2017-18 Flag Football Capsule Previews
As submitted by coaches
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ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: Clint Johnston, second season
2016-17 record: 8-14 (2-8 Northwest, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (nine)
Top players: WR Haylee Niemann (Sr.), WR Makayla Rucks (Jr.), RB Allyssa Larkin (Sr.), WR Katelyn Yoakum (Jr.)
Outlook: The Aggies bring back nine starters from last year’s squad.
Rucks (33 receptions, 450 yards, 6 touchdowns), Niemann (20 receptions, 300 yards, 5 TDs), Yoakum (18 receptions, 285 yards, 3 TDs) and Larkin (103 rushes, 598 yards, 7 TDs) all should be among the leaders on offense for a team that hopes to push for a postseason berth.
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BASIC
Head coach: Dave Durham, third season
2016-17 record: 6-12 (2-8 Southeast, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (three)
Top players: QB Marissa Owens (Sr.), RB Kelsie Weber (Jr.)
Outlook: Owens, who threw for 2,122 yards and 25 touchdowns and ran for 650 yards last season, and Weber (1,054 rushing yards) are among five returning letter winners for the Wolves, who hope to contend for a playoff spot.
“We are young and inexperienced,” Durham said. “We will improve as we get a few games into the season.”
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BONANZA
Head coach: Dion Lee, first season
2016-17 record: 9-6 (6-4 Southwest, third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (seven)
Top players: LB Destiny Bradford (Sr.), S Kiarra Campbell (Sr.), WR Alicia Kestner (Jr.), WR Shayne Dunn (Jr.), QB Cindylou Rasiang (Fr.), WR Desiree Cruz (Sr.), CB Joplyn Merrell (Jr.)
Outlook: Lee takes over a program that has to replace arguably its best player in its short history. Dual threat Brianna Hernandez-Silva threw for 1,733 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for 2,671 yards and 26 TDs in her senior season last year.
“With Brianna Hernandez-Silva moving on to college, we are looking at building our program around freshman quarterback Cindylou Rasiang,” Lee said.
She’ll have plenty of help with Kestner, Dunn and Cruz all as potential targets on offense.
Bradford, Campbell and Merrell are expected to be among the leaders on defense.
“We will be young, but will be returning an experienced defense that helped the Bengals make the playoffs last year,” Lee said. “We are looking forward to the season and making the playoffs for the second time.”
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BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Kevin Ruth, first season
2016-17 record: 13-6 (6-4 Sunrise, fourth)
Top players: RB/LB Nikki Meleo (Sr.), RB/LB Hannah Barth (Sr., QB/DB Nicoley Valley (Sr.), Taylor Tenney.
Outlook: The Eagles graduated eight seniors after last season and will have some spots to fill this year. The team hopes to remain in the hunt for one of the top spots in Class 3A.
“We have had a great turnout, with great leadership from last year’s team,” Ruth said. “We have big shoes to fill from the previous teams, but I think we are up to the challenge.”
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CHAPARRAL
Head coach: Jon Monga, second season
2016-17 record: 3-9 (1-9 Sunrise, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (five)
Top players: QB/S Alyssa Porras (Sr.), RB/CB Angelica Rivera (Jr.), RB Naja Muhammad (Sr.), WR Vanessa Sanchez (So.)
Outlook: The Cowboys bring back seven letter winners and are hoping for a more competitive season.
“Our team goals this season are to be in the top three of our conference, win the Cleat Game, and make playoffs for the first time in school history,” Monga said.
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CHEYENNE
Head coach: Anthony Johnson, fifth season
2016-17 record: 12-5 (8-0 Sunset, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (eight)
Top players: QB/S E’Leseana Patterson (So.), DL Kiantera Neal (Sr.), WR/S El’Heaven Hunt (Sr.)
Outlook: The Desert Shields return eight starters from last year’s Class 3A state championship team.
