Finalists gather, reflect: ‘It’s a hard road to get here’
All eight big-school football teams playing in the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s championship games this weekend were represented at Wednesday’s media day at a Barro’s Pizza restaurant in Gilbert.
And everybody was thankful to be there after last year’s COVID-crazy season minimized and in some cases eliminated the season.
There was no media day and no big stadium to play the finals last year. This year, the games are being played Friday and Saturday at Arizona State’s Sun Devil Stadium.
The 4A final between Casa Grande and Poston Butte kicks off at 4 p.m., Friday, followed by the 5A final between Salpointe Catholic and Horizon at 8.
The title games conclude Saturday with the 6A final between Chaparral and Highland at noon, followed by the Open state championship game between Saguaro and Chandler at 5 p.m.
“For us, it’s a blessing,” Tucson Salpointe Catholic coach Eric Rogers said about being in the same room with so many quality coaches and players.
“It’s a hard road to get here,” Chandler coach Rick Garretson said.
This is the sixth consecutive trip to the finals for Chandler, which is looking for is sixth straight title and to go 3-0 in the first three years of the Open Division state final.
Here are some scenes, notes and news from Wednesday’s media day:.
Staying ready
Scottsdale Saguaro coach Jason Mohns, whose team faces Chandler on Saturday at 5 p.m. in a rematch of the 2019 Open final, brought his captains, including senior quarterback Ridge Docekal, who made first-team all-region.
When the Open playoffs began, Docekal lost his starting job to junior Devon Dampier, whose ability to run the ball gives the Sabercats a different dynamic on offense, matching up better against fast, physical defenses, such as Cactus, Hamilton and now Chandler.
Docekal was interviewed by several people during the media event.
“Obviously, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t frustrated about my situation,” Docekal said. “But I’m just trying to keep a good head on my shoulders. It’s just the competitor in me.
“All year I’ve been living my dream and on the field I feel I give my team a chance to do so. At the end of the day, I’m a good teammate, and I’m excited for my team’s greatness, and Devon’s greatness. It’s been fun to watch that and play for an Open championship.”
Dampier, a transfer from Pinnacle who was ineligible the first half of the season and then rotated every two series with Docekal the second half of the season, broke out in the 31-24 upset of Hamilton last week, rushing for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns.
Docekal, who has committed to Idaho, has always been mentally locked in since Dampier took over.
“All week I’ve been preparing like I’m going to play against Chandler,” Docekal said.”Watching film, taking practice reps. Taking it like any other week I’ve had all season.”
Fateful showdown
It seems only fitting that Chandler and Saguaro would see each other again for the biggest prize, the Open state championship trophy on Saturday. Both schools were impacted by the May death of Chandler offensive line and strength coach Chris Chick, who was a top assistant coach under John Sanders at Saguaro when it started racking up championships.
Chick left Saguaro after Sanders left, following the Sabercats’ 2011 championship season. Chick went to Chandler, where he joined then head coach Shauan Aguano and current head coach Rick Garretson, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before Aguano left to be an assistant coach at ASU before the 2019 season.
Chick had an impact coaching at both schools.
Chick played offensive line at Saguaro, before playing at California.
“He’s one of the guys who taught me a ton about football,” Mohns said. “Not just the offensive line play. Chris Chick was a great tactician and a master of offensive schemes.”
Mohns said it was hard for Chick to leave Saguaro, but he credits Aguano and Garretson for developing him not only as a coach but a person.
“I was happy to see where he landed and how he was treated and to see the legacy he left there,” Mohns said. “It was pretty special.”
Bijan checking in
Texas running back Bijan Robinson gave Salpointe senior tailback Anthony Wilhite a call this week, wishing him luck against Horizon in Friday night’s 5A championship game.
Wilthite was a sophomore two years ago when Robinson was a senior, leading the Lancers against Chandler in the Open semifinal. Salpointe lost that game, but Robinson repeated as the Ed Doherty Award winner.
“He was excited for our team being the state championship game,” Wilhite said. “He said he’d call me again, so he could pray for me before the game. He gave me a few tips so I wouldn’t be nervous. Just to go execute and get the W.”
Wilhite had only 32 carries for 239 yards his sophomore year playing behind Robinson.
But that season learning from Robinson, the school’s all-time leader for rushing yards and touchdowns, was invaluable.
“He taught me how to be light on my feet and to hit the hole hard,” said Wilhite, who has run for 1,454 yards and 18 TDs this season. “A lot of my basics came from him.”
Plugging product
Barro Pizza is a partner with the AIA with the Gilbert location hosting media day.
It just so happened that Casa Grande was one of the teams that reached the finals. The Cougars will play Poston Butte of San Tan Valley on Friday at 4 p.m., in the 4A final in an all-Pinal County title game. Casa Grande is coached by Jake Barro and his father Ken. The family owns Barro Pizza.
After introducing four players they brought to media day, head coach Jake Barro said, “I want to say thanks to everyone for coming to this fine restaurant, probably one of the best restaurants in this entire state. “Make sure you pick up some pizza and wings on your way out. There’s a good product over here.”
Waiting game
Chaparral defensive lineman Anthony Lucas stood out as being the biggest guy in the room Wednesday. He is the most sought after 2022 player in Arizona. So sought after that new Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman and some of his assistants came out to Chaparral this week to visit the 6-foot-5, 285pound Lucas.
Lucas has narrowed his list of colleges, but he said he probably won’t be ready before next Wednesday’s early signing day to announce his future college. His list includes Alabama, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, LSU and Miami. “I don’t know, I don’t think so,” Lucas said about announcing his commitment next week.
This is a chance for Lucas to gain another ring.
“Coming from winning it last year against the same team, gives us more of a reason to get it done even more and make sure our whole team is locked in for this upcoming weekend,” Lucas said.
Lucas said he’s even prepared to play some tight end if called to do so.