Jared CohenSection 1: Chinle, Ganado, Monument Valley, Page, Window Rock, Winslow
Favorite: Monument Valley. The Mustangs coming off of a 9-2 season return key players on both sides of the ball. Most notably their starting quarterback Redmond Delmar who threw for 2,312 yards and 29 touchdowns to 12 interceptions in 2012. Also on ofesne keep an eye out for wide receiver Keanu Mitchell Two-way players Brandon Nez and Julian Begay will also play a huge role as well as Travis Gray on the defensive line have them looking to take the section one crown.
Section 2: Amphitheater, Palo Verde, Rio Rico, Safford, Sahuarita, Santa Rita, Walden Grove
Favorite: Sahuarita. Another Mustang team is the favorite to take the section crown coming off of a 10-1 season in division III last year. This section is brand new with teams moving up and down and Sahuarita is one of many who moved down. They did however have a great senior class graduate so a new up and coming roster will have to fill some big shoes.
Section 3: Estrella Foothills, Glendale, North Pointe, Parker, River Valley, Wickenburg
Favorite: Estrella Foothills. This is an interesting section. Foothills ran the table in section last year including a big win over River Valley. Those two teams expect to be at the forefront yet again in this section. The Wolves are led by their leader on defense, Kyle Conley, who led the team in tackles with 116 as a junior. River Valley quarterback Derek Advocate will have them competitive in what should be an exciting race for this sections championship.
Section 4: Chino Valley, Combs, Coolidge, Coronado, Cortez, Florence, Seton Catholic
Favorite: Seton Catholic. The Sentinels are the defending state champion but they lost an incredible senior class who had a big chip on their shoulder. The new class coming up will have giant shoes to fill. I still think Seton is a contender in division IV once again. However keep a close eye on Combs in this section. I like the experience coming back for Combs led by their quarterback Nick Prueher. They look to have more success this season than the one game they have won over the last two seasons combined.
Section 5: Blue Ridge, Fountain Hills, Globe, Payson, Show Low, Snowflake
Favorite: Blue Ridge. It doesn’t matter if one of the top prospects in the state (Chans Cox) graduated. The Yellow Jackets under Coach Moro are always retooling and always contenders for a state title. This year the man to watch is running back Nolan Cook who is coming off a 2012 season where he lead the team in rushing as junior despite not beginning the season as the primary ball carrier. He runs behind one of the states top offensive line prospects in Walker Lee. Rival Show Low has more experience in 2013 and should be contenders for the division IV crown as well. It was weird not seeing the state title go through the white mountains last year, I expect that to be the case this season.
Preseason All-Division IV team:
QB: Redmond Delmar, Monument Valley
RB: Nolan Cook, Blue Ridge
RB: Dallin Crandall, Show Low
WR: DeQuaven Brooks, Santa Rita
WR: Keanu Mitchell, Monument Valley
WR: Trevor Solomon, Show Low
OL: Korey Charley, Monument Valley
OL: Magnus Deysie, Parker
OL: Walker Lee, Blue Ridge
OL: Kaine Sanchez, Amphi
OL: Eugene Santa Cruz, Sahuarita
DL: Jace Hardy, Winslow
DL: Vincent Palma, Sahuarita
DL: Lance Phillips, River Valley
DL: Jace Wyatt, Show Low
LB: Julian Begay, Monument Valley
LB: Kyle Conley, Estrella Foothills
LB: Akkeem Foster, Winslow
DB: Elijah Anderson, Santa Rita
DB: LeAndre Schell, Coronado
DB: Rick Shumway, Snowflake
DB: Nikko Villegas, Seton Catholic
