Star reporters spent their summer digging deep into the archives and history books in search of the best high school football players to ever come from Southern Arizona.
Teaming with past and present coaches, historians and average high school football fans, we came up with the 10 best players from each of Southern Arizona’s 26 major schools.
Here’s a look at the best player from each school, and the rest of the best:
AMPHITHEATER
The best: Steve Doolittle. Longtime Panthers coach Vern Friedli could not have asked for a better do-it-all player who never left the field. At 6 feet 5 inches and 250 pounds, Doolittle may have been born to be a lineman but played every position, from the defensive backfield to the offensive line to punter and even quarterback. He graduated in 1977, went on to start at numerous positions, including tight end and linebacker, at Colorado before being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1981.
The list:
1. Steve Doolittle, ATH, 1977
2. Mario Bates, ATH, 1991
3. Michael Bates, ATH, 1989
4. Riki (Gray) Ellison, RB/LB, 1979
5. Jon Volpe, RB, 1986
6. Arlen Bethay, RB, 1980
7. Jim Krohn, QB, 1976
8. Bob Hart, QB, 1950
9. Sam Merriman, OL/LB, 1979
10. Sam Molina, QB, 1980
CANYON DEL ORO
The best: Ka’Deem Carey. Before he rushed for a school-record 1,929 yards with the Arizona Wildcats last season and became a Heisman Trophy candidate, Carey was arguably the most accomplished high school football player to ever come out of Southern Arizona. As a junior, Carey rushed for a whopping 2,738 yards and 45 touchdowns, leading the Dorados to the 4A-I state title and a perfect 14-0 season in 2009. One season later, Carey rushed for 1,754 yards and 26 scores as CDO finished state runner-up. He was a two-time AZFCA Big 25 player, with 5,702 yards rushing and a state-record 87 touchdowns in his career.
The list:
1. Ka’Deem Carey, RB, 2011
2. Richard Rucker, RB/LB, 1974
3. Craig Davis, HB/LB, 1985
4. Jason Verdugo, QB, 1993
5. Tony Brown, RB, 1994
6. Larry Epling, WR/HB/DB, 1972
7. Ed Hochuli, HB/DB, 1969
8. Aaron Tevis, TE/LB, 2007
9. Blake Martinez, TE/FB/LB, 2012
10. Kevin Thomas, OL/DL, 1982
CATALINA
The best: Richard Griffith. Griffith received the Brian Murray Award in 1987, given annually to Arizona’s best high school lineman. The defensive tackle recorded 109 tackles and nine sacks his senior year. On offense, the 6-foot-5-inch, 220-pound Griffith caught 25 balls for 255 yards and three TDs, earning second-team all-Class AAA (5A today) tight end honors in 1987, along with a scholarship to Arizona, where he was named a Sporting News freshman All-American in 1989. Despite being mainly a blocker, the tight end caught 26 passes in 40 starts over four years at UA, earning Pac-10 honorable mention as a senior. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL draft, then spent six years with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a tight end/long snapper, starting a career-high 15 games in 1995. Griffith last played in the NFL in 2000.
The list:
1. Richard Griffith, TE/DL, 1988
2. John Svob, QB, 1967
3. Steve Budinger, LB/DL, 1977
4. Aaron Butler, WR, 2002
5. Phillip Pickett, RB/LB, 2003
6. Pablo Henriquez, RB, 1999
7. Ray Morales, RB, 2010
8. Chuck Cole, WR/DB, 2003
9. James Eichberger, RB, 2008
10. Darrian McIver, QB/DB, 2011
CATALINA FOOTHILLS
The best: Joe Brown. Although Brown made an impact as a 6-foot-6-inch, 260-pound lineman at Catalina Foothills and earned first-team All-Southern Arizona as an offensive lineman and second team All-Region as a defensive tackle in 1995, his real impact came after his prep career. Despite fighting off injuries, Brown started at Ohio State University for three years and eventually spent two seasons in the NFL after going undrafted. Brown’s selflessness and toughness really showed, though, in his decision to abandon his football career in 2003 to fight in the Iraq war.
