On Sept. 19, Yuma Catholic football left the turf at Verrado High School after one of the worst losses in program history. Shut out and defeated 35-0, the Shamrocks’ record sat at 0-4, uncharted territory for one of the most successful programs in the state of Arizona since 2000.

Under the leadership of first-year head coach Vernon Smith, the Shamrocks were tasked with promotion to the 5A level in Arizona Interscholastic Association football competition in 2025, the second-highest conference in the state. With a new coach and a new challenge, the season got off to a rough start, and while the Shamrocks might have been a bit down on their luck and concerned for the postseason, the team’s mentality and identity never changed.

“We never stopped believing in ourselves,” Smith said. “We knew

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