After missing the playoffs with a 6-4 record last season, the Nogales High Apaches rallied in 2009 to rebound from an 0-4 start to end the regular season with a 5-5 slate and No. 13 ranking. This season, that was good enough to play in the postseason�”most likely due to strength of schedule with powerhouses Sunnyside and Canyon del Oro being two of the Apaches early-season losses.

Nogales High quarterback Keith Zuniga, who completed 142 of 265 passes for 2,247 yards and 27 touchdowns in the regular season, is looking to lead his team to an upset victory tonight at Cienega. Photo / William Wilczewski

Their only other losses were a season-opener to Sahuarita (28-6) and a mid-season loss to Cienega (47-17 on Oct. 23).

A loss, though, that will likely have a huge impact on trying to beat the host and No. 4-ranked Cienega Bobcats (9-1, only loss was to Cactus Shadows of Cave Creek) tonight at 7 p.m. in the first-round of state action will be that of leading Southern Arizona receiver Robert Villegas to legal troubles.

“He has been going through the student disciplinary process for violating school/district rules and policies,” wrote NHS Principal Fernado Parra in an e-mail to the Nogales International. “He has not participated as a student-athlete in several games, and he will not be returning for future football games. As you will understand due to FERPA, we need to maintain and comply with privacy of student records and this includes any disciplinary status regarding any of our students.”

So, it might just be a rough road for the Apaches to travel against a Bobcats squad that is familiar with the postseason.

“We have made the state playoffs every year that we have been eligible ... since 2003,” explained Cienaga coach Nemer Hassey. “But, the best we have ever done is the quarterfinals. We made the quarterfinals last year.”

That doesn’t mean, however, that Hassey thinks his club will have a cakewalk when NHS comes to town.

“Actually, I worry more when we have to play teams again for a second time,” he said. “Nogales has athletes that really worry me.

“Their quarterback (Keith Zuniga) and receivers are legit,” he added. “They are well-coached, and really cause fits for defenses.”

Because of that, Hassey is hoping his defense can stop the big play and try to limit the passing game, because a win “would be huge for our program,” he said. “Nogales beat us in 2007, and I still wake up in the middle of the night because of that game.”

A loss, on the other hand, “would be devastating for us. Nobody ever wants to lose in the first round of the playoffs. But, it should be a good game. I expect Nogales to be ready to go.”

Hassey also expects his club to be ready, and he will be relying on lineman Daniel Boice and defensive back Angel Gago to put pressure on Southern Arizona’s leading passer�”the Apaches’ Keith Zuniga, who completed 142 of 265 passes for 2,247 yards and 27 touchdowns in the regular season.

Gago, who leads the Bobcats with five pick offs on the season, will be looking to increase Zuniga’a interception mark of 13 with the help of pressure from Boice, who has five solo sacks for Cienaga in 2009, according to MaxPreps.com.

By no means playing third and fourth fiddle for the Bobcats’ defense are linebackers Andrew Palmer and JJ Gorosave, who have a combined 104 tackles for a Cienega defense that only gave up 115 points all season, while putting 398 on the board.

Junior running back Willie Willis was responsible for 126 of those points with 21 touchdowns.

He was followed by running back Ronnie Burton, who had 11 touchdowns.

When the Bobcats pass the ball, they look to junior quarterback Jordan Mills, who has completed 85 of 133 attempts for 1,244 yards, 16 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

His favorite target has been senior Trent Simon, who has 40 catches for 608 yards and 9 touchdowns.

When the two clubs met in October, special teams’ miscues started a Bobcats onslaught that resulted in a 47-14 loss for the maroon and gold that started with a 20-0 lead for Cienega in the first seven minutes of the game�”before Zuniga could even complete his first pass. In the first half, he was held to less than 100 yards passing and no touchdowns. He ended the game, though, with nearly 200 yards passing on 19 receptions and two touchdowns, but was intercepted twice by Gago.

But, “He didn’t quit,” Nogales coach Vince Villanucci said of Zuniga after that game.

That was apparent in the third and fourth quarters when the 6-foot, 170-pound senior hooked up with Camilo Villegas on touchdown passes of 19 and 6 yards, respectively.

Camilo Villegas ended the night with 58 yards in the air, while his brother Robert had 4 catches for 27 yards. Jose Esquivel also reeled in 5 balls from Zuniga for 37 yards.