Patterson (1,597 yards passing, 23 touchdowns; 1,212 yards rushing, 12 TDs) is back to guide the offense. Neal (78 tackles, 15 sacks) is expected to be among the leaders on defense.
“My girls are excited to get back on the field,” Johnson said. “They are motivated and hungry. We have a lot of new girls that came out and ready to play. We will be tested early in the preseason to give the new girls some experience.
“After winning state last year and losing a lot of seniors, we have big shoes to fill, so we still have some unfinished business to take care of.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: Mark Bailey, fifth season
2016-17 record: 21-1 (9-1 Northwest, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (nine)
Top players: QB/CB Tiarra Del Rosario (Jr.), LB Elizabeth Asoau (Sr.), LB Diona Whitley (Sr.), S Nancy De La Torre (Sr.)
Outlook: The defending Class 4A state champions will have giant targets on their backs and less experienced targets to whom to throw.
Alyssa Karpinski, Logan DeLong and Haylei Hughes combined for 362 receptions, 5,156 yards and 62 touchdowns as seniors last year.
“Losing three of the best receivers in the city will be tough to overcome, but bringing back the state player of the year in Tiarra Del Rosario is a huge boost,” Bailey said. “I know we have to replace Hughes, Karpinski, and DeLong, but we’ve got a few players ready for the challenge. We look forward to seeing where this season takes us. We’ve lost great players in the past and found success.”
Del Rosario threw for 5,046 yards and 66 touchdowns and ran for 751 yards and 16 scores last season.
Asoau (154 tackles, eight sacks), Whitley (108 tackles, six sacks) and De La Torre (10 interceptions) return to guide the defense.
“We bring back the core of the defense, which will help,” Bailey said. “Right now we’re focusing on defense and fundamentals. We expect to be firing on all cylinders when playoffs roll around.”
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CLARK
Head coach: Matthew Moyle, fourth season
2016-17 record: 0-18 (0-10 Southwest, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (six)
Top players: LB/RB Autumn Flowers (Sr.), TE Crystal Diaz (Sr.), WR Carolina Ramos (Sr.), RB Jania Quinones (Jr.), S Kelli A’Hearn (Jr.), S Domonikke Orocio (Jr.)
Outlook: Quinones rushed for 958 yards and four touchdowns last year. She joins Ramos (230 receiving yards, 2 TDs) and Diaz (63 receiving yards) as returnees on offense.
Team MVP Flowers (92 tackles, 3 interceptions), Orocio (58 tackles, 7 interceptions) and A’Hearn (63 tackles, 3 interceptions) are back to guide the defense for a team that will have a lot of new faces.
“After graduating 17 seniors last year, we will be a very young team this season,” Moyle said. “The returning varsity players all are strong leaders, and we are expecting to have a much more successful season than in the past.”
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CORONADO
Head coach: Rusty Andersen, third season
2016-17 record: 13-9 (6-4 Southeast, third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (10)
Top players: QB Caitlin Shannon (Jr.), LB Shawna Slater (Sr.), WR Jensen Boman (Sr.), WR Sydnee Hansen (Jr.), WR/DB Reagan Raimer (Jr.)
Outlook: Halfway through last season, the Cougars were just 4-7. And then something clicked, and the team won nine of its next 10 and captured the Sunrise Region title.
Ten starters are back from that squad.
Shannon (3,073 passing yards, 49 passing TDs, 1,277 rushing yards, 17 rushing TDs) is one of the top returning weapons in the state and has three of her favorite targets returning in Boman (50 catches, 844 yards, 12 TDs), Hansen (44 catches, 711 yards, 15 TDs) and Raimer (36 catches, 461 yards, 11 TDs).
Slater (106 tackles, 10 interceptions) again should be among the leaders on defense.
“Our team is excited about the opportunity to compete against a tough non-conference schedule to prepare us for a strong Southeast League,” Andersen said. “The girls have a lot to prove after a sluggish start to last season and coming up short at the finish.
“There’s a lot of excitement around the program, and we’re ready to get it rolling.”
