So many great quarterbacks have come through Chandler High School, prospering under the guidance of coach Rick Garretson.

Brett Hundley, Darell Garretson (Rick’s son), Bryce Perkins, Mason Moran, Jacob Conover.

It’s become QB High.

And now Mikey Keene, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound gunslinger, is leaving his mark.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic that has closed down schools and kept players from working on the field with their coaches since mid-March, Keene, a junior, is making sure he only improves on a remarkable 2019 football season in which he became the first quarterback in Arizona high school history to lead his team to the Open Division championship — a 42-35 victory over Scottsdale Saguaro.

He threw for 2,835 yards and 23 touchdowns, completing 193 of 265 of his attempts for a state-best 73% with just five interceptions during a 13-0 2019 season.

His decisions were quick, precise, spot on.

Garretson said one of Keene’s biggest attributes is his creative abilities “to turn poor plays into great plays with his legs”, like Hundley, Perkins and Moran.

“Mikey throws on the run better than all,” Garretson said, pointing out that Keene is the only undefeated starting Chandler quarterback.

“Mikey Keene has what it takes to be a great QB,” Garretson said. “He can think, he can throw and he can lead. He was in complete control of the most diversified offense in Arizona. He developed throughout the season as a playmaker. He has the ‘it’ factor as a quarterback.”

Keene saw his recruiting rocket during the spring shutdown of schools across America.

It’s given college coaches more time to sit down and break apart high school film of recruits.

MORE: Ranking Arizona high school football teams by state championships

He’s rolled up 16 offers since the shutdown. Included are Central Florida, Colorado State, Harvard, New Mexico and Hawaii (which got a recruiting steal in signing Chandler senior running back Dae Dae Hunter).

“He has the qualities to perform at the next level in a Power 5 program as well as any mid-major or FCS conference,” Garretson said.

Keene knows the history of Chandler quarterbacks. He studied it before he enrolled as a freshman.

“The film and to see what those guys did before me is a motivating factor,” Keene said. “I can also learn through it, as well. It’s a great feeling to be put in the list with those guys before me, but, with that being said, the work is never done.”

Keene is a workaholic, whether it is on his academics or quarterback skills.

There is no down time during this down time for Keene, who has added 20 pounds of muscle since the end of last season. He said he’s been getting two lifts in a day and has been throwing three to four times a week.

And he’s been a leader in Zoom meetings and off-campus workouts. He said It was great to make history, being the first in the new era of Open Division football champions.

“I expect the returning guys to understand that last season is in the past,” Keene said. “Now the work needs to be put in for this year. We all stay in touch with each other and hold one another accountable in order to make sure everyone is getting in good work.

“The end goal is to put ourselves back as Open Division state champs and we understand that isn’t something just handed out. You have to earn that every single day. You have to wake up and get yourself better every single day.”

MORE: Ranking Arizona high school football coaches by state championships

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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