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High School Football Preview: The Linemen

Hunter Schlagel (Javier Morales/AllSportstucson.com)

THE LINEMEN

Over 70 of the top linemen from Southern Arizona graduated last year with the bulk of those standouts coming from 4A to 6A. Here is the list of top returning linemen as determined by the coaches (azpreps365) starting with Cienega lineman Hunter Schlagel:

HUNTER SCHLAGEL, CIENEGA

Schlagel (6-2, 285) has offers from Northern Arizona, Western New Mexico, Augustana, Southwest Minnesota State and Washburn. Schlagel helped lead the Bobcats to a 5A Southern Region title and 9-3 record last year.

Cienega sports a 9-0 win streak against teams from Southern Arizona and 38-1 since October of 2015. It’s a dominating streak that includes three wins over Salpointe, three region titles and two 5A semifinal finishes and Schlagel has been on the field for the last three years, even as a freshman when he collected 18 tackles and an interception on a team that went 12-1.

Schlagel had 43 tackles last year, including nine for a loss with three sacks. Also tops in the classroom, Schlagel would like to study computer science and/or law school at the next level.

THE NEXT GROUP

Dominic Avant, Sr. Buena (6-5, 310)
Josue Carino Sr. Sunnyside (6-2, 285)
Carlos Marquez, Sr. Cholla (6-1, 210)
Misael Serrano, Sr. Mountain View (6-4, 295)
Alvaro Chaparro, Jr. Desert View (6-0, 190)
Anton Jamero, Sr. Desert View (5-9, 215)
Raul Mireles, Sr. Cholla (6-0, 232)
Teddy Walton, Sr. Mountain View (6-3)
Victor Ambriz, Sr. Desert View (6-0, 240)
Sam Hala’ufia, Jr. Mountain View (6-4, 225)
Scott French, Sr. Ironwood Ridge (5-11, 260)
Gabe Siqueiros, Sr. Salpointe (6-2, 275)
Gabriel Watkins-Daigle, Jr. Walden Grove (6-1, 215)
Jose Gonzalez, Sr. Amphitheater (6-1, 270)
Chase Randall, Sr. Canyon Del Oro (6-2, 255)
Nick Contreras, So. Canyon Del Oro (6-0, 240)
Marco Cazzato, Sr. Catalina Foothills (6-0, 245)
Brees McCraren, Sr. Salpointe (6-0, 245)
Mike Williams, Sr. Canyon Del Oro (6-0, 190)
Gabriel Galaz, Sr. Douglas (5-10, 190)
Monaseti Molio’o, Sr. Sahuarita (5-9, 150)
Gabriel Witt, Sr. Pusch Ridge, (6-0, 191)
Clay Warner, Sr. Sahuarita, (5-8, 150)
Jason Watt, Sr. Sahuarita (6-1, 200)
Trey Girard, Sr. Walden Grove (5-9, 205)
Ryan Francione, Jr. Benson (6-0, 270)
Jesus Mejia, Santa Rita (5-8, 200)
Joe Jackson, Jr. Benson (6-1, 275)
Joe Haskins, Jr. Santa Rita (5-9, 210)
James Bryant, Sr. Tombstone (6-2)
Tanzor Gil, Jr. Santa Cruz (6-2, 249)
Diego Castillo, Sr. Santa Cruz (5-7, 248)
Johnathen Rodriguez, Sr. San Manuel
Kason Jacquez, Sr. St. David (6-3, 185)
Cody Didion, Jr. St. David (6-0, 165)
Deshane Lavier, Sr. Baboquivari
David Lavier, Jr. Baboquivari

HISTORY FROM SOUTHERN ARIZONA

Mike Dawson (Tucson)

Mike Dawson (6-4, 240) was a Parade All-American tackle from Tucson High who went on to play for the University of Arizona where he had an immediate impact after the NCAA allowed freshmen to play varsity in 1972.

Dawson played in the 1972 High School All-Star game along with his Badger teammates Mike Bailey (C) and Jinx Johnson (LB) and Warren Bogle (Flowing Wells/G), Don Ruyle (Amphi/G), Bruce Hitchye (Rincon/FL), Steve Terrell (Amphi/LE), Brian Murray (Salpointe/RT), Ted Rubiase (Willcox/LT), Bo Warren (Marana/LB), Dale Savidge (Flowing Wells/CB) and Larry Epling (CDO/S).

Dawson was a state heavy weight wrestling champion in 1972 after leading the Badger football team to back-to-back state championships in 1970 and 1971. He went on to letter all four years at Arizona, earning All-Conference honors and WAC Lineman of the Year in 1975. He was drafted in the first round and he played in nine NFL seasons, starting 91 of 113 games.

FOLLOW @ANDYMORALES8 ON TWITTER

Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017, a 2019 AZ Education News award winner and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019 and he is a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com

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