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Blue Ridge senior Jake Mexiler led the Yellow Jackets to an undefeated, state championship in 2009 and now he going to move on to the next level. Meixler has signed to play football at NAIA school South Dakota School of the MInes and Technology. The SDM Hardrockers are part of the Dakota Athletic Conference which includes Dakota State University, where former Yellow Jackets Steel Armstrong and Griffin Sturm briefly played last season. Former Winslow Bulldog Stacey Burg is a current team member of the DSU team, and the team is coached by Josh Anderson, who led Payson to a perfect season in 2008.
SDM is located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The team finished 3-5 in the Dakota Athletic Conference last season, tied for 5th. Meixler will compete with several players for the quarterback spot, including Nick Russell who led the Hardrockers with 1890 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2009, as a sophomore.
Meixler set a Blue Ridge school record as a senior by completing 75% of his passes. He threw for 1772 yards and 20 TD's with just 3 interceptions. He ran the ball equally well, with 828 yards and 18 TD's, averaging 10.75 yards per rush. Seven of his rushing touchdowns came in the 3A semifinals and championship game. After running for four scores against Show Low in the title game, Meixler earned the 3A Offensive Player of the Year award and he was named the 3A First Team All-State quarterback.. He completed one of the greatest seasons of any Blue Ridge quarterback. |
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Show Low’s standout sophomore wide receiver Josh Weeks has been honored by the Arizona Republic by being named to their All-Arizona team, an unusual accomplishment for an underclassman.
Weeks earned a place on the team by finishing second in the entire state (1A through 5A) in receiving with 1201 yards on 47 catches. Only Jesse Brantley of Gilbert had more yardage (1222). Weeks’ 15 touchdown catches tied him for fourth best. Mogollon’s JT Slade led Arizona with 18 TD catches.
At 6’4” and 190 pounds, there seems to be nothing but up-side for the Cougar, who is getting plenty of attention from NCAA Division 1 programs.
The Show Low receiver was the only sophomore to make the team, joining four juniors on the offense. Including defense and specialists, there were a total of only seven non-seniors named to the team by the Arizona Republic.
Also making the team was Jordan Morgan, the son of former Show Low head coach Bill Morgan. Jordan plays quarterback and defensive back for the Valley Christian Trojans who won the 2A championship in 2009. Morgan made the All-Arizona team as punter after averaging an NFL-like 45 yards per punt. He needed to punt only 16 times all season, thanks to his team’s high powered offense. He also passed for 1516 yards and rushed for another 1450.
The Arizona Republic’s 2009 All-Arizona Football Team
OFFENSE
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QB
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Brett Hundley
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6-4, 215
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Chandler
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Jr
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RB
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Ka’Deem Carey
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5-8, 185
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Canyon Del Oro
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Jr
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RB
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Anthony Hughes
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5-11, 210
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Centennial
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Sr
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C
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Brennan Bowan
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6-1, 265
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Westview
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Jr
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OL
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Kody Innes
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6-5, 275
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Saguaro
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Sr
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OL
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Nick Rowland
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6-5, 300
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Centennial
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Sr
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OL
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Patrick Blanar
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6-3, 289
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Cactus
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Sr
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OL
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Christian Westerman
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6-5, 285
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Hamilton
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Jr
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TE
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Sean Craig
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6-4, 225
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Salpointe
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Sr
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WR
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Justin Rodriguez
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6-3, 188
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Marcos de Niza
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Sr
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WR
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Josh Weeks
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6-4, 190
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Show Low
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So
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K
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Alex Garoutte
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6-2, 190
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Brophy Prep
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Sr
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LS
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Chase Gorham
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6-3, 230
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Chaparral
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Sr
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Ath
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Ramon Abreu
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5-11, 187
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Marcos de Niza
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Sr
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DEFENSE
