High school football two-a-days: Division I, Sections III and II
Leading up to the high school football season on Aug. 21, each day we'll look at two divisions and sections.
Division I, Section III
The teams: Mesa Mountain View, Mesa Red Mountain, Phoenix Desert Vista, Mesa Desert Ridge, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, Gilbert Highland.
The favorite: Mountain Pointe. A line that was a concern heading into summer is now a strength.
The contender: Desert Ridge. Jaguars are loaded on defense with athletes who come at you with incredible force.
The dark horse: Red Mountain. The Lions won’t back down from anyone with a line that can pave the way.
MORE TWO-A-DAYS: Divisions VI and V | Division IV | Division III:Sections IX | VIII and VII | VI | V | IV and III | II and I | Division II: Sections VI and V | IV and III | II and I
The players: Michael Niu, Mountain View, DT, 6-3, 309, Sr.; Christian Niu, Mountain View, DT, 6-2, 255, Jr.; Curtis Hodges, Mountain View, WR/DE, 6-6, 225, Jr.; Mata’ava Ta’ase, Mountain View, WR, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Lance Lawson, Red Mountain, QB/DB, 5-7, 170, So.; Desmond Ethridge, Red Mountain, RB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Spencer Lewis, Red Mountain, OL, 6-4, 235, Sr.; Connor Culp, Desert Vista, K, 5-11, 196, Sr.; Alex Farina, Desert Vista, QB, 6-2, 195, Sr.; Tate Shumway, Desert Ridge, LB, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Tavian Patrick, Desert Ridge, WR/KR, 5-10, 170, Sr.; DJ Davidson, Desert Ridge, DL, 6-5, 310, Sr.; Andre Elmore, Desert Ridge, DL, 6-1, 230, Sr.; Brandon Boyce, Desert Ridge, DL, 6-1, 272, Jr.; Ke’Shawn Churchwell, Mountain Pointe, DB/RB, 5-9, 179, Sr.; Jack Smith, Mountain Pointe, QB, 6-1, 172, Sr.; Isaiah Pola-Mao, Mountain Pointe, S/WR, 6-4, 191, Jr.; Ralph Roman, Mountain Pointe, WR, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Tyler Johnson, Highland, WR/TE, 6-4, 245, Jr.; Brevan Ward, Highland, OL, 6-5, 260, Sr.; AJ Auela, Highland, DT/OL, 6-2, 300, Sr.
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The intrigue: Mountain View may have the biggest receiving duo in the state with Curtis Hodges and Mata’ava Ta’ase. Coach Chad DeGrenier rebuilt his coaching staff, including bringing in former Scottsdale Desert Mountain head coach Tony Tabor. … Red Mountain QB Lance Lawson figures to build off his great state playoff performance against Chandler, against whom he ran for 98 yards on nine carries as a freshman. … Red Mountain RB Desmond Ethridge expects big things after missing three games last year with an injury. … Desert Vista’s greatest weapon might be its kicker. Connor Culp accepted a full scholarship offer this summer from LSU after an impressive camp. … Desert Ridge coach Jeremy Hathcock moved QB Dylan Wright to tight end. … Desert Ridge will run Wing T in a spread package with former Hamilton backup QB Christian Krcilek expected to run the offense. … Mountain Pointe’s offense might be the most wide open it has been since coach Norris Vaughan arrived in 2009. Mountain Pointe junior DB Isaiah Pola-Mao, who made All-Arizona last season on defense, will have a greater impact on offense this year as a big-play receiver. … Highland big-play junior receiver Tyler Johnson will see more time on defense.
FIND A GAME: 2015 Arizona high school football schedule
Division I, Section II
The teams: Peoria Liberty, Phoenix Pinnacle, Scottsdale Chaparral, Peoria Centennial, Phoenix Horizon, Anthem Boulder Creek.
The favorite: Centennial. More than ready to make the move up after capturing the Division II crown.
The contender: Chaparral. In defensive beast mode with playmakers all over the field.
The dark horse: Pinnacle. If it finds a QB to replace Brian Lewerke, will be dangerous.
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The players: Bozton Sanders, Centennial, LB, 6-0, 225, Sr.; Isaac Steele, Centennial, QB/DB, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Marshal Nathe, Centennial, OL, 6-3, 285, Sr.; Steven Bailey, Centennial, OL, 6-3, 285, Sr.; Chase Hulbert, Liberty, LB, 5-11, 201, Sr.; Alex Jackson, Liberty, WR, 5-10, 165, Sr; Deyton Jackson, Liberty, WR, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Benjamin Thomas, Pinnacle, OL, 6-3, 285, Jr.; Kent Cullumber, Pinnacle, OL, 6-4, 290, Sr.; Nick Ferrara, Pinnacle, RB, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Grayson Barry, Chaparral, QB, 6-2, 170, Jr.; Christian Skeptaris, Chaparral, TE/LB, 6-3, 230, Sr.; Kurt Shughart, Chaparral, SS, 5-11, 211, Sr.; Parker Walton, Chaparral, LB, 6-2, 195, Jr.; Nick Gregory, Horizon, QB/Athlete, 6-2, 185, Jr.; Luke Rudolph, Horizon, OL, 6-4, 260, Sr.; Noah Pearl, Horizon, K, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Gunther Johnson, Boulder Creek, QB, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Troy Reed, Boulder Creek, WR, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Blake Labno, Boulder Creek, DB, 5-11, 170, Sr.
BORDOW: Predictions for 2015 high school football season
The intrigue: Centennial has arguably the state’s toughest schedule, opening at home Aug. 21 against Long Beach Poly, before playing defending Division III champion Scottsdale Saguaro the following Thursday at Glendale Community College. … Liberty joins Centennial in the move up from Division II. Liberty played Centennial tough twice, losing in its first appearance in the state final. … Mark Smith took over the Liberty program for Dan Filleman, who left to take the Regis Jesuit job in the Denver area. … Pinnacle opens the season Aug. 20 at home against defending state champion Chandler. … Chaparral’s already talented defense got stronger in July when safety Brett Voss transferred in from Phoenix Moon Valley. … Horizon is hoping athletic junior Nick Gregory can jump-start an offense that is transitioning from the graduation of QB Dalton Sneed, who is now at UNLV. … Boulder Creek WR Troy Reed caught 14 TD passes last season and he’s got his QB back. … Boulder Creek DB Blake Labno had 101 tackles last season, second on the team only to All-Arizona safety Ryan Parenteau, who is now in college.
Reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-460-1710. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.
PHOTOS: High school football preseason 2015
