Eric Sorenson
“Zone Read” would like to wish all the fine people who consume this weekly column a Happy New Year.
As we roll into 2025, let’s take the liberty of making a few resolutions because, well…we’re nice like that.
AIA: Hire a New Executive Director
The Arizona Interscholastic Association is looking for the next person in charge as David Hines will retire at the end of the school year.
The position is not for the faint of heart.
The Valley’s population is exploding and with that comes more student-athletes, as well as new high schools to house them.
High school athletics is different…we are educational athletics. It’s about way more than wins and loses. Parents, coaches and spectators need to lead our youth with respect of the game, the participants and officials. We need to teach our youth by example. https://t.co/zX1TlurghI
— David Hines (@DavidHinesAz) February 24, 2022
High school football, specifically, is an even bigger octopus. Whether it be the shortage of referees, players transferring at a higher rate than ever, or the seemingly never-ending effort to perfect conference re-alignment, the to-do list is seemingly never ending.
AIA Executive Board: Clean up and give the house a face-lift
As mentioned above, the to-do list is a long one.
While each team is different every year, Hines always strived for “competitive balance,” which is much easier said than done. Most regions’ competition level sit at one extreme, or the other. This isn’t expected to be an overnight fix, but laying the foundation Hines started, and adding the framing, is an attainable next step.
While Hines and the board deserve high praise for their forward-thinking creation of The Open Division format, the concept has jumped the shark.
The easiest starting point is keeping the 5A teams out of the process.
The Open selection format process, or whatever they call it, is broken, as we all saw last month with the uhhh, “uneven” seedings.
High School Vacancies: Make the hire
Last week, “Zone Read” detailed the high volume of head coaching positions around the state.
January and February are key windows for players and staff as they create their identity, build culture, and grind away in the weight room and off-season conditioning.
Installs and spring football will be here before we know it.
Consistent, winning programs in Arizona are run throughout the calendar year.
If you’re an AD, and you haven’t made a hire, the time is now.
Basha: Compete at the highest level as the hunted, not the hunter
Chris McDonald gets it.
He always has.
When you take over a program in, arguably, the best region in Arizona, and win consistently, the beat must go on.
Sure, McDonald has taken the Bears to the Open Division Championship game the past two seasons, and hoisted the gold ball in 2022, next season the expectation bar could be raised the highest.
Congratulations to @noahrobertsss for setting the NEW SCHOOL RECORD of 24 Total TDs in a season!! #BecomingLegendary @MarquesReischl @BashaAthletics pic.twitter.com/aswTAs5o0K
— Basha Gridiron (@bashagridiron) December 13, 2024
It all starts with Noah Roberts, one of the top running backs on the west coast. The 6’1, 190-pounder has 16 offers, including bluebloods Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Penn State, among others.
Brody Vehrs stepped into the big shoes of Demond Williams, Jr. and threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior. Kash Brock and Jaden Baldwin return at wide receiver.
2027 roadblock Jake Hildebrand anchors the offensive line.
Another heavily loaded schedule will make the Bears playoff-ready in 2025.
Centennial: Youth was served. Now do it again
Richard Taylor never flinched.
An 0-4 start ended with a 6A State Championship.
Despite an 0-4 start to the season, the Centennial Coyotes are your 6A Conference Champions!
FINAL SCORE:
Coyotes 31
Mountain View 21 pic.twitter.com/IUwDGzwiHN— Gridiron Arizona (@gridironarizona) December 7, 2024
The Coyotes took their lumps in the opening half of the regular season with talented, but inexperienced starters at key positions, then improved each week, aided by several high-impact transfers who helped gel the unit in late fall.
All three phases came together in the playoffs as Cen10 knocked off East Valley higher seeds Red Mountain, Casteel, Queen Creek and Mountain View.
Quarterback Kai Manna has varsity experience dating back to his freshman season. Owen Reynoso is a perfect complement in the backfield (888 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns last season). The wide receiver room is littered with talented underclassmen.
Andrew Taylor’s defense will be sound and prepared, per usual.
So, what can you do for an encore?
Chaparral & Saguaro: Find your identity
These two Scottsdale rivals bottomed out last fall, combining for just four wins. In fact, Saguaro’s only win was at Chaptown in mid-October.
Chaparral was moved to 5A, and rightfully so. The Firebirds have lost quite a bit of talent over the past few years, either to graduation, or players transferring.
As one assistant told me last year, “They looked like a JV team when they came out for warm ups.”
Another pickle for head coach Doug Nisenson is Chap’s affluent neighborhood, which out-prices most young families in today’s economy. The school has seen a drastic drop in enrollment, as well.
Its year-two at Saguaro for Darius Kelly. A staff overhaul and max exodus of talent didn’t do him any favors last fall.
With that being said, the drastic fall from 6A State Champions to one win in 12 turns on the calendar is hard to fathom.
Like Chaparral, Saguaro has no business competing at the 6A level with roughly 1,600 students. The schools’ other sports compete in 4A.
While the Sabercats’ feeder program has produced plenty of talented players, many of Jason Mohn’s stars were transfers.
Pinnacle: Find your next star quarterback
Death, taxes, and Division I quarterbacks at ‘Neer Nation.
Wyatt Horton scripted his final chapter, leaving PHS with one of the more unique success stories in recent years.
Thank you Arizona. What a ride ❤️ #15out pic.twitter.com/SUeMGy3zUx
— Wyatt Horton (@wyatthorton_2) November 23, 2024
Now, the question is, who is ready to pick up the pen, and start their own chapter one?
The quarterback room will be a crowded one.
Senior-to-be Drew Varsano saw varsity action in four games last fall as Horton’s backup. Braxton Lowe was PHS’s JV starter. 2028 Grayson Bull already looks the part.
This will be one of the more interesting 6A story lines to follow in the coming months.
