Meet Southern Arizona's top high school football players of 2000.
Player of the Year
David Coronado, Sunnyside
David Coronado was the epitome of the all-around player. The 5-foot-10-inch, 190-pound senior linebacker was the leading tackler on a defense that allowed only 8.3 points and 204.9 yards per game.
Coronado returned two fumbles and one interception for touchdowns, with the interception resulting in the game-winning points in Sunnyside's 21-17 win over Scottsdale Saguaro that propelled the Blue Devils to their first ever Class 4A state championship appearance.
On offense, Coronado was the backup running back yet still ran for 1,112 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Coach of the Year
Pat Nugent, Canyon del Oro
After Nugent took over a CDO program that had hit rock bottom the year before, going 0-10 despite being the school with the largest enrollment in Southern Arizona.
Under him, the Dorados had one of the best ever single-season turnarounds, going 6-4 and narrowly missing a berth in the 5A state playoffs. Two of CDO's wins came over 5ASouthern Region champ Salpointe Catholic and perennial power Sabino.
Nugent's previous coaching experience came as an assistant and then head coach at Flowing Wells, where he was 18-13 in three years before going to CDO in 2000.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB Ben Provost, Sr., 6-1, 195, Salpointe Catholic
RB Chris Chaney, Sr., 6-1, 220, Santa Rita
RB Philo Sanchez, Jr., 5-7, 165, Sunnyside
RB Marquez Tadeo, Sr., 5-11, 175, Douglas
WR Marc Mathieu, Sr., 6-2, 185, Mountain View
WR Ryan McQuown, Sr., 5-10, 170, Salpointe Catholic
TE Scott Willmeng, Sr., 6-1, 200, Salpointe Catholic
OL Frankie Heredia, Sr., 5-10, 225, Sunnyside
OL Cisco Peralta, Sr., 6-0, 265, Sunnyside
OL Cole Van Winkle, Sr., 6-2, 250, Sahuaro
OL Jeremy Willoughby, Sr., 6-2, 255, Flowing Wells
OL Eddie Yauch, Sr., 6-2, 265, Mountain View
Defense
DL Robert Cota, Sr., 5-8, 180, Sunnyside
DL Jason Low, Sr., 6-0, 215, Salpointe Catholic
DL George Parker, Sr., 6-2, 215, Catalina Foothills
DL Miguel Sandoval, Sr., 6-3, 270, Tucson
LB David Coronado, Sr., 5-10, 175, Sunnyside
LB O.J. Flores, Sr., 6-0, 220, Sunnyside
LB Fabian Galvez, Sr., 5-10, 195, Sunnyside
LB Mike Wells, Sr., 6-3, 210, Sahuaro
DB Russhon Armstrong, Sr., 6-1, 175, Santa Rita
DB Ralph Gallegos, Sr., 5-11, 170, Sunnyside
DB Ish Howard, Sr., 5-8, 160, Sahuaro
DB Joel Romano, Sr., 5-9, 175, Amphitheater
Special Teams
K Ryan Slack, Sr., 6-1, 190, Salpointe Catholic
P Dillon Collier, Sr., 6-0, 170, Mountain View
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB Chris Monaco, Sr., 6-0, 175, Sahuaro
RB Chad Dietmeyer, Jr., 5-9, 175, Amphitheater
RB Justin Porter, Sr., 6-1, 200, Rincon
RB Wesley Minter, Sr., 5-9, 160, Pueblo
WR Skip Mendoza, Jr., 5-9, 150, Sahuaro
WR Brian Sharp, Jr., 5-11, 145, Marana
TE Dustin Owen, Jr., 6-2, 190, Canyon del Oro
OL Rocky Buelna, Sr., 6-3, 270, Catalina
OL Justin Ellis, Sr., 6-1, 215, Sabino
OL Robert Mungaray, Sr., 5-11, 220, Pueblo
OL Tim Smith, Sr., 6-2, 230, Douglas
OL Anthony Ybarra, Sr., 6-0, 250, Sunnyside
Defense
DL Dan Handy, Jr., 6-1, 205, Amphitheater
DL Shaughn Landauer, Jr., 5-9, 180, Santa Rita
DL Jamaal McCraney, Sr., 6-3, 290, Palo Verde
DL Jack Petty, Sr., 6-3, 180, Palo Verde
LB Rene Flores, Jr., 5-11, 200, Santa Rita
LB Matt Griebel, Sr., 5-10, 185, Canyon del Oro
LB Austin Metzger, Sr., 5-10, 180, Mountain View
LB Andy Pogue, Sr., 5-11, 210, Mountain View
DB Bennie Brown, Sr., 5-9, 150, Mountain View
DB James DeMadeira, Sr., 5-11, 170, Palo Verde
DB Bryan Slagle, Jr., 5-10, 180, Rincon
DB Logan Williams, Sr., 6-0, 170, Catalina Foothills
Special Teams
K Brad Jones, So., 5-9, 165, Flowing Wells
P Dillon Taylor, Sr., 6-0, 180, Sahuaro
Honorable Mention
5A Southern: Amphi: Miguel Cabezola, Anthony Encinas, Mario Haller, David Kim, Dylan Mackey, Art Przybyl, Steve Watson. Buena: Jared Fry, Jamie Green, Cody Hodgeson, Dusty Miner, Fred Osborne. CDO: Warren Bartlett, Stephen Berg, Kirk Creviston, David Dickert, Evan Gray, Jayson Hunter, Ryan Lilly, Tyrell Riddering, Adam Rossi, Lyle Steffens, Josh Tabaj. Flowing Wells: Ryan Davis, Phil Devoy, Abram Espinoza, Albert Hernandez, Doug Hurst, Joey Kuhn, Kyle Lunsford, Emilio Quihuis, Josh Padilla, Kit Peak, Bobby Pond. Rincon: Jesse Beltran, Ricky Cruz, Kit French, Brad Kline, Ryan LeDesma, Justin Leon, Chris McAndrew, Robert Merrick, Matt Micksin, Matt Misener, John Vawser, John Ward. Sabino: B.J. Anders, Zach Baker, Quentin Brookins, Jon Bush, Sean Camden, Shane Corrie, Taylor Gillaspie, Andres Jaurigue, David Lipina, Joe Mendoza, Cameron Petty, Andrew Reay, Casey Sticht, Brad Wood, Tim Wood. Salpointe: Noah Barrasso, Anthony Gibalski, Matt Gregor, Ryan Lopez, Michael Montgomery, Gabe Romero, Bryan Sloyan, Richard Sosa. Tucson: Albert Anaya, Jason Chavez, Barry Coleman, Michael Cuestas, Jonathan Harper, Aaron Jerz, Carlos Leyva Jesse Manuel, Albert Murrillo, Anthony Rodarte, Robin Siddharta.
