Page 31 - AIA Football Program 2A-Open

TEAMS IN BRIEF
Sunrise Mountain: The Mustangs retooled nicely from last year to this going from a quarterback-driven of- fense to a little of this and a little of that. They played a top-notch schedule losing to Open Division qualifier Desert Edge and fellow 5A qualifier Ironwood. Senior running back Tommy Arnold ran for 713 yards and 11 TDs after a sharing role in 2019. Quarterbacks Travis Ward and Hunter Kronengold have shared the duties, each having games in which they’ve shined. Senior Ezekiel Marshall and sophomore Micah Johnson are the top receiving targets. They’ve garnered 11 of the team’s 16 TDs through the air. Senior linebacker Owen Thomas is a force on defense leading the team in tack- les (74) and sacks (9).
Sunnyslope: The Vikings won the North Region which features two other playoff teams all seeded in the top four. First-year coach Sam Jacobs has a fine defense - a collective unti - which has allowed 48 points in its five wins and no more than 12 in those contests. The of- fense has done enough given how sturdy the defense has played. Quarterback Tanner Daoust has modest numbers taking over for a quarterback-driven attack from 2019. Top back is sophomore Xander Georgoulis, who’s produced 80 percent of the rushing totals with 493 yards, 5 TDs. Ashton Yurkiw leads the receiving corps.
Desert Mountain: After a pair of 3-7 seasons, the Wolves are in the playoffs for the first time since a break-even year in 2017. A solid corps of skill players is led by quarterback Aiden Cerullo (1,185 yards pass- ing, 10 TDs). Zack Kilburg and Jonah Berman supply the bulk of the rushing attack. Seniors Rogan Freeburg and Jack Schrieber account for most of the receiving yard- age as Cerullo’s top targets with 7 total TDs. Lineback- ers Eli Mackowski and Caleb Taylor lead the defensive effort.
Cactus Shadows: A 4-0 start was dulled the past two weeks by losses to playoff foes Desert Mountain and Sunrise Mountain. The Falcons attempt a reset with last year’s 5A runner-up Campo Verde. Desert Moun- tain controlled Cactus Shadows, but the Falcons led top-seed Sunrise Mountain heading to the final period. An 18-0 run by Sunrise in the fourth turned the game around. Cactus Shadows is led by senior quarterback Jaden White and senior running back Chris Elletson. Defensive playmakers are Tanner Dimond (40 tackles, two interceptions), David Lutz (21 tackles, 8 sacks) and linebacker Hafeez Momoh (56 tackles, 3 sacks).
Campo Verde: The Coyotes were able to shed the rust off a three-week layoff caused by a pair of COVID-19 game cancellations. The win at the end of the season over Maricopa was typical with senior running back Ca- den Calloway back to his 100-yard-plus ways with 161 and 2 TDs. Calloway averages better than 20 carries per game, and that’s gone on the last two seasons. The passing game is essentially brand new. QB play is more efficient with junior Reilly Garcia passing for 865 yard, nine TDs and only two interceptions. Seven receivers have a TD reception from, which doesn’t include any of the top receivers from 2019. Defensive leaders are ju- nior Connor Calloway and seniors Mark Liano, Freddie Goodson, Gabe Reaves among the team’s front seven.
Ironwood: The Eagles possess the top quarterback in the 5A playoff field in senior Will Haskell. Haskell piled up 2,084 yards (1,641 passing, 19 TDs) and (443 rushing, 7 TDs) in seven games. Opponents will have a hard time figuring out who to focus on in the receiv- ing corps. Seniors Nehemiah Lindo, Elijah Sanders and Mekhi Mannion-Faison all have 300 yards or more in receptions. Worst loss for Ironwood was a rout to Des- ert Edge. The marquee win was over top-seed Sunrise Mountain the night before Halloween.
Notre Dame Prep: The Saints, like Campo Verde, endured COVID-19 disruptions that saw them side- lined from game action for three weeks. Notre Dame knocked off Horizon in the finale for some postseason momentum. Senior quarterback Tyler Schweigert post- ed his best two games of the season in the last two outings. Both were good for 200-plus yards passing, 3 TDs and no picks. Receivers gaining Schweigert’s eye are junior Gavin Smith, senior Harrison Wood and se- nior Kyle Farrell. They’ve combined for 12 of the team’s 13 TD receptions. Three-year senior starter at lineback- er-safety James Jaquint and senior linebacker Sam Mc- Cracken have followed up junior seasons in fine fash- ion. Senior defensive lineman JD Roberts, who missed four games due to injury, returned in the finale. He led the Saints in sacks last season.
Verrado: The Vipers have no choice but to be post- season ready having faced five playoff teams, includ- ing Sunrise Mountain and Desert Edge, to conclude the regular season. Verrado’s consistency on offense rests in its running game. Senior back Logan Gingg, the team’s leading rusher the past three seasons, has played in five of seven games and has 900 yards and 11 TDs. Sophomore Erick Santiago and junior Cutter Briscoe have shared quarterback duties. Each has had some moments, but combined they’ve thrown for 13 TDs and 9 interceptions. The go-to receivers are senior Isaiah Negron and junior Trey Nelson. They have 33 and 30 catches, respectively, and 5 TDs apiece.