2023 High School Football

2023 Southern Arizona High School Football Preview: Tanque Verde Hawks


2A San Pedro: Tanque Verde Hawks

2022 record: 5-6 overall, 4-1 in the 2A San Pedro (second). Lost in the 2A state playoffs first round in the program’s first playoff appearance.

Head coach: Jeff Bollnow, first season at Tanque Verde and overall. Served as defensive coordinator at Cienega and Sahuarita in recent years. He is a Mountain View grad who went on to play at Cornell College. His father Kirby Bollnow is an esteemed high school football referee entering his 16th season.

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Key returners:

  • QB Grayson Bradshaw, 6-0, 165, Sr.
  • WR/FS Josh Lopez, 6-2, 195, Sr.
  • RB/LB Michael McKenna, 5-10, 185, Sr.
  • LB Gavin Gilbert, 5-9, 180, Sr.
  • DL/OL Eli Clausen, 6-4, 195, Sr.

TANQUE VERDE COACH JEFF BOLLNOW

TANQUE VERDE QB GRAYSON BRADSHAW

TANQUE VERDE RB/LB MICHAEL MCKENNA

Coaching staff:

  • Head coach: Jeff Bollnow
  • Defensive coordinator: Robert Kallal
  • Offensive coordinator: George Romero
  • Offensive line/defensive line: Pete Delgado

Notes: Jeff Bollnow will try to pick up where Jay Dobyns and his staff left Tanque Verde, which made its first postseason appearance in program history last season. Dobyns resigned after three years as the Hawks’ coach, citing personal reasons. … Bollnow served as defensive coordinator at Cienega under Pat Nugent and Sahuarita under Jake Price. … Josh Lopez, son of Chris Lopez, a member of Arizona’s Desert Swarm defense, is a senior wide receiver/free safety with the Hawks. Chris is a former assistant who was part of Dobyns’ staff. … New offensive and defensive line coach Pete Delgado was the head coach at Baboquivari the previous four seasons. … Tanque Verde has only four home games and plays its first two and last two games on the road. The Hawks open their 2A San Pedro schedule with a home game Sept. 15 against Palo Verde, which is at the 2A level this season after playing at 3A last season.

Keep an eye out for: QB Grayson Bradshaw, who has a strong arm and mobility. Tanque Verde was predominantly a running team in previous years, but the new coaching staff is looking to have the offense more balanced. Bradshaw worked on his timing with his receivers during the 7-on-7 season in June and was impressive.

TANQUE VERDE

Head coach: Jeffrey Bollnow (9-3, second year at Tanque Verde and overall)

Hawks compete in the 2A San Pedro. Games at 7 p.m.
DateOpponentW/LTVOpp
8/23Phoenix Christian------
9/6Glendale Prep------
9/13at Cortez------
9/20at Palo Verde*------
9/27Catalina*------
10/4at Tombstone*------
10/11Willcox*------
10/18at Bisbee*------
10/25at Santa Rita------
11/1Benson*------

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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. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District

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