The excitement is building for Camp Verde High School football.
Head coach Steve Darby attempted to downplay Cowboys marks of 3-1-2 in both their seven-on-seven scrimmages and Big Man challenges June 8.
“It’s more about teaching and improving,” he said. “On any given day, a team may be missing several of its starters to family vacations, work, etc., so it’s not a true measure of future success for that team.”
Tell that to Chino Valley or Sedona Red Rock high schools, which bookend the CVHS varsity football schedule in their first year back in the Central Region of the 2A Conference this fall.
“We can’t go past Chino until we play them,” Darby said of his opening-night opponent Friday, Aug. 26. “We’re focused on Chino and not looking beyond that.”
While the Cougars managed to tie the Cowboys in the bull-in-the-ring competition of the Big Man Challenge, both they and SRRHS fell victim to the superior depth of CVHS in the seven-on-seven scrimmages.
The Cougars and Cowboys had tied in their opening seven-on-seven June 1 prior to CVHS defeating host and new regional opponent Tonopah Valley High School.
“Tonopah’s a big program with a lot of kids coming back,” Darby said. “I wish Joy Christian [School] was still on our schedule.”
The Cowboys continue to employ a two-quarterback system of senior Trey Terry, a converted offensive lineman, and junior Payton Sarkesian, who completed 102 passes for 1,344 yards as the predominant signal-caller last fall.
“Payton took the majority of the snaps, although he and Trey Terry both performed well,” said Darby, who was as pleased with the overall scrimmage performances as new defensive coordinator Fernando Diaz. “Our only loss was to Flagstaff by one touchdown.”
As was their only loss in the Big Man Challenge, as Flagstaff High School bested CVHS — minus senior lineman Jesus Curiel and junior Trystin Dill — in the 20-yard shuttle competition.
Another converted lineman, junior Rafeal Gonzales, played well while learning new positions in the slot and at wide receiver, Darby added.
“It’s really about improving our skill level,” he said. “Not a score.”
The Eagles also tied the Cowboys in the one-on-one pass rush competition, helped by the absence of Dill, a 6-foot, 2-inch, 250-pound Bradshaw Mountain High School transfer.
The 20 young, experienced linemen for CVHS also proved superior to the three other teams at the Big Man Challenge in the weight room, the tire flip and the final competition, the tug of war.
Other June 8 opponents, like Coconino and Williams high schools, will return to Sam Hammerstrom Field for more Wednesday, June 15, along with Monument Valley High School after the freshmen and junior varsity play in a tournament Monday, June 13, at Bradshaw.
