Arizona coaching giants clash Friday

When Amphitheater and Santa Rita of Tuscon, AZ meet on Friday, October 16th, their coaches will have already combined for nearly 600 career wins.

Amphi Coach, Vern Friedli is shooting for win # 315, and Coach Jeff Scurran of St. Rita for # 265.

Victories are not their only legacy to south Arizona high school football.  In a recent online interview, Coach Scurran, 62, talked with pride about his team of assistant coaches.  It would seem that for aspiring young coaches, being mentored by Coach Scurran can help lead to career success.  Among the Arizona high school football coaches at least five got their starts working with Coach Scurran, including:

• Jay Campos at Sabino 
• Neimer Hassey at Cienega,
• Gary Minor at Ironwood Ridge
• Tom Webb at Cholla
• Scott McKie at Pueblo

Amphitheater's Coach Friedli, 73, has coached high school ball for 41 years, his last 34 at "Amphi". During his tenure, Amphi Football has made 26 play-off appeances and he has been named the Arizona Daily Star's Coach of the Year five times. He was also once named, in 1973, by the Arizona Coaches Association as its Baseball Coach of the Year.

Coach Friedi's Panthers are 5-1 on the season (2-1 in league play) need a win to claw back into contention with the Santa Rita Eagles and Palo Verde Titans, both 3-0 in Gila League play.