Read it here today – see it there tomorrow

 

5A DIVISION I

Tucson High School got by as a 16 seed last year and lost in the first round but that’s not the true story. The Citizen awarded Coach of the Year to Vincent Smith because of how he turned the team around.

With Ben Cannon OG getting national recognition through ESPN and the play of Bill Estes C and Mark Aguayo DB look for Smith to take them back to state.

Buena has no where but up to go and they will have DeAndre Little LB leading the way. He has caught the recognition of both ESPN and Foxsports.

If you get a phone call four days before a playoff game in Phoenix my advice is to not answer it – especially if the call can wait a few weeks.

And, if a Freshman coach attends a youth football game and allegedly recruits someone, then you can either be one of the many, many, many programs that seem to have done the same thing or you can have your varsity team put on probation.

This is the position Salpointe has found itself after being put on post season probation this year.

I have always been the proponent of penalizing coaches instead of programs (unless the program operates illegally as part of their character).

The NCAA or AIA can simply refuse to certify a coach but there seems to be some sort of resistance to that notion.

With the graduation of players Trevor Eggleston and his 2,886 yards passing (240.5 per game), Christian Ramirez and his 1,307 yards rushing (108.9 per game) and Mike Descisciolo and his 1,274 yards receiving Salpointe may find offense hard to come by this fall.

They do have powerhouses Sean Craig TE/LB, Josh Sene LB and Chase Gallagher DB coming back and that should be more than enough for some teams to get by.

They can play spoiler this year with the Power Point system but the loss of Salpointe in the post season makes the lopsided 5A playoff system even worse.

There are nine Regions in 5A. Each Region gets an automatic bid. Tucson area schools are thus only awarded 1 of 9 spots to begin with and there are only 3 Division I schools in the Tucson area.

Even if the other 2 get in 13 teams from up north get in. Tucson High should be awarded the Region crown and if Buena doesn’t get in then there will be a 15-1 ratio against Tucson High and Tucson as a community.

5A DIVISION II

Rincon has Emilio Pedraza RB/CB coming back.But lost Devin Stewart at QB

Mountain View was 15 seed and lost early last year but they have Myles Williams running the ball and that is a very, very good thing and a bad thing for his opponents.

Sunnyside lost to Ironwood Ridge in the second round last year 24-17. Ironwood Ridge made to the final four where they lost to top seed Centennial.

Sunnyside lost Jesus Vega and Manny Aguilar on offense and Mark Leal and Ruben Solorio on defense but Richard Sanchez always finds replacements.

Ironwood Ridge has a very balanced offense lead by QB Tyler Damore but lost Jake Fischer and Ray Cottman who combined for 209 total tackles.

The Ironwwod Ridge – Canyon del Oro game must be the game of the week.

The stands will be packed and there should be plenty of security on hand based on recent history between these two schools. I would suggest a total separation of fans if possible.

My pick? I’ll tell you in the 4th quarter……..

ON MAY 13 GEOFF GRAMMER FILED THE FOLLOWING BLOG FOR THE CITIZEN BEFORE HE SIGNED OFF.  I MISS READING HIS STUFF AND HE SET THE STANDARD FOR REPORTING HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IN TUCSON:

Here is a look at 15 area games I think have intriguing storylines:

Sabino at Sahuaro (Aug. 27)

Scott McKee’s first game as Sahuaro head coach will be tough. He faces a powerful Sabino team he starred for in the 1990s. Of course, that was long before Sabino beat Sahuaro by a combined 143-19 the past three seasons.

Ironwood Ridge at CDO (Aug. 28)

Ironwood Ridge and CDO are two of the best teams in Tucson and will be breaking in new head coaches in the season opener with Matt Johnson (Ironwood Ridge) and Dustin Peace (CDO). The teams have only played three times, but it’s hard not to call this one of the area’s best rivalries and the Dorados are still looking for payback for the Nighthawks beating them twice in 2006, including in the state playoffs.

