Class 4A in Southern Arizona includes two coaches entering their 19th year of being a head coach (Salpointe’s Dennis Bene and Amphi’s Jorge Mendivil), three with an Arizona Wildcats background and another without head coaching experience (Catalina Foothills’ Darius Kelly) who played college football at Syracuse.
Kelly, a Buena alum who starred at Pima Community College, coaches against his alma mater Friday at 7 p.m. at Catalina Foothills in the Coaches for Charity Kickoff Classic.
Kelly is only five years removed from playing for the Orange and excelling as a strong safety against the likes of Notre Dame and Florida State.
The three former Arizona players are new Douglas coach Hunter Long, Sahuaro coach Scott McKee (in his 16th year as a head coach) and six-year Pueblo coach Brandon Sanders (of Desert Swarm fame).
McKee, Bene and CDO’s 11-year coach Dustin Peace are coaching veterans in the 4A Kino with Kelly getting his career going in that division.
A coaching milestone is near for Amphi’s Mendivil, who is one win shy of career victory 100. He is 99-96 heading into the Panthers’ opener at home Friday night against Buckeye Union.
CLASS 6A & 5A SOUTHERN ARIZONA COACHING RECORDS & TEAM INFO
Here is a run down of the coaches and their teams in Class 4A in Southern Arizona:
CLASS 4A GILA
[table “” not found /]CLASS 4A KINO
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Class 4A Gila
Amphi
Jorge Mendivil, 19th year
Amphi (2014-18), 17-35
Empire (2006-12), 45-35
San Manuel (2000-05), 37-26
Total: 99-96
Returning starters on offense, 2018 stats: Sr. QB, Kevin Silva (5-11, 160), 682 yards passing; Sr. RB, Julian Encinas (5-8, 175), 290 yards rushing; Jr. WR, Orlando Acosta (5-8, 150): Sr. WR, Julian Campos (6-1, 195); Sr. OL, Orlando Burruel (5-10, 270); Jr. OL, Jose Gonzalez (5-10, 270); Jr. OL, Daniel Dominguez (62, 235); Sr. OL, Ben Moreno (5-10-195). Returning starters on defense, 2018 stats: Sr. DL, Julian Campos (6-1, 195); Jr. DL, Greg Goldschtyn (5-11, 195); Sr. DL, Gustavo Ibarra (6-0, 275); Sr. LB, Julian Encinas (5-8, 175) 66 tackles; Jr. DB, Orlando Acosta (5-8, 150); Sr. DB, Kevin Silva (511, 160). Also keep an eye on: Jr. DB, Emilio Cocio (5-10, 155); Jr. RB, Isaiah Hill (5-9, 175).
Pueblo
Brandon Sanders, Sixth year
Pueblo (2014-18), 33-19
Total: 33-19
Returning starters on offense, 2018 stats: Sr. QB, Marcelino Vega (6-0, 190) 351 yards passing, 369 yards rushing; Sr. RB, Joshua Garcia (5-9, 170); Sr. OL, Sergio Zazueta (6-1, 280); Sr. WR, Ricardo Laguna (5-11, 160); Sr. WR, Hassan Aden (6-0, 165); Sr. RB, Fernando Medina (5-8, 170); Sr. RB, Julian Lopez (5-8, 180): Sr. OL, Juan Rabago (5-8, 270); Sr. OL, Miguel Alday (5-8, 300); So. JR, TE, Jesus Prado (6-1, 200). Returning starters on defense, 2018 stats: Sr. CB, Joshua Garcia (5-9, 170); Sr. S, Fernando Medina (5-8, 170), 36 tackles; Sr. DB, Ricardo Laguna (5-11, 160); Sr. CB, Hassan Aden (6-0, 165); Sr. DE, Christian Peru (6-0, 270); Sr. DE, Sergio Zazueta (6-1, 280); Sr. LB, Julian Lopez (5-8, 180); Sr. DL, Juan Rabago (5-8, 270); Jr. DL, Sterling Grandberry (6-2, 310); Sr. S, Marcelino Perez (5-9, 160). Also keep an eye on: SR, Edgar Lopez (5-10, 190); Sr. OL/DE, Jordon Parrish (5-10, 260); Jr. OL/DE, Darian Aldaco (6-1, 250).
Rio Rico
Kevin Kuhm, Seventh season
Nogales (2014-17), 19-22
Rio Rico (2012-13), 9-12
Total: 28-34
Returning starter on offense, 2018 stats: Sr. QB Michael Bustamante (6-0, 165).
