Meet Southern Arizona's top high school football players of 2009.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Keith Zuniga, Sr., Nogales
Southern Arizona's leading passer totaled 2,374 yards through the air and threw 28 TDs
RB: Ka'Deem Carey, Jr., CDO
Dorados star averaged nearly 200 yards and 3 TDs per game, running for over 12 yards per carry on the year
RB: Willie Willis, Sr., Cienega
Transfer from Hawaii made instant impact with 1,506 rushing yards and 24 TDs
WR, Chris Howard, Sr., Sunnyside
The coaches' 5A Southern Region's Player of the Year, he led Southern Arizona with 1,096 receiving yards
WR, Trent Simon, Sr., Cienega
The 6-foot-3-inch wideout had an area-best 62 catches for 1,053 yards
TE: Sean Craig, Sr., Salpointe Catholic
Led all area tight ends with 200 receiving yards, and doubled as a blocking force
OL: Ben Cannon, Sr., Tucson
The 6-foot-3-inch, 280-pounder cleared holes for a Badgers offense that averaged over 5 yards per run
OL: Jaquari Kountz, Sr., Santa Rita
At 6-feet, 290-pounds, Kountz was the area's premier tackle. He was also used as a short-yardage back
OL: Jacob Arzouman, Jr.
Salpointe Catholic
The 6-foot-4-inch, 250-pounder was the star of the Lancers offensive line
OL: Jesse Caldwell, Jr., CDO
The 6-foot-4-inch, 246-pound Caldwell helped pave the way for 3,395 Dorados rushing yards
OL: Ryan Fischella, Sr., Palo Verde
Fischella highlighted a line that blocked for two 1,000-yard runners
All-purpose: Keanu Nelson, Sr., Sabino
He,totalled 1,278 yards rushing, 445 yards receiving and 394 yards passing
K: Tilghman Harvey, Jr., CDO
Harvey scored 81 points on 72 extra points and three field goals.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Adam Torralba, Sr., Sunnyside
5A Southern Region coaches' defender of the season starred on defense that held 7 opponents to 14 points or fewer
DL: Mike Poindexter, Sr., Sabino
The 6-foot-3-inch, 240-pounder was the main intimidator on the Sabercats D line, finishing with 43 tackles
DL: Deon Clash, Sr., Sahuaro
The 6-foot-2-inch, 255-pounder was the Cougars' standout run-stopper.
LB: DeAndre Little, Sr., SV Buena
The UTEP-bound Little is the prototype of a linebacker, at 6 feet 3 inches and 230 pounds.
LB: Clarence Williams, Sr., Amphi
Williams had 99 tackles on the season, 40 more than the next-closest Panthers defender
LB: David Duron, Sr., Sabino
Totaled a team-high 106 tackles and eight sacks to lead a defense that finished as the 4A-I state runner-up
LB/DB: Ian Garlets, Sr., Santa Rita
The roving safety/linebacker was one of the best defenders in the city while also pulling duty at quarterback
DB: Josh Robbins, Sr., CDO
The 6-foot-2-inch recent UA commit picked off six passes from his safety spot in the area's most-loaded defensive backfield
DB: Jared Tevis, Sr., CDO
He stole 8 interceptions, forced 5 fumbles and led the Dorados with 114 tackles
DB: Chase Gallagher, Sr., Salpointe Catholic
Fierce hitter snared two interceptions, blocked a field goal and racked up 39 tackles
DB: Brandon Perkins, Jr., Desert View
Perkins was a lockdown defender and a deep threat at receiver
All-purpose: Joel Bello, Sr., Douglas
Returned four interceptions for touchdowns for the 4A-II state-playoff-bound Bulldogs
P: Kyle Cady, Jr., Sahuaro
Cady was a crucial factor in the Cougars' battle for field position as Sahuaro made the 4A-I playoffs
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Greg Schimke, Sr., Pusch Ridge Christian
RB: Ray Morales, Sr., Catalina
RB: Cody Woody, Sr., Empire
RB: Stephen Fraser, Sr., Sabino
WR: Greg Jones, Sr., Santa Rita
OL: Seth Fowler, Sr., Cienega
OL: Mike Martinez, Sr., Sunnyside
OL: David Studer, Sr., Canyon del Oro
OL: Reggie Ewesuedo, Sr., Santa Rita
OL: Ethan Shozda, Sr., Sabino
