It’s football season again. Well, sort of. The temperatures have topped 105 in most Valley locales but prep football is still dominating the high school news. Here’s a look at some of the top tidbits.
PASSING LEAGUES: The Fiesta Bowl and AIA have announced plans for the first Fiesta Bowl 7-on-7 Passing Tournament from June 25-26 at Brophy College Prep's (Phoenix, Ariz.) state-of-the-art new sports complex with each team playing four games on June 25 to determine seeds for a double-elimination tournament the following day.
Arizona’s passing leagues actually started at the beginning of June and there are also passing leagues scheduled for Surprise and other locales this summer, but the AIA/Fiesta Bowl event may be the best of the lot.
While passing leagues won’t provide much of a read on the upcoming season, they are a invaluable evaluation tool for coaches and a chance for quarterbacks, receivers and other skill positions to get a lot of reps. Offense usually lags behind defense in early-season preparedness, due to the complexity of sets, so this is a chance to close the gap before the regular season opens in late August.
Beyond that, passing leagues are flat-out entertaining with all the scoring. They also provide a chance to hob-nob with Valley coaches in a more relaxed setting. Stay tuned for a lineup of teams.
Ka'Deem Carey
Photo by Mitchell B. Reibel
Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.) standout offensive lineman Jacob Arzouman also committed to coach Mike Stoops' program.
ANOTHER OFFER: The Arizona Republic reports that Chandler's (Chandler, Ariz.) Jordan Morgan, a transfer from Chandler Valley Christian, got his first Pac-10 football scholarship offer. It came from one of the conference's two newest members, Colorado. Morgan led valley Christian to the 2A title last season, but decided to transfer after his father, Bill Morgan, resigned as coach.
NEW HOME: Mike Brown, who resigned as head football coach at Phoenix Greenway, will be the new coach at Tolleson (Tolleson, Ariz.), which hasn’t had a winning record since 2003.
Former Tolleson coach Rich Wellbrock took over Desert Edge (Goodyear, Ariz.) program, making him the school’s fourth head coach in four years.
Brown led Greenway to the Class 4A state final in 2001 and 2002 and always seemed to have the Demons playing their best ball when the postseason rolled around.
NARROWING THE LIST: Chandler quarterback Brett Hundley, one of the state’s top recruits, has narrowed his list of college choices to five: Arizona, Oregon, Texas A&M, UCLA and Washington. Hundley has long been thought to favor Oregon.
Hundley is among seven quarterbacks who will head to Maui in July for the Steve Clarkson Super 7 Maui Retreat, where he'll receive instruction from Joe Montana, Warren Moon and expected Cardinals starting QB Matt Leinart.
HONORS: St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.) softball pitcher Dallas Escobedo, ranked by many as the nation’s best prep player, was recently named Gatorade Arizona Softball Player of the Year. That was great, but Escobedo picked up an even bigger honor when she was selected as one of 17 athletes for USA Softball’s Junior National Team.
She will compete at the Pan American Softball Championships in Bogota, Columbia in early August. The tournament is a qualifier for the World Championships in Cape Town, South Africa, in Dec. 2011.
ALL-STARS: The Class 2A-3A Arizona High School Football Coaches Association All-Star Game is tonight while the 4A-5A North-South All-Star Game is Saturday. Both games are at Glendale Community College. Here’s a look at the rosters, courtesy of The Arizona Republic:
4A-5A South
1 Alex Zemezonak, Pinnacle
2 Dexter Bethers, Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor
3 Ramon Abreu, Tempe Marcos de Niza
5 Alex Cappelini, Phoenix Pinnacle
6 Chris Howard Tucson Sunnyside
10 Kendel Augustin, Queen Creek
15 Jared Tevis, Oro Valley Canyon del Oro
19 Trent Simon, Vail Cienega
20 Traveon Freeman, Glendale Raymond S. Kellis
21 Derek Garcia, Surprise Willow Canyon
22 Blaze Almon, O'Connor
23 Kyle Tokasey, Scottsdale Desert Mountain
24 Tiandre Hunter, Glendale Copper Canyon
31 Adrian Brahler, Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge
32 Eric Ramsey, Avondale Westview
33 Ronnie Burton, Cienega
34 Chris Arnold, Scottsdale Chaparral
40 Andrew Esparza, Tolleson
50 Tyler Souva, Cave Creek Cactus Shadows
54 Colby Tigges, Canyon del Oro
55 Marshall Peugh, Glendale Ironwood
56 Dallas Sandberg, Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain
58 Deon Clash, Tucson Sahuaro
62 Ewas David, El Mirage Dysart
67 Roy Garcia, Marcos de Niza
70 Robert Solorio, Sunnyside
75 Jordan Christensen, Cienega
79 Tyeler Davison, Desert Mountain
Coaches: John Rodriguez, O'Connor; Kelly Epley, Avondale Agua Fria; Tony Cluff, Agua Fria; Rich Wellbrok, Goodyear Desert Edge; Robert Latona, O'Connor; James Ford, O'Connor.
