SCOUTING REPORT
Tucson Salpointe Catholic has been around for 63 years, but this is only the third time the school has played in a state football championship game.
It has never won one, something tonight’s opponent, secondranked Scottsdale Chaparral (12-1), has done six times, including a three-year run from 2009-11.
But the stage is set — in Tucson at Arizona Stadium at 6 p.m. — for top-ranked Salpointe (13-0) to make history in its backyard.
Salpointe’s only other trips to the final ended in disappointment, losing to Phoenix Trevor Browne in1981and to Phoenix St. Mary’s in 1991.
Salpointe coach Dennis Bene, taking the Lancers back to the final for the first time in his 13-year tenure, was a backup quarterback on the ’81 Salpointe team that was coached by the late Ed Doherty, who led St. Mary’s to state titles in 1967 and ’68.
“We share a little bit about how difficult it is to get there, what a tremendous accomplishment it is,” Bene said. “I’ve been telling the kids, ‘You’ll never forget it.’ It is ingrained in mymind, that experience. I want these kids to finish it, to win it. It is something that every former player and coach can grab a hold of and finally say, ‘We’re Number 1.’ ”
Salpointe can close the books and let the historians debate whether this is the best highschool team in Tucson history with another emphatic win.
It has outscored its opponents 651-81. Only Peoria Liberty in a 4514 Division II quarterfinal win scored in double-digits against the Lancers.
“When you watch them on film, it’s like you’re watching a college team,” said Chaparral coach Dave Huffine, who calls Salpointe the best championship opponent Chaparral has faced since the 2008 Scottsdale Saguaro team. “They’re loaded at every spot. They have explosive players who have the ability to go the length of Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson When: 6 tonight. When Chaparral has the ball: It will go no-huddle and run and pass with junior quarterback Sean Paul Brophy utilizing the speed and moves of running back Elijah Castro and finding big target Trevor Wood. When Salpointe has the ball: Speedy, elusive receivers Cameron Denson and Kaelin Deboskie will line up on the same side, making it impossible to double team both, and quarterback Andrew Cota will use his speed to elude defenders and either take off with the ball or get the ball out quickly. It also can run the ball behind a big line with running back Jay Williams. the field at any point in time. We have to be able to throw the football, run the football, chew up yards and chew up clock and put some points on the board.
“They don’t give up any yards. They’re fast and tenacious. They’re big up front. They have big, fast linebackers. They have two shutdown cornerbacks on the outside. We’re going to have to come up with some things that we feel we can take advantage of. We have good senior leadership. We have good outside players, too.”
The key for Chaparral is putting pressure on third-year Salpointe quarterback Andrew Cota, who is very good at getting the ball quickly to his two big speedy play makers, Cameron Denson and Kaelin Deboskie. They’ve combined for 117 catches, 2,157 yards and 20 touchdowns. Deboskie moved in from Texas last spring. Both receivers/cornerbacks will be taking their game to UA next season.
They also force teams to run because they are such great cover guys as cornerbacks.
“Kaelin takes the pressure off a lot,” Denson said. “Having him on my side, the offense can actually spread out and open up things. It’s hard to double team either of us. We both help each other out. It opens up the running game.”
Chaparral will be the fastest, most athletic team Salpointe has seen, “by far,” Bene said.
It has its own set of play makers, from running back Elijah Castro to running back/receiver Tyler Whiley, wide receiver Israel Simpson and tight end Trevor Wood, who plays split out wide some of the time.
Lately, Wood has been playing defensive end, which has given an already strong, fast defensive line even more of a boost. Chaparral’s linebackers, led by Hayden Pate, are fast and likely to storm the quarterback.
“I think it’s funny that there are a lot of people saying, ‘You might as well engrave the trophy for Salpointe,’ ” Pate said. “We’re going to be the toughest defense they’re going to face all year. We’re excited to get out there against Cameron and Kaelin and all their guys.” Wood has confidence. “It’s important for us to come out playing Chaparral football,” he said. “We feel that nobody can stop us but ourselves.”