The list:
1. Joe Brown, OL/DL, 1996
2. John Gianninoto, OL/DL, 2006
3. Jon Heitzinger, ATH, 2003
4. Josh Brisco, RB/DB, 2002
5. Shawn Kobylinski, ATH, 2011
6. George Parker, DL, 2001
7. Rolly Escarcega, ATH, 2011
8. Brian Riley, TE/DE, 2007
9. Vince Alentado, RB/LB, 2007
10. Nolan Swett, QB, 2004
CHOLLA
The best: Vance Johnson. Before becoming one of the top receivers in Denver Broncos history, Johnson made his name known at Cholla as one of Tucson’s top running backs. He led the Chargers to an 8-3 record in 1980, at the time Cholla’s best in 12 years, and racked up 1,382 yards on the ground to become an All-State, All-Metro and Super 11 selection. He went on to excel at the UA, gaining 1,873 yards in his career and was named first-team All-Pac-10 in 1982. Johnson, who won an NCAA championship in the long jump, was a second-round, 31st overall pick by Denver in the 1985 NFL draft.
The list:
1. Vance Johnson, RB, 1981
2. Randy Hunter, SE/DB, 1980
3. Mike Scurlock, ATH, 1990
4. Jonas Eldridge, RB, 1984
5. Tom Lodge, WR, 1971
6. Cody House, QB, 2006
7. Kirk Warburton, LB, 1971
8. Chris Corral, ATH, 1989
9. John Denny Jr., TE/DB, 1998
10. James Wimberly, ATH, 2011
CIENEGA
The best: Brandon Lopez. Lopez was a two-way starter at running back and linebacker and helped put Cienega on the map by rushing for 4,342 yards and scoring 55 touchdowns over three seasons. The 6-foot-1-inch, 225-pound standout totaled 3,196 yards rushing and 42 scores in his final two seasons alone and still holds the school records for career rushing yards, carries, touchdowns and points. He received first-team All-State and All-Southern Arizona honors as a senior and went on to play for the UA.
The list:
1. Brandon Lopez, RB/LB, 2004
2. Daniel Gonzales, RB/LB, 2012
3. Edgar Poe, WR/DB, 2012
4. Seth Mejias-Brean, QB, 2009
5. Willie Willis, RB, 2011
6. Jordan Mills, QB, 2011
7. Bryce Burnett, WR, 2007
8. Manny Vera, RB/Ret., 2012
9. Dean Showers, OL/DL, 2005
10. Zach Davila, OL/DL, 2008
DESERT VIEW
The best: Adam Rodriguez. Rodriguez started as a freshman for Desert View’s first-ever football team in 1985 and graduated in 1989 as Tucson’s all-time passing leader with 5,774 yards. Rodriguez compiled 42 touchdowns during his career. As a senior, he threw for 1,830 yards, good enough for second in the state, and 19 touchdowns. The 5-foot-10-inch, 190-pound Rodriguez led the Jaguars to the state playoffs in back-to-back years to close out his career. A two-time All-State honorable mention selection, Rodriguez had his jersey retired at Desert View in 1995. He’s the first — and, so far, only — Jaguar to receive that honor.
