Zone Read: Seton Catholic Flips the Script

Seton Catholic Prep’s turn around this fall has been one of the feel-good stories in Arizona high school football.

And the stories not done yet.

Pete Walheim’s squad went from 2-8 in 2023, to 8-2 this fall, clinching a spot in the 4A playoffs. The 10-seeded Sentinels will travel to 9-1 Arcadia to battle the 7-seeded Titans on Friday.

Let’s take a closer look at Seton’s formula for success heading into the postseason as “Zone Read” caught up Walheim earlier this week to discuss the turnaround, what’s worked, what he expects from their first-round opponent, and much more.

Nothing Beats Experience

Before this season, you’d have to go all the way back to 2019 to find Seton’s last decent season, a 5-5 campaign which saw the Sentinels lose four of their last five after racing out to a 4-1 start.

What followed were 1-6, 2-9, and back-to-back 2-8 seasons.

The silver lining to those down years were a group of young players getting valuable varsity experience, even if the wins were rare.

“We usually average four, five, six seniors a year,” Walheim said to the “Zone Read.” “We had 20 going into the season. So, we kind of knew we’d be better, just because of the experience.”

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Seton 1️⃣5️⃣
Gila Ridge0️⃣
6:10 2Q

Seton QB Chase Dickson throws a swing pass to RB Luc Aguilar who sheds a defender and outruns the rest for a 48 yd TD!!! pic.twitter.com/0n5TZz21QA

— Just Chilly (@JUSTCHILLY) October 20, 2024

The core of seniors is anchored by quarterback Chase Dickson (16 touchdown passes), running back Luc Aguilar (1558 rushing yards, 23 total touchdowns), linebacker Mikaele Aisake (77 tackles, INT), and safeties Grey Jorgensen (66 tackles, three INT’s), and Ian Ellis (60 tackles, INT).  

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Seton Catholic’s Luc Aguilar rushed for 242 yards against St. Mary’s last week, which is a school record (at least in the Maxpreps era), beating Mikey Castro’s previous record of 241 (also against St, Mary’s).

— ArizonaVarsity.com 🔥PREPS🔥 (@AZHSFB) September 11, 2024

“This is a very special group,” Walheim explained. “They were talented when they came in. They were immature as freshmen, but they had talent. So, I knew if they grew up, we’d have a chance to be pretty good.

“20 seniors started, and 20 seniors finished. That’s very rare.”

A Total Commitment

After four consecutive losing seasons, Walheim knew changes were imminent, not just in scheme, but how the program as a whole was being run in the winter, spring, and summer.

“As far as the staff goes, I’m the only coach on campus,” he said. “I expect a lot out of them, and one of things I told them going into the off-season was…we’re losing games in August and September in the middle of the off-season. We can’t work four months out of the year here.”

The buy-in from the players was real, as well, especially when you consider many of the standout football players are multi-sport athletes. It wasn’t uncommon for players to jump from their in-season sport to a football workout or lift.

“When we made that re-commitment, everybody bought in,” said Walheim. “That is something I’m proud of. But that’s just some mature coaches, and some mature players growing up, understanding that, and buying into it.

“They learned to hold each other accountable to it…and that’s why we’re at where we are right now.”

Getting Defensive

One big reason for Seton’s breakthrough season has been the play of their defense.

After allowing over 36 points per game last year, the Sentinels have more than cut that number in half surrendering just 17.8 per contest this fall. In six of their eight wins, they allowed 14 points or less. 

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Game over. Sentinels with the win!

Seton Catholic – 40
Valley Christian – 14@SCPAthletics @brettinaz @JUSTCHILLY @ctownrivals @ralphamsden pic.twitter.com/COE0OSx5TQ

— SCPBoosterClub (@SCPBoosterClub) September 14, 2024

The numbers don’t lie.

An off-season brainstorm with defensive coordinator Brian Hunter spawned a new approach with “a couple of tweaks,” specifically to the back end. The remodeled scheme, paired with a veteran, ball-hawking group has yielded the desired results.

“He brought a couple of concepts that I wasn’t too sure about, but I trusted him and they turned out to be good,” Walheim noted. “We’re more of a 3-3-5 [defense] now. All three levels play well together and that scheme has a lot to do with it.”

Seton’s defense registered 25 interceptions, 16 sacks, and six fumble recoveries in the regular season.

The Second Season

The 2024 success has the football vibes around campus peaking into mid-November.

“It’s exciting,” Walheim said without hesitation. “It’s fun for my kids. It’s been quite a long time since people have been in their corner.”

Standing in the way of their first playoff win are the Titans, who advanced to the 4A state semi-finals last year.

“They remind me of us a little bit, to be honest,” Walheim explained. “They’re physical. They’re big up front.”

Walheim says Arcadia runs a similar defense to the one Seton ran last year, so there’s familiarity there. He expects the Titans to continue to be a run-first offense, much like Seton. Both teams enter the game banged up in key areas, so it will be interesting to see if AHS starts senior Braylen Rooney, or junior Zach Smith. For Seton, if Aguilar can’t play, Walheim is confident freshman Coree Edwards can pick up the slack in the backfield. 

Don’t count out the 10-seed to win the whole thing.

Walheim certainly isn’t.

“I think we’re as good as anybody, I really do.”