Previewing the 4A Black Canyon region
October 15, 2021 by Nicholas Pietrzycki, Arizona State University
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Nicholas Pietrzycki is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arcadia High School for AZPreps365.com.
Arizona high school football is in full swing, and many teams are in the middle of their season. This does not exclude the 4A Black Canyon Region which includes Apache Junction, Arcadia, Combs, Poston Butte and Tempe. The 4A Black Canyon region begins region play on Friday, with multiple teams still in playoff contention and the 4A Black Canyon region title still up for grabs.
Apache Junction High School
The Apache Junction Prospectors begin region play with a 4-1 overall record on the season and are currently ranked No. 8 in the 4A conference, according to AZPreps365. The Prospectors come into conference play injury-free, according to head coach Bruce Binkley. Despite the Prospectors’ hot start on offense, averaging 39 points per game, Binkley knows it’s a marathon and not a sprint.
It all starts with the Prospectors’ offensive line, all five starters are seniors, and all have high school experience, according to coach Binkley. Junior wide receiver Garrett Garcia leads the 4A conference and is sixth in the state with 674 yards receiving on 42 receptions. The Prospectors’ balanced offense also includes sophomore running back Isaiah Savoie. Savoie is currently fourth in the 4A conference in rushing yards this season with 789 yards. Junior quarterback Gavin Limongello is top 10 in the 4A conference for total offensive yards with 1,276.
On defense, the Prospectors are anchored by their two defensive ends, according to Binkley. Juniors Brock Scruggs and Christopher Vaccaro can both play multiple positions on defense for the Prospectors, according to Binkley, and senior safety Hunter De La Cruz leads the Prospectors’ defensive backfield. Despite the Prospectors allowing 27.8 points per game, coach Binkley is confident in his defensive unit going into conference play.
Senior kicker Wallace Cap is currently perfect on the year, not missing a field goal or extra point for the Prospectors.
Arcadia High School
The Arcadia Titans begin region play with a 3-3 overall record and a much-needed culture change. The Titans are currently ranked No. 28 in 4A, according to AZPreps365 came into the 2021 season after hiring their new head coach Ray Brown in June. Brown took over the Titans and has brought a renewed spirit to the program, according to multiple Arcadia players. The Titans have gained more confidence and have grown each week, according to Brown.
“We can’t be making the same mistakes we made in week one this week,” Brown said.
Offensively, the Titans returned three starters on the offensive line from 2020, and the returning starters have been a big help for sophomore quarterback Rocco Mortensen, who took over the starting quarterback role early in the season.
“Our offense has a lot of young guys,” sophomore wide receiver Brady Forst said.
The Titans offense is starting to click since Mortensen took over the starting quarterback job, according to Brown. Forst ranks third in receiving yards in the 4A Black Canyon region with 346 yards. Forst has scored four touchdowns on the year, with two coming in the same game against Sahuaro.
The defense has been the Titans’ strong point so far this season, according to Brown. The Titans have held three opponents to under 20 points and have multiple players with more than one sack. A welcomed addition to the Titans’ defense has been the presence of senior safety Antonio Green, who switched from cornerback to safety this season, according to Brown.
Junior punter Issac De La Cruz ranks fourth in the 4A conference in average yards per punt, just shy of 40 yards, according to AZPreps365. Sophomore Chris Hoos ranks tenth in the 4A conference in average yards per kickoff return with 19.3 yards per return, according to AZPreps365.
Combs High School
The Combs Coyotes begin region play with a 2-3 overall record and are currently ranked No. 26 in the 4A conference, according to AZPreps365. The Coyotes started their fifth season in the 4A conference after previously being in 3A.
Junior quarterback Tanner Hale currently ranks eighth in the 4A conference in passing yards with 1,061. Hale is also the Coyotes leading rusher with 248 yards rushing and nine rushing touchdowns, totaling 1,309 total yards and 16 total touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Hunter Clare leads the Coyotes in receptions and receiving yards and ranks fifth in the 4A conference in receiving yards with 486.
The Coyotes have a very physical defense, which stood out to Arcadia's Brown ahead of their Oct. 15 matchup. Junior defensive lineman Brodee Tucker leads the Coyotes’ defensive line. Tucker is the joint leader in sacks in the 4A conference with 10.
“They have really good size,” Brown said.
Poston Butte High School
The Poston Butte Broncos begin region play with a 4-2 overall record and the highest-ranked team in all of the 4A Black Canyon region, currently ranked No. 5 in the 4A conference, according to AZPreps365. The Broncos’ freedom schedule included games against the top two teams in the 4A conference: Cactus and the American Leadership Academy—Queen’s Creek. The Broncos have played tough in their first six games, according to head coach Dain Thompson.
Senior running back Octavious Joe has rushed for 932 yards through the Broncos’ first six games of the season, averaging just over 155 yards per game.
“Octavious has been an absolute work-horse for us this season,” Thompson said.
Thompson gives credit to his offensive line, anchored by junior left tackle Cade Alisa. The Broncos can execute an option offense with help from their offensive line and depth in the backfield. Allowing for multiple running backs to get an opportunity, according to Thompson. Four different rushers besides Joe have scored a touchdown this season, and three of four have scored multiple touchdowns.
The Broncos have moved multiple guys around on defense this year to account for the variations of offense they see, according to Thompson. Senior linebacker Riley Nolan, who is second on the team in total tackles, is the commander of the defense, according to Thompson. Senior cornerback Amari Gilmore leads the Broncos in tackles and has an interception on the year. Gilmore currently has interest from Idaho, UNLV and NAU, according to 24/7 Sports.
Tempe High School
The Tempe Buffaloes come into region play with the worst record in the 4A Black Canyon region at 0-3 and are currently ranked No. 44 in the 4A conference, according to AZPreps365. The Buffaloes have not won a game since November 2019.
Head coach Todd Hanley replaced long-time head coach Brian Walker, who had been at the helm in Tempe for 12 years. Hanley came to Tempe from Flagstaff High School, where he had a winning record.
The Buffaloes have struggled offensively since the end of 2019, only scoring more than 14 points in two games since November 2019.
On defense, the Buffaloes have struggled to stop opposing offenses, allowing over 50 points per game this season and allowing over 45 points per game since the beginning of the 2020 season. But have managed to create some pressure, with senior linebacker Emiliano Miranda’s two sacks on the year.
“They’re going to be motivated,” Arcadia's Brown said. “And they are a really well-coached football team.”