The list:
1. Adam Rodriguez, QB, 1989
2. Willie Walker, OL/DL, 1992
3. Rene Duarte, RB, 1988
4. Matt Gonzales, RB/DB, 1994
5. Mike Debevoise, RB, 1997
6. Theo McDaniel, TE/DL, 1994
7. Bobby Garcia, WR/DB, 1990
8. Brandon Perkins, ATH, 2011
9. A.J. Willis, RB/LB, 2008
10. Adrian Koch, QB/LB, 1992
DOUGLAS
The best: Gib Dawson. A three-time All-State running back, Dawson was named Arizona’s Player of the Year in 1948 as a senior. The 5-foot-11-inch, 170-pound Dawson held the majority of the Bulldogs rushing records from 1948 to 2000, including rushing yards in a game with 311. A member of the Arizona High School Football Hall of Fame, and recognized as one of Arizona’s 50 Greatest Athletes of all time, Dawson went on to play at the University of Texas from 1950 to 1952. Dawson led the Longhorns in rushing, receiving, total offense, all-purpose yards, and scoring in 1951. Named All-Southwest Conference in 1951 and 1952, Dawson was a member of SWC title teams in 1950 and 1952. He was inducted into the UT Hall of Fame in 1984. Dawson was drafted in the fourth round by the Green Bay Packers in 1953, but his NFL career was cut short, just two years in, as he was called into military action.
The list:
1. Gib Dawson, RB, 1949
2. Tony Rose, QB, 1977
3. James Negri, RB, 1941
4. Bill Salzbrenner, WR, 1976
5. George Ochoa, TE, 1980
6. Marquez Tadeo, RB, 2001
7. Pedro Limon, LB, 2001
8. Jesus Hernandez, K/P, 1983
9. Tim Wilkinson, TE, 1989
10. John Necas, OL, 1987
EMPIRE
The best: Cody Woody. Being the first running back in Empire’s history, it’s no surprise Woody set several school records. However, it’s how he set them. The three-year starter and 2009 3A Southern offensive player of the year holds the Ravens’ season and career rushing records with 1,677 yards and 3,012 yards, respectively. He also rushed for a school-record 23 touchdowns as a senior to finish with a career-record 36 and was named a 3A All-State player and a second-team All-Southern Arizona pick by the Star.
The list:
1. Cody Woody, RB/DB, 2010
2. Mito Mendivil, QB/S, 2011
3. Alberto Munoz, OL/DL, 2010
4. Brendon Argenziano, DT, 2010
5. MacKenzie Letcher, OL/LB, 2010
6. Noah Smith, TE/DE, 2011
7. Loren Henry, ATH, 2012
8. J.J. Gretta, WR/DB, 2013
9. Grayson Weeks, QB, 2012
10. Josh Garcia, TE/LB, 2008
FLOWING WELLS
The best: Mark Jacobs. An All-State athlete on the field and a cum laude honor roll student off it, linebacker Mark Jacobs could do no wrong during his time at Flowing Wells. Jacobs was voted Lineman of the Year by the Tucson Press Box Association, named to Coach & Athlete Magazine’s Top 100 All-American team, selected first-team All-State by The Arizona Republic in 1971 and 1972 and led Flowing Wells to back-to-back title games. He didn’t stop there; he started on defense as a sophomore at the UA. The one black mark on Jacobs’ résumé was a game suspension in 1975 after he quit football for a day because of his newfound religious beliefs.
The list:
1. Mark Jacobs, LB, 1973
2. John Bray, RB, 1976
3. Angel Corona, DB, 1986
4. Jim Faulks, RB, 1959
5. Rich Thomas, WR, 1974
6. David Moore, DL, 1976
7. Ken Leikem, QB, 1983
8. Mike Effing, WR, 1983
9. Paul Schmidt, OL/DL, 1971
10. Jay Jenkins, ATH, 1993
IRONWOOD RIDGE
The best: Jake Fischer. Fischer didn’t waste any time in helping Ironwood Ridge turn into a football powerhouse. He was a four-year varsity starter and a three-time first-team All-Southern Arizona linebacker before he went on to start at the UA. Although he is best remembered for his defensive work after setting the Nighthawks’ single-season and career records for tackles with 133 and 464, respectively, Fischer’s first start came at running back in the first game of his freshman year, a 51-7 win over Flowing Wells. He rushed 16 times for 87 yards including a 25-yard touchdown and caught three passes for 16 yards. He started at linebacker two games later and held on to that role for the rest of his career and also started at running back in his junior and senior years.
