ANTHEM
– The calendar still reads July, but the Boulder Creek
High School football team didn’t seem to mind that fall
practices have already begun.
The
Jaguars were scheduled to suit up officially for the first
time this season July 31 for three weeks of practice leading
up to the first game Aug. 24 at Valley Vista.
Boulder
Creek, which has already been together participating in
passing leagues, camps and summer conditioning, are preparing
for their second varsity season after going 2‑8
in their first year in 2006.
Former
Goldwater coach Dan Friedman has taken over coaching duties
from Scott Heideman. The new coach has scheduled daily
evening workouts and morning Saturday practices until
school begins the second week of August.
The
Arizona Interscholastic Association allowed the Jaguars
to begin practice a week early because the first game
is scheduled a week earlier than most teams. Many of Arizona’s
schools do not play their first game until Aug. 31 and,
therefore, are not allowed to begin practice until Aug.
6.
Class
5A schools Goldwater and O’Connor, and 4A Cactus Shadows
are three local schools that will begin practice Aug.
6.
Boulder
Creek is playing a region schedule (5A‑Division
II Northwest) for the first time after acting as an independent
last year. Goldwater is also remaining in the Northwest
Region. O’Connor, however, moved down a classification
from the 5A‑II to the 4A‑Division I.
Cactus
Shadows, likewise, will be in 4A‑Division I this
season, but will make the move up from Division II. The
Falcons went 15‑0 and won the 4A‑II state
championship last season.
All
teams will play through the end of the regular season
Nov. 2. The state playoffs will be held throughout November.
The championship game dates have not yet been set, but
the games will be played at the University of Phoenix
Stadium in Glendale.
