2A Rillito: Tanque Verde
2020 record: 3-0 before COVID-19 protocols shut down the season. Best start in program history dating to when the school started playing varsity football in 2007.
Head coach: Jay Dobyns, second year Tanque Verde and overall. Dobyns is a former Sahuaro High School and Arizona football standout who turned to coaching after a storied career as a federal agent. He also has become an author and motivational speaker.
.@TanqVerdeHS OT/DE @JackEndean_74 is one of the top Class of 2023 linemen in the state who has a scholarship offer from Arizona and has taken unofficial visits of Cal, Michigan, Michigan State and SMU. @SOAZFootball pic.twitter.com/tG5hTsSNHy
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) August 18, 2021
Key returners:
- WR/DB Kaden Eichinger, Sr.
- QB Lucas Franklin, Sr.
- QB/DB Brendan Ganum, Sr.
- LB Dylan Johnson, Sr.
- WR/DB Calvin Jones, Sr.
- LB Luke Lineberry, Sr.
- DL Bryan Loflin, Sr.
- DE CJ Lopez, Sr.
- RB Rory Maciulla, Sr.
- LB/RB Kelton Neve, Sr.
- OL/DL Terrance Oathout, Sr.
- DL Michael Scavo, Sr.
- WR Aiden Smiley, Sr.
- LB Garrett Smith, Sr.
- OL/DL Race Erickson, Jr.
- OL/DL Jack Endean, Jr.
- OL/DL Dylan Petrick, Jr.
- LB Brayden Scott, Jr.
- WR/DB James Torok, Jr.
- DE Brendan Vimmerstedt, Jr.
- OL Aiden Vimmerstedt, Jr.
- QB Grayson Bradshaw, Soph.
- OL Toby Herfkins, Soph.
Coaching staff:
- Head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks: Jay Dobyns
- Associate head coach/defensive coordinator/defensive backs/wide receivers: John Williams
- Staff consultant: Bob Vielledent
- Offensive line: Jeff Kiewel
- Running backs: David Adams
- Running backs/linebackers: Scooter Sprotte
- Defensive line: Chris Lopez
- Defensive backs/wide receivers: Van Brandon
Notes: Tanque Verde is looking to build on its 3-0 season from last year after losing 15 straight games dating to the 2018 season. … The school is having new turf installed on the football field as part of renovations funded by a $200,000 grant from the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL Grassroots Program. The field is near completion but will not be finished by the scheduled home opener Aug. 27 against Laveen Heritage Academy. That game has been moved to Cienega High School in Vail. The new turf will be christened in an anticipated matchup with 2A state runner-up Benson on Sept. 10. … Two of Dobyns’ assistants from last season, including his son Jack, a Salpointe Catholic grad, were hired by 6A program Odessa (Texas) High School in July. Matt Vinson, a teammate of Jack Dobyns at Chadron (Neb.) State, also went to Odessa. … High-profile junior lineman Jack Endean, a transfer from Salpointe Catholic, is slated to have his eligibility appeal heard by Friday by the AIA. Endean is hopeful for immediate eligibility. If that is denied, his first game of eligibility will be in the Hawks’ sixth game at home against Santa Rita on Oct. 1. Endean is being recruited by Arizona, Cal, Michigan, Michigan State and SMU among others. He has been offered a scholarship by Arizona. … Dobyns staff includes a who’s who of former Arizona players — Adams, Kiewel, Brandon, Sprotte and Lopez. … Because of the transition of the program last year with Dobyns taking over as coach, more than 20 players returning gained chunks of playing time last season.
Schedule:
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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 Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District
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