The list:
1. Jake Fischer, RB/LB, 2009
2. Mitch Fischer, RB/DB, 2012
3. Tyler Williams, QB, 2013
4. Daniel Borg, OL/DL, 2005
5. Tyler D’Amore, QB, 2011
6. Colin Gilbert, WR/DB, 2007
7. C.J. Healey, OL/DL, 2012
8. Ryan Crawford, QB, 2005
9. Trevor Wesley, WR/DB, 2011
10. Ray Cottman, TE/LB, 2009
MARANA
The best: Paul Robinson. Robinson went to the UA for track — not football — after leaving Eastern Arizona College. But when his track scholarship ended, Robinson turned to football out of necessity and the decision resulted in national fame. After Robinson completed his lone season at Arizona, finishing as the Wildcats’ No. 2 back in 1967, the Cincinnati Bengals surprisingly drafted him in the third round. The young back repaid their faith, becoming the 1968 AFL Rookie of the Year and finishing second in MVP voting after breaking the 1,000-yard mark. Although Robinson never reached the same level during his professional career, he finished his seven-year AFL/NFL career with 3,559 yards of total offense.
The list:
1. Paul Robinson, RB, 1963
2. LeRoy Peoples, RB, 1965
3. Arthur “Sonny” Campbell, G, 1966
4. Cleveland Colter, ATH, 1969
5. Clay Hardt, RB/S, 1999
6. Lacey Colter, FB, 1965
7. Scotty Coxon, QB, 2002
8. Frank Ard, FB, 1967
9. Ken Sherman, TE/DT, 1969
10. Jerry Robinson, QB, 1966
MOUNTAIN VIEW
The best: Kevin Schmidtke. Once ranked the 30th-best running back in the country by Super Prep, Schmidtke was a two-time Arizona Republic state Player of the Year and a two-time Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993. As a senior, the 5-foot-10-inch, 190-pound running back was the 4A Sonoran Division’s leading rusher, racking up 2,515 yards at 9.5 yards per carry, to go along with 37 touchdowns, leading the Mountain Lions to a perfect 14-0 season capped off with a 63-32 win over Sahuaro in the 1993 4A state title game. In four playoff games that year, Schmidtke carried the ball 98 times for 738 yards and 15 touchdowns, setting state championship game records for most TDs (five) and most points (38). As a junior in 1992, Schmidtke combined for 1,775 yards rushing and receiving and led the conference in scoring with 31 touchdowns, 24 of which came on the ground. He finished with 5,155 career yards rushing and held the 4A state record for nearly 10 years. Schmidtke earned a scholarship to the UA where he totaled 774 yards and a pair of TDs on 210 carries, to go along with 15 catches for 130 yards in four years with the Wildcats.
The list:
1. Kevin Schmidtke, RB, 1994
2. Dan Moore, RB, 2008
3. Wayne Wyatt, OL, 1992
4. Mike Villa, FB/DL, 1992
5. James MacPherson, QB, 1997
6. Eddie Arizmendi, QB, 2004
7. Kevin Corner, TE/LB, 1992
8. Kailan Williams, DB, 2000
9. Gabe Cox, WR, 1995
10. Kainoa Akina, QB, 2001
NOGALES
The best: Danny Villa. Coming out of high school in 1982, Villa had one of the toughest decisions any college-bound Arizona athlete must face. The UA or ASU? In the end, the 6-foot-5ƒ-inch, 245-pound offensive lineman chose Arizona State. Villa would go down as the most decorated Sun Devil lineman of all time, finishing his career as a consensus All-American, Outland Trophy finalist, Morris Trophy winner, unanimous All-Pac-10 first-team selection and 1987 Rose Bowl champion among other honors. Drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 1987 NFL draft, the tackle-guard-center went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL and see time in 157 games for the Patriots, the Cardinals, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Carolina Panthers. However, in 2009, Villa was sentenced to two years in jail and seven years of probation after he pled guilty to rape charges involving a 15-year-old girl in Massachusetts, where he was coaching football at Walpole High School.
