Like foes face new questions

Del Sol and Canyon Springs were among the best high school football teams in the Sunrise Region last season, and they had plenty in common.

Both programs were in their third season of competition, and both featured explosive offenses that averaged more than 30 points.

The Dragons and Pioneers are expected to be among the best in the Sunrise again this year, but both face questions as the season begins tonight.

Canyon Springs, which went 8-4 last season, travels to Del Sol, which was 10-3, for the 2007 season opener at 7 tonight.

Canyon Springs returns a ridiculous array of offensive weapons but lost its entire starting offensive line to graduation.

Del Sol returns much of its massive line but lost its key skill player, running back Tim Johnson, who rushed for 2,749 yards and 32 touchdowns last season.

"We have the majority of our offensive line back and two out of three in the backfield," Del Sol coach Preston Goroff said. "Everybody's got some game experience. But we're not a threat to score every time we touch the ball like we were last year."

Canyon Springs should be a threat to score from anywhere on the field -- as long as five new linemen come through.

The Pioneers return quarterback Devonte Christopher, who passed for 2,736 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushed for 519 yards and three scores last season.

Running back DeCasio Collins (1,115 rushing yards, 11 TDS) also is back, as are all-state receivers Juron Criner (36 catches, 788 yards) and Raveon Samuel (57 catches, 937 yards). And Canyon Springs picked up another back, Rancho transfer DeShawn Stewart, who rushed for 656 yards and seven TDs for the Rams last season.

Still, Pioneers coach Matt Jenkins said the key for his team's success will come on the offensive and defensive lines.

"We're going to go as far as our front seven and our five offensive linemen take us." Jenkins said. "Those skill guys are all great and dandy, but if there aren't guys blocking for them, it doesn't mean very much."

The Dragons return a pair of second-team All-Sunrise Region offensive linemen in 305-pound Otto Hansell and 250-pound Pat Mendes. Pono Huihui, a 275-pound offensive tackle, adds more size and experience.

"We're depending a lot on those guys," Goroff said of his line. "We keep telling them we'll go as far as they take us. They understand that they're going to play really big roles in what we do."

Johnson was such a threat to break a big run that Del Sol often called running plays even with time running out in the first half last season.

But without him, the Dragons will be more of a ball-control offense.

"We're probably not going to be as explosive on offense," Goroff said. "We'll be more methodical. Three yards and a cloud of dust."