2013 Small-School Football Capsules
DIVISION III
AGASSI PREP
Coach: Ben Fermon, first season
2012 record: 3-5 (3-5 Division III Southern League)
Base offensive set: Wing-T
Base defensive set: 3-4
Top offensive players: RB Stephan Laushaul (Soph.); RB Cajon Lakes (Jr.); RB Kobe Williams (Jr.)
Top defensive players: LB Laushaul; DT Wa’t Manor (Sr.); DB Williams
Key losses: WR/DB Kendrick Glinton
Outlook: Fermon is the Stars’ third coach in as many seasons.
Laushaul was the team’s leading rusher (394 yards) and top tackler (100) as a freshman. He is expected to combine with Lakes and Williams to give the Stars a formidable rushing attack.
CALVARY CHAPEL
Coach: David Tautofi, third season (5-13)
2012 record: 3-6 (3-5 Division III Southern League)
Base offensive set: Spread
Base defensive set: 4-2-5
Top offensive players: WR Chris Basilio (Sr.); QB Riley Clark (Jr.)
Top defensive players: DB Basilio
Key losses: RB/LB A.J. Davis
Outlook: The Lions won three of their first four league games in 2012 and are hoping to start fast again this season.
Calvary Chapel is expected to feature one of the top aerial attacks in the league. Clark threw for 1,471 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore, and Basilio is back after posting a team-leading 46 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns.
LAUGHLIN
Coach: Jason Leonard, eighth season
2012 record: 4-5 (4-4 Division III Southern League, tied for third)
Returning letterwinners: 10
Returning starters: Five offense, five defense
Base offensive set: I-formation
Base defensive set: 5-3
Top offensive players: QB Justin Quibell (Sr.); OL Ryan Torrance (Sr.); RB Quinton Love (Sr.); RB Christian Avery (Sr.)
Top defensive players: LB Torrance; FS Brett Smith (Sr.); CB Love; LB Anthony Escarzaga (Sr.)
Key losses: OL/LB JuQuan Lakes; DL A.J. Nelson; QB/DB Corey Beggs; RB Benjamin Jacabo; RB/LB Averie Prosise
Outlook: The Cougars must rebuild after reaching the postseason for the first time since 2005.
Laughlin lost its leading passer, its top four rushers and its two leading receivers from a season ago. Quibell is the early favorite to take over at quarterback after playing wide receiver as a junior.
Torrance was as second-team All-Southern League pick at linebacker.
THE MEADOWS
Coach: Frank DeSantis, 14th season
2012 record: 3-6 (3-5 Division III Southern League, tied for sixth)
Returning letterwinners: 19
Returning starters: Six offense, seven defense
Base offensive set: Two-back
Base defensive set: Odd front
Top offensive players: RB Bryson Bickart (Jr.); OL Jared Hopper (Sr.); QB Jacob Gleason (Jr.)
Top defensive players: LB Austin Neal (Sr.); DL Mark Woodson (Jr.); LB Nathan Devera (Jr.)
Top newcomers: WR/DB Matt Biafore (Sr.)
Key losses: RB/DB Chase Marrs
Outlook: The Mustangs won three straight to end 2012 and hope that carries over into this season.
“We just want to build on how we ended last season,” DeSantis said.
Bickart is back after he led The Meadows in rushing with 682 yards, to along with five touchdowns. Gleason threw for 1,017 and 10 touchdowns in his first year as the starter, but lost three of his top four receiving targets.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Coach: Mike Valenzuela, second season
2012 record: 11-2 (8-0 Division III Southern League, first)
Returning letterwinners: 20
Returning starters: Seven offense, four defense
Base offensive set: I-formation
Base defensive set: Multiple
Top offensive players: FB Matt Larson (Sr.); RB Jacob Duldulao (Sr.); TE Travis Wallace (Sr.); OL Jerrod Wallace (Sr.)
Top defensive players: LB Noah Van Kempen (Sr.); DE Cameron Kirk (Sr.); DB Nick Jenkins (Sr.); DL J. Wallace
Key losses: FB/LB Elijah Armstrong; CB Adonis Morris; OL/DL Chris Klopfer
Outlook: The Saints have reached the state title game in two of the past three seasons, and will be a threat to return thanks to their experience at key positions and strong running game.
Larson racked up 1,876 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground a season ago, while Duldulao chipped in with 1,121 yards and 14 TDs.
Tight end Travis Wallace is a dual threat after rushing for 312 yards and four scores, and adding three receiving TDs.
Junior Ian Locke had 344 yards passing and five TDs while splitting time at quarterback with Wallace.
Van Kempen, the Saints’ leading tackler as a junior with 105, is the focal point on defense. Kirk had 51 stops and two sacks last season, and Jenkins will try to improve upon his four interceptions.
“We should be a physical team that is aiming to repeat our conference championship,” Valenzuela said. “We have worked on balance and are looking to stretch the field with a sound passing game.”
DIVISION IV
INDIAN SPRINGS
Coach: Sope Faga, 18th season
2012 record: 3-6 (2-4 Division IV Southern League, fifth)
Returning letterwinners: 11
Returning starters: Seven offense, seven defense
Base offensive set: Pro set
Base defensive set: 3-4
Top offensive players: QB Troy Heath (Sr.); RB Mason Hamlin (Sr.); OL Ryan Frank (Soph.)
