2014-15-aia-football-sollenberger-azpreps-report-highres
2014-15-aia-football-sollenberger-azpreps-report-highres 2014-15-aia-football-sollenberger-azpreps-report-highres
By Les Willsey, aia365.com1. CHANDLER -- With skill-laden offensereturning Wolves take aim at being thefourth team in four years to win a bigschooltitle. Last year's section title, finallya win over rival Hamilton -- and confidenceboost from its playoff run they felljust short of a championship appearanceshows they may be ready to grasp the toprung.Division I Preseason Rankings2. MOUNTAIN POINTE -- Defendingchamps may be down slightly, but notnear enough not to be up for a shot at arepeat. The running game will be potentagain, but can Pride keep defenses honestvia the pass with huge losses at quarterbackand receiver.The Mountain Pointe Pride captured the 2013 AIA Division I State title with a42-19 win over Hamilton (photo by Mitchell B. Reibel/maxpreps.com).3. HAMILTON -- Six straight title-game appearances isimpressive, not to mention its seven titles in last 10years. Huskies always a threat to contend and this yearshould be no different even with loss of many startersand a rugged schedule.4. DESERT RIDGE -- What appeared to be a rigorousschedule last year didn't materialize with down yearsfrom many of its section foes. The Jaguars are going torun, run, run again without the Morrisons. Justin Irbyand Alec Hathcock get the handoff to lead the groundgame. Offense could offer a bit of a passing threat aswell. Defense figures to be solid.5. BROPHY -- Season opener vs. Bishop Gorman inSollenberger Classic will be a solid test on Aug. 22 inLas Vegas. Broncos dabble with many of the top teamsfrom other sections and its own section figures to bestronger top to bottom. Injuries played a part in 5-7 season,but it was still a playoff year. Defense figures to bestronger and a resurrection is thought to be on its way.6. PINNACLE -- Led by quarterback Brian Lewerke thiscould be a year the Pioneers have a shot at crackingthe final four. Two of its three losses last year were toHamilton and the other was to D-II runner-up Chaparral.Pinnacle won its section last year and eyes a repeat if itcan fend off Horizon.7. HORIZON -- Offense wasn't a problem last year andshouldn't be in 2014 with an experienced skill-set intact.A new defense and coordinator is being installed to atleast try to take the heat off the offense. If it works,Huskies could be dangerous.8. WESTVIEW -- New coach Joe Parker is quite familiarwith the way the Knights roll and they should controltheir section as usual. A bulked-up non-section schedulehelped last year as team held its own and thensome facing Red Mountain, Brophy to name a couple.Knights came out flat in opening round of playoffs andlook to use that as a starting point for new year.9. RED MOUNTAIN -- Team was six up and six downplaying in six-team region that featured five teams aspostseason qualifiers. Mountain Lions won four of fivesection games (three of those teams lost in first round),but were 2-5 against other opponents -- albeit very talentedones. Best bet to challenge Desert Ridge for thesection title, but needs another win or two against thelikes of Pinnacle, Chaparral, Westview and Brophy tobe thought of as serious contender.10. MESA MOUNTAIN VIEW -- Playoff berths have returnedto Toro Town the past two years, both with shortstays due to sub-par defense. Strength in the new seasonis line play on both sides of the ball. That may result,particularly on the defensive side,with the ability towin lower-scoring games. Toros will be playing catch-upas far as skill position spots are concerned.page 8
Football Division I PreviewBy Les Willsey, aia365.comSection iChandler: The Wolves have been a playoff qualifier for thepast nine years in a row. Getting over the roadblock thatwas Hamilton last year was a step in the right direction, butthey need to find a way to reach a title game with the arrayof talent dotting its roster, particularly in recent years. Withquarterback Bryce Perkins as its leader, the Wolves mayhave to do it without a dominating or intimidating defense.That's a tough task given the pedigree associated withmost big-school title teams.Hamilton: The Huskies, 11-3 last year, won't take a backseatto any program in pursuit of the state title even withChandler getting the preseason nod here as No. 1. CoachSteve Belles is 103-9 in his tenure since coming over fromMountain Ridge. Belles cites defensive line and skill positionsas this year's strength. Senior defensive end CalebPeart (10.5 sacks) and junior defensive tackle GarrettRand (7 sacks) are the top returnees for that unit. Wideouts Brandon Krcilek (12 catches for 258 yards) andKyeler Burke (25 catches for 281 yards, 3 TDs) and defensiveback Trey Robinson are key skill players. SeniorJames Sosinski looks to be the heir apparent at quarterback.Sosinski, 6-foot-8, received brief intervals of playingtime last year completing 16 of 28 passes for 224 yards.Basha: The Bears open a new season with new coachGerald Todd, who takes over following the spring departureof Bernie Busken. Todd knows the players and programas a varsity assistant during the past severalseasons. Basha is coming off a 6-6 season that finishedwith a blowout loss to Chandler. Todd has some talent towork with and is high on the Bears' passing game and secondary.Top returnee is wide out Doc O'Connor (61catches for 1,127 yards). Joining O'Connor with varsity experienceare receivers Jared Schmidt (30-487-5 TDs). JoeStorm (36-454-2 TDs), linebacker Zach Archer, defensiveback Austin Williams, offensive lineman Evan Edwardsand defensive tackle Alex Roteveel. While excited aboutthe passing game, the Bears have work to do at quarterbackin replacing prolific Zach Werlinger.Highland: The Hawks advanced to the postseason lastyear with a short stay that completed a 6-5 campaign.They have some retooling to do this year, especially on defense-- the strength of last year's team. Coach