This week we take an up close and personal look at the top contenders in the 5A East Valley Conference. A riveting 2004 finish produced tri-champs Westwood, Red Mountain, and Mountain View. Along with Mesa, Dobson, Skyline, and Cibola, the conference traditionally produces multiple playoff qualifiers and eventual State Champions.

Rebuilding jobs don't come tougher than this one. Hired in August of 2004, Coach Dennis Parker and his staff had less than a month to get a team ready for Arizona's 5A prep football wars. Community support was low and the players' confidence lower - part of the blame could be attributed to a four-year drought from the playoffs. They broke from the gate 0-6, 33 players were declared academically ineligible during this span, and according to Coach Parker: "We were playing the worst defense in North America!" But then something took hold. The team won three in a row, and the Jackrabbits took the mighty Toros of Mountain View to the brink before losing in the final game of the season. The tide had turned, and the ship was righted.

The players and staff have totally committed themselves to a return to the glory years. When asked about his goals for the 2005 team, Coach Parker snapped, "We're going after the 5A State Championship". A big reason for such lofty expectations will be the offense. All experienced - all seniors. The linemen include: center Steve Larsen (5'11", 210), LG Brandon Barba (5'10", 210), RG Nathan Stradling (6'3", 280, "true prospect, flashes of brilliance"), LT Reed Turley (6'1", 260), and RT Benson Cotter (6'5", 235). The tight end will be Geoffrey Garner (6'6", 272), and WR Josh Jarvis ("Probably the fastest kid on the team"). The backfield will include; RB Sam Ashby (5'11", 185), RB Daniel Fa (5'9", 160), and FB Sebastion Siaki (6'2", 185). The quarterback competition is between Adam Moreno and Nick Hume. Coach Parker calls Kyle Jones an "outstanding kicker".

Two big time underclassmen prospects that will see action primarily on the defensive side are Jr DE Cameron Bailey (5'11", 210), and Jr free safety Ean Castille (6'4", 205). The latter is described by Coach Parker as "strong, tough, mean, and super fast (region 400 meter champ)". In fact, Castille's cousin, Jeremy, is a pre-season All-SEC pick for the University of Alabama. The defense will also welcome back seniors DE John Rucker (6'2", 240), and LB Josh Andrande (5'10", 210).

With older, more seasoned players on offense, the coaches figure to really open it up. "We might throw the ball 40 to 50 times a game," asserts Coach Parker. With a Championship caliber staff in place and 30 returning lettermen, all signs point to a serious Jackrabbit run for the coveted 5A Golden Football Trophy. And hopefully, a return of that rabid community support they had a decade or so ago.