Winless Camp Verde High School faces more significant questions surrounding the future of head coach Steve Darby after he was suspended three days prior to a 34-6 loss to Kingman Academy.
Although Darby would not comment when reached via text message, he was not on the sidelines for the Friday, Sept. 16, loss to the Tigers, confirming only that he was at Sedona Red Rock High School for its game against Friday, Oct. 14, opponent Parker High School, “scouting for myself.”
Multiple CVHS football team sources would later confirm that Darby was placed on administrative leave Tuesday, Sept. 13, by the Camp Verde Unified School District, pending an investigation.
Assistant coach Jerry Rhoades was the interim head coach in the 2A Conference Central Region home opener Sept. 16 for the Cowboys [0-3], and will continue to be going forward, according to athletic director Mark Showers, who also did not offer a timetable as to any possible return by Darby.
“It’s not my decision, I don’t know,” Showers said. “It’s an unfortunate situation, but we’re making do.”
Rhoades, a defensive coordinator 15 years ago at Mingus Union High School, could not confirm any details after the game, other than he found out he would be the interim head coach at lunch Sept. 13.
“The kids played their hearts out,” Rhoades said. “We played really well, in spurts.
“That’s a good football team. Take away a few of their big plays and we’re right in the ball game. We are getting better.”
But the offense could not consistently move the football until it took over on downs with 5:13 to play.
“The first time we had it, we moved probably 60 yards and fumbled it,” Showers said. “We’re not losing a bunch of kids. They’re working hard. Consistency is the problem.”
Junior quarterback Payton Sarkesian was finally able to execute the two-minute drill in five plays, the big play a swing pass to senior wideout Trey Terry that he sprang loose for 50 yards down the CVHS sideline before a Tigers cornerback could haul him down at their 25-yard-line.
Three plays later, Sarkesian found Terry over the middle from 14 yards out, averting the shutout.
“I understand they had a little coaching change this week, and maybe that affected how many times they were going to throw the ball,” Tigers head coach D.B. Stroup said of the Cowboys. “We were playing the pass, and [Sarkesian]’s an accurate thrower. They had two or three pretty good receivers.”
Sophomore Tyree Leonard led the team with 13 tackles and was surprisingly effective as a slotback, Stroup added.
“That guy was a breath of fresh air for them,” he said. “I think we got them four or five times on sacks. If you’re a throwing team, you don’t want those.”
Showers liked what Rhoades got out of the Cowboys in the first half, even though they were down, 21-0, after two deep drives went for naught.
“Coach Rhoades, he’s been coaching for probably longer than I have,” Showers said. “He’s been a veteran coach at many schools in the Valley and does a great job.”
