2014-15-aia-football-sollenberger-azpreps-report-highres

By Les Willsey, aia365.com1. SALPOINTE -- Making a bid for a second consecutivestate title isn't a stretch with half its startingdefense back plus some very capablereplacements. Last year the Lancers' offensegrabbed many of the headlines in its 14-0 run toa championship. It's likely to be the defense thistime around with the likes of linebacker TaylorPowell and lineman Jaylyn Juan.2. CENTENNIAL -- A stunning quarterfinal loss toDeer Valley last year should supply the motivationfor redemption. That defeat snapped a streakof 10 straight years the Coyotes reached thesemifinals or better in D-II (5A-2 or 4A) -- the divisionjust below the big schools. Coach RichardTaylor has plenty of returning standouts led byrunning back Dedrick Young and on the defensiveside Brett Tonz and Micah Navarette.Division II Preseason Rankings3. LIBERTY -- Who knows what might have happenedif Liberty hadn't drawn Salpointe in lastyear's quarterfinals. That turned out to be a death-knell for anyteam. The Lions posted an 8-4 record and return the ample talentto sustain a lengthy postseason run. Playing in the same sectionwith Centennial and Deer Valley makes the road to a section titlerough. With multi-sport athlete Tyler Wyatt back at quarterbackand key defensive personnel back in the mix coach Jason Randel'sclub is poised to make some noise.4. IRONWOOD RIDGE -- The 2012 D-II champs endured a hugeretooling job last season and still managed a 6-5 mark and aplayoff berth. Chances are they'll be back in the mix with the abilityto hang around longer. Coach Matt Johnson is excited aboutthe team's strength as the new year dawns -- line play on bothsides of the ball. That was a key ingredient to its championshipseason.5. CHAPARRAL -- A late coaching change in early spring slowedpreparation a bit, but new coach Conrad Hamilton has rolled uphis sleeves to keep the Firebirds in the thick of the division's best.Chaparral won 12 games last year and bowed in the final toSalpointe's juggernaut. They have a handful of key returners ledby quarterback Sean Brophy, but the graduation losses werepretty massive. Brophy will be guiding an offense that needsshepherding as a young group of skill players make their way.The high-powered offense of recent years may be down a click ortwo.6. MARCOS DE NIZA -- This is another program that lost abunch of standouts to graduation and a few to transfer. ThePadres have been able to be among the elite in the D-II (5A-II)the past several seasons and have a chance to stay there despitethe losses. New coach Sean Morin, who piloted the team inits two playoff games last November, is touting team speed andtoughness to bring about another playoff season.Salpointe topped Chaparral, 46-20, in the 2013 Division II State title game(photo by Mark Jones/maxpreps.com).page 177. CIENEGA -- Somewhat like Ironwood Ridge, Cienega is expectinga bounce-back season. The Bobcats posted a 5-5 recordand fell short of postseason after nine years of postseason playthat saw them banging on the door to the D-II finals, but enteringjust once. The Bobcats will be led by versatile two-way talentTerrence Johnson (receiver and defensive back).8. MARANA MTN. VIEW -- Finishing second in its section toSalpointe was no shame and its road to the playoffs was pavedby beating all its other section foes who were busy beating up onone another. Coach Clarence McRae has some speed at his disposaland some capable returnees on defense -- about half from2013. Defense may have to carry the load as McRae's concern ishow much his offense can produce.9. DEER VALLEY -- Can the school's best football finish ever interms of postseason advancement have a residual effect? Can'thurt. The Skyhawks did lose an enormous group of contributingseniors, particularly on offense that's going to make the aforementionedtask difficult. The Skyhawks will work in a new quarterback,running backs and most of their receiving corps. Thedefense should be solid, but must perform better when it matchesup against the more explosive offenses -- Liberty and Centennial-- like they did the second time they faced Centennial in the D-IIquarters last year.10. POSTON BUTTE -- Folks will be following the first year of formerBlue Ridge coach Paul Moro with keen interest. The Broncosturned in a 3-7 record last year and dropped their last six games.Moro inherits a couple of solid players on each side of the ballthat are good starting points. The Broncos, however, play aschedule that features eight opponents who were .500 or betterlast year and five that reached postseason. They'll be tested outof the gate by last year's D-III runner-up, Queen Creek, on Aug.22.