The Teams:
–Desert Mountain Wolves: Projected record: 9-1 (section: 5-0)
–Desert Ridge Jaguars: Projected record: 8-2 (section: 4-1)
–Mesa Jackrabbits: Projected record: 4-6 (section: 1-4)
–Mesa Mountain View Toros: Projected record: 5-5 (section: 2-3)
–Red Mountain Mountain Lions: Projected record: 5-5 (section 3-2)
–Skyline Coyotes: Projected record: Projected record: 3-7 (section: 0-5)
The Favorite:
Desert Mountain Wolves: Returning the best quarterback and wide receiver duo in the state and one of the best in the whole west coast. Texas A&M commit Kyle Allen and Oklahoma commit Mark Andrews connected 81 times for just under 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns. Transferring in from Chaparral is another impact receiver in Gary McKay who plays on both sides of the ball and also will get good production from running back Adam Cooper. On defense they return second leading tackler from 2012, Greg Frasco, who had 133 total tackles and 6.5 sacks. If you can find a way to contain the Wolves offense attack you may have a shot, if not, you’re in for a long evening.
The Darkhorse:
Desert Ridge Jaguars: Keep October 25th open on your calendar. That is when the Jags and the Wolves face off in Mesa and it should be a great game. Desert Ridge brings back quarterback Tarek Morrison who bursted onto the scene last season as a sophomore tallying just under 1,600 all purpose yards. He is an impact player and one of the top juniors in the state along with his twin brother Taren Morrison at running back. Fellow ball carrier Danny Siaumau who will also get more reps at running back this season after J.J. Husar graduated.. The Jags also return their leading tackler from a year ago in line backer Amoni Itaaehau. They are a bruising team in the trenches on both sides of the ball and will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
Preseason All-Section 3 team:
QB: Kyle Allen, Desert Mountain
RB: Francisco Avitia, Skyline
RB: Danny Siaumau, Desert Ridge
WR: Mark Andrews, Desert Mountain
WR: Clark Brown, Mountain View
WR: Gary McKay, Desert Mountain
TE: Diego Hernandez, Red Mountain
OL: Chris Alicea, Red Mountain
OL: Calvin Jennings, Mountain View
OL: Andres Mariani, Desert Mountain
OL: Coleman Martin, Desert Mountain
OL: Justin Leeper, Desert Ridge
DL: Michael Barker, Mountain View
DL: Diego Hernandez, Red Mountain
DL: Samiuela Taueli, Mesa
DL: Tevita Taufa, Desert Ridge
LB: Conrad Burnap, Red Mountain
LB: Amoni Itaaehau, Desert Ridge
LB: Salvador Martinez, Skyline
DB: Dan Fedorka, Desert Mountain
DB: Connor Ispen, Mountain View
DB: Nathaniel Rodriguez, Desert Ridge
DB: Tanner Stewart, Mesa
K/P: Luis Bustillos, Mountain View
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Jared Cohen
A born and bred Arizonan, Jared has had great passion for the hometown teams all his life. He now channel's that passion into covering the pro, college and high school teams around the state as a Multimedia Reporter for Sports360AZ.