Eric Sorenson
Turning the Page
Doug Nisenson didn’t mince words when asked to describe his first year at Chaparral.
“It was a tough season,” the Firebirds’ head coach said without hesitation in a recent interview with “Zone Read.” “There were a lot of different things going on. Different dynamics with different people that you kind of learn as you go…but you have to stay focused on what remains best for the team and the majority all the time.”
The uncertainty of a new school and staff, paired with not fully arriving on campus until late last spring, isn’t the ideal recipe for any first-year coach. There was no “getting to know one another” window, simply X’s and O’s from the jump.
A talented, but extremely young roster, mixed with a new staff and scheme, never fully meshed.
The result was a disappointing 2-8 season, including a five-game losing steak to end the year against a brutal schedule which featured region foes Liberty, Centennial, Saguaro and Pinnacle.
Despite all the hurdles, both foreseen and unforeseen, Nisenson views the 2023 season as a glass half full.
“I think there’s a lot of positive that came out of it,” he explained. “I think that it was really challenging and I think it made everybody who went through it stronger and more resilient…I feel really good about the direction we’re going in.”
He’s intent now on “turning the page” as he put it.
With a new year comes more familiarity and renewed optimism, but the challenge ahead won’t be much different than Chap Town faced a year ago. The region remains the same, the roster isn’t any deeper than it was a year ago – especially with a number of talented players transferring out, and there’s a fairly big hole to fill at quarterback – with three younger signal-callers vying for the nod, including skilled Central High sophomore transfer, Cam Allen.
One of the biggest transfers this offseason is 2023 Freshman of the Year Cam Allen moving from Central to Chaparral. The ‘27 QB threw for over 2,100 yards and 28 TDs with just three interceptions last season. pic.twitter.com/BjtCy3GMlB
— BJ Media (@BJMedia1) May 16, 2024
However, this off-season, Nisenson controlled what he could control, starting with a mostly over-hauled, new-look, hand-picked staff littered with college and professional playing experience. Names like former Cardinals’ linebacker Shaquille Riddick, Notre Dame and Florida quarterback Maliq Zaire, and former UofA standout Colin Baxter.
The headliner of the group is former ASU All-American, and 1st-round draft pick, Adam Archuleta, who is Chap’s new defensive back coach.
“Adam actually reached out to me not too long after I got the job,” Nisenson said of the Chandler High alum. “He was really supportive of me from the beginning. We talked about him helping out and worked out what capacity he could do it in [with his NFL analyst work for CBS].
Very excited to add Coach Adam Archuleta to the #ChapFootball staff! Coach Archuleta is a former Chandler HS & ASU standout who went on to be an NFL 1st round pick playing 7 seasons for the Rams, Redskins & Bears. Welcome coach! @JUSTCHILLY @azc_obert @AZPreps365 @AZSportsNetwork pic.twitter.com/l8fY75kD0O
— Chaparral Football (@ChapfootballAZ) May 9, 2024
“He has been so valuable, not just from a football knowledge perspective but his story…he came out of [Chandler High] with no offers. No stars. He just has an elite mindset. There’s nothing that shakes him.”
One of the young players Archuleta will coach this summer and fall is son Jett, an explosive, versatile sophomore combo safety/cornerback who played last season on the Firebirds’ freshman team and could break into the back half of the varsity defense.
Nisenson believes the strength of his team is in the secondary, with returning seniors Justin Fisher and Jordan Williams laying the foundation for Archuleta and others.
Another bad draw for the second-year head coach is Chaparral’s shrinking enrollment. With now less than 1900 students, the football program has felt the impact. The ‘Birds are expected to field a JV team this fall, but the varsity roster will likely be in the mid-40’s, a distinct depth disadvantage in the treacherous 6A Northeast Valley Region.
Nisenson understands what lies ahead.
“We’re open competition for everything. We have a lot to replace.”
Chap opens their 2024 schedule on August 30th hosting Desert Hills.
Cody’s Camp Confidential – Ben Franklin
“Zone Read” reached out to Sports360AZ’s Cody Cameron, a frequent contributor to this column, get a few thoughts on a program he saw in-person this spring.
Here’s what CC had to say about the Benjamin Franklin Chargers.
“I’m taking this camp report to 3A. I get the opportunity to highlight a school that has a chance to rise back to dominance this season. When I first came down to the Valley in 2017, the Benjamin Franklin Chargers were one of the top programs in the 3A conferences. Lead by long-time football coach, Dave Jefferies, the Chargers pummeled opposing teams with their tight-scrum offense. After a few seasons getting thrown into the 4A conference, the Chargers start year two under current head coach, Danny Norris.“I’m lucky enough to have become good friends with Coach Norris over the last couple years and have been around their program a few times this spring. Not only is Coach Norris an incredible football coach, the players absolutely love playing for him. Having a true off-season has allowed the players to have a year-round lifting program under Norris, and this is about to pay dividends.
Freshman OL/DL John Lokey hitting 405lbs on Squat today! Young man is going to break A LOT of record over the next three years…#BTB #MakeEmBelieve #WhyNotBF https://t.co/556GphTshg pic.twitter.com/QsABGnUXt0
— BFHS Chargers Football (@BFHS_ChargersFB) May 15, 2024
“This is the most physically ready Ben Franklin team I’ve ever seen and they return one of the best 2025 classes in the state. The Chargers return their leading rusher, two-way standout Ridge Allen, who nearly rushed for 1500 yards last year. On the other side they return NINE of their top tacklers back from last year’s team. Ben Franklin’s junior high program defeated ALA Queen Creek’s junior high program during the spring season as well, which Coach Norris also coaches.13 more Friday’s…#BTB #MakeEmBelieve #WhyNotBF pic.twitter.com/8m4ehX791g
— Danny Norris (@CoachNorris_) May 24, 2024
“He will have the Chargers rocking this fall!”
What Might Have Been
Darren Mougey needed a favor and knew exactly who to call.
The Denver Broncos’ assistant general manager, and former Chaparral High star quarterback, still has Valley friends in the right places, including at Pinnacle High School.
During Mougey’s outstanding career at Chap, the Firebirds’ defensive coordinator, and assistant head coach, was Dana Zupke.
So, in the weeks leading up to the draft, Mougey connected with Zupke to help set up a private, under-the-radar, workout with former PHS star quarterback, and then-NFL draft prospect, Spencer Rattler.
Mougey, general manager George Paton, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, and head coach Sean Payton boarded a private jet and discretely arrived at the north Valley campus in the middle of a regular spring school day.
The Broncos’ staff spent two hours “on the board” with Rattler, going over schemes, concepts – testing his knowledge base on NFL sets, then watched him throw for an hour on the same field Rattler dazzled ‘Neer Nation for four years, leaving as arguably the most decorated AZHS quarterback prospect in state history.
According to a person familiar with Rattler’s two-part test, “he killed it.”
Spencer Rattler airing it out at the South Carolina pro day🚀🚀
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 12, 2024
The Broncos ended up selecting Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th pick of the first round.
Rattler was picked in the fifth round, 150th overall, by the New Orleans Saints.
With the No. 150 overall pick in the 2024 @NFLDraft, the @Saints select Spencer Rattler!
📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/uis7EhuFTV— NFL (@NFL) April 27, 2024
He will have a chance to again play in his home state when the Saints visit the Valley to take on the Cardinals to open the 2024 preseason on August 10th at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
