HS Football Player Spotlight: Desert View's Ryan Vasavilbaso leading Jags on historic run

Every week this high school football season, in collaboration with ESPN Tucson’s weekday morning show “Spears & Ali,” we’re spotlighting notable performances from the previous week. Up next: Desert View senior quarterback Ryan Vasavilbaso.

The Desert View Jaguars are off to their best start in program history and hold an 8-0 record in the final stretch of the regular season.

Desert View has hopes to qualify for The Open, Arizona’s big-school playoff bracket with the top eight teams in the state.

The Jaguars’ average margin of victory this season is 32.6 points. They’re not just beating teams, they’re dominating opponents.

But if the Jaguars want to become the third team in Southern Arizona to qualify for the open, joining Marana and Salpointe Catholic, they’ll have to face Cienega, which is riding a three-game winning streak, in Vail and the regular-season home finale against Flowing Wells (6-2).

If Desert View wins on Friday, the Jaguars will clinch the Class 5A Southern Region championship.

Desert View is coming off a 41-7 win over Canyon del Oro. DVHS senior quarterback Ryan Vasavilbaso completed 16 of 27 passes for 244 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in the win over CDO. Desert View star running back Jaylee Abraham rushed for 226 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Abraham also had a pick-six last Friday.

“The game started off on defense,” said Vasavilbaso. “The first play of the game was a pick-six. It got us all hype. When we got on offense, we kept it rolling. Jaylee scored and I threw a couple of touchdowns, Jaylee scored again and then I threw a couple more touchdowns.”

Vasavilbaso has 1,534 yards, 16 touchdowns and two interceptions this season. The Desert View quarterback is on a five-game streak with 200-plus passing yards.

Vasavilbaso is the second Jaguar we’re spotlighting this season, joining Abraham, who is second in the state with 25 rushing touchdowns. Ahead of Desert View’s battle with Cienega, Vasavilbaso joined “Spears & Ali” on ESPN Tucson. Here’s what he discussed:

How is it being the quarterback of potentially the best team in Desert View history?

A: “I’m just really grateful that I have an opportunity to do something that most kids don’t, and I get to do it with people I share the field with and coaches I love to play for.”

How would you describe the firepower you and Abraham bring to the Desert View offense?

A: “We have good chemistry together. I trust him to do his thing, he trusts me to do my thing, so we help each other out, whether it’s talking about the play or something outside of practice.”

What’s the most impressive part about Abraham’s skillset?

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A: “The most impressive part is that he doesn’t go down. He’ll get the ball, make contact and just keep going.”

What made you want to play quarterback?

A: “When I first started playing football, I saw quarterback and thought I could do this and I’m going to do this. I had a bunch of inspiration, like Tom Brady. Every time I watched him play, I just wanted to play like him. ... I’m a Patriots fan. I love what Drake Maye is doing.”

When did you first start playing football?

A: “I didn’t start playing tackle football until like eighth grade. I was mostly playing soccer in middle school and stuff.”

What made you want to transition from fútbol to football?

A: “One of my friend’s coaches, he saw me running. They were practicing at the same park and he said, ‘You look really good, do you think you can play football?’ I’m like, ‘Sure.’”

What do you like to do when you’re not playing football? Any hobbies?

A: “I like to play video games, read and hang out with my friends.”

What is your favorite video game and book?

A: “My favorite video game is (NBA) 2K and my favorite book is ‘The Hobbit.’”

What’s your favorite pregame or postgame meal?

A: “My favorite meal before a game is spaghetti and bread — homemade.”

What are your plans after the season and the school year?

A: “I have aspirations to play football and I don’t care if it’s (junior college) or a (Division I) school. I just want to keep playing. In college, I want to study philosophy so I can be a lawyer.”

For now, how does Desert View stay locked in on the season and maintain the momentum for the postseason?

A: “The mindset is to focus on the week we’re in, go 1-0 and go out there and have fun.”