Walden Grove
Corey Noble, Third year
Walden Grove (2017-18), 15-17
Total: 15-17
Returning starters on offense, 2018 stats: Sr, QB, Alex Lopez (6-1, 200), 2,659 yards passing, 29 TDs, 624 yards rushing; Sr. WR, Jordan Lopez (6-2, 210), 1,230 yards receiving; Sr. WR, Hector Najar (6-1, 180); Sr. C, Grant Annett (5-9, 230); Sr. WR, Will Fortin (5-9, 170); Jr. RB, Stephen Brower (5-9, 185), 289 yards rushing; Sr. K/P, Nathan Alvarenga (5-9, 175); Sr. OL/DL, Christian Karlinsey (6-2, 240). Returning starters on defense, 2018 stats: Sr. LB, Rick Avelar III (6-2, 220), 138 tackles; Sr. DE, Sam Martinez (5-9, 185); Sr. CB, Ari Hickman (5-8, 175); Sr. DE, Thomas Welky (6-2, 215). Also keep an eye on: Jr. WR/DB, Ty McDermott (6-2, 180); Sr. OL/DL, Miguel Mejia (6-2, 230); Sr. OL/TE/DE/LS, Ismael Gallardo Jr. (6-0, 200); Jr. LB/FB, Sebastian Adamski (5-10, 200).
Douglas
Hunter Long, First year
Douglas (2019), 0-0
Total: 0-0
Returning starters on offense, 2018 stats: Sr. QB Trey Rose III (5-10, 180), 1.098 yards passing, 13 TDs; Sr. TE Christian Estrella (6-4, 219), 919 yards rushing; Sr. RB John Ballesteros (510, 180), 345 yards rushing, 259 yards receiving.
Palo Verde
Mike Wells, First year
Palo Verde (2019), 0-0
Total: 0-0
Keep an eye on: Sr. WR Damier Nelson, 463 yards receiving; DB Darius Johnson; RB Seth Irankuda; Sr. WR Kendall Williams.
Class 4A Kino
Salpointe
Dennis Bene, 19th year
Salpointe (2001-18), 174-43
Total: 174-43
Returning starters on offense, 2018 stats: Sr. RB Bijan Robinson (6-0, 210), 2,400 yards rushing, 35 TDs.; Sr. WR Lathan Ransom (6-2, 195), 625 yards receiving; Sr. WR Dae Han Chang (5-9, 175), 339 yards receiving; Jr. WR Julian Robles (6-0, 180); Sr. TE Connor Witthoft (6-3, 220); Sr OL Bruno Fina (6-4, 240); Jr. OL Jonah Miller (6-6, 290); Sr. OL Isaiah Willhoite (6-1, 250). Returning starters on defense, 2018 stats: Sr. DB Lathan Ransom (6-2, 195), 82 tackles, 6 INTs; Sr. DB Charlie Raetzman (60, 170); Sr. DB Luke Straka (5-10, 170); Sr. LB Trent Strong (6-0, 220), 116 tackles; Sr. LB Ray Figueroa (6-0, 210), 6 sacks, 117 tackles; Sr. LB Shamon Davis (5-9, 210), 115 tackles, 6 sacks; Sr. LB Christian Ralls (6-0, 190); Sr. DL Sergio Sanchez (6-1, 260); Sr. DE Luke Regina (6-1, 190), 53 tackles, 9 sacks. Also keep an eye on: Sr. QB Jackson Bolin (6-3, 190); Jr. RB David Cordero (6-0, 175); So. DL Jace Springer (6-2, 250); So. QB Treyson Bourguet (6-2, 190).
Canyon del Oro
Dustin Peace, 11th season
CDO (2009-18),77-38
Total: 77-38
Returning starters on offense, 2018 stats: Sr. OL/DL Diego Lujan (6-0, 270); Sr. WR Devin Medina (6-1, 185); Jr. RB Stevie Rocker (6-1, 185), 1.163 yards rushing, 12 TDs; Sr. WR Dylan Zamorano (6-0, 175); Jr. C, Nicholas Contreras (6-0, 220); Sr. OL Andrik Valdez (5-11, 215); Jr. WR Jayden Bracy (6-0, 210), 242 yards receiving; Jr. TE, Dustin Sheeley (6-0, 200). Returning starters on defense, 2018 stats: Sr. DB Austin Brooks (6-1, 180); Sr. DB Cory Bonstrom (5-10, 175), 47 tackles, 3 interceptions; Sr. DB Gavin Davis (5-10, 175); Sr. OLB Adam Maldonado (6-2, 180); Sr. LB Mason Catterson (5-10, 205), 71 tackles. Also keep an eye on: Jr. OLB Alex Maldonado (5-9, 165).
Dylan Zamorano (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
Sahuaro
Scott McKee, 16th year
Sahuaro (2009-18), 61-48
Pueblo (2004-08), 12-40
Total: 73-88
Returning starters on offense, 2018 stats: Sr. QB Izaiah Grigsby (5-9, 155), 789 yards passing, 8 TDs; Sr. RB Izaiah Davis (5-10, 180); 684 yards rushing, 7 TDs. Returning starters on defense, 2018 stats: Jr. Trevion Watkins (5-7, 190), 65 tackles, 3.5 sacks.
Catalina Foothills
Darius Kelly, First year
Catalina Foothills (2019), 0-0
Total: 0-0
Returning starters on offense, 2018 stats: So. Derrick Williams (6-0, 150), 261 yards receiving, 59 tackles, 3 INTs. Returning starters on defense, 2018 stats: Sr. DE/OLB Will Parker (6-2, 220), 59 tackles, 4.5 sacks.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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