Sunrise Region high school football capsules

SOUTHEAST LEAGUE

BASIC

■ Coach: Jeff Cahill, third year (19-6)

■ 2009 record: 11-2 (5-1 Southeast)

■ Returning starters: Four offense, five defense

■ Top players: QB Vince Carducci (Sr.); RB Lorenzo Sampson (Jr.); WR Darien Spencer (Jr.); WR DeVonte Boyd (So.); OL Kevin Bayes (Sr.); OL Michael Boone (Sr.); OL Perry Williams (Jr.); OL Matt Wadley (Sr.); WR/KR Dominic Villas (Sr.); CB/S Blaze Galardy (Sr.); CB Dante Rogers (Sr.); DL Nick Fowler (Sr.); DL Mike Carlos (Sr.); LB Jacob Wilson (Sr.); DE Kiel Winger (Sr.)

■ Outlook: The Wolves lost plenty of talent from a team that made it to the Sunrise Region title game a year ago. But with 32 letterwinners back, there is plenty of experience.

Bayes and Boone, who started every game last year, will lead an offensive line that returns four players who started at least six games last season.

Those four should help ease the transition with the skill players. Basic must replace its top four rushers, a quarterback who passed for 1,608 yards and its top seven receivers.

Carducci is the most experienced of the skill players, having passed for three touchdowns in limited action a year ago.

Galardy, who picked off seven passes, and All-Southeast League selection Fowler should lead the defense.

CORONADO

■ Coach: Lance Cooper, first year

■ 2009 record: 3-6 (0-6 Southeast)

■ Returning starters: Four offense, two defense

■ Top players: RB Kentavius Hudson (Sr.); WR Devon Riley (Sr.); RB/H Chris Johnson (Jr.); WR Cody Mucino (So.); OL Jake Freeman (Sr.); DB Avery Brown (Sr.); LB Colton Willden; DE Danny Wolfe (Sr.); DE Christian Chavez (Jr.)

■ Outlook: Cooper is the team's fourth coach in four years. Players will have to adjust to yet another coaching style.

Cooper was a late hire, taking over in July. But he was the team's defensive coordinator last season and has been an on-and-off assistant since the school opened, so the players should be somewhat familiar with him.

Cooper will continue to run the spread offense installed by former coach Todd Stratton.

The team must improve defensively after giving up 233 points in six league losses.

■ DEL SOL

■ Coach: Preston Goroff, seventh year (48-24)

■ 2009 record: 12-2 (5-1 Southeast)

■ Returning starters: Six offense, six defense

■ Top players: QB/OLB Troy Miller (Sr.); RB Chris Marshall (Jr.); RB/DB Devonte Stapleton (Sr.); OL/DL Sy Hansell (Sr.); WR Jason Meuir (Sr.)

n Outlook: Many counted the Dragons out before last season after graduation took away many key players. All Del Sol did was advance to the state title game.

Graduation again took its toll, but it's hard to doubt a team that has advanced to the Sunrise Region title game in each of the last four seasons.

Replacing Evan Weinstock, the Review-Journal's Class 4A State Player of the Year, and Dezerick Reed, the Southeast League Player of the Year, won't be easy.

Weinstock caught 46 passes for 928 yards and 16 TDs, had 72 tackles, seven interceptions and scored three defensive touchdowns.

Reed carried the load in the ground game, rushing for 1,975 yards and 21 TDs.

Marshall rushed for 506 yards and six TDs as a sophomore and showed flashes of big-play ability. Miller passed for 1,798 yards and 25 TDs but will have to find new targets, as the team's top four receivers graduated.

Hansell, a first team All-Southeast League pick at offensive tackle, should anchor the line.

FOOTHILL

■ Coach: Martin Redmond, sixth year (30-25)

■ 2009 record: 6-6 (3-3 Southeast)

■ Returning starters: Seven offense, seven defense

■ Top players: RB Connor Afoa (Sr.); QB Parker Riggin (Sr.); WR Kyle Keplinger (Jr.); WR Darius Gates (Jr.); OLB Keegan Buck (Sr.); ILB Dominic LaRocco (Sr.); OLB Ryan Call (Sr.)

■ Outlook: It was an up-and-down 2009 season for the Falcons, who lost 45-13 to Class 3A Moapa Valley in the middle of the year, only to come back and eliminate defending Sunrise Region champ Las Vegas in the first round of the playoffs.