CDO at Santa Rita (Sept. 4)

Two of Tucson’s best teams over the past two years go at it. Santa Rita coach Jeff Scurran coached at CDO from 1984-86.

Santa Rita at Sabino (Sept. 11)

Scurran returns as opposing coach at Sabino, where he was one of the state’s most dominant coaches in the 1990s, winning three state championships.

Salpointe at Ironwood Ridge (Sept. 25)

Salpointe took a perfect record into the Ironwood Ridge game in 2008 before the Nighthawks thumped the Lancers 41-14.

Scottsdale Saguaro at CDO (Oct. 2)

A rematch of the 2007 4A-I state title thriller. Saguaro has been as dominant as anyone in Arizona for three years, going 41-1 with three state titles. In its current 33-game win streak, nobody put a scare into Saguaro quite like CDO did at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2007, when Saguaro hit a game-winning field goal with two seconds remaining.

Salpointe at Chandler Hamilton (Oct. 9)

Salpointe trades in a series with one 5A-I powerhouse, Phoenix Brophy, for one with Chandler Hamilton, the state’s top college recruiting factory.

Amphi at Santa Rita (Oct. 16)

Anytime Friedli and Scurran go at it, it’s fun to watch. Amphi put one heck of a scare into the Eagles in 2008 and, short of a win, it’s hard to imagine anything that makes Friedli more happy than making Scurran sweat.

Cholla at Rio Rico (Oct. 16)

Both teams struggled through 0-10 seasons in 2008. While I don’t think it will happen again, it’s nice to know winless seasons for both won’t happen again in 2009.

Ironwood Ridge at Sunnyside (Oct. 23)

The two teams have played four times the past two seasons, splitting 2-2 and not having a game determined by more than a touchdown in the span. Sunnyside ended the Nighthawks’ season in the 2007 5A-II playoffs. Ironwood Ridge returned the favor in 2008.

Flowing Wells at Catalina Foothills (Oct. 23)

First-year Flowing Wells coach Mark Brunenkant returns to Foothills, where he coached the Falcons for nine of the program’s 15 seasons.

Sunnyside at Salpointe (Nov. 6)

With Salpointe slapped with a postseason ban next year because of recruiting violations, this will be the Lancers’ final game of the season, but it isn’t as if added motivation is needed.

Cienega at Sahuaro (Nov. 6)

Former Sahuaro coaches Nemer Hassey, the head coach at Cienega, and Chuck McCollum, an offensive line coach at Cienega, return to play the Cougars.

Palo Verde at Santa Rita (Nov. 6)

This game has determined the 4A Gila Region title the past two seasons. Even without Adam Hall at Palo Verde, it could be a big test for Santa Rita.

Sabino at CDO (Nov. 6)

In its first year in the 4A Sonoran Region, the Sabercats could be playing CDO for the region title. Aside from the region implications, sought-after college recruits Sabino’s Keanu Nelson and CDO’s Josh Robbins will be winding down their senior seasons.

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In case you don’t like that Oct. 16 Cholla/Rio Rico game I put in there in a battle of 2008 winless teams, how about the Oct. 30 Tucson High at Salpointe game. It was a Tucson high player who brought to the AIA’s attention the alleged recruiting violations from two years ago that now has Salpointe put on a 1-year probation. I’d say that game might have some emotion involved.

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My pick for toughest schedule of these teams: Canyon del Oro

Salpointe’s is again tough, too, but the Dorados go from playing nobody every year (see No. 6 seeds the past two years after 9-1 regular seasons) to pretty much not having to worry about opponent victory points in the Power Rankings at all for the next two seasons.

“I told our guys they’ll be playing four quarters now,” CDO coach Dustin Peace said. “There were plenty of games the last couple of years where starters were sitting in the second half (of blowouts), but that isn’t happening anymore.”

