SALPOINTE’S TOP RETURNERS
2023 ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
SS/SB Nathan Spivey, Sr., 6-0, 200
LB/TE Dinos Drossos, Sr., 6-4, 215
WR Morgan Quiri, Sr., 6-5, 175
LB Thomas Regina, Sr., 5-11, 185
WR/FS Richard Archuleta, Sr., 5-10, 175
LS Braydyn Sage, Sr., 6-2, 185
OT Roman Fina, Sr., 6-5, 250
PK Kyah Francone, Sr., 6-0, 170
LB/P Joey Bernier, Sr., 5-9, 170
A LOOK AT …
A look at …
6A Central
5A Southern
5A Sonoran
4A Kino
4A Gila
3A South
2A San Pedro
1A South
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Salpointe strong safety and slotback Nathan Spivey
Spivey is a returning first-team all-region player who caught 44 passes for 450 yards with five touchdowns as a slotback receiver and he had 68 tackles with five tackles for loss. He also was one of the state’s best with seven interceptions.
Salpointe linebacker and tight end Dinos Drossos
Drossos is another first-team all-region selection who tallied 72 tackles with eight sacks last year. Drossos also forced two fumbles, recovered a pair of fumbles, and intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdowns.
Sapointe wide receiver Morgan Quiri
After gaining eligibility midway through lasts season following his transfer from Pusch Ridge, Quiri, also a first-team all-region pick last season, emerged as one of the top Class of 2025 receiver prospects in the state. He recorded 22 catches for 454 yards and two touchdowns in seven games.
SALPOINTE NOTES
— After more than 30 years of coaching experience in Tucson, including two seasons as the head coach at Rincon/University in 2007 and 2008, Pat Ryden is now leading of one of the highest profile programs in the state — Salpointe Catholic.
— Ryden, 53, was defensive coordinator at Salpointe since the 2019 season under Eric Rogers, who previously was on the same staff as Ryden at Pima Community College. Rogers was 35-12 in his four seasons with the Lancers. Salpointe went to the 5A state championship game in 2021 under Rogers, who was hired in 2019 after Dennis Bene resigned. Rogers resigned last December after he and the school mutually decided to part ways. Rogers is now an assistant at Chandler Basha, where his son Jake is a sophomore quarterback.
100% Committed!
I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to play football and continue my education at Duke University! Thankful for the love and support of my family, friends and coaches. #BleedBlue! @JeffNorrid1 @AShep79 @Coach_MannyDiaz @DukeFOOTBALL @SCLancerNation pic.twitter.com/pjxGEi6Yb9
— Roman Fina (@Rfina70) June 17, 2024
— Salpointe’s schedule is challenging but that is to be expected for Tucson’s perenially strong program. It starts out difficult with a game at Marana, which should compete for a 5A state championship this year. The Lancers’ 27-game winning streak against Southern Arizona teams dating to 2017 will be on the line. Mission Hills (Calif.) Bishop Alemany was slated to visit on Sept. 6 but canceled the game due to its inability to travel financially and logistically. Salpointe managed to travel to Bishop Alemany last year and won big, 52-21. Bishop Alemany finished 1-9 last year after it won eight games in a season three years ago and 10 games five years ago. Ryden mentioned that it does not appear Salpointe will replace Bishop Alemany on the schedule. “We tried but couldn’t find anybody,” he stated in a text message. A difficult game at Peoria Centennial for Salpointe on Sept. 19 begins a stretch of three consecutive games on the road with region opponents Phoenix Desert Vista and Tempe Corono del Sol included. Centennial, which played in the Open Division championship game last year, features former Sabino receiver Shamar Berryhill and his brother Romeo. The Berryhills moved to the Phoenix area earlier this year. The Berryhill brothers will not play against Salpointe on Sept. 19 because they must sit the first five games of the season, per AIA transfer rules.
What a great summer for this student athlete Kyah Francone. In one month time he has won U of A, ASU and Arkansas State kicking camp. Earned his 5th star with Sailers Kicking and charted top 6 at kohls with few hundred kickers.
Congrats!!! @RagleCharlie @CoachRSmith1… pic.twitter.com/5rBniS2vhd— pierre arnaud (@arnhp) July 21, 2024
— Salpointe plays three of its last four games at home against Peoria Liberty, Scottsdale Saguaro and region foe Phoenix Brophy Prep — schools that combined for a record of 31-9 last year with Liberty winning the Open Division title and Saguaro capturing the 6A title a week after topping the Lancers in the semifinals at Ed Doherty Stadium. Brophy lost in the other 6A semifinal game against Mesa Red Mountain. A region game at Phoenix Mountain Pointe is in the middle of this stretch.
— Saguaro coach Darius Kelly (Buena/Pima CC grad), offensive coordinator BJ Denker (former Arizona QB) and wide receiver coach Terrence Miller (another former Wildcat) will have a homecoming in Tucson on Nov. 1 at Ed Doherty Stadium.
SALPOINTE CATHOLIC
Head coach: Pat Ryden (first year at Salpointe; 6-14, third year overall)Lancers compete in the 6A Central. *Region game. Games at 7 p.m.
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Sal | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 | at Marana | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | Shadow Ridge | -- | -- | -- |
| 9/19 | at Centennial | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/4 | at Desert Vista* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/11 | at Corona del Sol* | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | Liberty | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/25 | at Mountain Pointe* | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | Saguaro | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | Brophy Prep* | -- | -- | -- |
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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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