The Falcons return experience on both sides of the ball, and though the Southeast League will be tough, they should be in contention for a playoff berth again.

Foothill returns its quarterback, leading rusher and two of its top three receivers.

Afoa rushed for 703 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Riggin passed for 1,991 yards and 17 TDs, and Keplinger (34 catches, 374 yards) and Gates (23 catches, 342 yards) give the team two quality receivers.

The defense returns three linebackers, led by All-Southeast League pick Buck.

GREEN VALLEY

■ Coach: Matt Gerber, fifth year (21-23)

■ 2009 record: 4-6 (2-4 Southeast)

■ Returning starters: Three offense, five defense

■ Top players: WR Austin Gibson (Sr.); RB Aaron Love (Jr.); WR/DB Andrew McGovern (Sr.); QB Paul McKay (Sr.); RB/DB Rakeem Griffin (Jr.); WR Gabriel Douglas (Sr.); RB/DB Ryan Lopez (Sr.); WR/DB Sean Ferraro (Jr.); DE David Overstreet (Sr.); OL/LB Nathan Thomas (Sr.)

■ Outlook: The Gators are coming off a disappointing season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in four years.

The team also lost the majority of its starters.

Griffin is the top offensive returnee. He rushed for 643 yards and seven TDs, earning second-team All-Southeast League honors.

Love averaged 6.7 yards per carry. McKay saw some time at QB last season, passing for 289 yards.

Defensively, there is plenty of room for improvement on a team that allowed an average of 31.4 points.

Lopez, a second-team All-Southeast safety, is the top returnee on defense.

LIBERTY

■ Coach: Rich Muraco, second year (8-4)

■ 2009 record: 8-4 (4-2 Southeast)

■ Returning starters: Eight offense, six defense

■ Top players: DE/TE Sam Tai (Sr.); RB/DB Ty Byrd (Sr.); LB Teddy Efthemeou (Sr.); OL Tuli Fakauho (Sr.); OL P.J. Taeao (Jr.); RB Niko Kapeli (So.)

■ Outlook: The Patriots had their breakthrough season in 2009, making their first playoff appearance and posting their first winning season. Now Liberty will try to build off that success with many key returnees.

The running game should be a strength, led by Byrd, who rushed for 876 yards and seven TDs last season. He'll get plenty of help from Kapeli (624 yards, 4 TDs) and Teu Tai (294 yards, 6 TDs).

The 320-pound Fakauho and the 295-pound Taeao lead a massive offensive line.

Sam Tai was a first-team All-Southeast pick at defensive end, and Efthemeou was an all-league pick at defensive tackle. Those two should help keep the defense strong. Liberty allowed an average of 17.4 points, and showed a knack for winning close games. Four of their eight wins came by six points or fewer.

SILVERADO

■ Coach: Andy Ostolaza, fourth year (20-10)

■ 2009 record: 6-4 (2-4 Southeast)

■ Returning starters: Four offense, five defense

■ Top players: OG Eric Noone (Sr.); OT Seth Bohman (Sr.); OT Bennie Harris (Sr.); OG Anthony Landi (Sr.); MLB Corey Iwata (Sr.); SS Steven Scamorza (Sr.); CB Ladale Jackson (Sr.)

■ Outlook: The Skyhawks have been among the most disappointing teams the last two seasons. They were expected to contend for a league title both years, but instead missed the playoffs.

Silverado faces its toughest road to the postseason. Del Sol, Basic, Liberty and Foothill appear to have playoff-caliber teams.

Though the Skyhawks lost their top offensive weapons in Trenton Tipton (11 TDs) and Teran Madu-Jules (1,612 rushing yards, 20 TDs), the team should be strong up front.

Noone, Bohman, Harris and Landi give Silverado a big, experienced line and should help make up for inexperience at the skill positions.

Noone and Bohman were All-Southeast League picks last season.

The defense will find it difficult to replace linebacker Kyle Anderson, who signed with UNLV. But the speedy Jackson should be one of the area's better defensive backs.

