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4. BAGDAD: Dalton Mills (72-13 record) is heading into his 9th season at Bagdad, where opponents expect a tough, physical battle every time they play the Sultans. They’ll get more of that this year plus also try to chase down a skill player or two. Only three seniors are on the team this year, but this year’s teams is much stronger, especially at the sophomore and junior levels. This also might be the fastest team Mills has coached since his 2016 championship squad. QB Rocky Sandoval’s favorite two targets last year graduated, but 6-2 Connor Watson, who started as a freshman, is more than ready to step into the No. 1 WR role. Mills is also expecting the much stronger Sandoval to run more this year. Bagdad’s strongest player, Mills’ stepson Steven Peter- son, is moving from the offensive line to the backfield, where 3-4 players will rotate. Some of the new faces who can also break away are TE Garrett Reeves and WR Cooper Williams. “We just have to get some kids to block for them,” Mills said. “That’s our biggest challenge.”
5. TEMPE PREP: After a 1-9 season, winning a state champion- ship the following year isn’t something coaches often expect. But Larry Cain is. Based on his familiarity with the 8-man confer- ence, which Tempe Prep was placed in this year, and his players, Cain is confident his team can make history this season. Only two programs from the Valley have won an 8-man title since 1996. If Tempe Prep becomes the third, it’ll also win the pro- gram’s first crown. “I had my expectations printed on the back our practice T-shirts: Anything less than winning the (1A Confer- ence) state championship is unacceptable,” Cain said. “This is our year to make a serious run.” Cain coached at Gilbert Chris- tian, where he was 32-9 from 2012-15 in the 1A Conference. This year’s Tempe Prep team is faster than any of the Gilbert Christian teams he coached, Cain said. It’ll also dress 10 seniors with plenty of experience and desire to prove that last year’s
1-9 2A season was a minor hiccup. Injuries sidelined some of
the team’s best players last year, including QB Hayden Sampson, who was injured during a scrimmage. This year, Sampson is one part of the team’s “two-headed QB monster.” Diego Foster is the other QB who will share time with Sampson. But the two will be on the field most of the time playing different skills positions. When Sampson lines up at WR along with Luis Ternyneck, teams will get a heavy dose of Tempe Prep’s speed. DE/MLB Thomas Holmes (6-0, 205) is another leader returning from injury. Tempe Prep will carry only 20 players, but none of the starters will play two-ways. “We are good across the board,” Cain said.
6. ST. DAVID: Coach Braden Davis is a school psychologist, but
he won’t have to play any Jedi mind tricks to get the best from his team this season. He might have to coax his defense to do a much better job than in previous years, however. But Davis did simplify some things on offense so he can spend more time on shoring up his defense. Davis isn’t as concerned this year about his team for obvious reasons. “This is the most talented team we’ve had since our 2016 team (went 7-3),” he said. “We are not big, but we are fast.” Last year’s team was expected to do better than its 5-4 record, but injuries and weather cancellations stalled Davis’ team’s progress. One of those returning injured players, RB Cody Didion, was the team’s leading scorer two seasons ago. The much stronger and faster Talon Haynie, a junior RB, also returns. Running Davis’ offense, which is expected to be more balanced this year, is his son, Logan. Logan is next in line in his football family tree. Tom, Davis’ father, is an Arizona High School Hall of Famer, and his brother, Brett, also coached football. So Logan (6-3) is well-schooled in being an on-the-field coach. One of Logan’s favorite targets will be returning tight end Kason Jacquez (6-4, 185), a tough matchup for any defender, Davis said. Logan’s No. 1 threat last year before he was injured, WR Robby Gooding, is another tall target. Helping protect Logan and open- ing lanes is the squad’s strongest player, C/NG Bobcat Pacheco. If St. David needs to fill a spot, the team’s jack of all trades, Jr. ATH Jake Goodman, can step in. “We hold them to a high standard,” Davis said. “We expect them to play their best but also show sportsmanship and a lot of character wherever they go.”
7. SAN MANUEL: What does San Manuel have? It’s one of
the biggest questions in 1A entering the season. For starters,
the team is young (17 of its 26 players are either freshmen or sophomores). But this is the biggest freshman class San Man- uel’s welcomed in coach Ernie Ivy’s 10 years at the school. It’s also home to a hero. Ivy is the assistant fire chief of San Manuel. What 1A schools also want to know about San Manuel is if some of Hayden’s players transferred to the school. Hayden’s played
in the state semifinals the past couple of years but isn’t playing football this fall. “I haven’t seen them yet,” said Ivy two weeks before the season kicks off. After last year’s 2A season was over, San Manuel finished 4-6 and with only 16 players. But most of San Manuel’s players are versed in 8-man football, having played it in junior high. It’s the coaches who are learning the terminol- ogy and nuances. Some of the freshmen who will immediately start are QB Nicholas Velasquez and the team’s strong man, lineman Aiden Lozoya. Returning lineman starter Johnathen Ro- driguez also will do “some damage” on defense this year. Noah Huerta was one of the top receivers in 2A last year, Ivy said. Huerta is one of the few players on the team who is quick. “I ex- pect us to do well this year,” Ivy said. “I expect to hit the playoffs, something we haven’t seen in quite a few years (since 2011). I’ve got some depth and think we can do very well.”
8. SALOME: When he took over four seasons ago, coach Bryan McCarty’s team was young, just like this year’s squad. McCarty (23-13 in 4 seasons) molded that first group into a winner. This year’s inexperienced bunch also can churn out victories. “We are looking for the same thing,” coach said. “The expectations will remain the same, to compete for the region title against Bagdad, which we play at the end of the season.” Six freshmen will likely see some playing time this year, but they are used to playing against bigger and older players, having done so during junior high. Francisco Soberanes, a “fearless” linebacker, and center Stephen Avila (6-1, 230) are two of the freshmen who will start on Day 1. Avila is already the captain of the offensive line and makes the calls. But Salome is returning some much needed experience to help guide the youngsters, including QB Nick Dautel. “He’s super accurate when he gets going,” McCarty said. All-region lineman Alvaro Alvarez (6-0, 230) is moving to the backfield, where the team can use his speed and agility. Miguel Navarro, a part-time starter last year, is now a fulltime starter in the backfield as well after having a good summer. Sr. DE/LB Mi- chael Fonville and Soph. LB/DB Gabriel Beltran also saw plenty of reps last year. Speaking of a very productive but chaotic sum- mer, depth won’t be a concern, as McCarty trained the biggest summer group he’s had since he’s been at Salome.
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