High School Football in the News

 Tragic crash cancels San Manuel vs. Tombstone

By KEVIN CAROLAN Published on Saturday, September 13, 2008HERALD/REVIEW

TOMBSTONE — A serious accident involving the San Manuel cheerleaders van forced cancellation of Friday night’s Tombstone-San Manuel football in Tombstone.  The two teams were on the field warming up when the news of the wreck reached the San Manuel coaches.

Both teams were called to the sidelines and informed of the accident that took place around 5 p.m. on Interstate 10 near Emperita Road.  Both teams then met in the middle of the field where a prayer was said for those involved in the crash. Players from the two teams then shook hands and headed for the sidelines for a last-minute talk by their respective coaches.

Tombstone principal Robert Devere then made the announcement over the public address system that due to a serious accident involving the San Manuel cheerleader van that tonight’s game was being canceled. San Manuel players and coaches then headed for the bus and back to San Manuel.

“I talked to the San Manuel principal who was at the scene of the accident and he requested that we not play the game,” Devere said. “I agreed immediately.” Tombstone athletic director Mike Bunnell and head football coach Mike Hayhurst concurred on the decision.

“I saw a picture of the accident on one of the San Manuel coaches’ cell phone and it was very bad,” Hayhurst said. “The van was upside down and very much crumpled up.”  Besides the van, another car also was involved in the collision.

Hayhurst said the game most likely will not be made up. “This was a non-region game and there are not any open weekends remaining on our schedule,” he said.

As for power points, “we will just divide our power points by nine instead of 10,” Bunnell said. “We will not accept this as a forfeit. The Arizona Interscholastic Association is very passionate to these type of situations and San Manuel should not be penalized.”  Once things had subsided, Tombstone players then participated in a short scrimmage before leaving the stadium. 

Tombstone (1-1) will host Valley Christian in another non-region game next Friday and will make their first road trip of the season Sept. 26 when they travel to Scottsdale Christian.