The list:
1. Danny Villa, OL, 1983
2. Alex Amado, OL, 1957
3. James Macris, RB, 1940
4. Robert Bonillas, TE/DB, 1994
5. Joe Escalada, OL, 1963
6. Frank Morales, OL, 1952
7. Mario Rodriguez, DL, 1990
8. Ruger Fontes, QB, 1998
9. Ben Coronado, TE, 1993
10. Andy Garcia, RB, 2009
PALO VERDE
The best: Mark Arneson. The 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound linebacker was so feared as a hitter, rumor has it that UA coaches didn’t let the two-time All-City Palo Verde High grad practice on defense because he was injuring his own teammates. Arneson, an All-American and two-time All-WAC player as a Wildcat, was drafted 32nd overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972 and started his nine-year NFL career by winning the team’s rookie of the year award. He started 65 games for the Cardinals. Jim Arneson, his brother, was an offensive lineman at UA and in the NFL from 1973 to 1975.
The list:
1. Mark Arneson, LB, 1968
2. Adam Hall, ATH, 2009
3. Bill Baechler, QB, 1972
4. Jim Arneson, OL, 1969
5. Robert Fowler, RB, 1974
6. Brandon Johnson, DL, 2006
7. Paul Swank, OG, 1974
8. Harry Lodge, RB/DB, 1968
9. Collin Murphy, ATH, 2005
10. Bill Zivic, K, 1978
PUEBLO
The best: Leonard Thompson. At the end of the 1970 high school football season, few would have expected Leonard Thompson to go on and have a 12-year NFL career. Pueblo’s leading rusher finished 10th among AAA-South rushers on a 1-9 team. Coaches described him as an athletic “sleeper” and at Arizona Western College, Thompson finally sprouted into a Division I football player. He went on to rush for 841 yards on 167 carries at Oklahoma State before being selected in the eighth round of the 1975 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.
The list:
1. Leonard Thompson, RB/WR, 1971
2. Bill McKinley, TE/DE, 1967
3. David Eldridge, RB, 1985
4. Tony Hammond, RB, 1969
5. Charley Quihuis, WR/DB, 1973
6. Rudy Quihuis, FS, 1968
7. Fernando Santa Cruz, RB/LB, 1960
8. Wilbur Washington, ATH, 1989
9. John Straw, WR/DE, 1962
10. Gary Clifford, RB, 1959
RINCON/UNIVERSITY
The best: Jesse Parker. A Parade All-American in 1972 as a senior, Parker led the Southern Division in rushing, total offense and scoring with 1,284 yards and 13 touchdowns and was named the Tucson Press Box Association Back of the Year. The 6-foot, 185-pound running back racked up 3,049 yards and 29 scores in three years, also earning first-team All-Conference honors in 1972 and a scholarship to UCLA, where he spent a year with the Bruins before transferring to the UA. He lettered in 1977 with the Wildcats and finished his UA career with 155 yards and two touchdowns on 41 carries.
The list:
1. Jesse Parker, RB, 1973
2. Al Dillbeck, OL, 1970
3. Tom Wisz, QB, 1967
4. Larry Rogge, OL/LB, 1965
5. Scott Wonacott, OL, 1973
6. Tim Hutton, ATH, 1985
7. Alex Solot, OL, 2006
8. Joseph Matthews, ATH, 2011
9. Bill Prickett, QB, 1987
10. John D’Auria, DL, 1970
RIO RICO
The best: Lucas Meza. A three-year starter at quarterback, Meza was a two-time All-Southern Arizona honorable mention selection. He finished sixth in passing in Southern Arizona as a senior in 2007 with 80 completions for 1,372 yards and eight touchdowns, including a career-high 339 yards and three scores in a 41-28 loss to Douglas. The 5-foot-10-inch, 190-pound dual-threat quarterback provided depth at Pima College, seeing action in the final game as a redshirt sophomore, finishing 6 for 9, for 41 yards and a touchdown.
