Page 74 - 2020 Sollenberger

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1A Conference Team-By-Team Preview
Jason McGrath is three-year starter at quarterback for Duncan. (Mark Jones photo/MaxPreps)
By Jose Garcia azpreps365.com
EAST REGION
Cicero Prep Academy
Head coach: Abdul Noah.
Years as head coach: 1 (first season as football program).
Strengths of offense: Wide receivers.
Strengths of defense: Overall quickness.
Team’s biggest question mark(s): Lack of football and league playing experience. 2020 expectations: Given that we are a brand new program, the expectations are for us to be extremely competitive week in and week out, gain experience and develop into a formidable program in the years to come.
Lincoln Prep
Head coach: Paul Schubring.
Years as school’s head coach: 2.
2019 record: New AIA school.
Returning starters on offense: Sr. LG Xavier Cisneros; Jr. WR Eli Johnson; Jr. WR Connor Kreun; Jr. WR Ryan Mills; So. RG Darren Nguyen; Sr. C Cesar Salazar; So. QB Shane Sasso; So. RB Xavier Tafoya.
Returning starters on defense: So. CB Walker Buehler; Sr. DE Xavier Cisneros; Sr. SS Dominic DeBratto; Sr. NT Miyka’el Durkin; Jr. DE Luke Kretsch; Jr. LB Grady Luce; Sr. LB Dario Woods; Sr. CB Emilio Woods.
Also keep an eye on: So. ATH Jackson Dilley; So. WR Geoffrey Kim.
Strengths of offense: Talented athletes at skill positions. Experienced offensive line led by Salazar. Last year was the first year of the program, so our boys will know what to expect and be ready. Returning all starters.
Strengths of defense: Dominic DeBratto is an All-Region, aggressive blitzer. Good speed at skill positions. Returning all starters.
Team’s biggest question mark(s): Can we make the leap from year one to year two? How will our seniors play after only one year of football experience? Do we match up better against our traditional regional powers?
2020 expectations: .500 record/playoff contention. One All-State player. Multiple all-region players on offense and defense.
Tempe Prep
Head coach: Larry Cain.
2019 record: 1-9 (in 2A).
Returning starters on offense: Sr. QB Hayden Sampson; Sr. WR Louis Ternyik 6-2, 195; Jr. WR Moises Canizales 5-10, 165; WR Diego Foster 5-11, 170; Jr. TB Bubba Jordan 5-8, 150; Sr. C Mike Degeer 6-0, 210.
Returning starters on defense: Sr. DE Thomas Holmes 6-0; Jr. CB Joseph Patter- son 5-10; Jr. CB Jacob Dendy 5-11, 160; FS Ridley Diez De Medina 160.
Also keep an eye on: Sr. QB/WR Hayden Sampson 6-1; Sr. WR Luis Ternyick 6-2,
195; WR/QB Diego Foster 5-11, 170.
Strengths of offense: Team speed, chemistry and knowledge of the offense we run. Desire to score 60 points a game.
Strengths of defense: Defensive complexity, size and experience.
2020 expectations: Anything less than winning a state championship is unaccept- able.
REGION NOTES: Hayden, a program that reached a final and semifinal the last two years, isn’t playing this season due to the pandemic.
NORTH REGION
Williams
Head coach: Jeff Brownlee.
Years as school’s head coach: 11.
2019 record: 10-1.
Returning starters on offense: Sr. G/DT James Eischen (5-8, 190); Sr. G/DT Ceas- er Santana (6-3, 230).
Returning starters on defense: Sr. DE/TE Luis Lara (6-1, 190) 63 tackles; Jr. CB/RB Jesse Sagor (5-10, 160).
Also keep an eye on: So. C/DT Bryton Cox (5-11, 225); Sr. QB/CB Zain Grantham (5-7, 150); Sr. TE/LB Cody Jensen (5-10, 165); So. RB/CB Drew Logan (5-11, 170); Sr. RB/LB Blake Smith (5-8, 180).
Strengths of offense: Speed. Two running backs with speed and one with power and speed. Physical. We pride ourselves on controlling the line of scrimmage. Working on improving our passing game.
Strengths of defense: Playing physical.
Team’s biggest questions marks: We lost a great senior class, however, a lot of our number 2’s could have started on other teams. Now it’s time for them to shine. Being young. Who will step up to be our team leader?
2020 expectations: Come together and play as a team. Take it one game at a time.
More about program: We have buy in with the kids in regards to the program. We will continue to be physical and play like champs.
REGION NOTES: El Capitan finished 1-6 last season. ... Joseph City (4-5 last year) graduated a couple of key skills players. Jr. Tyler Penrod (37 tackles last year)
is the team’s returning leading rusher. It also graduated its top two tacklers. ... Mayer only won three games in the last two years, an uncharacteristic stretch for the program with a strong tradition.