Tied 7-7 with 37 seconds left in the first-ever state championship game, South Mountain standout Richard Bryant picked Yuma off at the 1-yard line to preserve the tie and a share of the Class AA championship played at ASU in 1959.

Yuma (8-1-2) and South Mountain (8-0-2) shared the first official “Big School” championship with all previous championships considered “mythical” in nature. Lakeside (8-0) beat Patagonia (7-1) 34-19 to win the first Class C state championship in 1959.

Jim Jones scored for South Mountain from three yards out and Bob Olson made the extra point with 2:15 left in the half. Ron Guiles hit Gene Akens with 18 seconds left in the half and a kick from Ray Szarek tied the game up at 7-7.

(Arizona Republic 1959)

 

 

1959 ALL-STATE TEAMS

 

Class C