4A-5A North
1 Terry Perkins, Chandler Basha
2 Tyler Ryan, Mesa
3 Anders Battle, Phoenix Desert Vista
5 Chase Harpole, Phoenix Greenway
6 Adam Dixon, Laveen Cesar Chavez
10 Chase Cartwright, Tempe Corona del Sol
15 Kevin Pantastico, Mesa Desert Ridge
19 Eli Lozano, Mesa
20 Devon Jones, Mountain Pointe
21 Ryne Rezac, Desert Vista
22 Allen Woods, Glendale Cactus
23 Dan Mihelich, Peoria Liberty
24 Jacom Brimhall, Mesa Mountain View
31 Mike Allen, Chandler Hamilton
32 Maka Taufa, Gilbert Mesquite
33 Jared Jones, Basha
34 Keegan Whipkey, Liberty
40 Jesus Guzman, Phoenix Trevor Browne
50 Ammon Samia, Chandler
51 Joey Leal, Mountain Pointe
53 Dallas Lopez, Chandler
54 Marshall Kabat, Glendale Mountain Ridge
56 Patrick Blanar, Cactus
58 Brandon Williams, Basha
62 Joe Wylezik, Paradise Valley
67 Justin Lalonde, Hamilton
70 Tom Woodward, Phoenix Brophy Prep
72 Alex Lewis, Mountain Pointe
73 Justin Gardner, Basha
78 Zachary Jubie, Corona del Sol
88 Justin Brantley, Gilbert
Coaches: Kelley Moore, Mesa; Danny Filleman, Liberty; Randy Gross, Trevor Browne; Mark Carter, Cactus; Zach Threadgill, Glendale Apollo; Kasey Kohn, Surprise Valley Vista; Leondre Lewis, Apollo.
2A-3A South
1 Conner Brinton, Fountain Hills
2 Jordan Henslin, Fountain Hills
3 Cruz Mora, Tombstone
4 Cody Woody, Tucson Empire
5 Colton Hayes, Wickenburg
6 Avery Boykin, Goodyear Estrella Foothills
7 Josh Bolinger, Miami
8 Luke Alvarado, Safford
10 Mark Mabry, Benson
12 Kyle Graf, Benson
16 Ed Harris, Yuma Catholic
20 Bryant Jeffries, Empire
22 Rudy Verdugo, Willcox
24 Ryan Middleton, Chino Valley
32 Mike Rand, Willcox
34 Gerald Fleming, Willcox
45 Major Harris, Eloy Santa Cruz
50 Chris Ronquillo, San Manuel
51 Max Pierce, Tonopah Valley
53 Dane Dastrup, Benson
54 Mackenzi Letcher, Empire
56 Travis James, Estrella Foothills
60 Brendon Argenziano, Empire
65 Dwight Goodman, Chino Valley
66 Anthony Montanez, Florence
70 Dayton Barney, Thatcher
79 Manny Alvarez, Wickenburg
80 Stephen Walden, Safford
83 Brandon Bourlier, Florence
85 Rey Holguin, Morenci
89 Jesse Garcia, Tonopah Valley
Coaches: Jorge Mendivill, Empire; Josh Necas, Empire; W.T. Jeffries, Empire; Frank Ogas, Morenci; Rich Hoyt, Estrella Foothills; Danny Renteria, San Manuel; Tony Stillings, Tonopah Valley; John Lebsock, San Tan Foothills.
2A-3A North
1 Garrett Anderson, St. Johns
2 Cody Bell, Show Low
3 Duskin Donaldson, Eagar Round Valley
4 Jonny Slade, Round Valley
6 Lani Ackley, Keams Canyon Hopi
7 Jonathan Delmar, Kayenta Monument Valley
8 Brett Miller, Scottsdale Christian
9 Tevin Renfro, Winslow
10 Robby Martindell, Snowflake
11 Johnny Boone, Tuba City Greyhills
12 Jordan Hunt, Snowflake
16 Jake Meixler, Lakeside Blue Ridge
20 Max Johnson, Payson
22 Cody Hawkins, Show Low
24 Garrison Fawcett, Show Low
32 Tyler Krombeen, Williams
34 Nick Johnson, Payson
45 Justin Taylor, Round Valley
50 Francis Eusebio, Scottsdale Christian
51 Michael Williams, Kayenta Monument Valley
53 Tony Begay, Holbrook
54 Jose Campos, Blue Ridge
55 Jason McCray, Snowflake
60 Logan Garner, Payson
64 Lawrence Honnie, Rough Rock
65 Jordan Hines, Phoenix Northwest Christian
66 Logan Hines, Northwest Christian
70 Kyle James, Chandler Valley Christian
79 Colton Davis, Winslow
83 Kyle O'Brien, St. Johns
Coaches: Rusty Robertson, Winslow; Jeff Fox, Scottsdale Christian; Russ Semore, Round Valley; Darrin Thomas, Holbrook; Bryan Begay, Monument 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.
