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2016 3A Football Preview
By Les Willsey
azpreps365.com
NORTH REGION
Chinle: The Wildcats are one of two
teams in the newly-formed region that won
a region title last season in a lower conference.
Chinle was 9-2 overall with both
losses coming to non-reservation squads.
Coach Tim Su'e Su'e has posted four winning
seasons out of six in his tenure. The
battle for the top spot likely will come down
to Chinle, Page and Monument Valley.
Chinle and Monument Valley meet the last
game of the regular season, likely having
region-title implications.
Ganado: The Hornets finished 5-5 last
year, the fifth year in a row with that
record. Expect something similar given the
makeup of the region and the non-region
foes on their schedule. Top players returning
are Sr. Tim Benally, who played quarterback,
running back and managed a few
receptions. Benally accounted for 742
yards all told and scored 5 TDs. Sr. Tracey
Wheeler got the bulk of playing time at
quarterback. He passed for 683 yards and
8 TDs.
Monument Valley: The Mustangs
turned in a 10-1 season last year with the
only loss coming in the first-round of postseason
to Santa Cruz Valley. No reservation
school has more continuity in
coaching than this school. Coach Bryan
Begay begins his 12th year and has several
assistants with five years on the staff
as well. With about 75 percent of their
starters back, the Mustangs are arguably
the region favorite. Sr. Kobe Holiday is the
returning sack leader. Sr. Cauy Nelson is a
two-year all-conference selection. Sr.
Royce Charley is a two-year, two-way
starter at receiver and defensive back;
ditto Jr. Billy Mitchell, a running back and
linebacker. Sr. Merwin Sullivan is the
team's best interior lineman and lineman
Sr. Keola Yazzie is a three-year starter.
Page: If the Sand Devils have an edge
heading into the season, it's that they
played in the same conference/division
last year (3A/D-IV). The rest of the region
members are all moving up a notch. Page
finished 1-9 last year and returning lettermen
are sparse -- nine. Coach Jeff Wheatley
is expecting improvement all around,
but it must come from a fast maturing
team with little varsity experience. Top returning
players are Jr. Jacob Doyle, quarterback
and cornerback, Sr. Jaden Myers,
a linebacker and interior linemen, Sr.
Dakota Richardson and Sr. Keinan Davis.
Page played one team who has joined the
newly formed region -- Monument Valley.
Page came close to prevailing, dropping a
34-32 decision.
Tuba City: The Warriors were 2-7 last
year and will be young for coach Rick Benjamin
and staff. A glaring need is at quarterback
where Benjamin is looking for a
dedicated player to learn and grasp the offense.
Top returning players are Sr. Brandon
Whiterock, who caught 25 passes for
243 yards, 2 TDs and Sr. Anthony Wertz,
who saw plenty of time at running back
(658 yards, 6 TDs).
Window Rock: The Scouts have their
work cut out for them after last year's 0-10
season. It was a bit of a surprise after four
successive .500 or better seasons, but
many of their games were against
stronger, non-reservation opponents. That
isn't changing too much this year as Window
Rock has games against 3A stalwarts
Show Low and Blue Ridge.
SOUTH REGION
Catalina: The Trojans didn't have an
enjoyable year in 2015, dropping nine of
10 games. Last year they were outscored
499-57. They'll look to get better, but it
won't be easy. The school has a new
coach, Joe Butler. Butler, defensive coordinator
at San Tan Foothills last year, is
hoping to coax some improvement in the
program. Catalina hasn't had a winning
season since 2004
Empire: Skill position players top the
list for the Ravens, who are coming off a 5-
5 record under coach W.T. Jeffries. Jeffries
is 15-15 in three seasons. Empire is seeking
its first playoff berth under Jeffries, who
shook up the coaching staff in the offseason.
Sr. Will Kobata-Martin (1,016 yards,
12 TDs), Sr. DeErick Smith (803 yards, 8
TDs) and RB Wyatt Jeffries (289 yards in
four games) are back to lead the ground
game. All were part of the second-place 4
x 100 relay team at state. So. Alex Verdugo,
who was the backup quarterback
last year played in seven games and
passed for 239 yards. Sr. Cade Powell, a
linebacker, is the key returnee on defense.
Powell contributed a team-high 86 tackles
last season. Speed is the team's strength
while youth is the question mark. As many
as six sophomores could start.
page 28
Pusch Ridge: The Lions enter the new
season as defending state champs with a
13-game winning streak, the last three
postseason nailbiters. They also start with
a new coach, Jerry Harris, who takes over
for Troy Cropp. Pusch Ridge is blessed
with seven starters back on each side of
the ball. The top returnees are Jr. Dakota
Haynes, running back and linebacker.
Haynes rushed for 619 yards and 10 TDs.
On defense he was in on 154 tackles and
registered six sacks. Another two-way
standout is Jr. Tamerat McLeod. McLeod
led the team in rushing (821 yards, 15
TDs) and had 91 tackles. Up front is Sr.
Paul Bertelsen, a defensive end (66 tackles,
7 sacks, Sr. Edwin Lovett (48 tackles
at cornerback) and a wide receiver. Helping
out the ground game and on defense
is Jr. Mitch Maas (497 yards rushing and
68 tackles).
Sabino: Odds are this will be a stellar
year for the Sabercats. Coach Jay Campos'
team was 8-2 last year competing in
D-III and has dropped a level this year.
They're one of only a handful of Tucson
high schools not aligned in 6A, 5A or 4A
and the second-largest school in the conference
by enrollment. Sabino returns the
bulk of its offensive skill players led by
quarterback Sr. Drew Dixon. Dixon's a
two-way threat. He passed for 1,146 yards
and 17 scores and rushed for 446 yards
and 12 TDs in 2015. Sr. Wyatt Short
and Sr. Noah Brown combined for 750
yards rushing and 9 TDs behind Dixon. A
trio of decent receivers averaging 15 receptions
each also return. Sabino allowed
just more than 10 points a game last year.
Much the same can be expected.
Sahuarita: The Mustangs held their
own at 5-5 last year, but must contend with
the loss of nearly all their offensive
weapons from last year. Rodney Day begins
his second year piloting Sahuarita.
Day has a few players on defense to work
with from last year. Sr. Knyles Sotomayor,
a linebacker-safety, is the top returning
tackler (33) and on the interior line
is Sr. Da'Shae Henderson (22 tackles).
Defensive back Sr. Erick Thompson likely
will be the go-to target at receiver. Last
year's backup quarterback, Sr. Austin
Ahumada, has a shot at starting this year
for the Mustangs..
Santa Rita: The Eagles find themselves
struggling in the sport much like
Catalina. Santa Rita was 1-9 last year and