2016 Chaparral Football Capsule
CHAPARRAL
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: Paul Nihipali, third season (14-8)
2015 record: 9-3 (5-1 Sunrise League, second)
Returning lettermen: 22
Returning starters: Seven offense, six defense
Base offensive set: Spread
Base defensive set: 4-3
Top offensive players: OL Kalani Lealeo (Jr.), RB Jacob Ford (Sr.), WR Kentrell Petite (Sr.)
Top defensive players: C/DT Jose Bravo (Sr.), DE Jesus Fernandez (Sr.), S Tayray Collins (Jr.)
Key losses: RB/LB Richard Nelson, WR/DB Casey Acosta, WR Antwain Allen
Outlook: The runner-up in last year’s Sunrise League, you could get good odds on Chaparral to make the leap to winning it this season. Defending league champ Moapa Valley was decimated to graduation, and Desert Pines switched to the Sunset League, so the Cowboys have enough returning talent to make a run for the crown.
It’s going to be tough beat Chaparral in the trenches, as the Cowboys return two key players to last year’s offense: Bravo and Fernandez. Tayray Collins, a safety patrolling the secondary, stepped his game to a new level as a sophomore is poised for a strong year.
The passing game may be the biggest question on the offense, graduating a combined 676 receiving yards and eight touchdowns between Acosta and Allen. Chaparral does return last year’s receiving leader in Petite, but will have a new quarterback throwing to him. Santi Bialtando will take over under center after not playing on varsity last year.
As with any team, it will take some 2015 junior varsity players stepping up, but the time may be right for the Cowboys to challenge for a league title.
