NOTES: Hayden Bollinger’s passing helping Arbor View football to grow

Arbor View football coach Dan Barnson subscribes to something he calls an “80-20” philosophy.

“Every year, you need 20 percent something new,” Barnson explained. “I think you have to grow. I think you have to evolve.”

The Aggies developed into one of the top programs in the valley on the strength of their running game from the double-wing formation.

But thanks to the presence of senior quarterback Hayden Bollinger, this season Arbor View is airing it out more than it ever has during Barnson’s 10 seasons in charge.

“Last year we threw around the ball a little bit, but this year it’s been completely different,” Bollinger said Tuesday. “They’ve given me the opportunity to change things up a little, make some plays through the air. It makes me happy to finally get out there and throw the football and see what I’m made of.”

Bollinger already has surpassed his totals from last season when he had 88 attempts and threw for 853 yards in 12 games.

In seven games, Bollinger has completed 56 of 109 passes (51.38 percent) for 857 yards and 12 touchdowns with no interceptions.

The 109 attempts is the most by Arbor View during any season in Barnson’s tenure. The previous high was 2009 when three QBs combined for 102 attempts.

“We used to say when we threw eight, 10 times (per game) that was a lot for us. I think that’s kind of the norm now for us,” Barnson said. “He’s really good, and he can do things at quarterback we’ve never really had before. We’ve had really good quarterbacks in the past, but he takes us to another level with his ability to throw.”

Bollinger had a season-high 216 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-22 victory over Faith Lutheran on Sept. 23 and also threw three TDs in a 28-7 win over Centennial on Oct. 7.

Last week, Bollinger went 12-for-21 for 160 yards and two TDs as Arbor View downed Palo Verde 28-7.

“We haven’t really had in previous years guys who are super athletic or who can catch the ball and make a play down field,” Bollinger said. “But this year, I’ve got some very talented kids on this team that can make that happen.”

The 6-foot-3-inch, 220-pound Bollinger has drawn interest from several schools, according to Barnson. Recruiters from Eastern Washington and Utah State were at last week’s game, and Bollinger also is hearing from Colorado Mesa, Southern Utah and UNLV.

“He’s got people looking, which is cool,” Barnson said. “Someone’s going to take a shot, and the shot might just be a walk-on shot, and I think he’s the type that would put in the work and earn that scholarship. It might not be for a year or two, but I think it’ll definitely happen for him.”

POLL POSITIONS

■ Liberty’s football team remained No. 23 in the USA Today Super 25 poll that is topped by Bishop Gorman.

■ Sunrise Mountain’s boys soccer team climbed to No. 6 in this week’s USA Today/National Soccer Coaches Association of America Region VIII poll. Durango is No. 11 and Del Sol is 12th in the same rankings.

■ Arbor View is fifth in the girls Region VI soccer poll, which also included Palo Verde at No. 10.

RECENT COMMITMENTS

■ Durango senior Demetrius Valdez to Benedictine University (Ariz.) for men’s basketball.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.