A final thank-you to the high school football coaches from around the Valley that submitted information to enable us to feature their schools and, more importantly, to be able to recognize their athletes. 

   CLOSING OUT our 2008 preview, we take a look at some of the teams that scored big last year and plan to be back at the top of the heap again this season.  We include State 5A champion Brophy Prep and a variety of regional champs as this final segment includes Buckeye Union HS, Corona del Sol HS, Deer Valley HS, Higley HS, and Mountain Ridge HS.

    "I'm looking forward to working with another hard-working bunch of young men," says Brophy Prep's head coach Scooter Molander.  "(It's) another year and more fun challenges!" 
    The challenge for Molander is whether his Broncos are up to defending their 5A I State Championship in 2008.  The Broncs went 12-2 in 2007, winning the Desert Valley regional championship enroute to its second state title in three years.
    Molander has 10 returning starters, on both sides of the line, to work with as he builds this year's program.  His senior defensive end, 6-5 Trenton Murphy, is already picking his way through a pile of offers from D-I college programs.
    Joining Murphy again this year are senior linebackers Matt Padilla (All-State), Adam Holzmeister (2nd team All-State), and Brandon Boyardi, also a stand-out on the Bronco baseball team.

We want to continue to thank the high school football coaches who have submitted the information that is enabling SportZine to recognize their schools and, especially, their athletes in our Preview.    

ROUNDING OUT our segment on those schools trying to make the turn this year after posting sub-par seasons in 2007, we are featuring Agua Fria HS, Arcadia HS, and Bourgade Catholic HS.
    NEXT UP... the schools that were successful in 2007, but have set their sights on continuing their winning ways in 2008.  Coming in the next segment: Brophy Prep HS, Buckeye HS, Corona del Sol HS, Deer Valley HS, Higley HS, and Mountain Ridge HS.

    Agua Fria coach, Kelly Epley, says his Owls will know this week which way their season will go.  They play Apache Junction HS Friday night and Epley says, "That's the game that's going to make or break our season.  It's a game that we can win."
    The Owls are a 4A I team that play in the West Valley Region.  They are coming off a 4-7 season last year, but still managed a playoff berth.  This year, they are counting on 15 seniors to lead the way back to the playoffs.  Last year, they started a lot of juniors and sophomores, but Epley points out that "Every team is only as good as its seniors."  And he feels he has some good ones in Justin Lewis, who will play both ways at defensive end and tight end; running back Jordan Yancey; and 250 lb. offensive tackle Ramon Lopez.  The Owls' strength this year lies largely in the offensive and defensive lines.