By Richard Smith
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Twitter: @rsmithYWV

This Glendale Prep roster does not have stars. On the flip side, the Griffins will need fewer snps from players that are not yet ready for 2A varsity football.

The academically focused charter school should trot out a 25-player roster. Nine or 10 of those players will start on both sides of the ball.

But coach Robert Addicott has more and better options to give his starters rest than in recent years.

“In past years we’ve had a few really good athletes and football players, then our drop off was really big. We don’t have that group of really, really good guys. But there’s not a drop off, so we feel like we’ll be more competitive," Addicott said.

In part, that's due to a  group of eight sophomores returning from the 3-6 team in 2022. They are now more ready for the physical demands of football.

Plus this group knows the game better after last year's crash course.

“Our young guys from last year are a lot better, and they’re still only sophomores. They know the system and are more comfortable in it. They know football better, because a lot of them never played football before,” Addicott said.

Sophomore receivers Kaden Bridges and Dylan Lincoln are ready for larger roles. Senior tight end Nickolas Cummings is the most productive returning pass catcher.

Sophomore quarterback Josh McHale returns after a 14 touchdown, seven-interception debut season.

“He’s talented. He’s got a good arm and can read defenses well,” Addicott said. “He’s gotten a little stronger and more confident with his deeper throws.”

Sophomores are less of a necessity along both sides of the line, particularly if the Griffins get some injury luck.

Junior OT/DE Eli Fleming, senior tackle/defensive end Judson Terpstra. sophomore guard/linebacker Bobby Glazner and senior guard/defensive tackle Johnny Meacham are back for sure on both sides of the line.

“We play with each other on both sides of the line so we have a lot more confidence in what each other is capable of,” Terpstra said.

Junior Josh Rickey is the question mark. As an undersized defensive tackle,  he had three sacks in only two games last year.

Rickey also starts at offensive tackle when healthy.

“One of our starting seniors is out and we’re waiting to hear from the doc if he’s out for a prolonged period or he ca manage the issue. That’s Joshua Rickey. He missed most of last season because of his back. He came back the last two games, then had surgery in the offseason and was feeling good, but aggravated things in baseball,” Addicott said.

Cummings and Meacham are the program's remainings link to the 2020 that played in the 2A playoffs.

Meacham said he sees similarities to that squad.

"It would be awesome to get back," Mecham said. "Like that team we have a good senior class. We're also physical. Our depth is so much better. Last year we played every single snap of every game and if someone got hurt it was a big deal."

Freshman nose guard Silas Thompson is the one new lineman that counld earn a starting role and give the two-way linemen a breather.

Senior outside linebacker/receiver Joshua Thorpe moves up from the secondary to try to plug this team's biggest hole.

“Linebacker is probably our weakest position because we’re short on numbers. Our DBs are young but solid,” Addicott said. “We’re going to adapt the system we have to who we have.”

New defensive coordinator Ron Johnson is tweaking the scheme to fit afer Addicott had to step in and run the unit last year.

Addicott said Thompson and sophomore offensive linemen Dax Chavez could play immediately. Eight freshmen are on the roster.

Thorpe said he wants to see more buy in from the newcomers.

"We have more guys but I don't know if we're all dedicated. You can see some people taking some plays off. But most everybody that's playing is into it. They've been here a few years and they want to do good for themselves and the team," Thorpe said.

Terpstra said this group may not be as technically skilled as the last two teams, but has a lot of athleticism across the board and can tap into that.

"We've got three really tough games, and seven games that are toss-ups to be honest," Thorpe said.

Richard Smith
Associate Editor | Surprise & West Valley Preps
@rsmithYWV

rsmith@iniusa.org

Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.

An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.

For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.

As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.