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Queen Creek enters the 2015 football season in a higher division with new sectional opponents and perhaps one of the most difficult schedules in the state, regardless of division.
Sure, they’ll face eight teams that reached the playoffs a year ago, but it’s still business as usual for a team that won the state championship in 2012, was the state runner up in 2013, and reached the semi-finals last season.
Don’t expect the leap in divisions, a new section, or a challenging schedule to lessen expectations for the Bulldogs.
“At Queen Creek we have high expectations about being successful every season,” head coach Travis Schureman told the Ledger. “That will continue to be the same expectation we have this year. We expect to make the playoffs and we’ll do everything we can to make that happen.”
When the AIA initially announced its projected division realignment earlier this year the Bulldogs had ascended from Division III all the way up to Division I for football. After some reconsideration they eventually landed in Division II, a member of the newly reformed Section III that includes Ironwood Ridge, Canyon del Oro, Marana Mountain View, and crosstown-rival Poston Butte.
Four of the five teams in the new section reached the playoffs a year ago with Marana Mountain View the lone exception. Although, the Tigers may have qualified if not for some player-eligibility issues early last season.
They also have non-section games versus Hamilton and Williams Field – the respective 2014 state runners up in Divisions I and III – in addition to Higley and Westview, two more playoff teams from a year ago.
“We’ll talk a lot this year about taking one game at time,” Schureman said. “With our schedule we really have to take it one game at a time. We’ll know exactly who we are come playoff time.”
The Bulldogs hosted a three-team scrimmage featuring Division I Brophy Prep – a semi-finalist playoff team last year – and defending state champion Saguaro to help prepare them for the season. Facing two of the best teams in the state provided a good precursor for the regular season.
“I liked what I saw, both offensively and defensively,” Schureman said after the scrimmage. “We were competitive and we got after it.”
“Brophy and Saguaro are two great football teams,” he added. “(They gave us) two different looks (on offense and defense) so it gave our kids some opportunities to have to adjust on the fly. That was good for us.”
Queen Creek’s depth at running back was among the highlights from last week’s scrimmage. One of the state’s best rushing attacks could have as many as four running backs that make significant contributions this season, beginning with senior starter Gavin Danielson. Jace Koester (Jr), Dante Coleman (So), and Todd Terry (Jr) made Queen Creek coaches take notice during last week’s scrimmage.
“We have three or four guys that we’re proud of,” Schureman said. “It’ll be great for us if we can have multiple kids that we can keep fresh and rotate them in the game.”
Of course, Schureman, who coaches Queen Creek’s linemen, is quick to point out the running backs are only one-half of the equation for a successful running game.
“We like to have good running backs here, obviously,” he said. “But we think it starts up front. We hope whoever we have back there will do a good job if (the offensive line) does its job.”
Senior center Nico Martin, the lone returning starter along the offensive line, expects his unit to get better as the season progresses.
“We just have to work on our assignments,” he said. “If the defense shifts we have to learn how to pick it up.”
Schureman acknowledged this is the first time in recent memory that he’s not been able to settle on five starters this late in the preseason. He called it a good problem to have.
“I like the depth we have and the competitiveness in the group,” he said. “We try to do the little things perfect, so we need to get better and we will continue to get better, continue to work hard, and we’ll see if we can get ready before Desert Mountain.”
On the other side of the ball, the defensive secondary figures to be an area of strength this season with return of all four starters from a year ago. Senior Cornerbacks Zach Glaess and Travis Moore along with safeties Kaleb Honea (Sr) and Gavin Danielson provide experience and leadership at key positions.
Only one question remains entering Friday’s opener: Who is the starting the quarterback?
It’ll be either Kaleb Honea or Tyler Bloom (Sr). How’s that for a non-definitive answer?
“I thought both of them did a great job,” Schureman said after last week’s scrimmage. “They made crisp decisions and had the ball out quick.”
Schureman, who said a decision would be made after the coaching staff reviewed film last weekend, likely knows the starter by now. Although he suggested he won’t announce it publicly, instead forcing us to wait until Friday’s opener to see who lines up under center.
Whoever is named starter, he will have a stable of receivers that includes Bailey Delozier (Sr), Armon McGuire (Jr), and Zane Whiting (Sr) to throw to.
Even though some will remain skeptical, the Bulldogs have the pieces in place to make their passing game an even bigger threat this season compared to seasons past.
“We’re excited to get to play (on Friday),” said Schureman, looking forward to the season opener. “We’re excited about the 2015 season and getting ready to play Desert Mountain.”
Players from all three teams in last Wednesday’s scrimmage meet with officials prior to the start.
Quarterback Kaleb Honea calls out signals versus Brophy Prep during Wednesday’s scrimmage.
Queen Creek’s defense swarms to make the tackle.
The Bulldogs’ defense preps for start of last week’s scrimmage.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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