4A KINO — SAHUARO
2022 record: 5-5 overall, 3-2 in 4A Kino (third)
2023 record: 1-2 overall
Head coach: Al Alexander, 6-7 overall in second season at Sahuaro and overall
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Key returners:
- QB/ATH Vinny Orlando, 6-2, 225, Sr.
- LB/RB Brady Centelano, 5-10, 215, Sr.
- WR/S Jaylen Grigsby, 5-9, 170, Sr.
- ATH Bryce Battle, 5-7, 150, Sr.
- OL/DE Kingston Grigsby, 6-4, 240, Sr.
- LB Jesus Nunez-Lopez, 5-9, 173, Sr.
- TE/DE Jack Berry, 6-2, 225, Sr.
- C Andrew Goerke, 5-9, 240, Sr.
- OT/NT Lamar Howell, 6-0, 320, Soph.
SAHUARO COACH AL ALEXANDER
SAHUARO ATHLETE VINNY ORLANDO
SAHUARO RUNNING BACK JAILEN CLARK
SAHUARO LINEMAN KINGSTON GRIGSBY
Notes: Al Alexander is a longtime Salpointe assistant coach who previously was part of Pat Nugent’s staffs at Cienega and Mica Mountain. Alexander filled the vacancy created when 13-year coach Scott McKee and Sahuaro parted ways in December 2021. … Alexander has also served as the offensive line coach with the Tucson Sugar Skulls professional indoor team the last four seasons under Dixie Wooten and Hurtis Chinn. He was an assistant and associate head coach on Dennis Bene’s staff at Salpointe from 2004 to 2019 when the Lancers annually competed for region and state titles. The Lancers won the state title in 2013. … Bene is in his second year as an assistant of Alexander’s at Sahuaro. He is the offensive coordinator this season. … Alexander’s Salpointe background has also brought former Lancer and Arizona standout Cam Denson as the defensive backs coach, defensive coordinator Mark Teixera and offensive line coach Dave Ivey. … A couple of significant additions to the staff include Jay Dobyns and John Williams, who coached with Alexander at Salpointe and were essential to Tanque Verde’s historic ascension the previous three years. Dobyns (the head coach) and Williams (the offensive coordinator) led the Hawks to their first postseason appearance in program history last year. Dobyns resigned to spend more time on personal objectives. … Alexander’s background with the Tucson Sugar Skulls has drawn the Sugar Skulls’ defensive coordinator Xzavie Jackson to become Sahuaro’s defensive line coach. Jackson played at Missouri and spent 2007 and 2008 with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals before playing nine years in the Indoor Football League. … Sahuaro has size on its line, including seniors Kingston Grigsby (6-4, 240) and Andrew Goerke (5-9, 240) but not many are in Southern Arizona are as massive as sophomore tackle Lamar Howell (6-0, 320). Alexander, who has an extended history of coaching offensive linemen, is very high on Howell’s potential. …
Keep an eye out for: QB Trevor Eagerton is a 6-foot, 195-pound sophomore who transferred from Mica Mountain and will be eligible in the sixth game of the season against Catalina Foothills after sitting out the first five per AIA transfer rules. He attended the Elite Youth, High School & College Quarterback Training Camp at Huntington Beach, Calif., during the summer. He is expected to be the starting quarterback after he becomes eligible. At least five transfers will become eligible after the fifth game of the season.
NO. 32 SAHUARO (2-5, 0-2)
Head coach: Al AlexanderCougars compete in the 4A Kino. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/25 | Sabino | L, 19-6 | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| 9/1 | Northwest Christian | L, 53-22 | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| 9/8 | at Douglas | W, 48-29 | 1-2 | 0-0 |
| 9/15 | Cholla | W, 29-10 | 2-2 | 0-0 |
| 9/22 | Ironwood Ridge | L, 44-7 | 2-3 | 0-0 |
| 9/29 | at Catalina Foothills* | L, 43-7 | 2-4 | 0-1 |
| 10/6 | at Walden Grove* | L, 51-8 | 2-5 | 0-2 |
| 10/20 | at Mica Mountain* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/27 | at Canyon del Oro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/3 | Pueblo* | -- | -- | -- |
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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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