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DEL SOL
Head coach: Lucas Campbell, fourth season
2016-17 record: 9-11 (6-4 Sunrise, third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (eight)
Outlook: The Dragons were a playoff team last season and bring back all but one starter from that squad.
“We believe, with this group of players, we should be in all of our games,” Campbell said. “The girls have a great attitude and have shown a commitment to learning the game. The girls are working hard, getting better daily. Mentally, they’re picking up the little details. Physically, they’ve been putting in plenty of strength and conditioning time. They are a great group to coach and be around.
“Coaches Shaun and Stephen Topper have worked hard pushing the players, and teaching the girls new offensive and defensive schemes. They players are responding well and are eager for some game experience. Opening up with Cheyenne will test our athleticism and team discipline, and should be a good test to see where we stand as a team moving forward the rest of the season.”
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DURANGO
Head coach: Richard Cuellar, fourth season
2016-17 record: 5-13 (5-5 Southwest, fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (four)
Top players: QB Marina Bacon (Sr.), G Brenda Garcia (Sr.), C Phranky Gonzales (Sr.), QB Nayeli Silva-Kahalewai (Jr.)
Outlook: The Trailblazers return just four letter winners from a team that qualified for the Sunset Region playoffs last year.
“We’re looking forward to a great season and hoping to make it to playoffs,” Cuellar said.
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GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: David Torrez, fourth season
2016-17 record: 19-4 (9-1 Southeast, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Thirteen (five)
Top players: WR/LB Christina Mayberry (Jr.), LB Tiara Jimmison (Sr.), WR Olivia McClain (So.), DB Steffany Yang (Sr.)
Outlook: The Gators return 13 letter winners, but only five starters from a team that won the Southeast League last year.
“We look to compete and improve every game this season in a very tough division,” Torrez said. “We will have to rely on many new faces in key spots to help us be successful. What this season’s team lacks in experience, we hope will be made up with athleticism.
“The ladies have had a great intramurals and are really excited to get the season started.”
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LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Jonathan Hicks, first season
2016-17 record: 14-6 (8-0 Northeast, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (four)
Top players: WR Natalie Gennuso (Sr.), QB Kaitlyn Horstdaniel, DB Skyla Faught
Outlook: Hicks takes over a squad that has won the last two Northeast League titles, but has only four starters back.
Gennuso (945 receiving yards, 23 touchdowns) was a first-team all-state selection last year. Horstdaniel threw for 1,244 yards and 20 TDs.
“Offensively, we will rely heavily on the arm of Kaitlyn Horstdaniel and hands of Natalie Gennuso, whose leadership as a four-year varsity player will be invaluable to our team,” Hicks said. “Sophomore newcomers Morgan Adamson (receiver), Angelina Visitacion (receiver), and Brinkley McCoy (running back) bring explosive play-making abilities on offense and should benefit from favorable matchups because of the attention defenses give Gennuso.”
Hicks expects Faught and Jessica Garay to be among the leaders on defense with newcomers Robyn Galvez and Esmeralda Perez likely also playing significant roles.
“We look to make a strong run in the playoffs,” Hicks said. “Our non-league schedule is very challenging, but will give us experience that will help late in the season and hopefully into the playoffs.”
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LEGACY
Head coach: Kevin Davis, first season
2016-17 record: 6-13 (1-9 Northwest, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (four)
Top players: WR Mikaela Nunez (Jr.), QB Jalyn Joule (Jr.), DB Aliyah Spears (Sr.)
Outlook: The Longhorns were 5-4 in non-conference play but struggled to find wins in a tough Northwest League.
Four starters return, and new coach Davis hopes to make the team more successful this season.
“We have a good mix of players and expect to be competitive,” Davis said.
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LIBERTY
Head coach: Rich Ebarb, second season
2016-17 record: 3-13 (2-8 Southeast, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (six)
Top players: LB Lauren Robinson (Sr.), RB/LB Myranda Hawley (Sr.), S Deone Stoope (Sr.), DB Christal Cordero (Sr.), RB Ilani Oliveira (Sr.), RB/LB Marissa Pupo (Sr.), QB Jeszlyn Siores (Sr.), LB Josilyn Rasamimanana (Jr.)
