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Centennial brings back an experienced offensive line that will star as its backbone this season. Richard Obert/azcentral sports
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Scottsdale Saguaro has to build up an offensive line depleted by graduation but the Sabercats are still stacked with talent. Video: Richard Obert/azcentral sports
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Hamilton still is engulfed in the hazing case, while Chandler gets ready to climb nationally
Richard Obert/azcsports
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High academic school in its first year for football aspires to be the Stanford of the Chandler Unified School District
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The new AIA executive director addresses biggest needs, challenges in Arizona high school sports.
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When high school junior Troy Delgado was homeless, there were days that school meals were the only ones he could rely on. Now, he’s planning to go to college.
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Corbin Smith, the son of former Arizona football coach Larry Smith, has brought in assistants whom he feels will help McClintock get back to respectability on the football field
Wochit
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With Rich Wellbrock at the helm, the Chandler Basha football program is being reconstructed with a quicker pace.
Wochit
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A closer look at the 2017 Chandler Wolves. Video: azcentral sports
Wochit
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Spring football is time for Chandler’s talented additions to mesh with defending state champs. Richard Obert/azcentral sports
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Zidane Thomas leads title contenders into new season.
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McClintock coach Corbin Smith talks about having his players locked in during spring football as the new coaches try to bring back the school’s lost football glory on Wednesday. Richard Obert/azcentral sports
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Arizona football recruits Andrew Nichols of Centennial High, Adam Bay of Desert Ridge High, Bryce Gilbert of Higley High, and Tyler Johnson of Highland High on where they will be playing college football next year. David Wallace/azcentral sports
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Centennial revved up for another title run
Saguaro football begins its ‘drive for five’
Hamilton, Chandler open football practice under different spotlights
Arizona College Prep football laying the foundation
David Hines tackles high school sports issues
High school athlete overcomes homelessness to be three-sport standout
McClintock HS Football, Bringing back tradition
Chandler Basha football players adjusting to new coach
Chandler football, the team looks locked and loaded
Chandler football ready for another title run
Centennial preparing for another big football season
McClintock’s Smith: ‘What matters to me is the history of this school’
National Signing Day – Arizona recruits on where they will be playing college football
Trevor Renfro this summer set a Peoria Centennial football program record with a 465-pound bench press.
And he is one of the smaller guys on the offensive line at 6-foot-3, 268 pounds. The senior guard shares the line with guys who weigh 290, 275, 270 and 285 pounds.
They’re not just big, but strong and experienced. As senior running back Alex Escobar calls them, “They’re the backbone of this team.”
As the Coyotes adjust from the cool air of La Jolla, Calif., where they held camp, to the hot, muggy desert weather back at home, they’re intent on capturing another state championship.
Last year, a great run after a season-opening loss to Goodyear Desert Edge ended with a loss to Gilbert Williams Field in the 5A Conference championship game.
Two years ago, Centennial was on top of the state at all levels, when it captured the 6A crown over Mesa Desert Ridge.
It was a one-and-done at the top level in Arizona for the Coyotes, who have captured four state titles at 5A.
Coach Richard Taylor, who began the Centennial program in 1990, feels good about the offense, especially with four of the five starters on the line returning.
He also returns his starting quarterback, Ruben Beltran, and his two starting running backs, Escobar and Zidane Thomas.
Thomas, who ran for 2,329 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, will have to sweat it out in mid-August when his hardship case will be heard by the Arizona Interscholastic Association. He is hoping he won’t have to sit out the first five games for a one-week stint at a Tampa, Fla., school during the winter.
“We think that our receivers will do quite well,” Taylor said. “Offense is in pretty good shape. Defensively, losing (two-time All-Arizona end) Andrew Nichols is a very big loss. And we have a lot of young kids. But those young kids have been waiting their turn and they want to perform well.
“Right now, we’re still trying to figure out ways that our defensive linemen can beat out our offensive linemen in one-on-ones. They haven’t fared well against them yet. But they’re going to. They’re young and getting better every day.”
The secondary has a mix of experience and youth, led by senior cornerback Dom Hampton, who has his list of colleges narrowed to Oregon, Colorado, Washington, Arizona and Arizona State. He said he hopes to commit soon.
“It’s going to be another strong year for our defense,” Hampton said. “We just want to get back to where were and finish the job this year.”
It starts Aug. 18 against Goodyear Desert Edge, which also returns a massive offensive line that had the upper hand in last year’s opener, before Centennial got revenge in the state quarterfinals.
“I think we’re probably better than we were last year,” Renfro said. “We’re closer with four of our five (linemen) returning. We know how we work. We don’t really argue as much as we did anymore. We are closer together.”
MORE: Has the gap closed on Saguaro in 4A football?
RELATED: 2017 high school football 2-a-days: 1A South, West
MORE: 2017 Arizona high school football previews: Top 10 linebackers
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.
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