Liberty QB Bruzon repeats as Gatorade Arizona POY
For the second year in a row, Peoria Liberty High School quarterback Navi Bruzon was named the Gatorade Arizona Football Player of the Year.
This time, it comes with a championship in the Open Division.
Bruzon, who is taking a preferred walk-on opportunity to play at Arizona State, enrolling this month, has been Liberty’s catalyst the past couple of years, leading the Lions in the Open playoffs.
This year, he was the Doherty Award winner, after leading the Lions to a 12-1 record that culminated with a 33-21 win over Peoria-rival Centennial in the Open state championship game. Liberty’s only loss came at Corona (California) Centennial, a 42-35 setback that was lost in the final minute.
Liberty finished the season ranked No. 15 in the country by MaxPreps.
“Navi is not only a legendary player but one of the most influential people to ever step foot on the Liberty High School campus,” Liberty coach Colin Thomas said. “He did more than win football games. He set a standard and example of how you can be successful and still treat people with respect and dignity.
“He not only interacted with our football players, but made a positive impact with many of our special needs students on campus,” Thomas added. “As a football player and teammate, he has set the bar for what true leadership looks like. He is one of the greatest quarterbacks this state state has ever seen and we are blessed that he will forever be a Lion.”
Bruzon, 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, was named to The Arizona Republic’s All-Arizona team and is a finalist for Player of the Year, which will be announced in June during the Sports Awards Show in Phoenix.
He passed for 3,287 yards and 32 TDs with eight interceptions this season, completing 183 of 248 passes. He also ran for 972 yards and 21 TDs on 137 carries.
He also was named Gatorade Arizona High School Football Player of the Year his junior season, when he threw for 3,041 yards and 33 TDs with six interceptions, completing 71% of his passes, and ran for 409 yards and six TDs on 92 carries.
Bruzon maintained a 4.0 grade-point average, graduating in December.