Opinion by Tyler Hansen : No letdown for Rio Rico

Veiled by losing scores of 31-7 and 32-6, Brewington would speak for minutes about the potential of a team that had not won a game since 2000.

"You can see the improvement," Brewington would say. "We're getting there."

You could sense the unwavering faith in his voice.

Last week's 41-24 road win over Cholla confirmed the Hawks are finally "there" — in the winners' club after 52 straight losses. A celebratory police escort brought them back to their hometown Friday.

"A lot of my mind was blank because I hadn't felt that feeling in a long time," junior tailback/linebacker Travis Roderick said. "It didn't hit most of us until Saturday. Your body hurts a lot less when you win."

Like any good coach, Brewington is refusing to let his team coast on the success of one victory. He warded off any bloated egos by reminding the Hawks that a home loss tonight against winless Santa Rita (0-9) would make some scoff and say the win over Cholla was a fluke.

The last thing Rio Rico's players deserve is more public ridicule.

"These kids have taken a lot of harassment from some people on campus," Brewington said. "(The streak) hasn't been their fault, because they were all in grade school when it started. Now they've gained some respect, but they have to want more."

The Hawks (1-8, 1-3 4A Gila Region) essentially were eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago. Their off-season will begin around 9:30 tonight — win or lose.

Here's the good news: For the first time since Dick Tomey was the UA football coach, Rio Rico enters a game as the favorite.

The Hawks actually have the chance to enter the 2007 season with a two-game winning streak, along with a lot of pride.

There will be a party tonight in Rio Rico.

"The community here has always been supportive of the team, but this week, there is going to be a big turnout," athletic director Bevo LaRue said. "Everybody wants to see them win. They know they can do it again."

Desert View's wishes denied

The 4A Conference recently denied Desert View's appeal to remain in 4A Division II.

The South Side school's increased enrollment has it pegged in the 4A-I ranks for the 2007-09 block, a superior level of competition (in most cases) for an athletic program that has floundered, as a whole, in 4A-II since fall 2005.

Last month, the 4A and 5A conferences approved Pueblo's appeal to remain in 4A-I, despite its projected move to 5A-II, because the school felt it couldn't fare as well in the upper level — the same argument Desert View officials made.

So far this fall, only the boys and girls cross country teams have earned the right to compete in state postseason competition. And the football team appears as though it will finish on the outside looking in.

Nevertheless, the Jaguars will prepare for their move.

"Actually, I think there is a lot of optimism," softball coach Bert Otero said. "We have some great kids at Desert View. It's a challenge. We'll see what we're made out of."

Legends of the fall

True to form, the Salpointe Catholic athletic program has produced a remarkable fall season.

Within the last three weeks, the Lancers racked up 5A Southern Region championships in boys swimming, girls swimming, girls cross country and girls volleyball (regular season).

That doesn't include the boys golf team winning a subregional tournament last week in Phoenix.

The competition there was so good it was the equivalent of a mini-state championship.

To top it off, the Salpointe football team — 9-0 and rolling — is ranked No. 7 in the western United States by rivals.com.

It's enough to make the school's critics cringe.

At the buzzer

The Class 4A-I and 4A-II girls volleyball state tournaments begin Tuesday for what should be 10 local teams. Official pairings will be released Sunday morning by the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

The 12-day hiatus between the region and state tournaments — in place to necessitate statewide AIMS testing this week — has been discussed in this space previously.

In an attempt to keep their legs and minds fresh, players and coaches have been practicing until they're blue in the face.

Four Southern Arizona teams that appear headed to the state event — Sabino, Catalina Foothills, Palo Verde and Canyon del Oro — will have played only one match in 20 days by the time the first round arrives.

Some Phoenix-area regions, however, have been allowed to play this week. Top-seed candidates Chaparral and Saguaro from Scottsdale are among those teams still playing, accruing power points and getting invaluable court time just days before the state playoffs.

This isn't an anti-Tucson thing at all; schools from around the state are being affected by the long layoff.

But if anyone can explain how it makes sense, please do so. My phone number is listed above.