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DL
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Tevin Hood
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6-1, 275
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Hamilton
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Sr
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DL
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Jordan McDonald
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6-4, 220
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Saguaro
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Sr
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DL
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Cy Maughmer
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6-2, 292
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Apache Junction
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Sr
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DL
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Dylan Lusk
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6-3, 300
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Centennial
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Sr
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LB
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Ben Peters
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6-2, 225
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Hamilton
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Sr
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LB
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Austin Arias
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6-1, 220
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Centennial
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Sr
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LB
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Tony Vaitafa
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6-2, 195
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Mesa
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Jr
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DB
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Devon Carrington
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6-2-195
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Hamilton
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Sr
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DB
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Keanu Nelson
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5-11, 170
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Sabino
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Jr
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DB
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Marquis Flowers
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6-3, 210
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Millenium
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Sr
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DB
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Tommy Murphy
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6-2, 185
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Cactus Shadows
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Sr
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P
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Jordan Morgan
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6-1, 195
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Valley Christian
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Jr
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KR
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Joey Artigue
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5-11, 160
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Arcadia
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Sr
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The Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets did Friday what they’ve done so many times before: they managed to keep a 3A East title matchup from becoming something less than a nail-biter. There was plenty of hype – from the Sports Zone Magazine, the Friday Night Football Show and others – prior to the game. Round Valley had plenty of motivation. Blue Ridge might be due for a let-down. All that turned into so much blather.
Blue Ridge came out firing on all cylinders. They scored on three of their first four possessions (they fumbled on their second possession). Jake Meixler continued his outstanding season at quarterback with a 21 yard touchdown pass to Daniel Carlson to open the scoring. Later he finished off a seven play, 93 yard drive with a 37 yard run.
Keevan Schimmel had a busy first half as well. On the team’s third possession, with 2:25 left in the first quarter, he took a handoff and torched the Elk defense for a 59 yard score. Schimmel easily pulled away from his pursuers. He was not done, however, and he would answer a Round Valley touchdown with a 79 yard kickoff return to the end zone.
The Elks managed one scoring drive, coming just before the half. Round Valley’s offense got the ball at their 13 yard line and proceeded on a well executed 12 play drive that covered 87 yards and 5:39 of clock time. Their offensive line took control of the line of scrimmage and found success running the football for much of the drive. The final play was a three yard scoring strike from Chantz Davis to Rulon Udall.
After Schimmel returned the ensuing kick for the aforementioned score, Round Valley got the ball at their 22 yard line with just under 1:20 remaining. They marched up the field, this time relying on their patented air attack and helped by a big 34 yard pass play from Davis to Phillip Ulibari that got them to the Blue Ridge 28 yard line. Three plays later, and out of timeouts, the Elks completed a pass near the goal line, but Jacket defender Daniel Carlson made a great solo tackle of Duskin Donaldson at the two to prevent the score. Two seconds remained and Round Valley was out of timeouts, but the clock stopped long enough to move the chains. Round Valley opted to send on the field goal unit but time expired before they could snap the ball.
The Elks showed what both Snowflake and Show Low did earlier in the season, that the Blue Ridge defense is capable of giving up ground and points. When it does happen, it seems to happen all at once, indicative of a mental lapse.
Jake Meixler led an offense that put up 372 yards on the night. He was 11 of 15 for 180 yards and two touchdowns. For his efforts he was named the Sports Zone Magazine’s Player of the Game. His favorite target, twin brother Nick, pulled down 5 passes for 66 of those yards. Keevan Schimmel had four catches for 72 yards.
The Blue Ridge running game was led by Schimmel’s 9 rushes for 97 yards. Jake Meixler chipped in 59 yards on four carries, including the 37 yard scoring run. As a team they put up 192.
The Jacket defense was led by perhaps the best game to date played by Alex Stebbins at inside backer. He was a disruptive force all night and topped the defense with eight tackles, including a quarterback sack. He only got to Davis one time but he hurried him often. Stebbins played with his motor at full tilt all game.