NORTHEAST LEAGUE

CANYON SPRINGS

■ Coach: Hunkie Cooper, second year (7-3)

■ 2009 record: 7-3 (5-1 Northeast)

■ Returning starters: Two offense, three defense

■ Top players: WR Trey Evans (Sr.); RB Malik Brown (Sr.); OT Galyn Graham (Sr.); QB D'Vante Howard (Sr.); QB Jamaal Martin (Sr.); DB Marquan Webster (Sr.); LB Eddie Smith (Sr.); DE/LB Ronnie Glover (Sr.)

■ Outlook: The Pioneers lost plenty of talent, but a group of young players has Cooper excited.

Brown (463 rushing yards, 7 TDs) will get the first crack to replace the graduated Deavin Rimmey (1,155 rushing yards, 16 TDs), but will be pushed by sophomore Donnel Pumphrey.

Martin and Howard are battling to replace Tyler Ward (1,146 passing yards, 13 TDs) at quarterback, and Evans (30 catches, 322 yards) returns to lead the receivers.

Graham, a second-team All-Northeast League pick, is back to anchor the line.

On defense, the Pioneers return first-team All-Northeast defensive end Glover and second-team All-Northeast linebacker Smith. Two-year starter Webster returns to lead a secondary that must replace all-state pick Paul Woodward.

CHAPARRAL

■ Coach: Donnie Davis, second year (0-10)

■ 2009 record: 0-10 (0-6 Northeast)

■ Returning starters: Four offense, three defense

■ Top players: QB Zachary Luciano (Sr.); WR Toure Williams (Jr.); C/LB Ishmeal Olo (Sr.)

■ Outlook: Things almost have to be better in Davis' second season.

Luciano returns after a year as the team's quarterback, and Davis is expecting big things.

Davis has been impressed by Williams, who could give Chaparral a big-play threat.

Olo returns to anchor the offensive line and captain the defense. It's on that side of the ball where he will need the most help.

Chaparral was outscored 462-115 last season. The Cowboys gave up 40 or more points seven times and 60 or more twice.

DESERT PINES

■ Coach: Paul Bennett, sixth year (23-30)

■ 2009 record: 6-5 (4-2 Northeast)

■ Returning starters: Six offense, four defense

■ Top players: DT/OL T.J. Atimalala (Sr.); RB/DB Chancellor Davis (Sr.); RB/LB Leon Hayes (Jr.); LB Michael Gipson (Sr.); OL/DL Allen Vaiao (Jr.)

■ Outlook: Replacing stars such as Dalton Leilua, Eric Tuiloma, Keorris Berry and Julian Yearwood won't be easy.

Tuiloma was the Northeast League Offensive Player of the Year and was an all-state pick on both sides of the ball. Berry and Yearwood were all-state linebackers, with Berry the Northeast League Defensive Player of the Year.

Leilua passed for 1,240 yards and 20 TDs.

Hayes, a second-team All-Northeast League pick, and Davis return to give the team experience at running back. Hayes rushed for 680 yards and four TDs. Davis rushed for 612 yards and nine TDs.

Bennett hopes their experience will establish the run and open up the play-action pass.

Atimalala has an offer from Army and returns to anchor both lines. He was a first-team All-Northeast League pick at defensive tackle and a second-team selection at center.

Vaiao is back for his third year as a starter and should help the rushing offense.

ELDORADO

■ Coach: Vernon Brown, first year

■ 2009 record: 1-9 (1-5 Northeast)

■ Returning starters: Five offense, eight defense

■ Top players: JaQuorrey Williams (Sr.); WR/DB Brett Van Orden (Sr.); OL/DL Roberto Higuera (Sr.); LB/DL/RB Michael Williams (Jr.); DB/WR Darion Ashley (Jr.); LB/RB Cesar Urruitia (Sr.); LB/C Tyler Nelson (Sr.); OL/DL Wilber Claros (Sr.)

■ Outlook: First-year coach Brown would like to help his team forget about a dismal 2009 season.

Take away a 33-6 victory over winless Chaparral, and the Sundevils were outscored 367-78 last season.

The cupboard isn't entirely bare, however. Williams enters his third year as a starter at quarterback and could be a dynamic two-way threat in the team's pistol offense. He passed for 827 yards and eight scores last season.

Van Orden returns as a top threat after catching 22 passes for 303 yards and four TDs.

There is a clear dropoff in the Northeast after Las Vegas and Canyon Springs, so if Eldorado's defense improves, the Sundevils could contend for one of the league's final two playoff spots.

