Division II football state championship
Who: No. 1 Chaparral vs. No. 2 Cienega
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
Records: Chaparral 13-1; Cienega 13-0
TV: Fox Sports Arizona
CHAPARRAL FIREBIRDS
Coach: Charlie Ragle
2011 SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 Bishop Gorman L 42-22
Aug. 26 at Salpointe Catholic W 22-21
Sep. 2 at Marcos de Niza W 24-6
Sep. 9 vs. Sunnyslope W 63-7
Sep. 16 vs. Desert Mountain W 56-13
Sep. 23 at McClintock W 79-13
Sep. 30 vs. Notre Dame W 59-7
Oct. 6 vs. Mesquite W 52-27
Oct. 14 at Shadow Mountain W 45-0
Oct. 21 vs. Horizon W 49-21
Oct. 28 vs. Saguaro W 65-0
Nov. 4 vs. Gila Ridge W 62-0
Nov. 10 vs. Perry W 51-7
Nov. 18 vs. Centennial W 31-30
STARTING LINEUP
(Numbers in parentheses)
Offense
OL - (51) Pete Green, 6-3, 270, Sr.
OL - (65) Eric Combs, 5-11, 250, Sr.
OL - (65) Jordan Bronowitz, 6-3, 285, Sr.
OL - (78) Alex Ziomek, 6-2, 240, Jr.
OL - (73) Weston Hamilton, 6-2, 245, Sr.
WR - (3) Davonte Neal, 5-10, 180, Sr.
WR - (12) Zach Buzzard, 5-11, 185, Sr.
WR - (4) Jake Roh, 6-3, 190, Jr.
RB - (34) Lucas Petrullo, 6-0, 205, Sr.
RB - (28) Zach Skeen, 5-8, 195, Sr.
QB - (7) Connor Brewer, 6-2, 195, Sr.
K - (13) Dylan Audsley, 5-10, 170, Sr.
KR - (3) Davonte Neal
Defense
DL - (88) Dylan Cozens, 6-5, 230, Sr.
DL - (77) Jarvis Lewis, 6-5, 270, Sr.
DL - (92) Will Brown, 6-1, 220, Sr.
LB - (34) Lucas Petrullo, 6-0, 205, Sr.
LB - (47) Cody Ippolito, 5-11, 220, Sr.
LB - (20) Ryan Beck, 5-11, 175, Sr.
LB - (85) Clark Gilliland, 6-3, 215, Sr.
CB - (3) Davonte Neal, 5-10, 180, Sr.
SS - (2) Ikaia Nawahine, 5-11, 190, Sr.
FS - (21) Alex Arnold, 6-0, 170, Jr.
CB - (24) Brian Zurek, 6-0, 180, Sr.
P - (13) Dylan Audsley
PR - (3) Davonte Neal
CIENEGA BOBCATS
Coach: Nemer Hassey
2011 SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 vs. Sabino W 17-16
Sep. 2 at Buena W 61-7
Sep. 9 at Sunnyside W 52-6
Sep. 16 vs. Catalina Foothills W 56-20
Sep. 23 at Mt. View (Marana) W 31-3
Sep. 30 vs. Sahuaro W 31-24
Oct. 6 at Pueblo W 56-13
Oct. 14 vs. Desert View W 49-0
Oct. 21 at Santa Rita W 49-21
Oct. 28 at Douglas W 52-0
Nov. 4 vs. Sahuaro W 45-6
Nov. 10 vs. Marcos de Niza W 22-21
Nov. 18 vs. Ironwood Ridge W 24-21
STARTING LINEUP
(Numbers in parentheses)
Offense
OL - (78) Vaughan Fontana, 6-1, 255, Jr.
OL - (62) Daniel Morton, 5-10, 185, Sr.
OL - (50) Alex Billesbach, 5-11, 175, Sr.
OL - (66) Garrett Brandt, 5-7, 215, Sr.
OL - (56) Matt Fontes, 6-1, 205, Sr.
