TOP RETURNERS AND COACHES WITH HONORS
CANYON DEL ORO
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
DE/RB Evan Greer, Sr., 6-0, 200
OL/DL Elijah Unsworth, Sr., 5-11, 195
DB/WR Cash Dickey, Jr., 6-3, 165
LB/G Caleb Dooley, Jr., 5-10, 195
K/TE Reece Douglas, Jr., 6-0, 200
CATALINA FOOTHILLS
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
OL/DL Sean Brown, Sr., 5-11, 190
WR/DB Henry Nentl, Sr., 6-0, 175
LB/RB Jack Cartwright, Jr., 5-11, 180
RB/LB Magnus Johansson, Sr., 5-8, 155
MICA MOUNTAIN
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
DE/TE Jimmy Leon, Sr., 6-4, 235
OL/DL George Flores, Sr., 6-0, 250
S/WR Dominik Leon, Sr., 5-11, 175
LB Broden Schmidt, Jr., 6-0, 185
OL/DL Michael Quiroz, Sr., 5-10, 205
P/K Riley Carson, Jr., 5-11, 175
QB Jayden Thoreson, Sr., 6-0, 175
RB/S Conner Hangarner, Sr., 5-6, 160
WR/CB Nathaniel Bryant, Sr., 6-0, 177
K Landon Hubbard, Sr., 6-0, 150
PUEBLO
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
WR/DB Adam Moreno, Sr., 5-8, 145
TE/DE Armando Ybarra, Sr., 6-4, 270
RB/LB Jesus Cabrera, Sr., 5-8, 185
SS/SB Andres Carpenter, Sr., 5-6, 137
RB/LB Augustine Duarte, Jr., 5-10, 160
OL/DL Anthony Trujillo, Jr. 5-11, 250
SAHUARO
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
OT/NT Lamar Howell, Jr., 6-1, 320
OL/LB Jaxson Moore, Jr., 5-9, 230
WALDEN GROVE
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
SS/WR Enzo Morales, Sr., 5-10, 165
RB/LB Carlos Montoya Jr., Sr., 5-9, 205
OL/DL Salvador Nieves, Sr., 6-1, 280
WR Jayvon Coleman, Sr., 5-9, 150
SS/QB Jose Chafin, Sr., 6-0, 165
G/DT Rodrigo Carrizosa, Sr., 6-0, 260
RB/LB Robert Cash III, Sr., 5-10, 205
DE/DT Steven Michael Valdez, Jr., 6-3, 240
CB Jaxsen Philistine, Jr., 5-9, 160
A look at …
4A Gila
3A South
2A San Pedro
1A South
Players to watch:
Canyon del Oro defensive end/running back Evan Greer
Greer, 6-foot and 200 pounds, is the top returner from the state-champion Dorados, who lost a senior class of 28 players, most of them standouts. Greer, now the senior captain, finished with 62 tackles, a phenomenal 31.5 of them for loss, last season. He finished with 14 sacks and 47 quarterback hurries. All of those are legitimate numbers for a true force from the edge. Late in the season, he was utilized out of the backfield on offense because of injuries and to give CDO another battering ram for defenses to face other than Kayden Luke.
Mica Mountain tight end/defensive end Jimmy Leon
Leon was a dominating defensive end, practically impossible to block, recording 17 sacks (which led all Southern Arizona players) among his 72 tackles last season. The 6-foot-3 and 240-pound player also had 19 tackles for loss. He was also a reliable target as tight end with 15 receptions for 192 yards and six touchdowns. Leon is a recruiting target of many Division I programs, including Arizona.
Walden Grove running back/linebacker Carlos Montoya Jr.
Another physically imposing senior at 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds. Montoya finished with 125 tackles last season, an incredible 26.5 for loss. He had 4.5 sacks and 11 quaterback hurries. He also rushed for 437 yards on 39 carries with four touchdowns and had 12 receptions for 275 yards and three touchdowns.
4A KINO NOTES:
— The 4A Kino has three of the most tenured coaches locally, all of whom have enjoyed success — CDO’s Scott McKee (first year with the Dorados but in his 19th season of being a head coach following stints at Pueblo and Sahuaro), Mica Mountain’s Pat Nugent (22nd season overall, fourth at Mica Mountain) and Walden Grove’s Corey Noble (eighth year at the school). Sahuaro’s Al Alexander (third year) and Pueblo’s Sly Lewis (first) were also longtime assistant coaches locally at established programs (Alexander at Salpointe and Lewis at Sabino) before getting their chance to be a head coach.
