Arizona high school football previews: 2A Little Colorado, Black regions
Time again for the The Arizona Republic's annual high school football region previews. Each day we'll preview two regions heading to the start of the season, which begins Aug. 17 for small schools. The big schools — 6A, 5A and 4A — open the season on Aug. 24. The AIA is sprinkling out games to be played Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday each week.
This is the countdown to opening week in the Arizona Interscholastic Association.
They're the 2-a-days:
2A Little Colorado Region
The teams: Greyhills Academy, Holbrook, Hopi, Many Farms, Pinon, Red Mesa, Tuba City, Sanders Valley.
The favorite: Holbrook. Ran the table last year before losing only game to Willcox 51-12 in the state quarterfinals. But must replace the big shoes left by four-year starting QB Marcus Oberriter.
The challenger: Hopi. The Bruins went 6-4 last year but Holbrook showed how big the gap was between the schools on the football field, ending the Roadrunners season with a 62-0 rout.
The darkhorse: Tuba City. Went 5-5 last year but must replace quarterback and key running backs.
Predicted order of finish: 1. Holbrook; 2. Hopi; 3. Tuba City; 4. Pinon, 5. Valley; 6. Red Mesa; 7. Many Farms; 8. Greyhills Academy.
Key players: Darnell Nez, Holbrook, RB/DE, Sr.; Slade Allison, Holbrook, C, Sr.; Larin Nez, Holbrook, OL/DL, Sr.; Victor Saiz, Holbrook, OL/DL, Jr.; Augie Saiz, Holbrook, OL/DL, Jr.; Matthias Montijo, Holbrook, RB/LB, So.; Darren Justman, Holbrook, QB/FS, So.; Simeon Shaw, Holbrook, WR/CB, So.; Jayce Sidney, Hopi, RB, Sr.; Trenton Engle, Tuba City, RB, Sr.; Cayden Joseph, Tuba City, DB, Sr.; Silas Kaye, Pinon, RB/DB; Cory Ben, Pinon, WR/DB; Bastian Crosby, Pinon, OL/LB.
Key date: Oct. 6 -- Holbrook host to Hopi in a game that should tell you who the region champion will be.
2A Black Region
The teams: American Leadership Anthem South, Alchesay, Globe, Miami, Pima, San Carlos, St. Johns.
The favorite: Pima. The defending state champion Roughriders return one of the top small-school athletes in Jaxon John with an incredible supporting cast. The region got easier for them this year with Morenci and Willcox no longer there.
The challenger: St. Johns. Always tough, hard-nosed team that give it all on every play.
The darkhorse: Alchesay. These guys are always in the mix, showing a potent offense and lock-down defense.
Predicted order of finish: 1. Pima; 2. St. Johns; 3. Alchesay; 4. Globe; 5. Miami; 6. ALA Anthem South; 7. San Carlos.
Key players: Jaxon John, Pima, Athlete; Sr.; Tuddy Smart, Pima, LB/RB, Sr.; Hayden Blair, Pima, RB/DB, Sr.; Esau Tate, Alchesay, RB, Jr.; Texas James, Alchesay, RB, Jr.; Jared Peaches, Alchesay, DB, Sr.; Cael Stewart, St. Johns, QB/FS; Riley Greene, St. Johns, OL; Abram Castaneda, Miami, QB, Jr.; Noah Combs, Miami, WR, So.; Trentin Goss, Globe, RB, Jr.; Jeremiah Foster, Globe, LB, Jr.; Aaron Wanjala, ALA Anthem South, OL, Jr.; Loren Pina, San Carlos, OL/DL, So.
Key date: Sept. 1 -- Pima plays at Scottsdale Christian in what could be the top two ranked teams in 2A.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona HS football previews: 2A Little Colorado, 2A Black regions
