2014 Arizona
Football League Previews, Stories
AzFL 20th Season
AzFL
Plays Saturdays, Jan-May. Players can join and
play during regular season.
SIGN UP INFO
HERE. 623-939-4877 |
| 20th season, Week 1, 1/18/14 |
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Battle of
the 303
Arizona Football League
starts its 20th
consecutive year of play on Saturday, January 18th.
Four games will be held at Thunderbird High
School in the Phoenix area.
Marana Middle
School in Southern AZ will host three games. The
8pm game will be featured live on the radio on
KXXT 1010 AM during the AZ Sports Network
broadcast.
Game of the Week on
the Radio LIVE!
The
matchup for the radio show is going to feature
two of the State’s best teams.
From the
Avondale/Goodyear area, the Southwest Stampede
vs the West Valley Head Hunters from the El
Mirage Surprise area. They represent the best
players from the SW and NW Valley. This is a
rivalry game and is being billed as the battle
of the 303, interstate that is. Winner will have
bragging rights until it is settled in the
playoffs.
Coaches for the Stampede are HC/OC Dusting King,
DC Chad Martin, Aaron Chisolm, Tim Pompa and
Nyles Outley. Coach King brings his experience
on this past Saguaro Sabercats Div III State
Championship team. One of AZ’s top scoring
machines. That and his longstanding relationship
with many of the Stampedes players and staff.
Defense is led by DC Chad Martin. He also brings
a wealth of experience from his recent coaching
jobs. Chad holds the distinction of being one of
the youngest team owners in AzFL history. He and
some of his friends from Greenway HS owned,
coached and played in the first (1995) season of
the league. The team was the Glendale Bulldogs.
That squad sent
nearly a dozen players on to play in both the
JUCO and four year college ranks.
The
Head Hunters are lead on defense by the
Notorious Mr. A..
JR Alcantar is
also an experienced coach that helped lead the
Hunters to the 2012 State Championship. Running
to offense is a former all league AzFL player
and gifted Coach James Fischer.
JR still owes me
some tamales.
Each
squad has a major talent. The Head Hunters
feature QB Trey Clarida, RB Anthony Dickson, TE
Josh Clark, LB BAM BAM Crellin, DL Roman
Castrillo, OL/DL KC Simmons. The Stampede lead
the herd with QB and SEO#1 Sean Lanzarotto,
RB Charles James,
WR John Litchy, DL Ross Boulanger, LB Matt
Garnica, DL Neal Lake, OL Bill Marcinek.
This
game will be a benchmark for both teams. They
both feature fast paced, quick score offenses
and fly to the ball, field position controlling,
turnover forcing defenses. Last team with the
ball wins. See you and them on the radio
starting at 8PM on KXXT 1010 AM. To listen on
line get the links at
www.aspnradio.com
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Rule the
North
There are four games at Thunderbird HS this
Saturday. The game at 5PM features another great
matchup of two Northern Arizona squads. This is
another rival game. The Yavapai Golden Knights
vs the Flagstaff Hitmen.
Both are led by
husband and wife owners. Steve and Debby Cordero
for the Knights,
Jaime and
Jeremiah Smith for the Hitmen. Flagstaff began
in 2003 and the Knights will be in their fourth
season. They also won the Division Championship
in their first two seasons. The Hitmen have been
in the Final Four several times and in the
playoffs many more.
Both
teams work hard to help give the young players
from their area a showcase for those players
looking to go to college. They play in areas
with few high schools and are the only way some
of these men can continue their football
careers.
For
the Golden Knights their staff is HC Steve
Cordero, OC John Caroza, Line Alan Feichter, ST
Glen Krob. GM Debby Cordero, Trainer Danielle
Ethridge, Assistant Trainer George Krob.
Sideline Staff Casey Cain,
Clair Hofsteter
and H2O Brandon Loftin.
Players to watch:
QB Mike Whitwell, DB Kalif Reid, OL/DL Devin
Martinez,
LB/RB JR Jones,
LB/RB Chris
Cordero, RB/LB Alex Barrios.
On the Hitmen GM Jaime
Smith, HC/OC Jeremiah Smith Medical Staff: Brian
Taylor. Players to watch: RB/SS Justin Peoples,
TE/P Devin Stokes, QB Dylan Damewood, LB Lenny
Jones, FS/RB Alex Olson, LB Niels Berlemann, and
linemen Tim Starr, Chris Simpson and Derek
McClure.
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Dragons
vs Eagles
at
2:30 also at Thunderbird HS. This game features
a lot of players
new to each team. The veteran Cave Creek Dragons
and their owner HC/DC Sean “Dragonmaster” Enna
is blending new coaches and new players as he
works at making 2014 the year of the “Purple
People Eaters”
The second year
PHX Eagles have their staff back but will be
winging it with more than a few new beaks in the
convocation.
