(Vail, AZ)
Looking back and reflecting on a rough start to last year, this year’s Empire High Ravens have a chip on their shoulders and look to right the ship and build on their 4-2 second half record.
Trying to dig themselves out of an 0-4 stretch to start last year, Head Coach W. T. Jeffries never threw in the towel and continued to teach and develop these young men to keep the faith and never give up.
Their attention to detail and reaching down against the odds, the promise they showed to end last year will be the focus on the start of the 2017 season.
During their rough beginning, they were competitive but down the stretch just couldn’t put enough together to pull out the victory. Coach Jeffries and his staff have a “Don’t Dwell, but Don’t Forget” mentality to the Seniors on this year’s team to be the leaders and given another chance this year to get a measure of revenge and respect against the bitter losses of last season.
The opening act of 2017 brings the Coolidge Bears and first year Coach Bill Godsil into Vail with a modest #24 ranking and an unknown offensive scheme from last year’s squad.
According to Coach Jeffries, the Ravens will play their style of a bruising running game out of a modified Wing T offense that averaged an incredible 300 yards rushing last year and compliment that with some very talented wide out and slot receivers.
With second year quarterback Alex Verdugo running the show, he has the luxury of a big experienced offensive line to push the defense back on their heels as well as connect with wide out Brandon Walker. This combination will certainly keep this year’s opponents honest and on their toes to not load up in the box.
Verdugo worked extensively in the off season with a speed coach to not only become faster, but to improve his footwork. He’s down ten pounds and that coupled with the new skills learned in the summer should have him one of the top performers in the 3A South.
Junior wing back Wyatt Jeffries has been a gym rat in the weight room and has put on more muscle along with hard nose attitude that this is their year to win the close games.
With an offensive line that includes seniors Jacob Magnusson and Ryan Pollock, the Ravens should be able to push around opposing defenses and win the time of possession battle in most games.
Magnusson who suffered a concussion against Amphi last year has a fire burning inside to make up for lost time.
Empire’s defense will rely on speed up front and lock down corners on the outside. They will mix in a 3-4 and 4-3 defensive schemes to keep the 3A South continually guessing.
The beginning of their turnaround began last year after a bitter and somewhat salty game against Catalina Foothills which was their fourth consecutive loss. Open the floodgates in a huge effort against the outmanned Mustangs of Sahuarita, it was an old fashioned behind the woodshed beating the Ravens needed.
The team and student body is comprised of many military families, which translates into players with very solid fundamentals and few mental mistakes. Each player never gave up and the team became much closer in the face of adversity last season.
With Sabino and Pusch Ridge picked to win the division, you can’t discard this year’s Raven team to pull off an upset and continue to improve.
