2013 Division I-A Football Capsules
SUNSET LEAGUE
CHEYENNE
Coach: David Cochran, fourth season (19-12)
2012 record: 9-3 (5-0 Division I-A Sunset League, first)
Returning letterwinners: 16
Returning starters: Five offense, three defense
Base offensive set: Double wing
Base defensive set: Even front
Top offensive players: OL Terry Dodd IV (Sr.); QB Darrion Hammond (Sr.)
Top defensive players: CB Martel Evans (Sr.)
Top newcomers: OL/DL Jarius Perry (Sr.); RB/LB Jordan Johnson (Jr.)
Key losses: RB Myloe Lewis; TE/DE Dylan Power
Outlook: The Desert Shields are “young and inexperienced,” according to Cochran, but should still be in the mix for a league title.
Hammond started all but one game under center in 2012 and will lead the offense once again. He completed 62 percent of his passes and tossed five touchdowns last season.
Dodd was a second-team Division I-A all-state selection as a junior and is back to anchor the offensive line.
Johnson will get first crack at replacing Lewis, who was the I-A state Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for more than 2,400 yards along with 41 total touchdowns.
Evans had five interceptions last season and gives Cheyenne a playmaker on that side of the ball.
The Desert Shields reached the Division I-A state semifinals last season and led entering the fourth quarter at eventual state champion Truckee (Calif.). If the newcomers at the skill positions can produce, another deep postseason run is likely.
CLARK
Coach: Don Willis, eighth season (18-49)
2012 record: 1-8 (1-4 Division I-A Sunset League, fifth)
Returning letterwinners: 15
Returning starters: Four offense, six defense
Base offensive set: Spread
Base defensive set: 3-5-3
Top offensive players: RB Milan Dixon (Soph.); RB/WR Kareem Warren (Jr.); OL Jon Aldana (Jr.)
Top defensive players: LB Cory Corral (Sr.); DL Edwin Centeno (Sr.); DL Benson Joseph (Sr.); DB Ozvaldo Galvez (Sr.)
Top newcomers: LB Tyrek Wells (Jr.); RB Cliff Smith (Sr.)
Key losses: LB Andrew Arjana; OL/DL Hidero Takagi
Outlook: The Chargers appear well stocked at the offensive skill positions and are more athletic than in recent seasons, according to Willis.
Warren led the team with nearly 300 yards rushing as a sophomore, and Willis has high hopes for Dixon.
“Our goal is to make the playoffs,” Willis said.
FAITH LUTHERAN
Coach: Vernon Fox, first season
2012 record: 5-5 (3-2 Division I-A Sunset League, third)
Returning letterwinners: 21
Returning starters: Five offense, 10 defense
Base offensive set: Pro style
Base defensive set: 4-3
Top offensive players: RB Keenan Smith (Sr.); WR Vinny DeGeorge (Sr.); OL Frank Neuhauser (Sr.); OL Austin Prather (Jr.); QB Greg Benson (Jr.); WR Mark Rubalcaba (Jr.)
Top defensive players: LB Danny Otuwa (Sr.); DE Hayden Solis (Sr.); DE John Molchon (Jr.); LB Ben Flandenmeyer (Sr.)
Key losses: WR Anthony Pryatel-Farmer
Outlook: Fox, a former Cimarron-Memorial athlete and NFL defensive back, was hired in February and will move the Crusaders away from the pass-happy, spread offense to a pro-style formation.
Smith is a potential gamebreaker at running back and Benson is coming off a sophomore season in which he threw for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns.
"The kids look to be very encouraged and energized by the new staff and ready to compete with the best at I-A," Fox said.
MOJAVE
Coach: Joe Delgado, third season (8-12)
2012 record: 6-5 (4-1 Division I-A Sunset League, second)
Returning letterwinners: 16
Returning starters: 10 offense, nine defense
Base offensive set: Wing
Base defensive set: 4-2-5
Top offensive players: QB Zack Arave (Jr.); RB Ty Flanagan (Jr.)
Top defensive players: DE Lorenzo Guerrero (Sr.); LB Deandre Armstrong (Sr.)
Top newcomers: OL/DL Asante Lee (Sr.); RB/LB Elijah Smoot (Soph.); WR/DB Andy Gonzalez (Soph.); WR Jaylon Delgado (Soph.)
