Hawks vs. Criminals: First and 100

  As Gila Ridge prepares for its first varsity game Friday against Yuma, Hawks coach Simon Ocampo is grateful there are five days in a school week.

 "We're not ready to play them yet," Ocampo said Wednesday. "That's why God gave us Thursday."

 And both teams had practices on Thursday. Friday, it's time for the first game of the season as the Criminals and their 100 years of history host the Hawks in their first season of varsity football at 7 p.m.

 Yuma High comes off a 2-8 season a year ago and has a new head coach as the school celebrates its 100th anniversary.

 Coach Tom Fox said the team will be banged up already heading into the game. Receiver and defensive back Eric Rivas will miss the game, as will two starting linebackers - Ronnie Rascon and Derek Smith.

 "Injury bug got us a little bit, but that's certainly not an excuse," Fox said. "We're going to have a couple starters out this first game. The great thing about that is there's some guys who can step up and get to make a start and get considerable playing time. I don't think we've lost a whole lot."

 After a battle for starting quarterback throughout camp, Donte Jackson will get the nod.

 "He gives us a lot of options as far as being able to move the pocket," Fox said. "He has the ability to give himself a run-pass option out on the edge."

 For the Hawks, they'll have pocket passer Corey Semler under center. Semler, like a lot of the Hawks, is a sophomore - there is nary a senior on the roster. The school opened in 2007 and fielded a junior varsity football team.

 Fox said his team has some extra energy game for the game - and not just because a lot of Gila Ridge students came from Yuma High.

 "For me as a coach, it's just exciting for me to be a part of a game like that, where the kids, at least ours, are really looking forward to a game," Fox said. "They have a lot of respect for that program because they played with a lot of those guys. ... I don't think there's going to be any problem getting the guys charged up for it."

 Ocampo said the entire school is charged up for Gila Ridge.

 "Everybody's gung-ho; it's the talk of the school," Ocampo said. "We have a big countdown up there, we've had it up since summer. (Thursday) I get to tear off that last one and it will say one day left. That's been our focus since Day 1 since we finalized our schedule in the spring."