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Zone Read: New Beginnings, Successful Endings

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From Sabercat to Mountain Lion

Andy Johnson brings stability, a visionary blueprint, and two hands full of Arizona State Championship rings to Mountain Ridge.

“There’s a culture [at Mountain Ridge] that wants to find a way to win,” the long-time Saguaro assistant coach said to the “Zone Read” in a recent interview. “They just need someone to sustain and make it more than a one-year thing. There’s a lot of kids in that area, a lot of support in that area. So, I thought it was a good fit.”

While this is Johnson’s first high school varsity head coaching opportunity, the 44-year-old is no stranger to leading young, high-level talent. In building and coaching Saguaro’s ultra-successful youth program, the Scottsdale Argos, he coached future standout high school and college players, most notably current Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver, Christian Kirk.

He believes his X’s and O’s will translate perfectly to Ridge, just as it did from the Argos to #SagU.

“What you really built from the youth organization was having a group of guys that cared,” Johnson explained. “Implementing the system. We were using terminology with 10-year-old’s that we were using at the varsity level.  So, that carried all the way through and, naturally, because you get kids who are with you for such a long period of time…we never had to go out and actually pursue those kids. They were coming because of the success and what we built through the lower levels.”

Another key element he will implement will be an “open door policy” with Ridge’s youth football coaches to establish and build a continuity and synergy throughout the different levels.

While Saguaro has achieved incredible success for more than a decade, many of their recent elite players came due to open enrollment. The challenge at Ridge will be keeping those northwest Valley players, with long-standing neighborhood programs like Centennial, Liberty, Sunrise Mountain, and O’Connor just down the street or around a few corners.

“Obviously, it’s going to come with wins,” Johnson said. “We can get some excitement brewing by [winning] (Ridge went 3-7 in 2023). I think you start there. There are already kids in the Ridge boundary that are going to Liberty, they’re going to Centennial, and they’re going to O’Connor. If we build that excitement, we can bring some of those kids back naturally. Whether that’s kids transferring or just keeping those kids that should be there, staying there.”

He believes there is solid core in place with expected returnees like junior defensive end Cash Reiser, senior offensive tackle Eli Thompson, senior defensive back Kody Halpine, junior linebacker JT Shaffer, senior running back Vincent Norfolk, and 6’4, 180-pound junior Lucas Baughman who is expected to start behind center. 

When asked what he’ll take away most coaching with, and under, Jason Mohns at Saguaro, Johnson’s initial answer was clear, and without hesitation.

“I think you have to establish the culture of being a year-round football program which I don’t see right now,” he explained. “It’s a situation where you’re involved in a year-round program with lifting, learning, film, and getting on the field where you have to create that mindset. Have a football community and a parent community that supports that.”

Johnson said he has not only been bending the ear of Mohns, but ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham, and running backs coach Shaun Aguano who turned Chandler High into a national power, as he prepares to lead the Mountain Lions into summer workouts.

Mountain Ridge opens their season August 30th at Tolleson.

Rocky Mountain High

“Life is like a deck of cards, man. Whatever hand you get is what you get. It’s what you do with your deck that counts.”

If life was encapsulated by a single hand of Blackjack, T’Ziaha Quint wasn’t dealt any face cards.

The former South Mountain High All-Region offensive/defensive lineman has always taken the road less traveled. He’s also never been afraid to create his own path to success – on the field, in the classroom, and in life through faith and hard work.

Quint’s journey has taken him from the Arizona desert to the Custer Gallitin National Forest in Billings, Montana. A three-year starter on the offensive line, at either left guard or center, for Rocky Mountain College, he’s preparing for his final year on the gridiron – with a college degree already in hand.

“This past April I walked across the stage with my BS degree in business,” Quint said.

He signed with the NAIA program as a senior in February of 2020.

Quint, an All-Academic selection as a freshman at Rocky, was a part of the business program in The Academies at South Mountain, which allowed him the opportunity to take business specific courses in high school and ease the academic transition to college.

Clearly, Quint’s dedication to the classroom also spilled over to Rocky Mountain’s weight room.

“When I was at South, the most I weighed on the football field was probably about 240 pounds, the now 290-pounder explained. “When I came in, they we wanted me at 260 and with COVID [it was tough]. I just started eating more protein and taking more supplements. I also took the weight room serious. I’ve seen a lot of jumps in my maxes…now I’m bench pressing over 405. It just showed me if you want to get somewhere you want to be, you need to do things you’ve never done.”

Whenever football ends, Quint hopes to continue to inspire others to strive for greatness and reach their goals in the community and beyond. His vision is to open a gym in Arizona, or a southern state, focused on working with young offensive linemen, while also showcasing his faith in Christ.

While these four years “have been a blur” as Quint said, he’s allowed time for reflection of his accomplishments. 

“I really like to count my blessings and enjoy where I’ve been to where I’ve came from,” Quint noted. “I really owe all the success to God. Just keeping me alive and allowing me to do something I love. Keep me from falling down the trail that others would have went down.”

Cody’s Camp Confidential – Yuma Catholic

Sports360AZ’s Cody Cameron is back again, this time to take a closer look at one of the more fast-rising programs in Arizona, the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks.

“I think a team that should be on everybody’s “Must Watch” list should be the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks. After being a 3A powerhouse for many years, the Shamrocks were moved up to 4A before the 2022 season and have not missed a step. YC has gone a combined (22-4) in that two-year span, playing in the 4A State title game last season.
 
“Shamrocks Head Coach Rhett Stallworth does a phenomenal job with his program and pushes his athletes to play multiple sports throughout the school year.
 

 
“They attack the weight room year round and they have multiple players who wrestle in the winter. That’s a recipe for success and he has created a winnings standard in that program.”
 

“The Shamrocks return their quarterback and top four pass catchers, including two-way standouts Sir Stokes and Darryl Coleman. Defensively, the Shamrocks bring back Class of 2025 LB/RB Rocky Stallworth who racked up over 160 tackles last season.
 
“This team will absolutely be my pre-season #1 ranked team in a loaded 4A conference.”

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