WR - (82) Edgar Poe, 6-5, 200, Sr.
WR - (10) Jalen Rogers, 6-2, 195, Sr.
TE - (88) Donavan Vance, 6-3, 210, Jr.
FB - (22) Daniel Gonzales, 6-2, 220, Sr.
RB - (34) Manny Vera, 5-9, 180, Sr.
QB - (4) Michael Archie, 5-8, 145, Sr.
K - (16) Jason Cox, 6-4, 195, Sr.
KR - (34) Manny Vera/(1) David Vega, 5-9, 160, Jr.
Defense
DL - (78) Vaughan Fontana, 6-1, 255, Jr.
DL - (44) Kevin Thompson, 6-2, 225, Sr.
DL - (76) Jerremy Kreider, 5-8, 220, Sr.
DL - (65) Bret Garcia, 6-0, 220, Sr.
LB - (22) Daniel Gonzales, 6-2, 220, Sr.
LB - (36) Mike Martinez, 5-10, 195, Sr.
LB - (27) Dino Eidson, 5-11, 180, Sr.
LB - (5) Brandon Winkles, 5-8, 170, Sr.
CB - (17) Jamal Prentiss, 5-9, 165, Sr.
CB - (1) David Vega, 5-9, 160, Jr.
FS - (10) Jalen Rogers,6-2, 195, Sr.
P - (15) Luke Holley, 6-0, 150, Jr.
PR - (34) Manny Vera
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chaparral
QB Connor Brewer (.626 completion pct., 41 TD, 5 INT); RB/WR/CB Davonte Neal (1,097 yards rushing, 14 TD; 1,006 yards receiving, 13 TD; 26.6 yards per punt return; 39.4 yards per KO return; 12 passes defended); WR Jake Roh (892 yards, 16 TD); RB Lucas Petrullo (267 yards, 7 TD); LB Cody Ippolito (109 tackles, 2 sacks); DL Dylan Cozens (45 tackles, 7.5 sacks).
Cienega
QB Michael Archie (.611 completion pct., 17 TD, 5 INT); RB Manny Vera (2,006 yards, 31 TD); WR Edgar Poe (675 yards, 12 TD); WR Jalen Rogers (452 yards, 4 TD); LB Daniel Gonzeles (132 tackles, 6 sacks); DL Kevin Thompson (67 tackles, 9 sacks).
KEYS TO THE GAME
Davonte Neal: Everyone (including Cienega) knows how much of a game-changer he is on offense, defense and especially special teams, and he was a big part of Chaparral's offense against Centennial in the semifinal game. His speed, elusiveness and ability to drag defenders was on full display again, and the Firebirds would be wise to get him a dozen touches in various capacities. Will Cienega bother to kick in his direction? Or take its chances kicking and punting elsewhere or even out of bounds?
Manny Vera: Just as Neal is Chaparral's engine, everything starts with Vera for Cienega. He's eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards this season since he transferred from Tucson Sunnyside after last season. He ran for a then-state record (unofficially) 409 yards before that mark was shattered by Desert Ridge's Joey Counts and then Saguaro's D.J. Foster this year. He's strong, fast, and makes strong cuts. Marcos de Niza shut him down two weeks ago but Cienega still found a way to win. That won't happen again if Chaparral contains him with the Firebirds' bigger front lines.
Balance: If Vera can have success running on the stingy Firebirds defense, Cienega has a chance to find balance offensively. If not, Cienega has little chance of success, because one-dimensional offenses don't work against Chaparral. Similarly, Cienega will have its hands full dealing with Neal, Connor Brewer, Lucas Petrullo and Jake Roh as Chaparral's offense. If the Firebirds have success pounding the ball with Petrullo and Zach Skeen, Chaparral will roll. If Cienega can do what Centennial did in the second half of the semifinals game (force turnovers, pressure Brewer, score points to keep Chaparral offense off the field), the Bobcats have a shot.
