As Sandra Day O'Connor High School gears up for the upcoming football season, all eyes are on a squad eager to turn the page on last year’s mixed results.
With a roster that blends …
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
As Sandra Day O'Connor High School gears up for the upcoming football season, all eyes are on a squad eager to turn the page on last year’s mixed results.
With a roster that blends promising newcomers with seasoned talent, the Eagles are set for a year full of potential.
Their 5-6 overall record was enough to earn a spot as the No. 9 seed in the 2023 6A playoffs, but ultimately fell short in the first round 38-35 to No. 8 Casteel. It also was a setback for a team that made the Open Division in 2022.
“We’re going to be really young, so it’s going to be interesting to see how we respond,” said fourth-year head coach Brian Cole.
The Eagles’ wits will be put to the test early, as their first five opponents include Liberty, the defending Open Division champion, ALA Queen Creek (No. 7 seed in the Open) and Basha, the No. 2 seed in the 2023 Open.
O'Connor was competitive with ALA last year, but looks to close a large gap with Liberty and Basha.
“That’s going to kind of show us where we’re at right away,” Cole said. “We play three open teams in those first five games including the defending champ, so we’re going to get tested really early.”
Last season, the Eagles struggled with the ball in the air, averaging less than 80 yards per game and throwing for only five touchdowns.
Cole has coached some potent Wing T offenses in more than two decades, and the Eagles rushed for 301 yards per game last season. But this attack must be more balanced.
“In my coaching career, it was probably the lowest total yardage throwing the ball that I’ve ever had, so we’ve worked on that in the offseason quite a bit and hopefully this year we can do better,” Cole said.
Senior Hudson Gray started in a couple games last year in the Eagles' three-quarterback rotation and will take on the role of QB1, replacing the graduated Canyon Anderson.
Junior wide receiver Sebastian Moreno will take on a bigger role after seven cathes in the ground hugging 2023 offense.
“We all had that same mentality in wanting to spread [the ball] out and add another threat to our offense,” Gray said.
Tucker Smith is one to keep an eye out for in the Desert Valley. The 6-5, 280-pound junior offensive lineman started for the Eagles as a sophomore last season, but broke his foot and had to sit out seven games.
NCAA Division 1 schools will no doubt continue to watch Smith as he begins his junior season. He received an offer from Kansas State in June.
Senior Daunte Messina is a 290-pound anchor at defensive tackle in a mostly new look defense. Junior defensive end McKylan Howland caused havoc in only six games last season, pushing the pocket for four sacks.
Other stars hoping to make a leap this fall include senior running back Bentley Corbin, who rushed for 511 yards in 10 games as the third option in the backfield last year.
As preseason training concludes, the team is primed for high expectations and a drive to make a mark in the 6A Desert Valley Region. This fall, O'Connor High aims to reclaim its spot among the top 5A contenders and wrest the region title from district rival Boulder Creek.
“I am very excited. We have been working really hard this off season and excited to show off all the work as a team we have put in,” Gray said.