Cave
Creek Dragons staff is: Owner HC/DC Sean Enna,
OC Travis Barker, Assistant Coaches: Sonny
Finley, Mat Alvarez, Phil Shelton. Staff Bianca
Almanza, Joe Saylor, Kyle Dobbins.
Players to watch:
RB Trey Sam, DE/TE Davvid Welch, LB Chris
Finley, DL John Finley, DB/RB John Lewis,
OL Jim Henderson,
WR/DB Bryan Bulfin, DL/OL Jorge Zayes.
The PHX Eagles flight crew
is: HC Mike Lee, OC Donnie Meador, Assistant OC
Adrian Davis, DC Robert Gray. GM Yvette
Bonvouloir. Some of the big birds to keep an eye
on are: RB Perry Clayton, QB Teron Clay, K Luke
Truty, DB Torrence Foster, DB Keegan Whipkey, OL
Nick Farr, DB Major Johnson.
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North Glendale Villains vs Tempe
Predators
In
the first game of the day at Thunderbird, 12
noon. A new team, the Villains, led by Rich
Warner as owner and QB are making a comeback.
Yep, been a spell since the Villains played in
the AzFL. Welcome back Rich and his band of
marauders. The Predators with Owner Ruben Arvizu
are excited to feature a squad that has a
talented coaching staff,
a lot of returning
players and some new faces.
This game is a new
beginning for both squads. A great way to start
off the 20th
anniversary of the Arizona Football League.
The
staff for the Villains is Owner/HC/OC/QB Rich
Warner, DC Ben Williams. Players to watch: QB
Rich Warner, WR/QB Andy Garza,
RB/DB/K Ben
Williams, RB/DB Trie Palmone, OL/DL Shakur
Lucas, OL/DL Antonio Flores, OL/DL Terry Gill
Jr., RB/LB Jon Everett.
Predators
handlers are: Owner
Ruben Arvizu
- HC/OC Nate Moore, Assistant HC Jim
Bevell, DC
Anthony Marshall, Defensive Coach Sergio Bakalos,
AC: Jamie McEvilly, QB’s Nick Lopez
Trainer
Alisha Lasalles
Players to watch: RB/S Perry Washington,
RB/DB Leo Dillon, DT Ben Gardner, OL/DL Darryl
Dobbins, LB Bobby Pacheco, LB Brian Tanski.
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AzFL in Southern Arizona
South is in the
house. This game at 11AM at Marana
Middle School is going to be a war. Southern AZ
players from Tucson, Sierra Vista, Douglas,
Bisbee and 10 more communities will be joining
forces with lifetime enemies to play against
people they were taught not to like. The
Cavaliers of Cochise County will be trading
paint with the boyz from the Old Pueblo, the
Tucson Soul Patrol. You Know….
The Cavaliers are back after
a few years away. Owner Bud Blanchard likes
grabbing a tiger by the tail, man does he have
one now. Soul Patrol owner HC Jay Russell has
spent the last few months trying to get the
Demons out of his head. What better way than to
Pick a fight with both Douglas and Bisbee folks.
The
Cavaliers have some players to watch. Let’s
start with a couple of guys that led the AzFL in
big plays the last time they were here.
RB/S Brian
Vertrees was an all league talent as was WR/DB/P
Sterling Schuller. Together they will be helping
owner Bud Blanchard sail this ship.
Others to keep an
eye on are OL/DL Reggie Marrs, DE Erik Shisslak,
QB/S Antony Lambert, LB David Contreras.
Soul, Owner HC J Russell has
a full boat of game changing players. The
returners all remember that 2013 ended seconds
and inches away from a trip to the Ship. He has
help on staff this year with coaches Vinnie
Gonzales, Ms. Cody Smith. H20 Siera Gonzales.
TRS Nicole Gonzales, and Jessie Corral and
Carina Ledezma. Players: WR/DB Alex Leon, LB
Jason Sweet, QB George Corral, TE Billy May, LB
Rick Acosta, OL Jaime Sierra, WR Jack Smith.
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Strength and Honor
Bowl I
The
Scottsdale Crusaders and the Casa Grande
Wolfpack have decided that this will be the
start of a rivalry. The prize will be a helmet
that is on one side the CRU and the other the
Pack. Nice. Until kickoff. Then again
afterwards. During the game expect cloudy,
thunder, lightning, dust, blood, sweat and
tears. Whew.
