Cholla’s coaching staff, which includes head coach Roland Youngling and former fellow Amphi assistant coaches David Watson Sr. and Moe Espinoza, each took turns psychologically challenging their players following the first loss of the season, a 50-0 decision Friday night against visiting San Tan Valley Combs.
They discussed how the players’ response to the one-sided loss will define who they are.
They mentioned that Combs’ program is a symbol of what they want Cholla to become.
Combs, with its first varsity season in 2011, advanced to the 4A state playoffs last year for the first time since qualifying for the postseason from 2013 to 2015.
Cholla’s last playoff appearance was in 2005, before any of the Chargers were born.
Youngling is Cholla’s third coach in as many seasons, trying to rectify a program that has only had one winning season since 2015.
“Combs is a great team; they’re a playoff team,” Youngling said of the Coyotes, who are 3-0 after shutting out Southern Arizona teams Cholla, Rio Rico 56-0, and Rincon/University 52-0. “They’re a disciplined team, and they’re well coached. They’ve been in their system.
“It’s our first year. First two games, we had a lot of positive stuff moving forward, doing things right, especially week one against Yuma, we had 15 penalties. Week two (in a win over visiting Phoenix Maryvale), we only had five. So that’s the main thing — moving forward. And the big thing is, how do we respond to this?”
YOUNGLING LEARNED FROM LEGENDARY VERN FRIEDLI
When asked if he can recall what his former coach at Amphi — the legendary Vern Friedli — would say after a decisive loss, Youngling recalled Amphi losing to Palo Verde 31-0 in 2009 despite starting that season 3-0 and having a bye week before facing the Titans and coach Todd Mayfield.
“We were two running teams — they ran the Wing-T and we were running the wishbone,” Youngling said. “Afterward, it was kind of the same message from Coach Friedli, maybe a little harsher and to the point.
“Nick Saban said when they win, you’ve got to be real hard on them to get rid of the complacency. When they lose, especially like this, they know what they did wrong. You have to love them up and get them right, get them healthy and work on doing things the right way.”
Youngling said he is learning that being a head coach encompasses many aspects on and off the field, not just a particular skill set that he managed as an assistant at Amphi under Jorge Mendivil.
“It’s not just football as a head coach; there’s a lot of other stuff,” said Youngling, who also played for Pat Nugent at Pima College. “You not only coach, you become a therapist. I’ve just got to get these guys right and ready to go next week (at home against Yuma Kofa).”
CHOLLA PLAYER TAKEN TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AFTER TAKING HARD HIT
Cholla senior captain Urijah Carrera, a halfback and safety, was taken by ambulance to the hospital after taking a hit that was ruled a targeting infraction on one of the Combs players midway through the third quarter.
The game was delayed for more than 30 minutes as trainers and paramedics tended to Carrera, who at first lay motionless on the ground.
He eventually moved his extremities and gave a thumbs-up gesture as he was wheeled to the ambulance.
“It was precautionary taking him to the hospital,” Youngling said. “He didn’t pass out. He didn’t black out. He just had a little tingling here and there. It is better to be safe than sorry. I’m gonna go see him right now, after this.
“He’ll be back. Of course, he won’t play next week. He’s our captain, a leader out there. But now, it’s an opportunity for other guys to step up.”
POSITIVE TAKEAWAYS
Cholla trailed 44-0 by halftime, resulting in a running clock before the break.
The Chargers had three first downs in the first half, only one achieved by the offense on a 12-yard run by junior Dom Vurro. The other two were the result of a penalty.
Cholla did not score in the second half, but it had the ball for all but three snaps because of sustained drives due to a physical style of running between the tackles.
Cholla had minus-3 yards rushing on 17 carries in the first half, largely because of quarterback Damian Estrella sacked four times for a loss of 26 yards.
In the second half, the Chargers tallied 67 yards on 20 carries with Estrella breaking free for runs of 17 and 14 yards, and bruising fullback Jeremiah Alvarez (5-foot-9 and 220 pounds) gaining 32 yards on three carries.
One of his rushes was for 19 yards, about 10 of which occurred after contact. He took about six Combs defenders with him the final five yards and he never went down. He remained standing after the pack of players reached the sideline.
“We’ve been making great steps,” Youngling said. “I mean, hell, we were 2-0. A lot of people weren’t expecting that. Combs is just a great team, and we just made too many mistakes.
“That’s the thing. I think once we get the football stuff fixed out, we’ll be fine. For the most part, the off-the-field stuff (academic eligibility and discipline), it’s not too bad. There’s a couple things we have to correct, but they’re good kids. My coaching staff and I are trying to give them the leadership they need.”
FIVE SOUTHERN ARIZONA TEAMS UNBEATEN AFTER WEEK 4
With Cholla, Catalina, defending 4A state champion Mica Mountain, Catalina Foothills, Mountain View, Buena, Sunnyside, and Nogales losing this week, the number of unbeaten teams remaining in Southern Arizona is down to five.
Those teams are Pusch Ridge and St. David, both of which are 4-0, and 3-0 teams Salpointe, Desert View, and Flowing Wells.
Pusch Ridge now has the longest winning streak among Southern Arizona teams at 16 games dating to last season’s 3A state championship run. Mica Mountain’s 16-game run was snapped at ALA-West Foothills with a 21-14 loss on Friday night.
Salpointe rallied from a 17-0 deficit at halftime to beat Scottsdale Saguaro 34-31. Matthew Avelar completed 23 or 34 passes for 295 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. His primary target RJ Gory had 12 catches for 164 yards with three touchdowns.
Desert View is 3-0 for the first time since 2021 and the second time in the last nine seasons under Robert Bonillas after beating visiting Phoenix Camelback 38-15.
Flowing Wells is 3-0 for the first time under four-year head coach Brian Hook after Friday’s 48-8 win at Phoenix North. The Caballeros will try to start 4-0 in a season for the first time since 2015 when Mark Brunenkant’s team began 7-0.
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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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