Jared Cohen
The Teams:
–Brophy Broncos: Projected record: 6-4 (section: 3-1)
–Corona del Sol Aztecs: Projected record: 4-6 (section: 1-3)
–Desert Vista Thunder: Projected record: 7-3 (section: 2-2)
–Dobson Mustangs: Projected record: 2-8 (section: 0-4)
–Mountain Pointe Pride: Projected record: 8-2 (section: 4-0)
The Favorite:
Mountain Pointe Pride: The Pride are coming off their best season in school history and they might be even better this season than they were last. Returning are two of the top football prospects on the west coast in wide receiver/defensive back Jalen Brown and offensive guard/defensive tackle Natrell Curtis. Not to mention the team has loads of playmaking talent in receiver/tight end Emmanuel Butler, transfer from Marcos de Niza, defensive back Dominique Fenstermacher and one of the states top line backers, Wesley Payne. There are great football players everywhere you look and keeping it all in order is a very reliable quarterback in Antonio Hinojosa who is one of the more underrated players in the state. The Pride kick off their 2013 campaign against Bishop Gorman, the powerhouse from Vegas and also week six circled on their schedule with a championship rematch with Hamilton.
The Darkhorse:
Desert Vista Thunder: Team know they are going to be tough but if there is one team that could possibly contend Mountain Pointe for the section crown, it is the Thunder. They return one of the biggest and toughest guys in the trenches in Arizona in Oregon commit Jalen Jelks. He lines up on both sides of the ball for them and is poised for a monster senior season. On offense, the Thunder introduce a new quarterback with a familiar name. Cade Van Raaphorst, son of former ASU great Jeff Van Raaphorst, will be the starting quarterback for the team this season. He will have strong targets on the outside in Anthony Reaves who is sure to play on Saturdays after high school.
Preseason All-Section 4 team:
QB: Antonio Hinojosa, Mountain Pointe
RB: Will Edwards, Brophy
RB: George Wright, Corona del Sol
WR: Jalen Brown, Mountain Pointe
WR: Emmanuel Butler, Mountain Pointe
WR: Anthony Reaves, Desert Vista
OL: Mike Clare, Corona del Sol
OL: Natrell Curtis, Mountain Pointe
OL: Austin Hall, Brophy
OL: Adam Ortega, Desert Vista
OL: Shaun Sebatta, Dobson
DL: Jalen Jelks, Desert Vista
DL: Cassius Peat, Corona del Sol
DL: Kyle Spight, Mountain Pointe
DL: Thomas Turley, Corona del Sol
LB: Wesley Payne, Mountain Pointe
LB: Jacob Riedell, Corona del Sol
LB: Isaiah Douglas, Dobson
DB: Ryan Castellani, Brophy
DB: Dominique Fenstermacher, Mountain Pointe
DB: Brian Woodward, Brophy
DB: Trey Lauer, Mountain Pointe
K/P: Ryan Sheehan, Mountain Pointe
