[ad_1]
Chandler is a football program deep in talent, speed, skill players.
So when star receiver Kyion Grayes II went down in last week’s scrimmage with a dislocated elbow, it was a blow to a team expected to run the table again. But not a reason to panic.
The Wolves now turn to a sophomore, 6-foot-3, 183-pound Justice Spann, to take Grayes’ spot on offense.
Those are huge shoes to fill. But Spann is ready.
He’s had his dad to lean on throughout his life.
Creig Spann is a former wide receiver at Phoenix South Mountain and Arizona State, who has helped his son develop in football.
More: Arizona high school football 2021 season: The Republic’s preseason 6A Top 10 rankings
“Ever since I was a little kid, in the second grade, he’s been my coach,” Spann said. “He’s made me work my hardest to be where I am today. And I couldn’t do that without coach (Chad) Carpenter.”
Carpenter, Chandler’s receivers coach, called Grayes’ injury a “gut punch.” Grayes has been a key figure in Chandler’s passing game the last two years, leading the Wolves to Open Division state championships. He’s among the top receivers in the nation, committed to Ohio State.
But Chandler head coach Rick Garretson knows he’s got guys who can pick up the slack.
And it doesn’t have to all fall on the sophomore.
Senior Quaron Adams, 5-8, 165 pounds, a University of Arizona commit, is ready to have his breakout season. And tight end Nason Coleman is ready to go, after missing all of last season with an injury.
“From my perspective, I just want to lead the young guys who haven’t been in this situation that me and Kyion have been in before,” Adams said. “I really want to set the tone for goal one. Smash mouth. They’ll follow the lead.”
Adams expects to become that big-play threat that many figured he’d be before suffering a broken collarbone in the first game of his sophomore season.
Last year, he averaged eight yards on 45 catches and didn’t have a touchdown catch.
Now is his turn to show all the potential he came to Chandler with as a freshman when he burst onto the track and field scene that May, capturing the 100-meter state title.
Adams has no doubt Spann and others will follow his lead and that of Grayes.
“It’s my job to make sure they know what they’re doing,” Adams said. “Just have a smooth start to the season.”
Garretson said a good report came back from the doctor on Grayes and they’re looking at “six to eight weeks” for his return.
“No one’s feeling sorry for us,” said Garretson, who is opening the season Friday night at home against Peoria Centennial in The Arizona Republic’s Game of the Week with a different quarterback for the first time since the AIA entered the Open Division era.
But Garretson has no doubt that 6-3 lefty Blaine Hipa can lead. He says, “He’s got swag.” Hipa didn’t have a season last year in Hawaii with COVID-19 shutting down football in that state.
Spann is surrounded by coaches at home. His mom, Terri, was the head girls volleyball coach at Chandler Basha, before that job last spring was handed to her daughter, Justine, Justice’s sister. Justine was a former All-Arizona volleyball player at Basha and a standout player at Colorado. Their mom played volleyball at ASU.
“With Kyion, I know I’ve got to fill in big shoes,” Spann said. “Me and Kyion have known each other for a little bit. I look up to him. He’s like an older brother. He’s been helping me. It’s been good to have him as a mentor.”
He’s not expecting to duplicate Grayes, who had 10 TD catches during a 10-0 2020 championship season.
“I just want to be the best I can,” Spann said. “Big shoes to fill. But I’m just out here to work to be the best I can.”
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today
[ad_2]
Source link