— CDO, transitioning without coach Dustin Peace and 28 seniors from last year, starts defense of its 4A state title with a game at Mesa Eastmark, which was 9-3 last year. The Dorados then host Bradshaw Mountain, which was 7-4. The Dorados also play 5A schools Desert View on the road and Marana at home. They have a difficult end to the schedule playing three of their last four region games on the road.
— Catalina Foothills’ new head coach Greg McKinstry II is under a much different situation with the Falcons coming from the struggling 2A program at Catalina (which he tried his hardest to resuscitate). The Falcons have one of the most arduous non-region schedules playing at perennial power Yuma Catholic in Week 2 before hosting 5A schools Buena and Tucson and consistent winner Pusch Ridge in the following three games. At least all those games are at home. And then Catalina Foothills plays four of its five region games on the road.
— Mica Mountain hosts Poston Butte (6-5 last season) before visiting Mesquite (5-5) to start the season. The Thunderbolts then visit defending 3A state champion Sabino before hosting 5A school Sunnyside. The non-region schedule wraps up with a game at Casa Grande before the Thunderbolts open at home against 4A Kino opponents Pueblo and CDO after having to start on the road in the first two region games last season.
— The Lewis era at his alma mater kicks off at home against Nogales on Aug. 30. Four of the Warriors’ five non-region games are against local schools with the other game a trip to Vista Grande at Casa Grande in Week 2. The Warriors play three of their first four region games at on the road before ending the regular season at home against Sahuaro.
— The eastside rivalry game between Sahuaro and Sabino kicks off the season Aug. 30 at Sabino. The Cougars play four of their five non-region games on the road, including a game at Northwest Christian (9-3 last season), before playing their first four region games at home in somewhat of a unique schedule. Sahuaro had to do the reverse last season, however, playing their first four region foes on the road.
— Walden Grove gets a revenge game at home against Northwest Christian to open the season Aug. 30 after the Red Wolves lost twice to the Northwest Christian on the road last season, including in the first round of the 4A state playoffs. Walden Grove’s non-region schedule is as difficult as it gets with games at Arcadia, Cienega and Desert View after the game with Northwest Christian. Mountain View, a 5A school, then visits in Week 5 before the region schedule starts. After games at Sahuaro and Pueblo to open 4A Kino play, Walden Grove hosts the last three region games.
4K KINO SCHEDULES
CANYON DEL ORO
Head coach: Scott McKee (first year at CDO; 83-102, 19th year overall)Dorados compete in the 4A Kino. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Reg | Ovr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | at Eastmark | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | Bradshaw Mountain | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Desert View | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Amphi | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Marana | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Catalina Foothills* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at Mica Mountain* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | Pueblo* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Sahuaro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | at Walden Grove* | -- | -- | -- |
CATALINA FOOTHILLS
Head coach: Greg McKinstry III (first year at Catalina Foothills; 5-25, fourth year overall)Falcons compete in the 4A Kino. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Combs | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Yuma Catholic | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Buena | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Pusch Ridge | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Tucson | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Sahuaro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Canyon del Oro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Walden Grove* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Pueblo* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | at Mica Mountain* | -- | -- | -- |
MICA MOUNTAIN
Head coach: Pat Nugent (20-9, fourth season at Mica Mountain; 158-66, 22nd season overall)Thunderbolts compete in the 4A Kino. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | MM | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Poston Butte | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Mesquite | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | at Sabino | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | Sunnyside | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Casa Grande | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Pueblo* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Canyon del Oro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Sahuaro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Walden Grove* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | Catalina Foothills* | -- | -- | -- |
PUEBLO
Head coach: Sly Lewis (first year at Pueblo and overall)Warriors compete in the 4A Kino. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Nogales | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Vista Grande | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Cholla | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Empire | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | Buena | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Mica Mountain* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Walden Grove* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Canyon del Oro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | at Catalina Foothills* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | Sahuaro* | -- | -- | -- |
SAHUARO
Head coach: Al Alexander (8-12, third year at Sahuaro and overall)Cougars compete in the 4A Kino. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Ovr | Reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | at Sabino | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Northwest Christian | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Douglas | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Cholla | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Ironwood Ridge | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Catalina Foothills* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | Walden Grove* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | Mica Mountain* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Canyon del Oro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | at Pueblo* | -- | -- | -- |
WALDEN GROVE
Head coach: Corey Noble (47-23, eighth year at Walden Grove and overall)Red Wolves compete in the 4A Kino. *Region games. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | WG | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | Northwest Christian | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/6 | at Arcadia | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/20 | at Cienega | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/27 | at Desert View | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | Mountain View | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Sahuaro* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | at Pueblo* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | Catalina Foothills* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Mica Mountain* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | Canyon del Oro* | -- | -- | -- |
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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 in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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