Youth Is Served: Talented Scorpions Growing Up Fast

Coming off a 10-2 season it’s hard to imagine expectations being any higher for the next couple years.

Unless, of course, you’re Desert Edge High School where winning has become the norm.

Don’t expect things to be much different this fall as Rich Wellbrock’s team returns a host of skill players including duel-threat junior quarterback Tehran Thomas and running back/wide receiver Roshaun Johnson. The junior Johnson will be busy this year adding action at linebacker to his to-do list. 

Despite some key losses defensively, the Scorpions rushing attack which averaged over 360 yards a game last fall, will likely pick up where they left off behind a host of returning maulers including sophomore Max Wilhite, seniors Hunter Jones and Brock Corbin, sophomore Tyson Jones and others who can also hold their own in pass protection. The Scorpions do lose steady Sebastian Anderson who signed with New Mexico State.

“Man, I’m just excited to see those guys get out there and hit people,” Johnson said with a wide grin to Sports360AZ.com in a recent interview. “Day-by-day they’re just progressing tremendously.”

Wellbrock believes playing underclassmen like Wilhite and Jones will pay big future dividends as they continue to get bigger, stronger, and more mature on and off the field.

“They’ve really grown up,” Wellbrock told Sports360AZ.com. “It’s been nice. Some of those really, really young kids have also had a full year of varsity football…we’re excited for what they’re going to do for us next year.”

Wellbrock and his coaching staff believe they can fill some of the holes defensively by taking advantage of their overall athleticism like having Johnson play linebacker.

The Scorpions, who are currently competing in seven-on-seven games, open their regular season August 21st in Tucson against talented quarterback Rhett Rodriguez (son of Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez) and Catalina Foothills.