The list:
1. Lucas Meza, QB, 2008
2. Ryan Nauman, QB, 2001
3. Charlie Alcaraz, OL, 2001
4. Zach Sbragia, ATH, 2012
5. Albert Dauz, OL, 2007
6. Steve Morales, ATH, 2010
7. Mark Gastellum, QB/DB, 2013
8. Keith Jacobs, ATH, 2007
9. Robert McCarty, ATH, 2009
10. Cooper DeWitt, LB, 2009
SABINO
The best: Mike Saffer. Several big-time college football programs had their eyes on Saffer, a 6-foot-6-inch, 295-pound USA Today first-team All-America offensive tackle and two-time Arizona Republic All-State selection who was widely considered the No. 1 offensive lineman in the nation in 1997. According to former Sabino coach Jeff Scurran, Nebraska, the 1995 national champion, had two coaches station themselves in Tucson for a week and try to persuade Saffer to become a Cornhusker. Saffer, who was also a Parade All-American and Reebok preseason All-American as a senior, helped open lanes for running back Nathan Wize, a fellow senior who rushed for a state-record 3,101 yards and 51 touchdowns in 1997 as the Sabercats went 13-0 before losing in the 4A state championship game. Saffer listed UCLA, USC, Washington, Nebraska and Arizona State as his final college choices and he ultimately chose the Bruins. He started 41 games with them and was named All-Pac-10 and a second-team All-American by The Sporting News his senior year in 2002, but was never able to make it on a NFL team.
The list:
1. Mike Saffer, OT, 1998
2. Brooks Reed, FB/DE/LB, 2006
3. Corey Hill, RB/DB, 1994
4. Jeff Kiewel, OL/DL, 1978
5. Nathan Wize, RB, 1998
6. Glyndon Bolasky, RB/DB, 2006
7. Quinn Gooch, ATH, 2000
8. Garrett Ford, TE/LB, 1989
9. Brian Poli-Dixon, WR, 1997
10. Manny Olague, ATH/FS, 1991
SAHUARITA
The best: Kyle Day. Day was thrust into the starting line-up in Week 1 of his sophomore year. A year later, Day was named All-Southern Arizona honorable mention after throwing for more than 2,000 yards and leading the Mustangs to the semifinals and a 9-4 record. Finishing as Sahuarita’s second-leading scorer all-time in 2005, the 5-foot-11-inch, 175-pound do-it-all star, was once again tabbed for regional honorable mention. A standout quarterback and a stud defensive back, Day might be best remembered for his field goals. He was twice selected as an All-Conference kicker in 2004 and 2005. Day walked on at the UA as a receiver in 2006. He saw action on special teams in two games in 2007 and then lettered in 2009 after playing in 10 games as part of the kick return team as a redshirt junior. That earned him a scholarship and an outside chance to get on the field at wideout as a fifth-year senior, but an ankle injury in training camp derailed his season.
The list:
1. Kyle Day, QB/DB/K, 2006
2. Richard Ochoa, OL/DL, 1978
3. Travis Depper, RB, 2005
4. Chris Cutler, LB, 1998
5. Allonte Singfield, ATH, 2009
6. Ricky Alvarez, QB, 1998
7. Kelton Smith, WR/LB, 1999
8. Sati Santa Cruz, OL/DL, 1987
9. Chris Snodgrass, RB, 2013
10. Aric Howard, ATH, 2013
SAHUARO
The best: Rodney Peete. Although Peete didn’t finish his high school career at Sahuaro, he still won two state titles as a Cougar. While neither came on the football field, what he did there was special to say the least. The Mesa native caught 44 passes for 796 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore in 1981 to earn All-State honors as a wide receiver. He went on to become a first-team All-State quarterback the next year. The three-sport star threw for an area-best 1,885 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior and had only eight interceptions in 253 attempts before leaving Sahuaro because his father, Willie, got a job as an assistant coach with the Kansas City Chiefs. He went on to become a first-team All-America quarterback at USC where he led the Trojans to a pair of Rose Bowl appearances, won the Johnny Unitas Award as the best senior quarterback and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up that same year in 1988.
