MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 football team preview: No. 24 Chaparral

Chaparral's 2011 team is generally referred to as likely better, or maybe just as good, as the 2010 squad.

So to put that in other words, the 2011 team is referred to as likely better, or maybe just as good, as the highest scoring team in Arizona history and a 14-0 state champion.

Last year was magical in Scottsdale and this year is expected to feature even more fireworks. A pair of Top 100 recruits in quarterback Connor Brewer and wide receiver Davonte Neal are the biggest names, and a supporting cast of spectacular skill players also returns.

What sometimes gets lost when a team has a high-octane offense is the defense, and Chaparral has reason to believe it can punish opponents on that side of the ball as well. Coach Charlie Ragle has a defensive background and has a defensive line that should cause major issues for opponents. That defensive line is likely to include transfer 6-foot-4, 250-pound behemoth Jarvis Lewis and first-year football player Dylan Cousins.



But make no mistake: Chaparral's offense will be the headline-grabber. Last year the Firebirds outscored the opposition 727-130. Depth abounds in the skill positions and teams will have to try and keep up with the blazing speed from all angles.

Chaparral will be replacing three offensive linemen who left with scholarships, including Oregon signee Andre Yruretagoyena. If the new guys on the line can give Brewer enough time and space to get the ball to Neal, running back Lucas Petrullo and others, it should be a romp once again in the Grand Canyon State. Chaparral is the No. 2 team in the Top 10 Arizona Football Dynasties list, according to the Freeman Rankings.

Of course, before the Arizona schedule starts, Chaparral will get tested in the first week by No. 10 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) in the Sollenberger Classic, which pits the Arizona champ against the Nevada champ.

Local look: "These guys are going to be loaded, they should be really good again. I think their offense will be better than or as good as last year. They've got a great quarterback, a great receiving core and a good running back who has a nose for the end zone. They have work to do and Ragle will make sure they don't take anything for granted and he’ll have them working hard. He always has had a great offseason program. The only question mark is defense and shoring up scenarios. They'll have to fill some offensive line spots too."
- Richard Obert, Arizona Republic

Continue to School Profile
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School size: 5A, Division II

Enrollment: 2,127



2010 finish: 14-0, 5A-Division II state champions

Head coach: Charlie Ragle

Career record: 49-6

Years at school: 5

Notable players coached:
OL Taylor Lewan (Michigan)
LB Craig Roh (Michigan)

Continue to Key Returners
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No. of returning starters: 6 (offense), 4 (defense)

Key losses:
OL Andre Yruretagoyena
OL Peter McBride
OL Wes Schweitzer
DB Colby Targun
LB Hunter Gregg
DL Justin Jackson
DL Sean Kamela

Key returners:
QB Connor Brewer
WR/CB Davonte Neal
WR Craig Roh
WR Zac Buzzard
WR Gary McKay
RB Lucas Petrullo
OL/DT Pete Greene
OL Jordan Bronowitz
OL Eric Combs
ILB Cody Ippolito
S Ikaia Nawahine

Key newcomers:
DL Jarvis Lewis
TE/DL Dylan Cousins

Continue to season outlook
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Toughest game: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). The Gaels are ranked No. 10 in the preseason rankings and on Aug. 20, the Nevada champs will take on Chaparral. Gorman plays more of a punishing style than Chaparral so look for a good matchup of different styles. Also of note, the game was supposed to be played at Northern Arizona University's Walkup Skydome, but that venue will not be available. A replacement venue has not been selected yet, Ragle said.

Question Mark:  The offensive line is replacing three Division-I recruits. Can the new group give the skill players enough time and space to do what they do best? Also, the defense has a host of new names. Will that group be able to jell?



Local look: Centennial (Peoria), which Chaparral beat 32-17 in the title game, will once again be solid. So will Marcos de Niza (Tempe). Hamilton, the defending 5A-I champion, may be the only in-state team on par with Chaparral.

Overall outlook: This team will put up points. Lots of points. Offensive coordinator Dave Huffine, who had set the scoring record at Moon Valley before breaking it last season at Chaparral, has an absurd amount of weapons and those weapons will destroy many defenses. It's hard to see an in-state team beating Chaparral, as the closest contest last year was 13 points. The Gorman game is a toss-up, but Chaparral is the state title favorite.

Coach quote: "We're going into year No. 5. If you are not expecting to compete for state titles by year No. 5, you're not doing the right things. From the time we got here it was already a good program in contention for state titles. The bar has been set: To go and compete for state titles every year. With our quarterback back for his senior year and one of the best receivers in the country and a beast running back, plus a cast of skill kids, our expectations are that we better be there at the end."
- Charlie Ragle