FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Tony Sanchez isn’t the most popular gent around Flagstaff these days, but he’ll live with it.
The fiery Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) football coach has rubbed some Sollenberger Classic organizers the wrong way because he’s balked at his team rising early Saturday morning to attend an Arizona Cardinals training camp session. The players and coaches can mingle with the Cardinals afterward.
“I really appreciate the gesture – it’s a great opportunity for the kids and everyone involved,” Sanchez said. “But frankly, we’re out to win a football game.”
Hamilton tackle Christian Westerman is headed to Texas.
Photo by Mitchell Reibel
It's probably the best national match-up of the month as Sanchez’ Gorman squad is No. 23 in the MaxPreps Xcellent preseason rankings and Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) is No. 19.
The showdown between defending Nevada and Arizona state champions is 7 p.m. (MST) at Northern Arizona University’s Lawrence Walkup Skydome on Saturday.
Gorman went 15-0 last year, outscored foes 798-135 and won a state 4A title. Hamilton was 14-0 and won its third 5A title in four years under coach Steve Belles, whose perspective on the showdown jetted as many directions as his team’s high-powered, 45-formation-ed, misdirection offense.
His team returns 10 starters evenly divided between offense and defense. Gorman returns 11, eight on offense.
“In the scheme of things it’s really nothing more than a glorified scrimmage,” Belles said. “It doesn’t mean much in terms of state playoffs or power points in our state. Sure, in terms of the mythical national championship picture – which we don’t put a ton of credence in – if you lose you’re probably out. But that just means getting back to work. It’s not where you start but where you finish.
“That all said, believe me, we don’t like losing. And we know they don’t like losing. And neither of us, I’m sure, plan on losing.”
After Saturday, neither team figures to, though Gorman travels to perennial national power but unranked De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) on Sept. 25.
But clearly, one team will have a win streak broken Saturday and play the rest of the season with a chip on its shoulder.
Both talented teams, which feature more than 10 Division I prospects, appear champing at the bit to jump into the fray, or in this case, the trenches.
Jalen Grimble
Photo by Tom Lemming
Hamilton features a pair of Division I tackles, 6-foot-5, 282-pound Texas-bound Christian Westerman and 6-6, 250-pound Oregon-bound Tyler Johnstone.
Gorman counters with a pair of Division I defensive ends, USC-commit Jalen Grimble (6-4, 255) and uncommitted Bryson Mook (6-2, 235).
“How often in high school football are you going to see four DI guys go toe-to-toe,” Sanchez asked rhetorically? “Those matchups alone are worth the price of admission.”
Much has been made about Hamilton’s offensive front with the bookend college tackles, but the Husky coaches warn that the rest of the group is untested after losing three college lineman to graduation.
“Both teams are here because of what they did last year,” Belles said. “Both teams have a lot to live up to.”
As impressed as Sanchez is with Hamilton’s front, he thinks his massive and athletic line might be even better. Their average size: 6-3 and 295. And 6-3, 300-pound center A.C. Patterson is the only senior among them.
The rest of the bunch features junior Ron Scoggins (6-4, 299), whose dad played in the NFL, co-captain Nick Strehlow (6-1, 278) and perhaps the best long-term prospect on the field, Ronnie Stanley, a 6-6, 282-pound junior left tackle.
“He’s got an old school work ethic and he’s amazing graceful and athletic,” Sanchez said.
In the trenches is where the fifth annual Sollenberger Classic will be decided.
Photo by Mitchell Reibel
Five picks in 15 games are what stands out to me," Sanchez said. "(Solomon) makes great decisions. Even as a freshman. He’s got a heck of a career in store.”
So does Hamilton quarterback Kyren Poe, a 6-3, 185-pound senior starting his first game. He was one of six Hamilton players selected to the state’s top 50 seniors list by the Arizona Republic.
Others included lineman John Archuleta (6-4, 270), defensive lineman Shaq Jenkins (6-1, 260), defensive back Cedric Parker (6-0, 180), along with Westerman and Johnston.
Though Poe is a first-year starter, he’s well-equipped to handle Belles’ ultra diverse offense.
A.C. Patterson
Photo by Tom Lemming
Belles is confident his team will run the sophisticated offense effectively.
“We didn’t just install the thing here in the summer,” he said. “We’ve been going at it since January. These guys are way ahead of the curve. There’s not much we haven’t ironed out.”
That’s why Sanchez wants every waking hour to prepare for the Huskies.
“That’s an elite team we’re playing with a great coaching staff,” he said. “There’s a great pride factor in this game. We want to go out and be physical and fast and put a quality product on the field.”
Belles said one of the biggest motivating factors in the game is playing for state pride.
“This will be the only time all season anybody else from Arizona roots for us,” he said. “The whole state will rally around us and we want to represent well.
“We know last year’s Gorman team was phenomenal. We know they have a great coaching staff and are disciplined, plus have excellent talent. They’ve been kind of the big dog in a little pond. I don’t know how good or bad Nevada football is. But I know we’re playing the best from their state.”
COLLEGE/PRO CONNECTIONS: Belles was a backup quarterback, receiver and running back on the 1989 Notre Dame national championship team coached by Lou Holtz. His teammate was Todd Lyght, a 12-year NFL veteran who now is an assistant at Gorman.
“I was at a coaches convention last winter and I see Todd with a BG on his shirt and I couldn’t believe it,” Belles said. “I thought why is a Michigan kid (his native state) coaching at Bishop Gorman? I thought I was mistaken. It was great to see him and fantastic to be a part of this game with him. He’s a great person.”
Hamilton's Cedric Parker is son of a former NFL cornerback.
Photo by Mitchell Reibel
Cedric Parker’s father Anthony played cornerback for the Rams with Lyght, and is also an assistant for Hamilton.
“There’s lots of layers here,” Belles said. “Adds to the match-up.”
BRIEFLY: Belles expects a large turnout from Chandler, a three-hour drive to Flagstaff. … The Skydome holds 22,000. “Even if we get six or seven thousand it will still be very loud,” Belles said. “It will just be nice to get out of the heat.” … Temperatures in both Las Vegas and Chandler is supposed to reach 108 degrees on Friday. In Flagstaff, the expected high is 79. … Other college prospects for Gorman are defensive back Evan Zeger (6-2, 200) and linebackers Ron Lyles (5-11, 190) and Jordan Welte (6-0, 235). … The Hamilton coaching staff visited Gorman’s staff and their state-of-the-art sports complex in Las Vegas last month during a coach’s convention. “It’s phenomenal,” Belles said of Gorman’s facilities. “As good as I’ve ever seen.” … The game honors the late Barry Sollenberger, a former Arizona Interscholastic Association employee and state historian. … The contest will be carried via a webcast at www.aia365.com. … Game time is 7 p.m. (local time) and tickets are $10 with kids 5-and-younger admitted free. … The game is also sponsored by the NIAA (niaa.com) which was established in 1922. … The AIA (aiaonline.org) was established in 1925.
MaxPreps will cover the contest for the third straight season. Look for a next-day story, with photography and video.