The list:
1. Rodney Peete, ATH, 1983
2. John Mistler, WR/DB, 1977
3. Reggie Robertson, QB, 2000
4. Mike Ciasca, OL, 1990
5. Omar Bacon, RB, 1995
6. Steve Martin, WR/DB, 1986
7. Steve McLaughlin, K, 1990
8. Brad Chilcote, QB, 1986
9. Paul Schoonover, RB/FB, 1973
10. Jay Dobyns, WR/DB, 1980
SALPOINTE CATHOLIC
The best: Kris O’Dowd. O’Dowd may be the most decorated lineman to come out of Southern Arizona. The 6-foot-5-inch, 315-pound star was named the 5A Southern Region Offensive Player of the Year and the All-Southern Arizona Player of the Year his senior year when he also became the fourth Tucsonan since 1990 to be named a Parade All-American. O’Dowd was also selected as an Army All-American, joining 2004 graduate John Kadous as the only other Lancer to earn that honor. With all the recognition, O’Dowd had several big-time colleges interested and had offers from Ohio State, Miami, Tennessee, UCLA, USC and the UA among others. He chose to become a Trojan and made an even bigger impact with USC after he made a smooth transition to becoming a center for the first time after playing tackle in high school. He was named to Sporting News’ Pac-10 All-Freshman team in 2007 despite missing some time with a dislocated right kneecap, and was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection and USC’s Lineman of the Year as a sophomore when he started all 13 games as the Trojans went 12-1 and won the Rose Bowl.
The list:
1. Kris O’Dowd, OL/DL, 2007
2. Jeff Heidrick, FB/LB, 1982
3. Chris Hopkins, RB/DB, 1992
4. John Fina, OL/DL, 1987
5. Tyler Graunke, QB, 2004
6. Joe Rowley, RB/DB, 1983
7. Frank Garcia, ATH/P/K, 1975
8. Herbie Jones, FB/LB, 1965
9. Rich Ellerson, OL/DL, 1972
10. Johnny Peña, RB/LB, 2013
SANTA RITA
The best: Eric Drage. If you watched a Santa Rita game in 1988, you saw Eric Drage out on the field — every play. The 6-foot-1-inch, 175-pound athlete never left the field, according to coach Bob Vielledent, and for good reason. Drage was the All-Southern Arizona Player of the Year as a senior, an All-State and All-Division first-team selection and the winner of the Ed Doherty Award as Arizona’s top high school player. While Drage starred at wide receiver, he also was a force at defensive end and even volunteered to be the scout- team quarterback. Drage went on to play at BYU, where the two-time All-WAC selection set two career receiving records for the Cougars (3,065 yards and 29 touchdowns) before they were broken in 2008 by future NFL receiver Austin Collie. Vielledent said in 1988 that going into a pivotal game against Sunnyside his senior year, Drage asked him to not throw him the ball and instead run it since the Blue Devils were overloading their defense to stop him. The star receiver went without a catch, but Santa Rita won 13-10.
The list:
1. Eric Drage, WR/DE, 1989
2. Sean Cook, QB/DB, 1987
3. Anthony Sanders, QB, 1992
4. J.J. Holliday, WR, 2009
5. Aaron Santini, QB/DB, 1990
6. Shawn Hungate, OL/DL, 1987
7. Ian Garlets, QB/DB, 2010
8. Jacob Morell, RB/DB, 2005
9. Jaquari Kountz, OT/DL, 2010
10. Ron Gould, ATH, 1983
SIERRA VISTA BUENA
The best: Stan Short. The 6-foot-4-inch 230-pound Short spent only one season with Buena after his family moved from Carlisle, Pa., before his senior year, but he made a big impact on both sides of the ball as one of the top linemen in Arizona. Short anchored an offensive line that cleared way for an average of 193.3 rushing yards a game, the third-best mark in Southern Arizona in 1980 behind Sunnyside (291.7) and Amphitheater (194.4). He was the only area lineman named to the Arizona Daily Star Super 11 team and was selected as the Tucson Citizen Offensive Lineman of the Year. Short, who was also an All-State selection by the Arizona Republic, had interest from several schools but chose Penn State — which had been to bowl games 10 straight years — over the UA or ASU. The Nittany Lions’ success continued with Short, as they went to the Sugar Bowl in 1982 and won the consensus national championship, the first of the Joe Paterno era. Short went on to be selected in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions but was never able to make it onto a regular-season roster.