Let the fun begin
at 1:30PM
Casa Grande has an
experienced staff for owner Patrick Montgomery
and GM Cheryl Garner. HC Anthony Labarbera, OC
Phil Williams, OC Chris Braybrooks, ST Anthony
Nava. In management Sonja Montgomery, Gaby
Ponce, Gary Montgomery, Robin Thomas. H2O Kallie
Montgomery, Brian Diaz, Anthony Labarbera, Ethan
Labarbera.
Players to watch: WR
Broderick Thompson, LB Richard Diaz, K Cody
Barber, DB Jacquece Moore, RB Patrick Cann, LB
J.R. Warner, DE Shane Norman, OL Gene Traylor.
Then there is the father/son team of OL Matthew
Montgomery and pops Patrick Montgomery.
Scottsdale is led by team
owners and coaches, husband and wife Lynn and
Byron Autry. They are going thru a transition
starting with their switch from the Vegas Gold
and Red to the Teal and Orange, Miami Dolphin
style. Byron and Lynn have been involved with
the AzFL since it began. First he as a player.
Then he and she playing together on the Mesa
Lighting. Lynn was a WR/DB and cannot help but
get into the battle. They were engaged to be
married at a game, they walked thru an archway
of raised helmets. Together the combine to bring
depth, talent and experience to the CRU.
The
staff for the team is also a family matter. HC
Lynn Autry, OC Byron Autry, DC Chet Sanders Sr.,
GM Monica Horne, Game day ops Nikki Washington,
H20 Chanelle and Chelsie Sanders, Stats
Tetranique Sanders, Field Ops Joanne Sanders.
Players to watch: LB Chet Sanders Jr., DB Karl
Evans, DE Ronald Gordon, QB Kenny McClendon Jr.,
OL Todd Felte, OL
Matt Horne.
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Rematch of 2013
State Championship
East
Valley Warlords 12 Tucson Desert Demons 7 was
the final last May. The Warlords played the New
Mexico Wolfpack and won the first ever All
American Headquarters Club Invitational National
Champions 25-6 last week in Phoenix. The Demons,
well they cannot wait for this kickoff.
Both teams will
be in the hunt again this season as they travel
from one end of the state to the in search of
Gold.
The
Warlords began with 11 players four years ago
and worked their way each year into a better
spot. From then to now they have been in the
final four, twice in the State Title game
winning last season and now hold a National
Title. Owner and OC Steve Pappas has taken the
time to build a good organization.
The staff is HC
Jonathan Roundtree, Assistant coaches Erik
Reiter, Greg Belarde, Chris Hall, John Gielow.
GM Nikki Zupan, Manager Myra Butler, staff
Rachel Koch.
The
players to watch are: RB Mike Scott, WR Mark
Martinez, WR Donald Hamilton III, QB Geoff
Revling, LB Matt Belarde, DE Dawson Pricket, OL
Blake Shaw,
WR Dan Robinson,
TE Jonathan Pyant.
Tucson, the Desert Demons have been a force
since their first season in 2008. The team began
with husband and wife team Javier Armenta and
Amber Martinez. She is one of the many ladies
running first class clubs in the AzFL.
Like the Warlords
the Demons have been in the Title hunt nearly
every season.
This
game should be an amazing battle as both teams
feature defenses the turn offenses into a
guessing game. The Demons staff is: GM Amber
Martinez, Owners are Amber and Javier and Juan
Armenta. HC/OC Jose Duran, DC Daniel Armenta, ST
Lou Tona, Graphics Carlos Armenta. Yes, a lot of
family running this great squad. Players to
watch: DB Glenn Meriweather, WR Aaron Mansfield,
DL Lee Myer, RB Deshaun Hill, WR Lamar Ester, LB
Javier Armenta, DL Freddy Camerena.
No time like the present to
change the future and rattle the past.
Regardless of timing, this game is being looked
at by the Demons and Warlords as winner take
all.
Almost forgot. The Warlords have their own
Song/Anthem, see and hear it here
Warlords Song.
WWant
to see their National Championship trophy and
team pictures,
AAHQ1.com
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Get ready, the 20th season of play for the Arizona Football
League begins January 2014. Teams are still accepting players
until the playoffs. So call at 623-939-4877 for
info or online at www.azfl.com.
Be sure to listen to the AzFL all year around on the radio KXXT
1010 AM every Saturday night 8-Mid. You can listen online and
watch on Ustream. The links for that can be found at
www.aspnradio.com
AzFL
Season is January thru May, Don't watch
PLAY.
Rosters open until playoffs start!
There can be only ONE
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but
only one gets the prize?
Run in such a way as to get the prize.1 Corinthians 9:24
To the Victor goes the spoils! To God be the
Glory!
College Times Magazine features AzFL
HERE! |
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