Blue Ridge's system makes it favorite for Arizona 3A football title

At Blue Ridge, it really is about team; Florence brings athletic squad to 2010 season, Show Low will have plenty of offense.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Craig Morgan
By
Aug 11, 2010, 1:25pm
Paul Moro pauses for a moment, trying to define and explain Blue Ridge's football tradition.

There are the gaudy numbers: 11 Class 3A state championships, three runners-up and a winning percentage that tops 90 percent over the past 23 years.

There is the coaching continuity, with most staff members having served more than a decade under Moro, the Yellow Jackets' head coach since 1984.

And there are the kids, a steady stream of overachieving, hard-working champions.

None of those factors can be overstated, Moro admits, but then he gives you the glue that holds all of those pieces together.

"We try to build a successful attitude," he said. "Some teams will have a special year when the kids all get along. We try to create that feeling every year by telling kids 'You're not the most important thing out there' – that they need to put the team ahead of their own interests."

It sounds clichéd, but Blue Ridge backs the talk in tangible terms.

"Our kids are never going to win the stat wars," he said. "There are always better horses than others on your team, but you don't have to use those guys exclusively every week.

"Some coaches leave kids in to pad their stats but why not let JV kids play? Why not develop your future? Why not let those other kids know the game is dependent on them, too? Then, if one of your horses goes down, you’ve got kids who can fill in."

Does Blue Ridge have great talent? No question. But consider this: Only two players off last year’s team went on to play college ball at a major Division I program. Both went to Arizona.

"It's the system," Moro said. "That's the whole point."

3A favorite
Blue Ridge: Moro likes a lot of his linemen this season. Then again, he likes his skill players, too, and who wouldn't with transfers Chayse Russell (1,247 yards, 24 TDs at Winslow) and Jordan Morgan (Valley Christian) leading the charge. Moro still isn't certain where to best use Morgan, who can play quarterback and running back, as well as his likely college position at Cal, defensive back. Regardless, the Yellow Jackets have all the horses to claim their 12th 3A title in 24 years.

3A top contenders
Show Low: Rathen Ricedorff is one of the best quarterbacks in the state. He had 2,963 yards passing and 41 TDs last season, one short of the state record. He also ran for 602 yards. Combine that with stud running back Josh Weeks and the Cougars have plenty of offense. Will it be enough to derail Blue Ridge?

Florence: Moro says the Gophers have the most athletic bunch of kids he's seen at Florence since the 1983 state finalist squad. Florence returns 10 starters from a stingy defense (16.4 ppg), including linebackers Alan Jones and Cody Williams. The Gophers also return quarterback Jace Hulsey and talented receiver Kyle Washington. Coach George De La Torre has a budding program.

Round Valley: The Elks rode the arm and legs of quarterback Chantz Davis to the state quarterfinals last season. They’ll have to do the same again this year. The receivers are inexperienced and Round Valley lost a lot to graduation.

Fountain Hills: Three-hundred pound tackle Tyler Bode headlines an offensive line that returns all but one starter from last season’s state semifinalist and should open holes for a run-oriented attack. The Falcons are sick of getting close, but never winning it all.

Winslow: How to read the Bulldogs? Winslow went 10-2 last season and gave state finalist Show Low all it could handle in a seven-point loss in the state playoffs. But the Dogs play in the weak 3A North Region so opposing coaches are never quite sure how to evaluate game film. Russell transferred to Blue Ridge, but with quarterback Kraig Shirley and DE Jevon Estelle (79 tackles) back in the fold, opponents had better bring their A-game.

3A darkhorses
Wickenburg: The Wranglers went 10-0 in the regular season, including a win over state semifinalist Fountain Hills, then were inexplicably crushed by Florence in the first round of the playoffs, 40-13. The Wranglers have flirted with dominance over the past several years, but have never broken through in the playoffs. There's enough talent returning, including RBs Matt Rockhill and Mike Jeffers, for Wickenburg to atone for last season's disappointing finish.

Snowflake: Ron Tenney takes over as coach, meaning the Lobos will have some adjustments to make. RB Ammon McKinley (897 yards, 9 TDs) is the top returning offensive threat but Snowflake, a traditional power, has plenty of holes to plug.

Empire: The Ravens lost just one regular season game last season – by one point to Fountain Hills – then got surprised by South Region rival Florence in the playoffs, 21-0. Quarterback Mito Mendivil returns for his senior season, but most of the top tacklers are gone.

3A players worth watching
Josh Weeks, Jr., RB, Show Low; Chantz Davis, Sr., QB, Round Valley; Rathen Ricedorff, Sr., QB, Show Low; Trevar MacArthur, Sr., LB, Show Low; Chayse Russell, Sr., RB, Blue Ridge; Tyler Bode, Sr., OL, Fountain Hills; Jordan Morgan, Sr., DB, Blue Ridge; Kraig Shirley, Sr., QB, Winslow

Five things we like
1. White Mountain football: Last season’s 3A title game was an all-East Region affair and this season could look the same. There are other 3A powers in the state, but the day-in, day-out competition White Mountain teams enjoy when facing each other steels them for the playoffs.

2.  George De La Torre: The Florence coach has toiled in near anonymity, but wherever he goes – Mesa, Miami, South Mountain, and now Florence – De La Torre engineers good things. The Gophers made the 3A state semifinals last year. The next step will be much tougher, but De La Torre remains undeterred.

3. The Round Valley Ensphere: Billed as the only indoor high school stadium in the nation, the Springerville landmark is not only home to Elks football, but was used as refugee housing during the massive Rodeo-Chediski fire in 2002

4. Coolidge fans: The town struggles with high unemployment, crime and poverty, but when Friday night rolls around, Bears fans turn out to support their team. It has been three years since the program's heyday – a time when coach Carlo Hernandez led the team to seven title games and three state championships – but that hasn't lessened the fan fervor. Coolidge has seven state championships in its history.

5. 3A mascots: Some of our favorite nicknames reside in the 3A conference -- Gophers, Scorpions, Dust Devils and Elks, to name a few.

Region predictions
3A East
Champ: Blue Ridge
Top contenders: Show Low, Round Valley

3A North
Champ: Winslow
Top contender: Holbrook

3A South
Champ: Fountain Hills
Top contenders: Florence, Safford, Empire

3A West
Champ: Wickenburg
Top contenders: Estrella Foothills, Chino Valley

Craig Morgan is a freelance writer who has covered professional, college and high school sports in the Phoenix area for the past 18 years. He currently serves as the Phoenix correspondent for CBSSports.com, covering the Arizona Cardinals and other local teams. He also writes a weekly column and other features for The Arizona Republic. You can reach him at craig@wordsmithonline.com .

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