Key losses: WR/DB Marcus Hines; WR/DB Jalon Dean; WR/DB Tyreek Carter; RB/LB Billy Murphy
Outlook: The Rattlers are primed to make a deep postseason run after reaching the I-A state quarterfinals a season ago.
Arave was a second-team I-A all-state pick as a sophomore after throwing for nearly 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushing for 824 yards and seven scores.
Flanagan (1,212 yards, 15 TDs) was also a second-team I-A all-state performer and is drawing attention from Arizona, Colorado, UCLA, UNLV, UNR and Utah.
Wide receiver Marcus Parker, a 6-foot-5-inch junior, averaged nearly 24 yards per reception last season and caught five touchdowns. He is hearing from Arizona, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, UNR and Utah.
Guerrero had 14 sacks as a junior and leads an experienced defense.
SUNRISE LEAGUE
BOULDER CITY
Coach: Alex Kazel, sixth season
2012 record: 9-2 (4-1 Division I-A Sunrise League, second)
Returning letterwinners: Seven
Returning starters: Four offense, three defense
Base offensive set: Wing
Base defensive set: 40
Top offensive players: RB Xavier Steel (Sr.); RB Sam Woodbury (Sr.); OG Dillon Prach (Sr.); C Jackson Dunagan (Sr.); OT Nick Bennett (Sr.); QB Trenton Carmell (Jr.)
Top defensive players: LB Prach; FS Steel
Top newcomers: RB/DE Brooks Roe (Jr.); FB/DE Nelson VanDiest (Jr.); OG/DT Jack Rozycki (Jr.); TE/LB Jacob Jurgschat (Jr.)
Key losses: FB/DE D.J. Koopman; TE/LB Michael Kelso; RB/CB Corbett Fleming; OT/DT/K Chris Nilsen; RB/SS Billy Viera
Outlook: The Eagles should have one of the top offensive backfields in Division I-A despite losing Koopman’s production.
Steel ran for 1,067 yards and nine touchdowns and averaged more than 11 yards per carry a season ago, while Woodbury had almost 300 yards on 46 carries and scored six TDs.
Carmell takes over at quarterback and went 6-for-7 for 105 yards and two touchdowns in limited action in 2012.
Prach returns to the heart of the defense after making a 79 tackles as a junior.
The Eagles reached the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009, advancing to the I-A state quarterfinals. A second straight postseason apperance is probable despite the personnel losses.
CHAPARRAL
Coach: William Froman, third season (5-13)
2012 record: 4-5 (1-4 Division I-A Sunrise League, fifth)
Returning letterwinners: 20
Returning starters: Five offense, seven defense
Base offensive set: Double wing
Base defensive set: Multiple
Top offensive players: OL Mark Jones (Sr.); QB Jerome Williamson (Jr.); RB Seitu Wyche (Jr.)
Top defensive players: DL Bubba Dukes (Sr.); LB Richie Hernandez (Soph.)
Top newcomers: CB Malachi Miles (Jr.); DL Eric Liggins (Jr.); FB/LB Antwan Allen (Soph.)
Key losses: RB Antonio Thomas; OL/DL Will Hernandez
Outlook: The Cowboys haven’t qualified for the playoffs in eight seasons but are optimistic of ending the skid this year.
Froman said this is the fastest team he’s had in his three years. Williamson takes over at quarterback after completing 7 of 14 passes in limited time last season. Wyche will step in at running back for Thomas, who will be tough to replace after gaining 1,319 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Hernandez was the team’s leading tackler as a freshman.
“Win 'The Cleat’ and make the playoffs. Those are the two expectations at Chap,” Froman said.
MOAPA VALLEY
Coach: Brent Lewis, 12th season
2012 record: 12-2 (5-0 Division I-A Sunrise League, first)
Returning letterwinners: 14
Returning starters: Seven offense, seven defense
Base offensive set: Wing-T/Spread
Base defensive set: 4-4
Top offensive players: RB Jared Repp (Sr.); RB Justin Hughes (Sr.); QB Lance Hilton (Sr.); WB Jake Repp (Sr.)
Top defensive players: LB Hughes; LB Jar. Repp; LB Jak. Repp; S Hilton; CB Jeremy Waite (Sr.); DT Mat McDermand (Sr.)
Top newcomers: QB Zach Hymas (Jr.); WR Bunker Wimer (Sr.)
