By Don Ketchum

The football team from Laveen Betty H. Fairfax had a very good season in 2010, finishing with an 8-3 overall record and reaching the playoffs for the first time.

According to coach Kevin Belcher, there is more from where that came. Work during the recent spring football time period convinced him of that.

Because of graduation preparations and final exams, the Stampede could only work in two of the three allowable weeks.

“We wanted to start strong and finish strong,’’ Belcher said. “We had a very good turnout. We tried to tweak players at different positions. One thing is for sure, our best 22 will be out there and it will be a good, competitive 22.’’

With the Arizona Interscholastic Association realigning all the schools into divisions and sections within those divisions, Betty H. Fairfax will be thrown into a new situation this fall.

The Stampede will be a member of the Division II Section I, meaning the Phoenix Union District schools will be scattered to the four winds.

Other schools in the new section will be Glendale Raymond S. Kellis, Phoenix Camelback, Surprise Willow Canyon, Lake Havasu, Glendale Apollo, Phoenix South Mountain, Laveen Cesar Chavez, Glendale Ironwood, Goodyear Millennium, Yuma Gila Ridge, Avondale La Joya, Glendale Deer Valley, Peoria Centennial and Glendale Independence.

Betty H. Fairfax also will participate in seven-on-seven passing drills at the University of Arizona, Arizona State, Northern Arizona, San Diego State, and a competition in association with the Arizona Football Coaches Association All-Star game at the end of June in Surprise.

The team will hold its annual preseason camp in California near the end of July, with preseason workouts starting shortly thereafter.

Belcher also wants his players to be well-rounded individuals.

Several players were involved with community outreach this spring, focusing on literacy and the donation of books to second graders and setting a time to read with them.

Betty H. Fairfax had one player sign with the University of Arizona (defensive end Reggie Gilbert) and this season has at least two top prospects, defensive linemen Dwight Melvin (offers from Arizona, UCLA) and Anthony Arledge (several offers, including Air Force).

“We’re looking forward to the season,’’ Belcher said.