4. Jarvis Lewis incident is one giant distraction.
Jarvis Lewis suited up but did not
play while his transfer to Chaparral
is being investigated.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Chaparral senior defensive end Jarvis Lewis suited up but was never intended to play. That's because the Arizona State-bound standout, who had 13 sacks last season for Kellis (Glendale, Ariz.), was recruited according to some allegations.
He transferred to Chaparral in late April yet four months later his eligibility is still in question. Ragle thought there wasn't a problem until the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) hired a private investigator and a family-law attorney to look into the situation.
At this point, no one is talking publicly because so much is at stake. If Ragle plays Lewis and it's later discovered Chaparral broke a rule, then the Firebirds would have to forfeit their season. Ragle said he thought about playing Lewis anyway, but then, evidently, decided it wasn't worth the risk.
Don't think Lewis would have made 20 points difference, but the defensive line was the one place Chaparral was indeed vulnerable. And besides that, the sheer distraction of the investigation - it made Arizona Republic headlines - couldn't have helped the Firebirds.