Key losses: RB Conner Mortensen; WB Sean McConnell; FB Kasen Hughes; OT/DT Cody Tolbert; QB Josh Repp
Outlook: The Pirates have been to seven straight state championship games, and eight of the last nine, but they haven’t won the title since 2008.
Moapa Valley will have to replace several key pieces on offense and develop depth on both lines if it’s going to return to the state final this season.
“Our numbers are slightly down this year, so many guys will go both way, or at least rotate a lot,” Lewis said. “We have high expectations to return and challenge for the title, but we know that we have many holes to fill. We will need to work hard and execute, and hopefully avoid injuries.”
Jared Repp rushed for 523 yards and seven touchdowns on only 72 carries as a junior and will likely get the bulk of the touches with Mortsensen departed. Jake Repp (177 yards, four TDs) and Hughes (166 yards, one TD) round out the backfield.
Hilton is expected to start at quarterback, although Lewis said Hymas should see time as well. They’ll operate behind an offensive line led by tackle Mat McDermand (6-6, 260), who has scholarship offers from UNLV and Texas-El Paso and is drawing interest from Harvard, Northern Arizona, Stanford, UNR and Utah.
The core of the Pirates defense is back and features linebackers Hughes (95 tackles, nine sacks), Jared Repp (85 tackles) and Josh Repp (45 tackles) with McDermand (63 tackles, six sacks) up front. Hilton had five interceptions in five games before being injured and joins Waite (five INTs) in the secondary.
“We are a smaller group this year, but our guys are very tough,” Lewis said. “We think our league will be very competitive so we will have to bring our 'A’ game to repeat at Southern champs.”
SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
Coach: Ky Edwards, third season (2-16)
2012 record: 2-7 (0-5 Division I-A Sunrise League, sixth)
Returning letterwinners: 12
Returning starters: Five offense, seven defense
Base offensive set: Pistol
Base defensive set: 4-2-5
Top offensive players: RB Sherman Nash (Sr.); WR Daquwan Doyle (Sr.); WR Trey Smith (Sr.); OL J.J. Owens (Sr.); WR Damon Heard (Jr.)
Top defensive players: DE Ronald Gipson (Sr.); FS Nash; LB Doyle
Top newcomers: QB Wanya Calahan (Jr.); WR/SS Darnell Calahan (Sr.)
Key losses: WR/DB A’keem Ross; OL/LB Jesus Pena
Outlook: The Miners earned the first win over a varsity opponent in school history to open last season and are even more optimistic heading into 2013.
Sunrise Mountain has upgraded its overall team speed led by Doyle and Darnell Calahan, who were members of the state champion 4x400-meter relay team. Three other members of the football team qualified for the I-A state track meet in May.
Nash returns after rushing for a team-best 812 yards and seven touchdowns.
“We expect to be a lot more explosive on both sides,” Edwards said. “Looking forward to (the) best season in school history.”
VIRGIN VALLEY
Coach: Chris Sawyers, second season
2012 record: 5-5 (2-3 Division I-A Sunrise League, fourth)
Returning letterwinners: 18
Returning starters: Six offense, six defense
Base offensive set: Spread
Base defensive set: 4-3
Top offensive players: WR DeVonte Milligan (Sr.); WR/RB Dee Bowler (Sr.); QB Garrett Leavitt (Sr.); WR Dillon Graves (Sr.); OG Beau Leavitt (Sr.)
Top defensive players: LB Bowler; DT Skyler Ford (Sr.); DE Harold Caswell (Sr.); LB Junior Poango (Jr.)
Key losses: LB Tyson Teerlink; CB Cristian Aguirre; DT Jared Walther
Outlook: The Bulldogs return a wealth of experience at the offensive skill positions and expect to contend for the league title.
Bowler (6-2, 185), who is drawing interest from UNLV, Northern Arizona, Southern Utah, Utah and Weber State, ran for 860 yards and 10 touchdowns and added 10 receptions for 127 yards and one score last season. He is the catalyst for Virgin Valley and will line up at multiple positions in its spread offense.
Milligan and Graves provide more options outside for Garrett Leavitt, who threw for 1,271 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior.
The Bulldogs lost three of their final four games in 2012, but Sawyers expects to avoid a slide this season thanks to a mature senior class.
“We’re really excited about the season,” Sawyers said. “We will be 100 percent better than we were a year ago, and that’s mostly due to the work they did in the offseason and our strong leadership.”