Outlook: The Patriots return eight letter winners from last season as they aim for better results this year.
“We are excited for the upcoming season,” Ebarb said. “Our team and coaching staff are looking to improve on all levels with our goal to make the playoffs and see what happens from there.”
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MOAPA VALLEY
Head coach: Dave Belcher, second season
2016-17 record: 2-16 (1-9 Sunrise, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (four)
Top players: WR Alexis Schraft (Sr.), QB Alex Peay (Jr.)
Outlook: Only four letter winners return for the Pirates, but there’s plenty of interest in the program as Belcher said 60 girls tried out this season.
“Moapa Valley has some good players with some speed but, we are inexperienced,” Belcher said. “We are looking to improve from last year’s win total and are excited to be playing again.
“We have Alexis Schraft returning who missed last year due to an injury from soccer. She was an all-league pick as a sophomore. Alex Peay returns as our quarterback. She was an all-league pick last year. With the two returning and some speed, we will be a better team than last year.”
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PALO VERDE
Head coach: Rick Eurich, fourth season
2016-17 record: 14-6 (7-3 Northwest, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (eight)
Top players: WR/S Betsy Bellinger (Sr.), QB Alyssa Tygh (Sr.), RB/LB Mya Boykin (Jr.), FB/LB Cameron Gerek (Jr.)
Outlook: The Panthers return nine letter winners, including eight starters, from a team that finished as the Sunset Region runner-up for the second straight season last year.
“We are expecting to be competitive in every game we play,” Eurich said. “Our goal is to win the league title and ultimately make a run for the championship.
“We hope to replace a few key starters on the offensive side of the ball in an effort to continue to put up the offensive numbers of last season. The defense returns nearly every starter from our playoff run last year. We hope to improve on our consistency and take some pressure off the offense.”
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RANCHO
Head coach: Octavion Brown, third season
2016-17 record: 10-6 (6-2 Northeast, second)
Returning starters: Eight
Top players: RB/WR Talaya Williams (So.), LB/RB Zulma Flores (Sr.), G/LB Dre’Ana Marshall (Jr.), RB/WR Donnacia McCullough (Jr.)
Outlook: Despite graduating a large senior class, the Rams return eight starters from a team that finished second in the Northeast League.
“We’re very young and building to grow on last year’s success,” Brown said.
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SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Matt Nighswonger, third season
2016-17 record: 17-8 (4-6 Northwest, fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Sixteen (10)
Top players: LB Sonia Triana (Sr.), RB Jordan Ford (Sr.), QB Nicole Tripp-Herring (Sr.), DB Dayvian Diaz (Sr.)
Outlook: Ford is the leading returning rusher in the state after totalling 2,904 yards and 33 touchdowns on 153 carries last year.
Tripp-Herring threw for 3,012 yards and 34 touchdowns last year.
Both are expected to lead the offense, with Triana (128 tackles) and Diaz (5 interceptions) anchoring the defense for a Mustangs team that returns 16 letter winners and went 13-2 outside of the rugged Northwest League last year.
“We are hoping to come together as a team and build upon last year’s playoff appearance,” Nighswonger said. “We want to be competitive in the Northwest League and make a run in the playoffs.”
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SIERRA VISTA
Head coach: Levi Gill, third season
2016-17 record: 15-4 (9-1 Southwest, first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (seven)
Top players: RB Courtney O’Neal (Sr.), WR Jamie Kalaau-Sunia (Jr.), WR Mia Buranamontri (Jr.)
Outlook: O’Neal was fifth in the state in rushing last year with 2,564 yards and ran for 22 touchdowns.
Kalaau-Sunia was seventh in the state in receiving yards with 1,329 on 74 catches. She also hauled in 17 touchdown passes. Buranamontri had 12 touchdowns last season.