Top defensive players: LB Hamlin; LB/DE Sope Faga Jr. (Sr.); DT Frank; LB Alfonso Santangelo (Sr.)
Top newcomers: OL/DL Cody Snyder (Jr.)
Key losses: RB Devon Jackson; OL/DL Hayden Frady
Outlook: The Thunderbirds return a veteran team and expect to contend for a playoff berth.
Heath is back after throwing for 782 yards and seven TDs and adding 201 yards on the ground. Hamlin will be the featured back and should benefit from an offensive line led by Faga Jr. and Frank.
PAHRANAGAT VALLEY
Coach: Ken Higbee, 19th season
2012 record: 11-0 (6-0 Division IV Southern League, first)
Returning letterwinners: Five
Returning starters: Two offense, three defense
Base offensive set: Pro set
Base defensive set: 4-3-1
Top offensive players: RB Wade Leavitt (Jr.); TE Jeremy Minick (Jr.); RB Caleb Hansen (Jr.)
Top defensive players: DL Jake Carter (Sr.); LB Leavitt; DE Utah Ray (Jr.)
Top newcomers: OL/CB Cody Stirling (Soph.); OL/DL Chandlar Palmer (Jr.); OL/LB Austin Horrocks (Jr.); C/DE Paden Higbee (Jr.); RB/CB Jordan Cryts (Jr.); OL/DL Mateo Linares (Soph.); TE/LB Shawn Wadsworth (Soph.)
Key losses: RB/LB Tyler Higbee; QB/CB Austin Poulsen; TE/DE Mason Stirling; TE/LB Tyson Sparrow; OL Shota Ray; OL/LB Matthew Roemer
Outlook: The Panthers are riding a state-record 57-game winning streak but are rebuilding after capturing their fifth straight state title.
Poulsen and Tyler Higbee accounted for more than 70 touchdowns last season and will be dfficult to replace.
Leavitt is expected to be featured on offense after rushing for 605 yards and six touchdowns last season.
Leavitt and Carter lead Pahranagat Valley’s defense. Carter recorded 73 tackles and three sacks in 2012, while Leavitt had 82 stops. They’ll get help from defensive end Utah Ray, who notched 31 tackles and three sacks as a sophomore last season.
“We look to compete with other teams in the Southern Division IV and the rest of the state,” Ken Higbee said.
ROUND MOUNTAIN
Coach: Charles Younglove, first season
2012 record: 6-4 (4-2 Division IV Southern League, third)
Returning letterwinners: 8
Returning starters: Three offense, three defense
Base offensive set: Pro-set, I-formation
Base defensive set: 3-3
Top offensive players: FB Caden Thomsen (Sr.); QB Carlos Chavez (Sr.); OL Gabriel Ramirez (Sr.); OL Johnathan Grim (Jr.); RB Garrett Cecchini (Jr.); RB Ricardo Rodriguez (Jr.)
Top defensive players: CB Chavez; LB Thomsen; CB Rodriguez; DE Ramirez; LB Cecchini
Key losses: RB/DB Serjio Chavez; QB/LB Emitt Davis; OL/DL Kyle Younglove; RB/DE Jordan Rangitch; FB/LB Cole Shrider; WR/DL Stephen Laca
Outlook: The Knights have qualified for the playoffs in four of the past five seasons but will be inexperienced this season.
Thomsen moves from offensive line to the backfield, and Chavez takes over at quarterback after playing wide receiver last season.
Round Mountain lost its top three rushers from last season, including standout Serjio Chavez (1,294 yards rushing, 23 TDs). That will put the load on Cecchini and Rodriguez.
Defensively, Thomsen is now at middle linebacker after playing defensive end last season.
“We are a young team, and with only 14 players our young players will be getting valuable experience,” Younglove said. “This whole conference from the top down will be tested throughout the season. We will have plans to play our best and see what happens.”
SANDY VALLEY
Coach: Brett Kramer, second season
2012 record: 1-7 (0-6 Division IV Southern League, seventh)
Returning letterwinners: 7
Returning starters: Six offense, five defense
Base offensive set: Double wing
Base defensive set: 3-3
Top offensive players: RB James Rau (Jr.); QB Lane Eastham (Jr.); TE Nathaniel Carter (Sr.)
Top defensive players: DE Carter; LB Rau; DE Garrett Seller (Jr.)
Top newcomers: TE/CB Jason Deere (Jr.); RB/LB Zhane Burkhart (Soph.)
Key losses: RB/LB Jeremy Hall; QB/LB Darby Wadley
Outlook: The Sidewinders have gone 5-31 over the past five seasons but have more depth than in recent years and should be improved on both sides of the ball.
Carter (36 tackles, 11 sacks) and Rau (29 tackles, two interceptions) will lead the defense. Rau is expected to be the featured back behind Eastham, who takes over at quarterback for Wadley.
“With numbers up from previous years, (we) are optimistic about making large strides in both performance and wins,” Kramer said. “Both the pass and run game appear to be improved, and defensively (we) are running to the ball much better.”
