2026 High School Football

Si Charro! Pigskin Report: Desert View winning culture in place, new leader Rodarte intends to elevate program more

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FINAL SCORE

No. 11 Glendale Cactus 22, No. 6 Desert View 20

Desert View got off with a bang on Desmond Dowayee’s 69-yard touchdown run on the first offensive play from scrimmage, but Cactus immediately answered with a 69-yard scoring drive and it was a grind after that for the Jaguars and their defense. Cactus tried to have its way against Desert View with its power-running packages that included direct snaps to bullish runner Nathaniel Linares (6-foot and 200 pounds) and handoffs to offensive tackle Blake Pollard (5-11, 265). Linares rushed 27 times for 144 yards while Pollard’s seven rushes for 31 yards included touchdown runs of 1, 2 and 14 yards. Cactus produced 187 yards on the ground on 39 carries. The Cobras balanced that with 212 yards passing from 6-foot-5 Jacob Martin, who completed 10 of 18 attempts.

GAME STORY FROM SABIAN BERMUDEZ

PHOTO GALLERY BY GILBERT ALCARAZ

IT’S RODARTE’S TEAM NOW

Desert View’s skilled receiver Anthony Rodarte had a stellar freshman season in 2025, but so did fellow freshman Jaylee Abraham, who grabbed most of the headlines with his 1,716 yards rushing and 33 touchdowns. Rodarte had 54 receptions for 769 yards.

Abraham transferred to Peoria Centennial, which cast Rodarte more in the spotlight. He produced 1,015 yards on 53 catches in the regular season, becoming the school’s first 1,000-yard receiver. He became more of an outspoken leader as the season went on.

After the loss to Cactus, he took it upon himself to gather his teammates in a huddle and talked to them about putting in the work during the offseason to improve on their 10-1 record.

“He stepped up tonight; he was very positive,” Desert View coach Robert Bonillas said of Rodarte. “He became more of a vocal leader. I’m hoping that continues more toward next year, and here we go again.”

Desert View’s Anthony Rodarte hauls in a pass for a 33-yard touchdown against Cactus (Gilbert Alcaraz/AllSportsTucson.com)

Rodarte had 52 yards on four catches against Cactus, including a 33-yard touchdown reception from 2,000-yard passer Andrew Godoy, who will return for his senior year next season.

“I love for that position; I love for people to lean on me and have trust in me,” Rodarte said. “They think that I can do it. It’s just an amazing feeling and I can’t wait for it.”

It’s not a coincidence that Desert View has gone 21-2 in Rodarte’s first two years in the program after the Jaguars struggled with a 3-7 record the year before his arrival.

His playmaking ability has sparked Desert View’s passing game that balances impressively with a running attack that included Abraham last year and the tandem of Desmond Dowayee and Greg McKinstry III this year.

Now, Rodarte’s objective is to get his teammates believing they can make a deep run in the playoffs next year.

“We just have to keep working, no matter the loss,” he said. “We can’t put our heads down. We have to put our chest out, chin up, just keep working. We’re going to get in the weight room and we’re going to get back on the field. We’re going to work hard all offseason.

“I know people are going to play different sports that will help them get better at this, and we’re just going to keep going. This isn’t the end of it.”

He mentioned his offseason will include running with the track and field team and training at Jet Sports Training.

“Get some work in and develop my skills and sharpen my tools,” Rodarte said of the sessions at Jet Sports Training. “We’re just going to keep working. It’s not just me. Everybody on this team is going to get back to work.”

DOING IT THE DOWAYEE WAY

Dowayee is listed at 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds, but don’t let that size fool you. Dowayee is fleet of foot and also hard to bring down on first contact. Very strong and determined runner.

A majority of his 22 carries that resulted in a career-high 223 yards against Cactus included gains after slipping past and breaking free from tackles, including a 69-yard run to the end zone on the first play from scrimmage.

Every time he fields a return on a punt or kickoff it’s instant hold-your-breath excitement because of his explosiveness and difficulty to track down and bring down.

“I just wanted to give an explosive play to my boys because they give me big holes,” Dowayee said of his 69-yard burst for a score.

Desert View’s Desmond Dowayee rushes for some of his 223 yards against Cactus (Gilbert Alcaraz/AllSportsTucson.com)

Dowayee did not get to be showcased last year with Abraham’s exploits and he shared carries out of the backfield this year with McKinstry, who will be the featured back next year.

He made the most out of his senior year, rushing for 754 yards on 65 carries with 11 touchdowns.

“It was a tough loss for sure, but I’m glad I got to fight it out with my boys,” he said. “One last game. I wouldn’t change it (his time with his teammates) for anything.”

When asked if he put himself in a position to play at the next level in college, Dowayee said, “I hope so.”

So do we all. College recruiters need to give him a look. Surprised if they have not already. Quality young man and athlete.

BONILLAS AMONG THE ELITE

Bonillas, the former Nogales star and Arizona tight end who played for Dick Tomey’s 12-1 team in 1998, shares the same honor with Southern Arizona coaching elites Don Hawkins of Marana, Ollie Mayfield of Tucson High, Larry Hart of Flowing Wells, Vern Friedli of Amphi and Jeff Scurran of Sabino.

Bonillas, Hawkins, Mayfield, Hart, Friedli and Scurran are the only Southern Arizona coaches to lead their program to consecutive unbeaten records in the regular season in Southern Arizona since the AIA sanctioned the sport in 1959.

Marana was 8-0-1 in 1967 and 9-0 in 1968 under Hawkins before winning state titles in both of those seasons (finishing 10-0-1 in 1967 and 11-0 in 1968).

Tucson High went 9-0 in 1960 before finishing 10-1 and the Badgers went unbeaten with a 12-0 record and state title in 1970 under Mayfield.

Flowing Wells actually went a Southern Arizona-record three straight regular seasons without a loss under Hart, going 8-0-1 in 1970, 9-0 in 1971 and 9-0 in 1972. The Caballeros were unable to win a state title in any of those seasons.

Friedli’s 1984 Amphi team was 10-0 in 1984 before finishing 11-1 and the Panthers were 10-0 under him in 1985 before losing to Sahuaro and Howard Breinig in the first round.

Scurran unbelievably coached Sabino to consecutive unbeaten regular seasons two different times — 10-0 in 1989 (finished 12-1) and 10-0 in 1990 (won the state title at 14-0) and 10-0 in 1996 (before a 12-1 finish) and 10-0 in 1997 (losing in the state title game and finishing 13-1).

Bonilla coached Desert View to a school-record 11-0 start last season before losing in the quarterfinals to Waddell Canyon View. The Jaguars ran the table this season before the loss to Cactus.

Bonillas was philosophical about his team after Friday’s setback in an otherwise glorious run for his program.

“I’m proud of their effort,” Bonillas said. “I’m proud of them growing up. Things happen in life and we can’t protect them from everything.

When asked about the success of 21-2 over the last two years, Bonillas said, “We’re not done with it. It’s a work in progress. It’s getting the kids to enjoy it and have better experiences, and they’re having fun doing it.”

“But at the same time … we have to come through when we face a little adversity,” he added. “Our true character kind of comes out.

“To our kids’ credit, they fought. They fought to the end. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

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