Page 23 - 2020 Sollenberger

Feeling bullish: There’s a lot to like about the 2020 Queen Creek team
By Les Willsey azpreps365.com
Queen Creek’s lengthy football success has gone relatively unnoticed since the turn of the century. Although the Bulldogs have won only one championship in that time, they have missed the playoffs just once in that span (2002 with a 6-3 record) and endured just one losing season (5-6 in 2009).
What is quite remarkable still over the past 20 years is the way Queen Creek football has transitioned to a new conference four times - 2A to 3A in 2001, 3A to 4A in 2005, 4A to 5A in 2015 and 5A to 6A in 2018. Not many schools run the classification gamut as the Bulldogs have in their history.
Queen Creek’s first varsity football season was in 2A in 1987. So fast-forward to 2020.
Head coach Joe Germaine, who has alternated with assistant and once-upon-a-time Mesa Mountain View teammate Travis Schureman as Bulldogs’ top mentor since 2010, is eager to see how the coming season unfolds.
It’s arguably Queen Creek’s largest mountain to scale opening a new decade, but it’ll do so with possibly its best team to date.
“We really like our team,” Germaine, a 1997 Rose Bowl MVP for Ohio State with his QB play over Arizona State and who garnered a Super Bowl XXXIV ring with the St. Louis Rams as backup quarterback to Kurt Warner, said. “I think we have as much talent as we’ve ever had.”
Germaine is in his second year back as head coach and fifth overall. Schureman piloted the team from 2013-2018. Both have been on staff the entire past decade in one capacity or another.
Germaine finished his first stint as head coach in 2012, a perfect 14-0 championship in 4A. Queen Creek’s record from 2010-19 is 100 wins and 27 losses, and the Bulldogs were 72-40 form 2000-09.
Personnel-wise there is reason for Germaine’s anticipation when play begins. It starts with 12 returning starters.
“He is the only freshman to start on varsity since I’ve been here,” Germaine said. “He helped us at defensive tackle last year. Led us in sacks. He’ll play linebacker this year. He already has three offers.”
A handful of them are D-I college commits or have several offers. Senior linebacker Trey Reynolds (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) is the leader and set for his third varsity season.
In addition there are two returning starters on the offensive line - senior left tackle Isaia Glass (6-5, 260, Arizona State signee) and senior right tackle Derrick Brown (6-5, 285).
He’s excelled at linebacker and played running back and quarterback when needed. He is a Utah commit.
“We are lucky to have Trey,” Germaine said. “He is special. A freak athlete really. He played linebacker and quarterback for half the season last year. There aren’t many players like that in 6A. He is heady, smart and assignment grounded. He can run with everybody on the team. Our defense is designed to put him in position to make plays and he does.” Germaine expects a big year from junior quarterback Devin Brown (6-3, 195), who managed to start eight games under center after transferring from Casteel last year.
The Bulldogs also were set to welcome a third returning lineman
in junior right guard Hunter Vindiola (6-4, 250). But Vindiola died in a side-by-side 4-wheel accident while the family vacationed in the White Mountains in early July.
“The experience he got last year will benefit him,” Germaine said. “It’s not easy for a sophomore to play and excel in 6A. He’s a great leader with a couple offers already. He’ll be playing D-I somewhere on Saturdays.”
“There is nothing formal we’ve done in remembrance of Hunter,” Germaine said. “Putting a sticker on helmets or putting a sign up. I think better than that is we know how much he loved the game. The best tribute we can have for him is how we play the game.
Senior strong safety Hunter Barth (6-3, 220) gives Queen Creek a tall, physical presence in the secondary.
Skill positions were mostly depleted by graduation, but Germaine believes a corps of mostly juniors and sophomores can fill the vacan- cies.
Running backs to watch are senior Casey Shull and juniors Payton Barlow and Larry Royal. Receivers to look for are senior Colby Garvin, junior Kirice Blakely and sophomores Davey Morales and David Hicks.
Barth also competed last year in eight games after transferring from Casteel. He is a Cal commit. His mate in the back is senior free safety Krew Jackson, 6-5, 195, who led last year’s secondary in tackles and committed to Kansas State in late August.
Germaine remarked in June, before the season was pushed back, that the original full schedule set for Queen Creek would have been its toughest ever. Not much has changed with the late start to playing games, just a few less.
“We are as strong as we can be with them in the back and the experi- ence they have,” Germaine said.
There is also another Reynolds to contend with on defense.
Sophomore Porter Reynolds (6-0, 225), Trey’s brother, was a first for Germaine in his coaching tenure at Queen Creek.
“I’m sure that the games we end up with will still be as rugged,” Germaine said.
Whether he looks to his left or right, Queen Creek’s Trey Reynolds is surrounded by top Dogs in purple and gold. (Jim Willittes photo/MaxPreps)
“When I first heard he’d passed and got over the initial shock, the thing that came to mind was his smile. He always had a smile on his face. The kids remember that, too, and we talked about it.”
Queen Creek - 6A Fiesta Region
Head coach: Joe Germaine.
Years as school’s head coach: 5th year, 43-9 record.
2019 record: 9-4.
Returning starters on offense, 2019 stats: Sr. OL Isaia Glass (6-5, 260); Sr. OL Derrick Brown (6-5, 285); Sr. WR Colby Garvin (6-5, 215), 87 receiving yards, 4 TDs; Jr. QB Devin Brown (6-3, 195), 1,319 passing yards, 10 TDs.
Returning starters on defense, 2019 stats: Sr. FS Krew Jackson (6-5, 195), 72 tackles, 2 INT; Sr. SS Hunter Barth (6-3, 220), 51 tackles; Sr. DB Cavan Riggs (5-11, 190), 54 tackles, 2 INT; Sr. LB Trey Reynolds (6-3, 235), 159 tackles; Sr. LB Colby Littleton (6-1, 200), 124 tackles; So. LB Porter Reynolds (6-0, 225), 53 tackles, 5 sacks; Sr. DL Aidan Wizner (6-3, 215), 23 tackles.
Also keep an eye on: Sr. RB Casey Shull (5-9, 190); Jr. RB Payton Barlow (5-11, 185); Jr. RB Larry Royal (6-0, 185); So. WR Davey Morales (5-10, 180); So. WR David Hicks (5-11, 180); Jr. WR Kirice Blakely (6-0, 190).
Strengths of offense: Good experience from last season. Further development of Devin Brown. Three RBs have an opportunity for great impact.
Strengths of defense: Returning impact players on all levels of our defense. Looking forward to year two in our experience and understanding of our schemes implemented last year.
Team’s biggest question mark(s): Looking forward to seeing which of our skill players take the next step and be play makers for us offensively and defensively. 2020 expectations: Excited and humbled at challenge we have to play the sched- ule given to us. It will be a great challenge week in and week out for us.
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