Kofa ends streak at 39! Win first football game since 2017

Kofa stuns Alhambra on the road 32-29 and put an end to 39 game losing streak

ALHAMBRA, Ariz. ( KYMA, KECY-TV ) - What was never a matter of if, but a matter of when. With all the fluid situations surrounding the Kofa football team to start the 2022 season, when the team would finally notch a win looked more like the 2023 season.

"There was a lot of mixed emotions coming into the season," Head coach Pablo Cota said. "I came from the freshman role to the varsity role, it's been a heckuva ride right?'

The Kings started the season without an official head coach after Alfonzo Brown was released just before the Kings first game due to personnel reasons.

Kofa Athletic Director Joe Daily recommended Pablo Cota to the YUHSD governing board but the recommendation couldn't be approved until the next board meeting on September 14th. With Cota as the "unofficial" head coach, he and his staff kept working with the team. The team also points to Alfonzo Brown for helping turn the program around.

"He brought a change for sure," Cota said. "We had more kids coming out, the coaches all knew their roles. He definitely got us on the right path."

Kofa Athletic director Joe Daily praised the coaching staff for their vision and dedication during the times of uncertainty.

"Our assistant coaching staff did and continues to do a phenomenal job," Daily said. "They've kept our program moving forward and the energy high for our student athletes."

With the tide turning within the program, the players confidence also began to rise.

"We definitely thought we had a good chance this year when we hosted Southwest," Senior runningback Bryce Konen said. "I mean, this senior class beat them when we played JV. So, that was a game we thought we could end the streak."

Kofa would fall to Southwest in a matchup of winless teams 36-18 on the last day of September, extending the team's losing streak to 39 games. The last time the Kings tasted the sweet taste of victory was on october 20th, 2017 in a 22-21 home win at Irv Pallack Stadium against the Volunteers of Lee Williams High School. The Kings won three games that season.

"I mean, I went to high school last year at Gila Ridge so I heard a little bit about the streak," Junior Conrad Tuffly said. "I didn't play much over there so I didn't pay too much attention. When I got here {Kofa High School} I heard more about it and wanted to be a part of turning this team around."

Last Friday night, both Tuffly the newcomer, and Konen the seasoned senior, played important roles in helping the Kings end the streak. The outcome looked bleak with the Kings trailing 29-6 at the half on the road in Alhambra.

"We went into the locker room mad," Konen said. "No one hung their heads. It was a different feeling. Even though we were down, we were mad because they were playing dirty. Lots of cheap shots."

Also fueling the Kings was a score right before halftime.

"At halftime we gave a little speech and I told the players, I need 110 percent, 120 percent" Cota said. "That echoed in their head and echoed throughout the team."

To start the second half, on the opening kickoff, the Kings forced a turnover.

Kofa took advantage of their good fortune as Conrad Tuffly found Justus Humes for a 42 yard strike. The Kings defense held the Lions in check allowing the offense to more opportunities to chisel away at the deficit.

Another special teams play, a blocked punt, set the Kings up at the Lions three yard line.

"The game winning score was 32 iso right up the middle with our fullback," Cota said.

Gabriela Rodriguez-Juarez plowed into the endzone erasing a 29 point deficit, a 39 game losing streak and years of disappointment.

"Huge emotions came from me and the players," Cota said. "My being a 2014 graduate from Kofa High School, it was just, that's my team, this is my school, it meant the world to me. We broke that stigma of losing. People were saying it's 39, then it's going to be 40. Nom it ended at 39."

The biggest thing we have at this school is heart. These kids come out to practice every single day. Then come to play on Friday nights, the streak didn't affect them. They still came out and kept playing football.

Kofa head coach Pablo Cota

"I was just filled with emotion," Konen said. "It was an incredible feeling especially the way we came back and won. I think we're going to start a new streak, a winning streak. I honestly think we can win out to end the season."

"It's great to be a part of it," Tuffly said. "I'm just so happy for the team and the players who've been here so long like the seniors."

For Cota, the Kofa alum, he and his staff not only broke the streak but he also claimed his first win at the varsity level as a head coach.

"It was an awesome feeling and the bus ride on the way back was enjoyable too," Cota said.

Cota and the Kings hope to have another enjoyable bus ride this week as they travel to Carl Hayden to take on the 2-3 Falcons.

Kofa won't be back at Irv Pallack Stadium again until November 4th against Maryvale.