Football games at Camp Verde High School will number a precious four this fall.
Points were also precious for the CVHS varsity, which mustered just one touchdown out of four possessions against two Division IV opponents, Payson and Winslow high schools, in a multi-team scrimmage at the Bulldogs on Friday, Aug. 22.
“Winslow is preseason No. 9 in the state and Payson’s No. 15 in the state — and that’s in a higher division than us,” Darby said. “Compared apples-to-apples, we certainly had a better showing than last year.”
That team went 3-7, lost nearly half its players at various times to ineligibility and injuries, but still could have “easily” finished with a 5-5 record or better, said Darby’s on-field leader Bodie Holowell.
“This year that’s what I’m hoping for, is to be above the normal,” said the senior starting quarterback, whose backup this fall is Stevie Chambers, a six-foot, three-inch, 190-pound senior transfer from Phoenix who can and will see time at three other positions, according to Darby. Holowell shared Darby’s excitement over a White-Blue scrimmage — won by Blue 13-6 — which Darby said highlighted the Cowboys’ chemistry, speed and physicality as superior to last year’s team that averaged two-and-a-half touchdowns per game.
“With Stevie getting some reps, it’s getting a little better,” Holowell said. “I have a lot more confidence running the ball and getting yardage, but we need to step up our game just a little bit more back there with our reads and our passes.”
Although Holowell will have at least four experienced options to throw to, the running back is senior Jordan Reay, expected to be one of the top ballcarriers in Division V — and a prime decoy, Darby said — after running for over 1,000 yards last season.
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Aug. 27, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.