4A Kino: Catalina: Aaron Butler, Chas David, Richard Fifer, Julian Herron, Jack Leon, Manny Ruiz, Santiago Salazar, Ryan Trotter, Jamaal Young. Catalina Foothills: Mike Andrews, Mark Blair, Craig Boeswetter, Josh Brisco, Sean Calloway, Keith Cards, John Furrier, Troy Kelley, Jason Kepner, Angel Morales, J.R. Musgrave, Justin Pode-Williams, Matt Schmidt. Desert View: Marvin Ennis, Jose Flores, David Hernandez, Bert Maldonado, Chris Niebla, Mike Odum, Zack Sinclair, George Sonoqui, Willie Stevens, Christian Tellez. Mountain View: Kainoa Akina, Russell Boss, Richie Fult, Bobby Johnson, Garrett Pacheco, James Painter, Chris Simon, Tyler Stam, Colby Van Wagenen, Jason Wade, John Walka, Mike White. Nogales: Alex Alvarez, Ronny Diaz, Abraham Frieg, Kieth Hernandez, Ralph Martinez, Frank Morales, Osvaldo Ortiz. Pueblo: Richard Figueroa, Oscar Guevara, Joe Langworthy, Andre Mays, Joey Ordonez, Rupert Ortiz, Jermaine Presswood, Hector Rivera, Bobby Thomas, Hector Valenzuela, Mike Valenzuela. Santa Rita: Ben Anderson, Justin Bentley, Corey DePaula, Bobby Gonzalez, Jason Holley, Sean Maley, Tylee Scott, Leon Seal, Arsenio Valenzuela, Mike Wilson.
4A Sonoran: Cholla: Steven Adelman, Esteban Canez, Enrique Duran, Anthony Galaz, Chris Smith, Patrick Steele, Roman Tellez, Antoine Williams. Douglas: Danny Boggs, Manny Davila, Donnie Huish, Ryan Huish, Michael John, Pedro Limon, J.C. Ochoa, Ron Shelton, Fito Victoria. Marana: Jimmy Caldwell, Chris Crone, Scotty Coxon, Ryan Gallion, Brian Hatley, Brandon Henry, Ty Hunt, Travis Lowe, Bryan Mashburn, Jerome Parker, Miguel Rodriguez, Jason Ryder, Heath Westfall. Palo Verde: Sal Cantua, Chase Creange, Chris Comisky, Beau Lower, Kevin Lusk, Daniel Magnani, Justin Miller, Rick Moreno, Robert Ramirez, Wayne Scott, Nate Urrea, Brenton Varner, Jeff Wagner. Sahuaro: Tim Ashcraft, Shane Beauchamp, Jason Bond, Earl Bowers, Luke Brown, Charles Denson, Robert Edminson, Andy Gasparro, Austin Given, Isaac Greenberg, Marty Hill, Justin Hosten, Eric Jameson, Leon Kittrell, Zach Ortiz, Andre Smith, Kyle Taylor. Sunnyside: Walter Arvizu, Rick Barcelo, Victor Cunes, Aaron Esquivel, Frank Lopez, Adrian Montes, Ray Ortega, Steven Pesqueira, Danny Rico, Sam Sotelo, Joey Warren.
Class 1A-3A: ASDB: Rantz Teeters, Wenzel Teeters, Matt Williams. Baboquivari: Peter Chico, Julius Johnson, Jason Thomas. Benson: Chad Harrison. Bisbee: Tad Hammett, Randy Ladd, Erik Shisslak. Coolidge: Michael Smith, Randy Youtsey. Fort Thomas: Erik Hinton, Harrison Talgo. Globe: Lincoln Hansen. Miami: Chris Goss, Adam Padilla. Morenci: Erik Garcia, Justin Sanderlin. Pusch Ridge Christian: Matt Hicks, Justin Pierce, Caleb Swank. Rio Rico: Charlie Alcaraz, Thomas Martinez, Ryan Nauman, Steve Simpson. Safford: Drew Barney, Derek Farar, Calder Good. St. David: Hyrum Fry, Bowdie Gill, Houston Reynolds, Brent Trejo. San Manuel: Tim Renteria, Matt Schaffner. Santa Cruz: Israel Ibarra. Thatcher: Sean Hinton, Mike Romney, Clint Whiting. Tombstone: George Gallegos, Anthony Morales. Valley Union: Arlen Isaak. Willcox: Branden Bonnett, Michael Allred.
