No looking back for Mountain Pointe
Coach Rich Wellbrock preps for rivalry game
Rich Wellbrock studies the notes on his screen, getting ready for the biggest football game played in Ahwatukee each high school season:
The Ahwatukee Bowl -- Phoenix Desert Vista against Phoenix Mountain Pointe.
Wellbrock is now at the center, leading a Mountain Pointe team that some wondered whether it could stay on track after Norris Vaughan left the mega-power he built and returned to Georgia.
Wellbrock was leaving a Chandler Basha team that went 2-8 in his only season, causing some to question whether Wellbrock could coach.
When asked if he changed after last year, Wellbrock, who won a state title at Goodyear Desert Edge, doesn’t hesitate.
“We are so done talking about that,” he said. “Just done with it.
“I’m happy for those kids. I’m happy for (new Basha coach) Chris (McDonald).”
While Basha has bounced back under McDonald at 5-1 with a huge game at home on Friday against Chandler Hamilton, Mountain Pointe is still Mountain Pointe under Wellbrock.
After getting hired, Wellbrock last spring brought in former Scottsdale Chaparral head coach Conrad Hamilton to be his defensive coordinator. Hamilton brought with him his defensive assistants to Mountain Pointe. He is is a lot like Wellbrock, wearing his emotions on his sleeve.
Ross Crow, a former head coach at Avondale Agua Fria, was brought in to be the offensive coordinator.
“We feel each other out every week,” Wellbrock said. “Last week, we took the lead. We were up 21 points. Conrad was already downstairs. I knew he was downstairs because he was having trouble with the headphones. I said, ‘I think we’re going to onside kick,’ just to get a reaction out of him. He whipped around and looked at me and started laughing. We were laughing. He knows the buttons on me. Same with Ross. I think we’ve all gotten to know each other.
“We’re not going to hold back. The kids know we’re not going to hold back. That’s going to be a day in, day out basis. You have to understand we have expectations of what we want done and they need to do it.”
Mountain Pointe still grounds and pounds, the staple during the Pride’s nineyear run under Vaughan, during which it reached it reached the 6A semifinals eight times, went 14-0 and won the 2013 state title.
“We’re going to try to run the ball,” Wellbrock said. “I think the good thing we’ve been able to do is open up the airways a little bit.”
It has helped to have veteran quarterback Nick Wallerstedt back and backup quarterback Ahmen Williams embracing his role as receiver.
And with junior wide receiver Dominique Davis breaking out, averaging 23 yards a catch, Mountain Pointe is back on track, improving to 3-3, after a couple of close losses to quality opponents -- South Jordan (Utah) Bingham and Queen Creek.
Mountain Pointe couldn’t punch it in during a goal-line situation late in the Bingham game and gave up a touchdown on an 80-yard drive in the final two minutes in the two-point loss to Queen Creek.
Phoenix Pinnacle has proven to be much better than anybody figured, so that August loss doesn’t feel so bad.
The Pride is coming off its best win in the Wellbrock era, handing Gilbert Highland its first loss in a 48-27 win.
Mountain Pointe ran for 313 yards with Jakim McKinney getting 127 yards on 28 carries and sophomore Eli Sanders getting 87 on 18 carries.
Davis, whose emergence began during a dominating summer in 7-on-7, is building confidence, not just on the field, but in the classroom.
“Being around these coaches, these guys, first varsity anything, being around leaders, they helped me,” Davis said. “I’m pretty confident in my game in general.”
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-3168827.