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2A Conference Preseason Rankings
By Jose Garcia
azpreps365.com
No. 1. Round Valley: “This team has the ability to be the best
I’ve coached, but some things need to happen,” sixth-year coach
Marcus Bell said. “Do they have the work ethic? How bad do they
want to be champions?” It’s hard to imagine Kyron Woolf and
Sullivan Udall doing more than what they did last year. But don’t
be surprised if the senior dynamic duo weave around defenders
even more this year. Woolf and Sullivan, two of Arizona’s top-5
returning leading rushers from last year, accounted for 87 percent
of the team’s total yards in 2015. In his first year as the starting
QB, Woolf led his team in rushing with 1,736 yards (18.9 yards
per carry!) in Bell’s multiple look offense. As a passer, Woolf’s
reads and release improved throughout 2015, when he completed
67 percent of his passes and threw 21 TDs and only 6
INTs in 168 attempts.
No. 2 Santa Cruz: It took coach Rishard Davis just two seasons
to reawaken a small school program that was dominant from
1960-1990. Santa Cruz, known for successfully mining some of
Arizona’s football playing giants from a small city, Eloy, is once
again tapping into its talent reserve. Besides the skill 19 returning
starters carry, the 2016 Santa Cruz Dust Devils are at present a
unified group. That’s because most of the players dressed for the
same community football teams before they even enrolled at
Santa Cruz. Senior RB/LB Devon Neal’s (23 TDs, 80 tackles,
1,308 total yards in 2015) hard-working approach is paying off for
his team.
No. 3 Benson: The program reached its third ever state championship
game last year, but the outcome didn’t go as planned.
Benson also bid adieu to an experienced senior quarterback. But
don’t worry Benson fans. Another senior quarterback is ready to
step in to try and continue a championship game trend. The new
QB, David Arthur, also was a starter in a championship game last
year but in North Dakota. Arthur lived in Benson, moved before
his freshman season and is now back home. His leadership and
footwork has impressed coach Chris Determan so far.
No. 4 Tempe Prep: The football coaching torch was passed from
one Brittain to another this season. It’s fitting since so many Brittains
were involved in helping Tempe Prep become the first charter
school to reach an AIA football championship game. The first
go-around as head coach will begin this season for Joshua, one
of a handful of Brittain players who walked the school’s halls. “I
am honored to take over for my father (Tommy),” Joshua said.
“He has built something truly special here. He will always be a
part of this program, and our goal is to one day finish what he
started.” The unfinished business is winning a state championship.
No. 5 Scottsdale Christian: Not many small school programs
can absorb the loss of 17 seniors and expect to still make the
playoffs the following season. But third-year coach Chuck Gibbs
is in no mood to rebuild. Next man up. The goal for this year —
seven or more regular season wins — is reasonable, considering
that lack of defensive line and linebacker experience and overall
team leadership. But that won’t keep Gibbs from scaling back his
aggressive defensive approach. He wants the trend of creating
turnovers and limiting big plays and having one of the top special
teams in the state to continue. Speaking of special, TE/DE Zac
Lane (6-4, 210) “will be almost unstoppable.”
No. 6 Thatcher: Its leading rusher and entire starting offensive
line graduated last year, but this is a program that has won seven
or more games in 10 of the past 12 seasons. Despite the lack of
seniors in the run game, a drop off isn’t expected this season
after last year’s 7-3 campaign. Senior Kaleb Mattice, a state
championship hurdler, takes over as the No. 1 back in secondyear
coach Sean Hinton’s split-back veer. It’s the same offense
Hinton ran as a player before graduating from Thatcher in 2002.
A couple of sophomores will step in and make an immediate impact.
No. 7 Paradise Honors: What can be better than returning two
1,000 yard rushers? How about adding another back with the potential
to exceed the rushing totals of last year’s leading ground
gainers, Brandon Brown and Sekou Tyler. A torn meniscus sidelined
sophomore Rascheed Sterling the entire 2015 season. But
Sterling can’t wait to showcase his speed and strength in Paradise
Honors’ wing-T. Paradise Honors also added to its starting
roster TE/OLB Nate Tomlinson, a transfer who sat out last year.
No. 8 Phoenix Christian: Are the young Cougars ready to fend
off the big cats, especially in their region, or do they need another
year to mature before venturing off as contenders? The development
of their offensive line, new linebackers and quarterback
may hold the key to this season. Junior Matt Hocking (2,126
rushing yards, 23 TDs in career) and 15 other returning starters
also will have a lot to say about how far the team goes this year.
No. 9 Tonopah Valley: At 9-2, the program is coming off its best
season ever. Continuing to excel will depend on the new faces,
beginning with first-year coach Dustin Johnson. The coaching
staff only lost two coaches. Besides introducing a new coach,
Tonopah Valley also will welcome 13 new starters. What isn’t
changing are the team’s “solid” fronts on both sides. Eduardo
Zaragoza (6-4, 305) anchors the o-line, and linebacker Jess Pennington
and safety Sebastian Young have added a lot of muscle.
No. 10 San Tan Foothills: Richie Martin’s first head coaching gig
after spending 14 years as an assistant came unexpectedly. A
week after he was brought in to fill a coordinator opening at San
Tan Foothills, the former head coach, John Sanders, left after his
first and only season. Martin applied and was handed the keys to
the 8th-year varsity program. He was at Arizona Western College
prior to arriving at San Tan but spent most of his time coaching in
Portland. That’s also where he was named an All-State player before
winding up as an All-American at Linfield College, where he
was a fraternity brother of Chandler High coach Shaun Aguano.
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