PeteWahlheim sees skill positions as a plus early led by runningback Josh Chadwick (397 yards, 3 TDs) and wideout Preston Guzman. Veteran players who are beingcounted on for leadership are offensive lineman ParkerStott (6-3, 300), defensive lineman Brent Clemons andlinebacker Luke Schroeder.page 9Perry: The Pumas ventured to D-I last year and were unableto qualify for postseason after reaching the playoffs acouple times in D-II. They had their share of injuries lastyear, but probably weren't D-I playoff caliber. That maychange this year. Senior quarterback Austin Nightingale isback after a horrific injury (torn ACL, torn meniscus andbroken femur) suffered last year at midseason. Nightingalepassed for 833 yards and rushed for 369 in five games.Several players who are likely two-way performers arejunior linebacker Case Hatch, tight end-defensive end SethClare and section two-way player of the year Alec Monte(receiver, defensive back). Monte caught 26 passes for395 yards and one TD. Also representing the defense isjunior DB Michael Parenti (41 tackles).Gilbert: The Tigers are optimistic about turning in a strongseason. They finished 2-8 last year and had plenty of diffi-
- Page 5: By Jose Garcia, aia365.comFollowing
- Page 8: Chandler’s Turn at D-I Title May
- Page 13 and 14: need to have more success in sectio
- Page 15 and 16: Pinnacle’s Brian Lewerke should b
- Page 18 and 19: Salpointe Aims at D-II Repeat With
- Page 20 and 21: By Les Willsey, aia365.comFootball
- Page 23 and 24: yards and 12 TDs last year and led
- Page 25 and 26: ated mostly out of the wing-T last
- Page 27 and 28: Football Division II PreviewParadis
- Page 29 and 30: Saguaro Looking for Another Title i
- Page 31 and 32: Football Division III PreviewBy Don
- Page 33 and 34: Football Division III Previewplayer
- Page 35 and 36: Show Low No. 1 Pick in D-IVShow Low
- Page 37 and 38: Football Division IV PreviewBy Don
- Page 39 and 40: Football Division IV PreviewGlobe:
- Page 41 and 42: By Jose Garcia, aia365.comNo. 1 Yum
- Page 43 and 44: Football Division V Preview(From L
- Page 45 and 46: Football Division V Previewtook a b
- Page 47 and 48: By Jose Garcia, aia365.comNo. 1 Bag
- Page 49 and 50: Football Division VI PreviewBagdad:
- Page 51 and 52: 2013 Div. II State Championship Bra
- Page 53 and 54: 2013 Div. IV State Championship Bra
- Page 55: 2013 Div. VI State Championship Bra
Football Division I PreviewBy Les Willsey, <strong>aia</strong>365.comSection iChandler: The Wolves have been a playoff qualifier for thepast nine years in a row. Getting over the roadblock thatwas Hamilton last year was a step in the right direction, butthey need to find a way to reach a title game with the arrayof talent dotting its roster, particularly in recent years. Withquarterback Bryce Perkins as its leader, the Wolves mayhave to do it without a dominating or intimidating defense.That's a tough task given the pedigree associated withmost big-school title teams.Hamilton: The Huskies, 11-3 last year, won't take a backseatto any program in pursuit of the state title even withChandler getting the preseason nod here as No. 1. CoachSteve Belles is 103-9 in his tenure since coming over fromMountain Ridge. Belles cites defensive line and skill positionsas this year's strength. Senior defensive end CalebPeart (10.5 sacks) and junior defensive tackle GarrettRand (7 sacks) are the top returnees for that unit. Wideouts Brandon Krcilek (12 catches for 258 yards) andKyeler Burke (25 catches for 281 yards, 3 TDs) and defensiveback Trey Robinson are key skill players. SeniorJames Sosinski looks to be the heir apparent at quarterback.Sosinski, 6-foot-8, received brief intervals of playingtime last year completing 16 of 28 passes for 224 yards.Basha: The Bears open a new season with new coachGerald Todd, who takes over following the spring departureof Bernie Busken. Todd knows the players and programas a varsity assistant during the past severalseasons. Basha is coming off a 6-6 season that finishedwith a blowout loss to Chandler. Todd has some talent towork with and is high on the Bears' passing game and secondary.Top returnee is wide out Doc O'Connor (61catches for 1,127 yards). Joining O'Connor with varsity experienceare receivers Jared Schmidt (30-487-5 TDs). JoeStorm (36-454-2 TDs), linebacker Zach Archer, defensiveback Austin Williams, offensive lineman Evan Edwardsand defensive tackle Alex Roteveel. While excited aboutthe passing game, the Bears have work to do at quarterbackin replacing prolific Zach Werlinger.Highland: The Hawks advanced to the postseason lastyear with a short stay that completed a 6-5 campaign.They have some retooling to do this year, especially on defense-- the strength of last year's team. Coach PeteWahlheim sees skill positions as a plus early led by runningback Josh Chadwick (397 yards, 3 TDs) and wideout Preston Guzman. Veteran players who are beingcounted on for leadership are offensive lineman ParkerStott (6-3, 300), defensive lineman Brent Clemons andlinebacker Luke Schroeder.page 9Perry: The Pumas ventured to D-I last year and were unableto qualify for postseason after reaching the playoffs acouple times in D-II. They had their share of injuries lastyear, but probably weren't D-I playoff caliber. That maychange this year. Senior quarterback Austin Nightingale isback after a horrific injury (torn ACL, torn meniscus andbroken femur) suffered last year at midseason. Nightingalepassed for 833 yards and rushed for 369 in five games.Several players who are likely two-way performers arejunior linebacker Case Hatch, tight end-defensive end SethClare and section two-way player of the year Alec Monte(receiver, defensive back). Monte caught 26 passes for395 yards and one TD. Also representing the defense isjunior DB Michael Parenti (41 tackles).Gilbert: The Tigers are optimistic about turning in a strongseason. They finished 2-8 last year and had plenty of diffi-
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