LAS VEGAS

■ Coach: Chris Faircloth, seventh year (67-15)

■ 2009 record: 8-2 (6-0 Northeast)

■ Returning starters: Five offense, seven defense

■ Top players: QB Hasaan Henderson (Jr.); WR Marquan Major (Sr.); RB Farrell Victor (Jr.); WR Cameron Rogers (Sr.); LB Braylon Mitchell (Sr.); LB Jason Stetson (Sr.); LB Dominique Smith (Sr.); DL William Johnson (Sr.); S Dee Hall (Sr.)

■ Outlook: The Wildcats made an unusually swift exit in the playoffs last season, losing in the Sunrise Region quarterfinals to Foothill.

But that loss didn't signal the end of Las Vegas' reign atop the Northeast League. The Wildcats have won nine of the last 11 league titles and should contend again this season.

Henderson and Victor are coming off strong sophomore seasons, and if they can show the expected improvement, Las Vegas could make a deep playoff run.

Henderson was a second-team All-Northeast League pick at quarterback after completing 62.2 percent of his passes for 1,805 yards and 20 TDs. He was intercepted just four times and added 339 rushing yards and three scores.

Victor rushed for 889 yards and eight TDs and caught 34 passes for 334 yards and four scores in gaining first-team All-Northeast honors.

Major is back to help. He probably would have been the team's top receiving threat last year if he hadn't missed much of the season with a broken collarbone. He caught 16 passes for 208 yards and two TDs.

Defensively, the team will lean on its linebackers. Las Vegas allowed an average of 13.5 points last season, though 60 of those points came in the team's two losses.

RANCHO

■ Coach: Elvin Dick, third year (7-14)

■ 2009 record: 2-8 (2-4 Northeast)

■ Returning starters: Three offense, three defense

■ Top players: RB Shamel David (Sr.); TE/DE D'Andre Mason (Sr.); OL/DL Angel Gomez (Sr.); DB Diante Rainwater (Sr.)

■ Outlook: The Rams have pretty good numbers, and Dick said "only a couple" of players are going both ways.

But an injury or two would wipe out the team's depth quickly. David rushed for 400 yards and three TDs in limited action last season and could be key if he can stay healthy.

Mason caught eight passes last season and gives the Rams an athletic presence on both sides of the ball. Gomez took every snap both ways last season, and Dick hopes he can be more effective with a little rest this season.

Rainwater intercepted six passes last season and should help the defense.

The Rams will have to find a replacement for two-way all-state lineman Tyler Gaston and for the athletic Harvey Yarbrough, who led the team with eight TDs. But a playoff spot looks to be within reach.

SUNRISE MOUNTAIN

■ Coach: Jason Basso, second year (2-8)

■ 2009 record: 2-8

■ Returning starters: Six offense, four defense

■ Top players: QB Chris Moore (So.); QB Ryan Casino (Jr.); OL/DL Khalil Cogman (Sr.); RB Tyree Mayes (Jr.); RB Orlando Kincey (Sr.); WR Cody Trapp (Sr.); DB Damarcus McCullum (Sr.); DL T.C. Morgan (Sr.); DB Frank Randell (Jr.)

■ Outlook: Though the Miners did win two games in their inaugural season, they still are looking for their first victory over a varsity team.

The Miners' wins were against Coronado's junior varsity and Virgin Valley's junior varsity.

The team again will be young, starting mostly sophomores and juniors.

Trapp (38 catches, 505 yards) proved to be a reliable receiving threat.

VALLEY

■ Coach: John Elwell, third year (8-14)

■ 2009 record: 3-8 (3-3 Northeast)

■ Returning starters: Four offense, four defense

■ Top players: WR Chris Jones (Sr.); CB Byron Peeples (Jr.)

■ Outlook: The Vikings are inexperienced and lost much of their offense from last season.

Garic Wharton, who nearly led Valley in rushing, passing and receiving, will be difficult to replace. The track star, who signed with Arizona for track and football, rushed for 980 yards and 10 TDs, passed for 544 yards and two TDs and caught 13 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown.

Trey Dean was the team's next-best threat, rushing for 581 yards and passing for 385.

Jones is the top returning offensive player, having caught 19 passes for 259 yards last season.

Peeples, a second-team All-Northeast League pick as a sophomore, is the top returnee on defense.