The defense got big plays in the second half from Daniel Carlson and Tyrell Coplan. The seniors each picked off a pass and returned them for touchdowns. Those plays came within 40 seconds of each other in the fourth quarter. Stebbins is far and away the team’s leading tackler with 83 stops on the year. Fellow junior Sheldon Jacks (DE) is second on the team with 50.
The Yellow Jackets executed their game plan with the precision of an assassin. No frills, no pomp. As they have so often, they dictated the terms of this engagement from opening kickoff to final whistle. Even their postgame acceptance of the 3A East champion’s trophy was a practice in measured response. The celebration was respectful but brief. There was a glint of real emotion, but just when it appeared the emotion might boil over the cauldron’s lid, the team reverted to their usual robotic disposition and hustled off the field. It was a reminder of the moment in the movie "Soldier", when Kurt Russell’s character, at 40 years old, sheds his first tear. The moment did not last in the movie and neither did it for Blue Ridge.
This was, after all, just another regular season game. Just another step in a bigger journey. If this team shares any of the DNA from the ’08 team that fell just short of winning the 3A title, there will be no big celebrations for winning a first, second or third round playoff game. And from the Jackets’ players position, why should there be? The expectation is ingrained in them, that if one prepares properly and executes their job, what follows is victory. The big celebration is saved for the final possible moment, when there is no other foe to conquer. That can happen but once a season, on Thanksgiving weekend.
Blue Ridge is the most talented, most well coached team in 3A. They have perhaps the best quarterback in Jake Meixler and the best athlete in Keevan Schimmel. There is no faster team, and the fastest athlete in the program does not even get on the field for a varsity game, freshman Chans Cox. They are back to executing their standard offense without impunity. It is hard to envision a game in the playoffs where the terms of engagement are dictated by any team but Blue Ridge. Round Valley will get another chance in two weeks to do that very thing.
Click on thumbnail image to view gallery
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The Show Low Cougars are in the playoffs. That’s the good news. After a stretch of games that saw them lose three out of four, and the chance that with a loss in week 10 to Payson they might actually miss the postseason, the Cougars might be happy to find a spot anywhere in 3A’s top 16 teams.
Show Low put up some impressive numbers in the win over Payson. The offense amassed 411 yards in a balanced effort. Rathen Ricedorff was very efficient and of the 17 passes he attempted, all but one pass was caught. The problem is that three of those passes were caught by Longhorn defenders including a pick six by linebacker Nick Johnson.
Also somewhat problematic for the Cougars is that Payson, a team with a greatly diminished passing attack still managed to rack up 228 yards on the ground. This despite the season ending injury weeks ago to Westin Gibson and the lack of Payson Herring for the game. A depleted corps of runners was led on Friday by Johnson, the fullback, who went for 139 yards on 16 tries. Payson completed just four passes. (story continues below, click on thumbnail image to view gallery)
The Cougar offense had a couple of hiccups, including three interceptions thrown, but there were some bright spots too. Most notably was the coming out party for running back Trevar MacArthur. T-Mac had his best game running the ball with 120 yards on 14 touches. That moves him into third place on a team that does not put a premium on individual rushing numbers. The top four rushers are all within 190 yards of each other. Still, MacArthur’s night was indicative of the potential in the Cougars’ running attack if the team were to tip the offensive balance more toward the ground game.
The final score makes the game look closer than it really was. With one or two few turnovers, the difference would have been more like 32 points.
Now it is on to the first round of the playoffs and a road trip to the warm weather of west Phoenix. They are seeded No. 12 in the playoffs thanks to a change in the Power Points that penalized Show Low by not allowing their first three games (all were wins) to be counted. On a talent-for-talent basis, Show Low is a top eight team and would deserve a home game for the first round. At this stage, however, most of the Cougar faithful are happy just to be invited to the dance.
The fact that their opponent is the once beaten and highly regarded Estrella Foothills Wolves is of secondary importance. The Cougars are a team blessed with talented athletes and coaches who’ve won a championship. In fact, the way they won a title in 2007 should give this team some hope for 2009.
