Jaguars ready to roar
Boulder Creek begins new era in Anthem
by Jason Stone

ANTHEM – To say Boulder Creek is excited to play its first ever varsity football game is an understatement. Ever since the schedule was set for the Jaguars to kick off their program Aug. 25 with a game at Sandra Day O’Connor, students at the Anthem school began counting down the days.

The opener can’t get here soon enough for coach Scott Heideman, who is already trying to instill a winning attitude with the team, even before they’ve ever played a game together.

“I’ve been on a state championship team as a player and a coach, and I know how players want to be treated,” said Heideman, who played on Flagstaff High’s 1984 state title team, and was on the coaching staff at Chaparral that won back‑to‑back state championships in 1999 and 2000. “I want us to have a first‑class quality product.”

After a couple of coaching stops since Chaparral, Heideman has finally found a home in Anthem when he was named the first head coach of the program in 2004. All indications are the Anthem community is ready to embrace the team in its first season, and school officials are expecting large crowds for the Jaguars’ seven home games.

What fans will likely see is the inspired play of seniors Nathan Hay and Matt Kroll. Hay, a hard‑nosed running back, is a candidate to study and play at a military academy next fall, while Kroll, a punishing defensive tackle, gave up playing for a state champion at North Canyon to be at Boulder Creek.

“I wanted to be part of the first graduating class (at Boulder Creek),” said Kroll, an Anthem resident who played at North Canyon his freshman and sophomore years.

Kroll went from varsity at North Canyon, back to JV at Boulder Creek last year, and is now on varsity again. Making matters tougher for Kroll, his former teammates at North Canyon ended up winning the 5A‑Division II state championship last year.

Yet, Kroll has no regrets about his decision.

“This is where I wanted to be,” he said.

That’s good news for Heideman, who is expecting his team to stay close in all of their games this year. The Jaguars are playing an independent schedule that features three tough road games to start, then seven straight home games to finish the season.

O’Connor is the team’s only 5A team on the schedule, and the game won’t even count in O’Connor’s playoff points. Boulder Creek also has games against first‑year varsity teams Kellis (Sept. 21) and Copper Canyon (Oct. 13) and another game against Willow Canyon, a team in its second year at varsity level.

Other key players Heideman is counting on include offensive lineman Steven Quinonez, defensive lineman Steven Kallen, wide receiver Tanner Walker, tight end Chad Menneke, running back Mason Maki and defensive backs Mike Williams, Nick Pratt and Chris Russell.

The Jaguars staged a quarterback race among two sophomores during preseason practices. Colin Hulse won the job and is expected to start the opener against O’Connor, while Taylor Davis will start the junior varsity team.

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.