TE: David Nicasio, Sr., Cienega
All-purpose: Myles Williams, Sr., Mountain View
K: Assani Igulu, Sr., Palo Verde
DEFENSE
DL: Jordan Christenson, Sr., Cienega
DL: Bryce Gallion, Sr., Santa Rita
DL: Josh Sene, Sr., Salpointe Catholic
DL/LB: Tamarin Jones, Sr., Santa Rita
LB: J.J. Gorosave, Sr., Cienega
LB: Hassan Cross, Sr., Palo Verde
DB: Ronnie Burton, Sr., Cienega
DB: Alfred Leon, Sr., Sunnyside
DB: Mitch Fischer, So., Ironwood Ridge
DB: Camaren Gause, Sr., Palo Verde
DB: Glen Meriweather, Sr., Tucson
P: Brandon Porter, Sr., Sierra Vista Buena
HONORABLE MENTION
Amphitheater: Crispin Chavira Alvarez, Gustavo Gastelum, Brandon Kuhn, Will Palmer, Zach Roth. ASDB/SA: Brandon Davis. Baboquivari: Roland Pablo. Benson: Dain Dastrup, Kyle Graf. Bisbee: Anthony Rivera, Sergio Rivera. Canyon del Oro: Joey Banks, Kelton Beattie, David Catalano, Garrett Henderson, Bobby Henkel, Mike Lewis, Ryan Peterson, Eddie Smith, Jerry Theberge, Colby Tigges. Catalina: Jacob Adams, Eddie Hernandez, Darrian McIver, Oliver Sanchez. Catalina Foothills: Nick Chronister, Rolly Escarcega, Alyn Fletcher, Elliot Koester, Adam Larriva, Will Waldrup. Cholla: Alex Cerpa, Adrian Escobar, Alex Lujan. Cienega: Daniel Boice, Lorye Broom, Angel Gago, Michael Karder, Pat Murphy, Jordan Mills, Andrew Palmer, John Russell, Adam Valenzuela. Desert View: Sergio Cano, Tommy Collister, Nick Cruz, Zac Cruz, Tiki McElroy, Chris Meraz, Eric Parra. Douglas: Daniel Ballesteros, Diego Chavez, Abner Cortez, Jorge Fragoso, Spencer Grijalva, Hunter Long, Morgan Ramirez, Oscar Rios, Elfrida Valley Union: Randy Landwerlen. Eloy Santa Cruz: Ricky Cortez, Kadeem Fields. Empire: Brendon Argenziano, Bryant Jeffries, Eutimio "Mito" Mendivil, Noah Smith. Flowing Wells: Tyler Harper, Tomas Jaimez, Dante Pesanti, Xavier Zavala. Ironwood Ridge: Alex Banales, Adrian Brahler, Tyler D'Amore, Tanner Todd, Matt Walter. Marana: Josh Boak, Clay Parsons, Louis Payne, Jake Pretzer, Matt Susa. Morenci: Rey Holguin. Mountain View: Hymann Aires, Kevin Anderson, Del Bogart, Gabe Campa, Robert Kallal, Mark Vera. Nogales: Andy Bachelier, Jason Cota, Gilbert Duran, Jimmy Lopez, Camilo Villegas, Robert Villegas, David Yubeta. Palo Verde: Kyle Blecker, Deshawn Hill, Dylan Leahy, James Moran, Joe Stone, Brad Virgin. Patagonia: Andrew Martinez. Pueblo: Miguel Bracamonte, Daniel Trejo. Pusch Ridge Christian: Ryan Alexander, Brett Overstreet, Ryan Polston, Chad Springetti, Tyler Vance. Rincon/University: Dominic Grigsby, Joseph Matthews, Emilio Pedraza. Rio Rico: Steve Morales, Zackary Sbragia. Sabino: James Brindley, Tyler Cocchi, Collin McBrayer, Matt Rossi, Wes Skillings, Rhett Taylor, Jake Tick. Safford: Luke Alvarado, Samuel Delgado, Zach Garcia, Brandon McEuen. Sahuarita: Chris Brown, Sam Gelardi, Eric Nelson. Sahuaro: Kevin Ackerley, Fernando Aguilar, Phil Baechler, Niko Kittrell, Drew McKeever, Matt San Angelo. Salpointe Catholic: Kameron Abt, Ryan Baker, Nick Palomares, Conner Siegel, Johnny Pena, Dillon Siler. San Manuel: Matt Phelps, Chris Ronquillo, Jacob Ruiz. Santa Rita: Chris Correa, Bryce Dempsey, Daniel Dominguez, Alejandro Escarcega, Cameron Gaddis, Davonttay Jones, Jess Lopez, Blake Martinez, Chris Mayer, Chris Mulford, Chris Olan. Sierra Vista Buena: Avery Allen, Jose Charles, Darius Kelly, Jeremy Reynolds, Eric Valdez. St. David: Ben Allred, Tyler Davis. Sunnyside: Danny Garcia, Cedric Gonzalez, Jesus Miramon, Danny Olivas, Hector Solis, Robert Solorio. Tanque Verde: Hunter Haynes, Michael Mellgren. Thatcher: Dayton Barney, Tyler Bryce. Tombstone: Sam Kriesel, Cruz Mora. Tucson: Adam Basurto, Josh Campas, William Estes, Sean Ochiagha, Shakir Smith, D'Andre Williams. Willcox: Gerald Fleming, Mike Rand, Carson Skaarer, Rudy Verdugo.
