August 23, 2015- H.S. football: 6A team preview capsules by SA News – David Hinojosa and Ben Baby
District 26-6A
Reagan Rattlers
Coach: David Wetzel
2014 record: 12-2 overall, 6-0 district
Top returners: QB Kellen Mond, DB Skyler Wetzel, WR Cade Bormet
Top newcomers: CB Seth Morrow, WR Connor Heffron
The skinny: The reigning district champions bring back one of the area’s top quarterbacks and a vast amount of experience in the offensive line for potentially another deep postseason run.
Churchill Chargers
Coach: Ron Harris
2014 record: 8-3 overall, 4-2 district
Top returners: RB Dandre Reed, OL/DL Chance Lytle, WR Jacob Groff
Top newcomers: QB Devin Faktor, RB Austin Castilleja
The skinny: Reed is one of the skill players first-year coach Harris is excited about. Chargers enter the season with quality depth at the skill positions.
Johnson Jaguars
Coach: Ron Rittimann
2014 record: 7-4 overall, 4-2 district
Top returners: QB Josh Tyson, WR Hunter Trinidad, LB Fields
Top newcomers: DE Drake Flores, TE Michael Goff
The skinny: Flores shifts to the defensive line from tight end. Tyson is one of only two offensive starters returning from last year’s team, but Johnson should still contend for the 26-6A title.
Madison Mavericks
Coach: Mark Smith
2014 record: 4-6 overall, 3-3 district
Top returners: WR/RB Tevin Burney-Mitchell, RB Nate Davis, DB Ajahn Forrester
Top newcomers: WR Drake Wilson, CB D.J. Johnson, DL Dominic Gray
The skinny: Burney-Mitchell and Davis will be two viable options for a team that will feature a new quarterback, while Forrester is one of two returning defensive starters.
MacArthur Brahmas
Coach: Ben Cook
2014 record: 5-6 overall, 3-3 district
Top returners: RB/DB Daijon Williams, WR Jeremiah Cura, LB Joey Fiel
Top newcomers: QB Tyler Vitt, OL Jonathan Gessner, DL Kevin Duplechain
The skinny: The Brahmas squeaked into the postseason last year and will try to lock up one of those four spots again with a squad that lost key pieces.
Lee Volunteers
Coach: Danny Kloza
2014 record: 4-6 overall, 1-5 district
Top returners: QB Kyle Fuller, DB Mohamed Barow, WR Mark Sullivan
Top newcomers: CB Vincent Taylor, DT Samuel Brooks, CB Brandon Falkquay
The skinny: Lee ended last season with some momentum after its first district win in several years. With Fuller returning, the Volunteers are optimistic about their chances in ’15.
Roosevelt Rough Riders
Coach: Matt Carroll
2014 record: 0-10 overall, 0-6 district
Top returners: QB Bryson Carroll, LB Stephon Barclift, WR Terrance Lewis
Top newcomer: DT Steven Marshall
The skinny: Carroll and the Rough Riders have many key players returning from last year’s team that hopes to put a winless season well in the past.
Predicted finish: 1. Reagan, 2. Johnson, 3. Madison, 4. Churchill, 5. MacArthur, 6. Lee, 7., Roosevelt
Baby’s take: The big battle will be for the final two playoff spots. If Madison finds a way into the postseason after a one-year hiatus, Reagan could be pushed into an already-competitive Class 6A Division II postseason bracket.
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Reagan photos by Phil Franzone, Alamo Sports Photography