In 2012 when Sam Jacobs took over as head coach of the Moon Valley High School football team, they went 1-9 and the spring proceeding that season, Jacobs had 13 total kids show up to participate in spring practice.
After a couple of tough seasons, the Rockets turned heads in 2014 going 10-2 and achieved their first playoff birth in a number of years. The result of the buzz surrounding that team, which was one of the best stories last season in Arizona high school football? Close to 60 players are present for spring practice leading up to the 2015 season.
“It’s definitely a lot of fun after the success of last year,” said soon-to-be senior Brett Voss. “You can see how it impacts the school and the community. A lot of guys hear about it, they watch us, and now they want to be a part of it.”
Voss in particular is one of the catalysts that have helped turn this program around now going into his senior season. He was a freshman when Jacobs took over as head coach. Voss had his breakout year in 2014 playing both receiver and safety for the Rockets with over 500 total yards of offense and four total touchdowns as well as 88 tackles and five interceptions on defense.
“It was definitely more enjoyable than a lot of football experiences that I’ve had,” mentioned Voss. “We bonded a lot more than we have and I think a lot of it has to do with Coach Jacobs after coming out after I think nine losing seasons and he is just changing the program and treating us like a family.”
Voss in addition to playing football, also plays baseball and runs track at Moon Valley. His versatility as an athlete playing in multiple sports is also seen just on the football field with the skill set he brings.
“I’ve always loved sports and just love getting outdoors,” Voss explained. “I started young so I definitely have a lot of experience and just keeping in shape, working on footwork and agility.”
After Voss’ 2014 campaign, football programs at the next level are starting to notice. Not just with the type of player he is on the field, but what he does in the classroom as well. He was a Sports360AZ All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2014 with his 3.8 GPA. Because of that, schools like UC Davis and Yale have expressed interest.
“That’s pretty much exactly what they tell me is that they are starting to notice me,” Voss mentioned. “Yale said he thinks that I do have what it takes to be a division I athlete in college, but since I haven’t taken my tests yet, we have to see how my scores match up. But my transcript looks good and they think I have the talent so that’s exciting.”
Voss and the Rockets continue through spring football getting ready for the 2015 season opener on August 20th against Coronado.
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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.