Eric Sorenson
High school athletics can be a fragile space.
In a matter of seconds, the pendulum can swing from one extreme to another. With no redshirts available, it’s a four-year, now or never, window of opportunity.
For two standout Chandler Unified School District defensive players, their journey this last calendar year was unlike anything they’d experienced before.
Their path wasn’t unheard of but challenging nonetheless.
Now entering their final AZHS football fall camps, their focus is back on the future, after living through a challenging recent past.
Dante Bruley – Basha High – Edge/Linebacker
Bruley’s junior season ended nearly as quickly as it started.
The Bears were opening their season against Millard South (NE) when the almost unthinkable happened.
“The second drive, about eight plays in,” Bruley said to the “Zone Read.” “I went to fill the gap and a linemen fell on top of me, and I tore my [MCL].”
Initially, Bruley thought it was cramp. Understandable considering the extreme Valley temperatures for early-season games.
He attempted to stay on the field but soon realized the injury was far more severe than just lactic acid build up from lack of fluids.
“I couldn’t bend it all,” he explained, shaking his head. “It was stuck backwards.”
After an MRI confirmed the tear, the mental pain began to overtake the physical.
“I was super down the first month,” Bruley reflected. “It was the toughest mental [challenge] I ever had to go through. I couldn’t drive or anything.
“I was at home, just in my feels about it.”
Bears’ head coach Chris McDonald had seen this movie before.
“I tried to stress to him that it’s not the end of the world, and be patient,” McDonald said to the “Zone Read.” ”I know like you feel you’re behind the eight-ball here when it comes to recruiting, and all that.
“Don’t allow that to reflect what your future is…I think he’s in a much better place now.”
Hit 515 on squat!(school record)@bashagridiron @RecruitingBasha @BashaAthletics pic.twitter.com/NzdaTlzw0Z
— DanteBruley (@BruleyDante) April 23, 2025
Bruley leaned on his family not only for support, but structure and perspective, as well, after the devastating setback.
“There’s nothing you can do about the past,” he explained. “They gave me a positive outlook about [the injury]. They made me focus on the future.
“They couldn’t make my knee heal any faster than it was.”
While Bruley, who already holds offers from Wyoming, NAU, UTEP and others, may have lost valuable junior film with the injury, McDonald believes heavy D-I interest is still coming, especially considering the work he did in rehab, which culminated in an extremely productive summer.
#GOPOKES @WyoFBRecruiting @wyo_football pic.twitter.com/O8tcNkAGG0
— DanteBruley (@BruleyDante) August 7, 2025
The 6’2, 230-pounder, who tallied 57 tackles in just six games as a sophomore (9.5 per contest), has all the tools his head coach simply can’t teach.
37 inch vert, and can dunk! @LGFitnessAZ pic.twitter.com/CSfetLZJ3W
— DanteBruley (@BruleyDante) July 15, 2025
“He’s a freak. He’s a freak,” McDonald said, shaking his head. “He’s so athletic and so powerful. He’s mean.”
Devin Sarpy – Perry High – Cornerback/Free Safety
Sarpy has been instrumental in the rise of Perry football the past three seasons.
Unfortunately, the Pumas’ pinnacle in 2023 was his personal valley.
In the opening round of the 6A playoffs against region foe Chandler, Sarpy’s football future reached an abrupt intersection of uncertainty.
“Time was running out and we needed to get a final stop on Chandler,” he recalled to the “Zone Read.” “So, it was third and long, a guy ran a wheel [route], I was underneath it.
“I just jumped up, came down on one leg, and…it didn’t feel good.”
PHS’s feel-good win over the Wolves that late night in mid-November, was somewhat muted when the test results revealed their two-year starting cornerback had torn his ACL.
Immediately following the surgery, Sarpy focused on the road to recovery and, somehow, being cleared to start his senior season.
Great junior season with lots of improvement! Excited to get back to work!@perrypumas @perry_pumas @coach_clare @JosephO24 @thee_coachhorne @CoachyarbsPHS @CodyTCameron @AZHSFB @PrepRedzoneAZ @JUSTCHILLY @PeteKnow_ @gridironarizona @BJMedia1 https://t.co/qvqsY6iANI
— Devin Sarpy/5’11/185/ DB #5 (@Devin_Sarpy32) December 4, 2024
The regime included low-impact exercises, like pool workouts and stationary bikes, to help build strength and safely stay active, while also allowing the injury to heal.
As he described, “Taking it slow, while taking it fast…the goal has always been nine months.”
Much like Bruley, Sarpy credits his family for helping pull him through some of the more difficult stages of his now nine-month recovery window.
“Whenever I’d even begin to start feeling down,” he said. “I just talked to my parents, my family, my brother, and they’d help me through it.
“[I give] a lot of credit to them because a lot of athletes struggle with mental health coming back from injuries.
“They’d say to me, ‘Keep your head up. We can work through this.’”
Thank you @CoachBhakta for a wonderful conversation and coming out to have a chat about @BigRed_Football !! pic.twitter.com/7NCcHmvEqg
— Devin Sarpy/5’11/185/ DB #5 (@Devin_Sarpy32) May 16, 2025
Sarpy’s immediate call to action didn’t come as any surprise to head coach Joseph Ortiz.
“He’s been super smart with it,” Ortiz noted immediately. “The kid has a 4.6 GPA so he knows how to handle things. He understands his body…he wants to be out there with his brothers so bad.”
He also praises Sarpy for prioritizing his rehab and “trusting the process,” instead of getting too consumed with playing 7’s this summer or rushing back for prospect camps.
The focus has always been on Friday nights this fall.
Defense showing out! @jayden_kimling and @Devin_Sarpy32 with the interception! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kcBYdTUERK
— Perry High Football (@perrypumas) August 22, 2024
Sarpy, who has 78 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries, believes he’s “85-90 percent” fully healthy heading into fall camp.
“He never forced it, never rushed it,” said Ortiz. “He’s on track to be a game one starter and do great things.”
