RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesArizona high school football teams in the 4A, 5A and 6A conferences begin practicing with helmets on Monday, Aug. 3. Teams are managing workouts to avoid the hottest part of the day. Here are five questions for the big-school conferences as the season gets closer. Games begin Aug. 27.
Can Basha repeat as Open Division champion?
If you look at the Bears on paper, they're absolutely loaded with talent at every position. They have 14 seniors who have committed to Division I colleges. And more are expected from this stacked class. They have a quarterback, Jake Rogers, who is coming off a great state championship performance. The wide receivers room might be the most talented overall in the state. The offensive line is incredible. Same with the defensive line. They have the No. 1 kicker in the state. Is there a weakness? No. The Bears could go down as the best team in state history when all is said and done.
How will Thunderbird's Daryl Little II transition to QB?
Phoenix Thunderbird's 4A playoff hopes hinge on how well junior Daryl Little II transitions from wide receiver to quarterback. Coach Matt Nalette is banking on Little to succeed. He's one of the most electric players in the state and needs to have the ball in his hands as much as possible for the Titans to win games. Little in 'wildcat' should be fun to watch. If he's able to show accuracy and a rhythm with his passing, this could be one of the best position moves in the state.
Can Roye Oliver III break more records in his final HS season?
Yes, now that Chandler Hamilton quarterback Jax Sculley has been cleared to start the first game of the season, wide receiver Roye Oliver III has the ability to surpass what he did last year, when he set a single-season 6A record with 1,839 receiving yards. The 11-man record is 2,153 by Elijah Marks of Goodyear Desert Edge at the 4A level in 2013. Oliver tied the overall 11-man state record last year with 29 touchdown catches initially set by John Henderson at then-3A Yuma Catholic in 2018. But, no doubt, Oliver is going to attract more coverage this season. And, with his brother, Roman, expected to break out, the Huskies might be spreading the ball out more. So it's going to be tough. But if anybody is capable of duplicating or surpassing what he did last year, it is Roye Oliver III.
Will the West Valley re-emerge with a state champion?
Last year, the big-school state champions came from Basha (Open), Queen Creek Casteel (6A), Scottsdale Desert Mountain (5A) and Tucson Mica Mountain (4A). All of those team are going to be very good again. But Peoria schools Liberty and Centennial appear to have the best chances to break through this year from the West Valley. With the big three in Chandler -- Basha, Hamilton and Chandler -- all ranked among the Top 25 in the nation, it's going to be difficult for either of those Peoria schools. Still, don't count them out. Liberty thrives on the underdog role and has the talent to shock in the end. Liberty, under coach Colin Thomas, won back-to-back Open titles in 2023 and '24.
Who are the two biggest sleeper teams in 6A?
It might be Gilbert Perry and Mesa. Both teams are well-coached. Jeremy Hathcock had Mesa pushing Centennial to the wire in last year's 41-39 6A quarterfinal loss. He's now at Perry. Mesa is now led by Ryan Felker, who had much success in the junior college ranks at Mesa Community College. Perry's got talented skill-position players, led by quarterback Kael Snyder and wide receiver Amos Augustine. Mesa still has that strong nucleus of California transfers in receiver/defensive back Kingston Anetema, his quarterback brother Boogie, and linebacker Kainalu Skipps. And now sophomore defensive back Kamaha'o Skipps has moved in from California to help boost the Jackrabbits. Defensive back/receiver Kameron Williams is a rock-solid standout on both sides of the ball.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 key questions as Arizona high school football practices heat up
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