CDO starts the season with 5A-II semifinalist Ironwood Ridge. They then go to 4A-II state runner up Santa Rita and play Jeff Scurran’s Eagles. Scurran was CDO’s coach for three years in the mid 1980s. The CDO hosts an improving 5A-I playoff team Tucson High, followed by a road game at Queen Creek, a team that has been in the playoffs for at least five straight years. Then CDO is at a solid Nogales team before hosting Scottsdale Saguaro, a team with a 33-game win streak in a rematch of the 2007 state championship game thriller.

Then CDO gets a bit of a breather with games at Flowing Wells and vs. Pueblo before a bye week and a season finale vs. first-year Sonoran Region foe Sabino in a game that will likely be for the region title. The game will also featuer Tucson’s two most sought-after collegiate recruits next year – Sabino’s Keanu Nelson and CDO’s Josh Robbins.

Wow.

THANK YOU GEOFF

According to ESPN, five football players from Baja Arizona have made the recruiting grade of “Good Prospect.” The scale of 70-79 is described as: “Player does not dominate in every game, especially when matched up against the top players in the country. Could become a good starter at the Division I level.”

The next level (80-89) would be considered “Outstanding” or “Player has the ability to create mismatches against most opponents and could contribute as a true freshman.”

The top level is “Rare Prospect” (90-100) signified as: “Player demonstrates rare abilities and can create mismatches that have an obvious impact on the game. Has all the skills to take over a game and could be an impact player as a true freshman.”

Of all the athletes in Arizona only Devon Carrington of Hamilton High School is ranked in the top 150.

76: Ben Cannon, OG, 6’1” 269, Tucson H.S. Colleges considering: ASU, Arizona, Oregon, NAU.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=81745&season=2010

74: Josh Robbins, WR, 6’3” 195, CDO Considering Arizona, Colorado, Utah, UNLV, San Diego State.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=81641&season=2010

73: DeAndre Little, ILB, 6’2” 229, Buena Considering UTEP, New Mexico, ASU, Arizona, Colorado.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=78054&season=2010

71: Chase Gallagher, S, 5’10” 178, Salpointe. No colleges listed.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=80532&season=2010

70: Sean Craig, TE, 6’3” 217, Salpointe. No colleges listed.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=80531&season=2010

The bulk of athletes have received a score of 40, meaning no film has been received and are pending.

Scout with Foxsports rates based on a star system and ranking.

They have rated only three Baja Arizona players:

3 STARS RANK 38: Keanu Nelson (Sabino)

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=4172328#video

3 STARS RANK 42: Sean Craig (Salpointe)

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=3757370

3 STARS RANK 45: DeAndre Little (Buena)

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=3948451#video

Top 15 RBs in Arizona by Foxsports:

1. Taylor Walstad – Chandler- 5-11 210

2. Dwayne Garrett – Chaparral- 6-0 180

3. Bobby Calvin – Basha- 5-10 210

4. Keanu Nelson – Sabino- 5-11 165

5. Marquis Flowers- Millennium- 6-2 190

6. Anthony Hughes – Centennial- 5-9 190

7. KaDeem Carey (JR) – Canyon del Oro- 5-10 180

8. Zach Bauman – Hamilton- 5-9 200

9. Tyree Parker – Paradise Valley- 5-9 210

10. Max Leonesio – Brophy- 6-0 180

11. Charles James – Valley Vista- 5-4 135

12. Randy Hale – Buckeye- 5-8 160

13. Myles Williams – Marana Mt. View- 6-2 190

14. Darrin Spencer – Ironwood- 6-1 195

15. Ramon Abreu – Marcos de Niza-

Top Tight Ends

1.) Josh Fulton – St. Mary’s- 6-3 235

2.) Sean Craig – Salpointe- 6-3 220

3.) A.J. Steimel – Brophy- 6-3 240

4.) Ben DeMarr – Mt. Pointe- 6-4 215

5.) David Nicasio – Cienega- 6-3 220