Sollenberger Classic Teams Magazine Cover Return Home

Scottsdale Christian’s Zac Lane (#28) jumping to block a pass attempt (photo by Mark
Jones of maxpreps.com)
balanced offense this year from Scottsdale
Christian. The school signed a 5-year deal
with Under Armour. Senior Jacob Hartmann
worked with Pittsburgh Steeler’s long snapper
Matt Dooley all summer.
Tempe Prep: Look for Tempe Prep to
continue running its methodical ground-andpound
plan down opponents’ throats. But
the passing game might add a wrinkle or
two to help take some pressure off its inexperienced
offensive line. Tempe Prep’s indispensable
commodities always seem to
be in the trenches, but this year’s hogs will
need time to adjust to varsity ball. Coach
Joshua Brittain will depend on senior
TE/ILB Herman Flores, Jr. G/ILB Brendan
Phelan, senior ATH Joe Swingle, senior
RB/LB/DB Jacob Matsomoto and junior QB
Max Rich to lead the way. “I expect my
team to play passionately, courageously
and in a disciplined manner on every play,”
Brittain said. “If they do that, the rest will
take care of itself.” Tempe Prep’s players
and Arizona’s football community are bound
to gain inspiration from Brittain, who was
born with cerebral palsy.
Region note: Micah Johnson is the
name of the new football coach at Joy
Christian. The program didn’t return its annual
azpreps365.com football questionnaire.
It’s unknown what the program is
returning from last year’s state championship.
METRO EAST REGION
Antelope Union: It’s been seven years
since the program last experienced a winning
season. But with 19 starters back
there’s a lot of optimism swirling around
third-year coach Gary Mauldin’s program
this year. But for Antelope to reach
Mauldin’s goal of making the playoffs this
season, its pass protection, run game and
run defense must improve this year. A
strong senior class, receiving corps and big
backfield, headlined by Angel Esparza, Estevan
Martinez, Ruben Castaneda, Esteban
Juarez, Mario Castro and Anthony Brister,
are the strengths of this year’s team.
Mauldin will go up against his former high
school head coach in Benson on Aug. 26,
when coach Mike Hayhurst’s Tombstone
squad faces Antelope.
Chandler Prep: Chandler Prep will
make the jump to 11-man ball with all of its
skills players who helped the team finish 5-
3 in 8-man last year in tow. Among that experienced
talent are seniors Harrison
Strong (706 rushing yards, 99 tackles, 7
INTs, 18 TDs in 2015) Trey Harris (134.7
all-purpose yards per game last year),
OLB/SS/RB Samauel Decker and junior
Alex Brandt (15 TD passes, 11 sacks in
2015). “As we make the adjustment from 8
to 11-man football, our greatest strength is
the foundation our seniors put down last
year and the pride these next group of seniors
will take in building on that foundation,”
coach Chris Goodman said.
Glendale Prep: Glendale Prep, which
opened its program in 2010, never missed
the 8-man playoffs. However, the playoffs
streak is at risk this year with the rebuilding
plans that are in place. The team had only
about 16 players before summer break. But
coach Jamie Self’s boys aren’t about to
back down just because of the roster
turnover and 11-man introduction. “We will
be tough and scrappy,” Self said. “We will
be learning a whole new system with largely
new players. I expect we will improve in the
area of clock control and ball security.”
San Tan Foothills: Coach Ritchie
Martin played in the CFL for 10 years as a
receiver. “I expect big things and to hold my
players accountable,” Martin said. “I want
our kids to go to college and get their
school paid for.” Martin’s offense will show
multiple looks, including spread, I-formation
and off-I. Running the offense will be offensive
coordinator Delaurian McKenzie, who
coached with Martin in Yuma. Martin is confident
that QB Danny Herrera, a junior
transfer from Florence, and his “strong, live
arm” and smarts can help guide San Tan to
the playoffs. Herrera’s big targets are expected
to be TE Johnny Craig (6-4, 230)
and WR/FS Dante Scharon. Scharon wears
hearing aids and can read lips, but it’s his
4.6 speed that defenders need to pay attention
to. Senior RB Devon Ziman (6-1, 190)
didn’t play last year but will this year and
will be the featured back. WR Brandon
Williams, FS Michael Posey and RB
Deronte Pope will also play important roles
this season, Martin said. “I think we are a
playoff team,” he said. “That’s my goal.”
Eighteen San Tan players were academically
ineligible to play, but Martin helped reduce
that number to 4.
Scottsdale Prep: Since 2013, the program
has had four different head coaches.
Hoping to bring some stability is Troy Head,
a former head coach at Salt River and
Mayer, who took over this year. Scottsdale
Prep hasn’t had a winning season since
current Saguaro coach Jason Mohns was
the coach in 2008.
Veritas Prep: The Falcons, not surprisingly,
struggled last year while playing with
only two seniors. This year they want to rebound
in a big way — playoffs is the goal —
with the help of QB/DB Aneurin Minson and
C/DT Nick Ackerly, two of about 10 seniors
on the 2016 squad. Junior RB/DL Sebastian
Bautista, a captain last year, also figures to
lead the way in the program’s quest for its
first plus-.500 season. “This is the second
year in the offensive and defensive systems
for the sophomores, and it will also be a full
year of weight training,” second-year coach
Jim Ellison said. “We will expand the playbook
and hope to execute better and score
more points.” Ellison coached at Arcadia
from 2008-11, where in 2011 he guided Arcadia
to a 10-3 record.
Region Note: Arete Prep struggled last
year with very young last year, as only four
of the team’s 19 players were seniors.
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