cause, will they be able to stop him this time? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.