6A Central — Salpointe Catholic Lancers
2022 record: 7-5 overall, 2-2 in 6A East Valley (third)
Head coach: Eric Rogers, 25-9, fourth season at Salpointe and overall as a head coach.
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Key returners:
- LB/TE Nathan Spivey, 6-1, 200, Jr.
- DE Elijah Rushing, 6-5, 240, Sr.
- DT Javion Wilson, Soph.
- DE Keona Wilhite, 6-5, 233, Sr.
- RB/LB Jaxson Banhie, 5-11, 205, Sr.
- WR/FS Colton Raetzman, Soph.
- QB Taylor Nagore, 6-0, 173, Sr.
- DT/OT Luis Cordova, 6-4, 270, Sr.
- ATH Armani Sheriff, 5-9, 165, Sr.
- LB Orlando Gonzalez, 6-1, 215, Sr.
- OL/DL Roman Fina, 6-5, 235, Jr.
- DT Noah Banhie, 6-0, 290, Soph.
SALPOINTE HEAD COACH ERIC ROGERS
SALPOINTE LB ORLANDO GONZALEZ
SALPOINTE RB/LB JAXSON BANHIE
Coaching staff:
- Head coach: Eric Rogers
- Strength & conditioning coach: Carla Garrett
- Defensive coordinator/linebackers: Pat Ryden
- Cornerbacks: Rick Birkbigler
- Offensive line: Chris Lundin
- Offensive line: Alex Rios
- Defensive line: Joe Bernier
- Running backs: Gary Weis
- Safeties: Jeff Pierce
- Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks: Scott Mohr
- Offensive line: Alex Rios
- Kickers/long snapper: Pierre Arnaud
- Cornerbacks: Joe Bernier
- Wide receivers: Stoney Pelletier
- Social media/stats: Alec Bon
- Video: Damaggio Strevay
- JV head coach: Mike Sarabia
- Freshman head coach: Carlos Guerrero
- Team manager: Tayvn Rogers
Notes: Eric Rogers has coached over the last 22 years in all but five seasons at Salpointe. He is a CDO graduate who played college football at New Mexico State and Connecticut before a brief professional stint in arena football. His first coaching job was coaching linebackers at Salpointe under legendary coach Dennis Bene from 2002 to 2007. He took a break from coaching before returning in 2010 as the Tucson High freshman coach. He then returned to Bene’s staff from 2011 to 2015 before coaching linebackers at Pima College under Jim Monaco in 2016 and 2017. He returned to Salpointe for a third time in 2018. After Bene retired at the end of the 2019 season, Salpointe hired Rogers as head coach. … The Lancers has the makings of the best defensive line in the history of Southern Arizona high school football with ends Elijah Rushing and Keona Wilhite and nose tackles Luis Cordova and Noah Banhie. Rushing and Wilhite are committed to Arizona, Cordova has drawn interest from Division I programs and Banhie, although only a sophomore, has been offered a scholarship by Arizona. … Banhie’s older brother Jaxson is a senior captain of the team. He has a background of being trained by CDO and Arizona legend Ka’Deem Carey. … Former running backs coach Zach Neveleff is now the head coach at Tucson High. Taking over his role with Salpointe is Gary Weis, a former assistant coach at Catalina Foothills under Jeff Scurran. … Scott Mohr is the Lancers’ new offensive coordinator. Former offensive coordinator Nolan Swett is now at Marana, although he is not listed on coach Phillip Steward’s staff. The Lancers open their season at home against Marana on Friday. It is the only game of the season against a team from Southern Arizona the whole season for Salpointe.
Keep an eye out for: WR/CB Kayden Steptoe, Salpointe Catholic, Soph., 5-11, 165 pounds. Son of former Arizona standout receiver Syndric Steptoe, who is now the director of player development at Arizona. Kayden spent his freshman season at A&M Consolidated High School at College Station, Texas, last year while living with family. He was part of the Tucson Jaguars 14U team that advanced to the national tournament at Kissimmee, Fla., in 2021.
2. SALPOINTE CATHOLIC (10-2)
Head coach: Eric RogersLancers compete in the 6A Central. Bold are playoff games. Playoff games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Sal | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/25 | Marana | W | 35 | 14 |
| 9/1 | at Bishop Alemany (CA) | W | 52 | 21 |
| 9/8 | at Shadow Ridge | W | 49 | 24 |
| 9/15 | Valley Vista | W | 50 | 6 |
| 9/29 | Desert Vista | W | 34 | 24 |
| 10/6 | Corona del Sol | W | 29 | 20 |
| 10/13 | at Liberty | L | 0 | 49 |
| 10/20 | Mountain Pointe | W | 35 | 26 |
| 10/27 | at Saguaro | W | 21 | 14 |
| 11/3 | at Brophy Prep | L | 12 | 14 |
| 11/9 | Corona del Sol | W | 41 | 0 |
| 11/17 | Williams Field | W | 35 | 25 |
| 11/24 | Saguaro |
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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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