Two years ago Show Low won it all on the strength of the fastest, most physical defense the Cougars may have ever fielded. There was not a single weak link on the defensive side of the ball.
But despite the talent of that team, they struggled through the better part of the year before hitting their stride. The culmination was a 28-0 loss at home to Blue Ridge. The week that followed was one of soul searching and drama as the team nearly unraveled. But all that changed with seconds remaining in the first half of the Cougars’ following game.
Show Low showed up just moments before the opening kickoff of their game with Snowflake, opting to dress and warm up at a location other than Lobo stadium. Flat tire? Engine trouble? Everyone quit? There was speculation about the late arrival, but it did not matter. Show Low was ready to play at the opening whistle. They scored early in the game on a Jared MacArthur touchdown toss to fullback Phil O’Dell. In the second quarter, the General threw another scoring pass, this time to Styles Reidhead and Show Low went up 14-zip. A field goal and a Reidhead TD run made the count 17-0. Show Low was rolling, but the game was still in reach for the yet undefeated Lobos.
Snowflake had the ball for what appeared to be the final possession of the half and they chose to kneel the ball down and run out the clock. What they failed to realize was that they would have to give the ball back to Show Low with precious seconds on the clock. The Cougars made them pay by running a reverse, throw back to the quarterback that was completed from Skippy Holiday to MacArthur just before the half ended. Though there was still 24 minutes of game ahead, that was clearly the back breaker and the game was over. Show Low gave up a single touchdown in the second half but salted it away with a TD of their own in the fourth quarter. Final score, 37-7.
That was game one of a seven game winning streak. The final game in the streak was a 26-0 shellacking of Coolidge in the 3A Title game. That Snowflake win was the turning point. It was when the team finally overcame a mountain of early season adversity to become just that – a team – and reach the potential they had from the very start. The Cougars B.S. (before Snowflake) were prone to in-fighting and there was a palpable lack of trust among players and coaches. There was a near mutiny in the week prior to the Lobo game. The Cougars A.S. were united and determined. They were on a mission. By the weekend after Thanksgiving, that mission was accomplished.
The lesson for the Show Low team of ’09 is that despite the adversity they have faced through 10 regular season games, great things may occur if they can put it all behind them. The talent is there. They may not be the fastest team in 3A, but there are few faster. They may not be the most physical team, but they utilize their personnel well to shift the focus from that. If the Cougars can find the same kind of unifying moment, whether it is one play or one game, and rally behind it, they just might see the kind of results produced in 2007. True, that ’07 team might have been the most talented ever produced in Show Low, but this year’s squad is no slouch.
Perhaps that moment will come this week against Estrella Foothills. The Wolves have just one loss, and that was on the road at traditionally strong Wickenburg. The loss came in the waning moments of the game and if not for a courageous effort by Wranglers’ Head Coach Mike Pagliaro to fake the kick and successfully go for two, the Wolves may have won that game in OT. Estrella is physical and they have a couple of very fast athletes. They are coached by a man who has won a title and been to the championship game with two different teams. This is a tough challenge for Show Low, though these teams are much more closely matched than the No. 5 seed versus No. 12 suggests.
The road to a 3A title is going to be tough for the Cougars. They have the single most difficult draw of any team in the post season tournament. If they beat Estrella, then they will face Winslow. If they get past the Bulldogs, they will like face the winner of Fountain Hills/Snowflake. Finally, the title game should be against Blue Ridge, Wickenburg or Empire. For the Cougars, this is Burma Road.
The course the Cougars have been on for the past five weeks is not one that will produce a championship against this level of competition. There has been trouble scoring in the red zone. The defense has been susceptible to both run and pass threats. The offense has turned the ball over repeatedly. The kicking game has not been sharp. As in ’07, it is time for the Cougars to turn the ship around. The question is, will the tide of this season turn for Show Low in this week’s game against Estrella Foothills, or will Cougar fans watch their team exit the post season in round one for a second year in a row?
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