There were close calls, big statements, early impressions across Arizona high school football, as Week 1 opened for the small schools (3A through 1A). Here are some takeaways and what to look forward to as we head into a full slate of action next week with the big schools (6A-4A) hitting the field.
What we learned
At the 2A level, at least, it doesn't matter if you're the returning state champions. If you lose a couple of key pieces to a team, you're going to be hurting, if depth is lacking. That was the case for Scottsdale Christian, which found out quickly that there's going to be a bit of a rebuilding process, especially on offense, and that the Eagles will be vulnerable defensively without linebacker Caleb Randall, who won't be back until Week 3.
In their 23-6 loss to Gilbert San Tan Charter Friday, the Roadrunners went right after the middle of SCA's defense with run play after run play in the second half. After building a 16-0 first-quarter lead on the strength of dynamic athlete Uriah Neloms, making his debut at quarterback, coach Chase Cartwright knew all he needed to do was take time off the clock and keep running the ball. Give credit to the game plan and to San Tan Charter for making a statement that this is a defense built for a championship and that Cartwright made the smart move by putting the Arizona State-committed wide receiver at QB.
San Tan Charter:downs Scottsdale Christian in 2A football opener
Best debuts
Willcox brought in former Parker coach Jetson Lotts to take over the program after Eric Hjalmarson returned to his alma mater, Lakeside Blue Ridge. Both coaches got off to 1-0 start with impressive debuts. Willcox got 164 yards on nine carries from Landon Ward Friday. He scored on runs of 38 and 43 yards in an 18-16 2A win at Arizona Lutheran. A desperation pass at the end by Arizona Lutheran fell short as the Cowboys survived the long road trip.
Blue Ridge made Hjalmarson's return to the White Mountains memorable with a 46-0 rout at Kayenta Monument Valley, which is one of the top Navajo reservation schools in the state. A strong defense, led by Noah Chee, Hunter Krause, Karlo Harris, Logan Robison, Owen Larson and Daniel Rodriguez, dominated.
Biggest impression
First-time head varsity coach Nick Offenberger knew he was walking into an offensive gold mine at Heritage Academy Laveen with veteran quarterback Kaleb "Bubba" Burras at the controls. Burras staked Heritage to 35-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a 63-6 2A thrashing of Phoenix NFL YET. Burras was 10 of 14 for 195 yards and three TDs and ran for 110 yards and four scores on just seven carries. Freshman Kaelan Williams was his main target. He caught three passes for 111 yards and a TD. And, another freshman, middle linebacker Ryan Lee, had eight tackles, two for losses, and an interception.
Best record
Quarterback Joey Benally set a single-game Page record with six TD passes in a 47-20 3A win over Chino Valley, helping the San Devils break open a 20-14 halftime lead. He did not have a pass intercepted, as Tyree Stingley caught three TD passes, Talon Herder hauled in two scoring passes and Shaine Begay had a TD catch.
Willcox outlasts Arizona Lutheran:in clash of top 2A teams
Biggest statements
American Leadership West Foothills rolled to a 70-0 rout at Buckeye Odyssey Institute, and the Guardians will only get better midway through the season when two of their top defenders become eligible. But, in the meantime, J.J, Brutus showed why he is one of the top defensive ends, in any conference, in the state. And quarterback Hudson Mitton is ready to break out big leading a team that has as good a chance as any 3A team to win it all. But the season gets so much harder in two weeks when ALA West Foothills takes on top-ranked Bullhead City Mohave.
Tucson Sabino, the defending 3A champion, has undergone so many changes that, at first glance, it looked like this would be a rebuilding season for coach Ryan McBrayer's crew. Not so fast. Sabino rolled to a 40-0 rout of Coolidge, which was expected to be revitalized with the return of Carlo Hernandez as head coach.
1A statement
If Heber Mogollon is on a mission to take back the 8-man state championship, it made an emphatic statement in a 52-6 rout of Kearny Ray. Mogollon lost to Winkelman Hayden in last year's state final, ending a three-year reign of championships. But, under new coach Drew Gamboa, whose defense made it known points will be hard to come by against this crew. Gavin Owens, a monster at the 1A level at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, had five sacks.
Mogollon gets Hayden next week in the rematch of last year's championship game that Hayden won 62-30 to cap a 12-0 season. Hayden made it 13 straight wins Friday with a 66-8 rout of Superior.
Franklin asserts self as a top 3A program
Benjamin Franklin Queen Creek knew second-year AIA program Crismon would be much improved, but not as improved as coach Danny Norris' team, as Franklin rolled to a 34-7 win in a 3A opener. Ridge Allen showed why he's one of the state's top 3A running backs. He ran 23 times for 171 yards and four TDs. Ty Sather had two interceptions in the win.
Biggest defensive statement
Chandler Lincoln Prep's Finn Dilley put on a defensive show in a 14-6 1A win over San Manuel. Coach Paul Schubring called it, "The greatest defensive performance I've ever seen."
Dilley had unofficially eight sacks, 15 tackles for losses and a blocked punt for a touchdown.
Biggest breakout
New quarterback, same result for Tonopah Valley, which lost 4,000-yard QB Malachi Wilt, who transferred to Buckeye Verrado. Enter Sir-Izzik Caldwell, making the transition from wide receiver to quarterback. In coach Brett Davis' "44 Shoot" offense, Caldwell was 15 of 31 passing for 356 yards and five TDs and ran for 37 yards and another score in 40-0 rout of Phoenix Cortez. Najea Cooper caught six passes for 148 yards and four TDs.
Best all-around performance
In leading Fountain Hills to a 56-48 win over Yuma Kofa, Sam Barnard put on a show. He had five TDs, 249 yards receiving, 97 yards rushing, 63 yards on three kickoff returns, one interception, and a tipped pass that resulted in an interception.
Looking ahead
The Republic's Game of the Week next week is the Centennial-Hamilton opener Thursday night at Hamilton in a battle between the Nos. 2- and 3-ranked 6A teams in The Republic's preseason poll. This is the YurView TV game. This marks former Hamilton QB Travis Dixon's return to leading his alma mater. Dixon was the QB on Hamilton's first two state championship teams in the early 2000s.
Centennial is ranked No. 2 in the state by The Republic, but it might not be by the second half of the season. By then, transfers Nikko Boncore and Shamar Berryhill should be rolling after having to sit the first part of the season because of the AIA transfer rule.
Another big game is on Friday, when defending Open state champion Peoria Liberty, ranked No. 1 by The Republic, travels to take on Goodyear Desert Edge, which is ranked No. 2 in 5A. Desert Edge is figuring out the QB situation, but the Scorpions are loaded with talent with perhaps the best secondary in the state to go up against a Liberty team that is starting Hayden Fletcher at QB for the first time.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.comor 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert.