They’re among eight returning letter winners for the defending Southwest League champion Mountain Lions.
“We hope to be competitive in our league,” Gill said.
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SLAM ACADEMY
Coaches: T.J. Velarde and Sophia Triana, first season
2016-17 record: Did not compete
Returning letter winners (starters): First-year program
Outlook: Coaches Velarde and Triana both played flag football at Shadow Ridge and are hoping to teach a young Bulls team how to compete.
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SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Marcus Teal, sixth season
2016-17 record: 2-12 (2-8 Southwest, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Two (two)
Top players: WR/QB Teegan Teal (Jr.), WR/DB Maribel Gomez (Sr.)
Outlook: Only two starters return for the Grizzlies, who graduated a huge senior class.
“We will, again, be an inexperienced group that will be relying on growing as a team as the season goes on,” Marcus Teal said. “Last year’s team graduated 16 seniors, and we wiill be replacing them with youth and inexperience.
“Teegan Teal and Maribel Gomez are the only returners to a team that will try to become a contender in the tough Southwest League. I look forward to teaching and introducing this year’s team to a growing sport that I hope they will enjoy.”
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SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
Head coach: Chauncy Garbutt, third season
2016-17 record: 2-13 (1-7 Sunset, fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Three (three)
Top players: WR/LB Jamile Cano (Sr.), QB/LB Julia Miles (Jr.), RB/LB Kailey Lopez (Sr.)
Outlook: The Miners return just three starters from last year’s team but have high hopes for this season.
“We have a young athletic team who will be making their first playoff appearance in school history,” Garbutt said.
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TECH
Head coach: Joseph Vespo, third season
2016-17 record: 13-7 (7-3 Sunrise, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (four)
Top players: WR/S Maria Galindo (Sr.), DL Rhedisa Sua (Sr.), C/LB Jalin Arroyo (Jr.), RB/CB Angela Camarena (Jr.)
Outlook: After being hit hard by graduation, the Roadrunners return just four letter winners. The team lost four two-way starters to graduation and will need younger players to fill in the gaps.
“Tech will look to bounce back from last season’s (state) semifinal defeat to Cheyenne,” Vespo said. “I am excited to see what this season brings.
“As a young team, we will lean on our defense to set the tone. Some of our young and inexperienced players will be asked to step up and provide consistent play on both sides of the ball. I am hopeful our Class 4A loaded non-league schedule will get us ready to compete for another 3A playoff berth this season.”
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VALLEY
Head coach: Jim Erikson, third season
2016-17 record: 4-13 (3-5 Northeast, third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (four)
Top players: WR Heather Robinson (Sr.), WR Dominique Diaz (Sr.), RB Sol Gonzalez-Pacheco (Sr.), C Summer Gibson (Sr.), WR Andy Abrigo (So.), RB Frida Ochoa-Uribe (Jr.), CB Skylar Cheney (Jr.), LB Jazmine Alcocer (Sr.)
Outlook: The Vikings return four starters from a team that finished third in the Northeast League last season.
The team appears to have solid weapons at many of the skill positions.
“Valley expects to make the playoffs,” Erikson said.
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WESTERN
Head coach: Henry Jackson, second season
2016-17 record: 7-10 (5-3 Sunset, second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (eight)
Top players: RB/LB Koloa Makaafi (So.), S Jackie Montoya (Sr.), TE/QB Yareth Medina (Jr.), RB Shydae Elam (Fr.)
Outlook: The Warriors return eight starters, but have a hole to fill in the backfield after the graduation of Fabray Elam, who led the state with 3,109 yards rushing and scored 29 touchdowns.
Medina, Makaafi and Shydae Elam are young, but should be among the leaders on offense. Montoya is back to help guide the defense.
“We look to capitalize on the experience of our returning starters to lead us to consecutive playoff berths,” Jackson said. “We’ve put in the work in the offseason to be contenders, and we are looking to be a force in the conference this season.”
