It’s getting closer to crossing that coveted line between good and elite, and though it’s only been a varsity program for five years, Chandler Basha wants take one more step.
A perennial playoff team under coach Tim McBurney, the Bears have been to the state semifinals, but no further, and until they do, they know it’ll be the likes of Chandler Hamilton and Phoenix Brophy that draw the hype.
The Bears reached the playoffs last year, but the rugged defense and disciplined style of McBurney didn’t fully materialize.
“We do have other things we want to do to get to that point, feel like we’re making that progress,” McBurney said. “We’re one of those on the verge, on the outside looking in. We understand we’re not in that elite group.”
This year could be that chance. The Bears have seven starters returning on defense, including most of the team’s front seven. No surprise there, since Basha is known for defense the past couple of years.
What they hope will be a more productive offense.
Junior quarterback Mike Benjamin ran the team during the last regular season game and two playoff contests, and his ability to pass and run will provide an outlet the Bears haven’t enjoyed in a few years.
He’s got Will Still behind him and receivers A.J. Williams and Stefan Fulce. Fulce impressed during summer passing leagues and early in camp, and the Phoenix Brophy transfer from two years ago who had to sit out last season could be a legit No. 1 receiver.
It’s one of several options the Bears believe they have, another step toward the East Valley’s football stratosphere.
“We want to get into the mix where we’re competing for a real run at the title year in and year out,” McBurney said. “That has to translate to wins, and with our schedule we’ll find out early on what we’ve got.”
-----------------------------------
Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
| 1 | Justin Hibbert | WR/DB | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. |
| 2 | A.J. Williams | WR/DB | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. |
| 3 | Stefan Fulce | WR/DB | 5-10 | 165 | Sr. |
| 4 | Brennan Reid | WR/DB | 6-4 | 205 | Sr. |
| 5 | Jordan Fraser | FB/DB | 6-1 | 195 | Sr. |
| 7 | Richard Parker | WR/DB | 6-0 | 165 | Jr. |
| 8 | Zach Baldenegro | WR/DB | 5-11 | 150 | Sr. |
| 9 | Josh Baty | FB/LB | 6-2 | 225 | Sr. |
| 10 | Matt Horton | QB/DB | 5-10 | 165 | So. |
| 11 | Trevor Plautz | WR/DB | 6-0 | 165 | Sr. |
| 15 | Michael Benjamin | QB/DB | 6-0 | 175 | Jr. |
| 16 | Joseph Granado | QB/LB | 6-0 | 180 | So. |
| 17 | Jerman Robles | K | 5-7 | 160 | Jr. |
| 18 | Chase Kunkel | FB/DB | 5-10 | 185 | Sr. |
| 20 | Alvin Clark | RB/DB | 5-11 | 175 | Sr. |
| 21 | Kyle Cesmat | K | 6-4 | 190 | Sr. |
| 22 | Will Still | RB/DB | 5-9 | 170 | Sr. |
| 23 | Reece Green | WR/DB | 5-10 | 155 | Sr. |
| 24 | Dillon Sterling | WR/DB | 5-9 | 150 | Jr. |
| 25 | Lucas Guevara | RB/DB | 5-8 | 150 | Jr. |
| 31 | Dillon Belsher | WR/DB | 5-10 | 175 | Jr. |
| 32 | Jared Jones | TE/LB | 6-2 | 190 | Jr. |
| 33 | R.J. Trejo | TE/LB | 5-10 | 165 | Jr. |
| 34 | Joe Schafranek | FB/DL | 5-11 | 180 | Jr. |
| 41 | Johnny Falcione | QB/LB | 5-9 | 195 | Jr. |
| 42 | Dylan Flannery | FB/LB | 6-0 | 205 | Sr. |
| 44 | Branden Zavala | FB/LB | 5-11 | 195 | Jr. |
| 45 | Landon Palmer | TE/LB | 5-10 | 180 | Jr. |
| 50 | Jake Smith | OL/DL | 5-10 | 195 | Jr. |
| 51 | Laione Sekona | TE/DL | 6-0 | 195 | Sr. |
| 52 | Chase Tarwater | OL/DL | 5-11 | 200 | Jr. |
| 54 | Brian Joyce | OL/DL | 5-11 | 230 | Sr. |
| 55 | Albert Avery | OL/DL | 6-0 | 280 | Sr. |
| 56 | Jay Smith | OL/DL | 6-4 | 215 | Sr. |
| 57 | Tyler Rosenfield | OL/DL | 5-10 | 190 | Sr. |
| 59 | Henry Moncada | OL/DL | 5-5 | 210 | Sr. |
| 60 | Dillon Hedges | OL/DL | 6-0 | 245 | Sr. |
| 63 | Roger Freed | OL/DL | 6-3 | 245 | Jr. |
| 65 | Cassidy Sorensen | OL/DL | 6-3 | 285 | Sr. |
| 67 | Matt Harmeyer | OL/DL | 6-4 | 230 | Sr. |
| 70 | Cody Roberts | OL/DL | 6-1 | 220 | Jr. |
| 71 | Travis Johnson | OL/DL | 6-1 | 220 | Sr. |
| 72 | Justin Gardner | OL/DL | 6-2 | 250 | Jr. |
| 74 | Dustin Burley | OL/DL | 6-4 | 220 | Sr. |
| 75 | Brandon Williams | OL/DL | 6-2 | 260 | Jr. |
| 76 | Fred Swanson | OL/DL | 5-10 | 250 | Sr. |
| 77 | Wesley Walden | OL/DL | 5-11 | 270 | Jr. |
| 78 | Daniel Blanton | OL/DL | 6-2 | 265 | Jr. |
| 79 | Michael Bratsat | OL/DL | 6-4 | 280 | Sr. |
| 81 | Nathan Cole | WR/DB | 6-0 | 150 | Sr. |
| 82 | Brandon Humphries | TE/DL | 6-3 | 180 | Jr. |
| 83 | Cameron Larson | TE/DL | 6-1 | 195 | Jr. |
| 84 | John Dillon | TE/DL | 6-1 | 205 | Jr. |
| 86 | Alex Villanueva | WR/DB | 5-11 | 175 | Jr. |
| 87 | Matt Wheeler | WR/DB | 5-8 | 145 | Jr. |
| 88 | Sam Sumner | WR/DB | 5-8 | 150 | Sr. |
| 89 | Taylor Mouser | TE/DL | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. |
| 91 | Quinton Andrews | RB/DL | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. |
| 95 | Semisi Sekona | TE/DL | 5-10 | 180 | Jr. |
| 96 | Zach Simonetta | WR/DB | 5-11 | 175 | Jr. |
| 97 | Andrew Adjei | WR/DB | 6-0 | 146 | Jr. |
| 99 | Zach Williams | TE/LB | 6-3 | 190 | So. |
