Alumni whip city in homecoming flag-football game

Sandwiched between a homecoming parade and bonfire, Maricopa High School alumni took on a team from City Hall in flag-football Wednesday at Copper Sky Regional Park.

With the MHS band playing in front of a sizable crowd, teams donned Maricopa Rams jerseys under the lights at Copper Sky. The alumni thumped a team of city staff and youth sports coaches 41-12.

“It was awesome. I love those types of games,” said 1986 MHS graduate Thad Miller. Miller, who played wide receiver, tight end and cornerback in high school, was a favorite target of Vice Mayor Edward Farrell, a member of the Class of '84 and quarterback of the alumni team.

This was the second annual alumni game. Last year’s contest was also one-sided and resulted in a shutout victory for the alumni.

“Someday they’ll have a team for us to play,” Miller joked, “We’re mad they scored this year.”

Miller, an eighth-grade science teacher in his 18th year at MUSD, said: “The highlight this year was seeing the support of the town. I think it was great to see more of the city get involved, more of the high school. The whole week has been fun for the spirit. And it’s fun to win, but I like seeing the community get involved.”

While most of the great athletes on the field wore red or white jerseys, one, David Aviles, wore grey. Aviles, a 1983 grad and member of the city’s parks and rec staff, could have played on either team. Instead, he remained neutral.

“I was too old to play, so I had to ref,” Aviles said.