The list:
1. Stan Short, OL/DL, 1981
2. Lewis Dix, RB, 1978
3. Sergio Romo, RB, 1998
4. Todd Williamson, QB. 1980
5. Jamal Womble, RB, 2008
6. Odel Stewart, LB, 1987
7. Jake Muasau, WR/LB, 2008
8. Terry Mueller, OL/DL, 1971
9. Mike Patrick, WR, 1994
10. Preston Saunders, WR, 2004
SUNNYSIDE
The best: Fred Sims. As a junior, Sims broke the city rushing record with 1,426 yards for the Blue Devils in 1979, adding 16 touchdowns for good measure. But for Sims, the stellar junior season would be just the beginning. Opposing defenses were helpless against the 5-foot-10-inch, 205-pound back in 1980 as Sims cracked the 2,000-yard mark, and the Blue Devils were considered the top team in Arizona before falling 38-14 to Tempe McClintock in a sloppy semifinal upset. The first-team Parade All-American and Arizona Player of the Year went from one superpower to another, joining the Oklahoma Sooners that were coming off an Orange Bowl victory and No. 3 finish in 1980. Unfortunately for Sims, another elite back in Marcus Dupree arrived in Norman, Okla., in 1982, forcing him to switch to fullback as a sophomore. The position change frustrated Sims, and he transferred to the UA but never played in a game for the Wildcats because of academic issues.
The list:
1. Fred Sims, RB/LB, 1981
2. Harry Holt, TE/DE, 1976
3. Philo Sanchez, RB, 2002
4. George Duarte, RB/DB, 1982
5. Xavier Smith, RB, 2005
6. David Adams, RB, 1982
7. Michael Smith, RB, 2006
8. Bobby Valdez, QB, 1987
9. Glenn Posey, WR, 1987
10. David Coronado, FB/LB, 2001
TUCSON HIGH
The best: Mike Dawson. The last of Tucson High’s 13 championships produced the Badgers’ best player, lineman Mike Dawson. The 6-foot-4-inch, 240-pound Dawson was a Parade All-American in 1971 after leading Tucson to its second straight state title, a 20-14 victory over Tempe Union. The hulking Dawson was a two-time All-State selection, dominating on both sides of the line while losing only two games in his 2½ seasons on the Badgers varsity team. Although Dawson received scholarship interest from top schools like Nebraska, Oklahoma and Michigan, he decided to go to hometown UA, telling the Tucson Citizen in 1976 that he wanted to “give our state a good football team.” Dawson continued to excel — and win — at the next level, becoming a second-team All-American in 1975 as well as a two-time All-WAC defensive tackle. Dawson anchored the Wildcats line during its best three-year stretch (23-6) in school history, making 203 unassisted tackles and 38.0 tackles for a loss, earning himself a first-round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976.
The list:
1. Mike Dawson, OT/DT, 1972
2. Joe Petroshus, RB/DB, 1969
3. Joel Favara, RB, 1953
4. Bill Dawson, OT/DT, 1967
5. Fred Batiste, RB/DB, 1944
6. Hayzel Daniels, RB, 1927
7. Lewis Cook, RB, 1966
8. Fred Enke, Jr., QB, 1943
9. Pat Flood, QB, 1953
10. Marvin Lewis, DE/LB, 1971
