Canyon View junior quarterback Brady Scott leans to try to convert a fourth down run against Cactus Oct. 3, 2024 in Waddell. Scott returns for the Jaguars.
(Courtesy Ed Russell Photography/For West Valley Preps)
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(Canyon View Athletics)
CANYON VIEW JAGUARS
COACH: J.R. Alcantar (first year)
2024 RECORD: 3-7
REGION: 5A Desert West
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 3-4
KEY RETURNEES: Brady Scott, Sr., QB; Braylon Anderson, Jr. WR; David "Tiki" Teeples, Jr., DE/DT; Andy Fierros, Jr., DT; Jackson McCarthy, Sr., LB. Keegan McCarthy, Jr., CB; Brady Grizzell, Sr., S.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Michael Callejas, Sr., WR; Amr Hassan, Jr., WR (transfer-ALA-West Foothills)
More than half of the sacks are back, and if the Canyon View defensive line and linebackers have anything to say about it, 11.5 sacks is merely scratching the surface.
Senior Jackson McCarthy, an edge rushing linebacker, leads the way with seven sacks coming back. Junior defensive tackles Tiki Teeples (2 sacks) and Andy Fierros (2.5 sacks) look ready to blow up if offseason 1-on-1 drills are any indication.
Even returning senior quarterback Brady Scott joined Fierros, McCarthy and Teeples in calling the defensive line the standout position group for 2025. He knows from experience.
“I’m the quarterback, but I’m going to say that d-line again. They are phenomenal,” Scott said.
The front three also benefits from a new head coach with a lineman’s background, J.R. Alcantar and new defensive line coach Brandon James.
Fierros said that along with the Jaguars winning the 7-on-7 tournament June 28 at Northern Arizona University, the big man shined in on both sides of the line during 1-on-1 drills.
During the summer, McCarthy received a college Division I offer from Drake, Fierros got an offer from NAU and Teeples (6-4, 245 pounds) may have the most upside of any lineman.
“That d-line is going to turn some heads this year,” Teeples said.
Teeples was one of several Jaguars to turn Alcantar’s head once he started working with the team in December.
Before Alcantar and his staff took over, Teeples was the only player in 1,000-pound club for his major three lifts. Canyon View now has four.
“He will be a Power Four dude,” Alcantar said. “His motor’s so high and he wants to be the best. He’s so competitive, whether we play in the football field or we play in the gym. He pushes everybody else.”
Sophomore defensive end Malachi Peterson is on the verge of earning the third starting spot.
Alcantar said the dedication of players and work of assistant coach Derek Underwood in the weight room has stood out all offseason.
The group has plenty of motivation. Coach Nick Gehrts’ first three teams were 7-4, 6-5 and 5-6 and made the 5A playoffs, then dropped to 3-7 last year — with close losses to Cactus (30-23) and Millennium (21-18) starting a five-game season ending losing streak.
“These kids being here the last three or four years weren’t part of a bad program. They were actually part of a great program that had some tough luck,” Alcantar said. “I told them last year that you guys are the best 3-7 team in the state. You played two teams that made it to the state championship. It’s not going to get any harder.”
Scott said the new staff started the offseason with a lock in for five or six hours. The Jaguars played dodgeball and had other team bonding activities.
That started the offseason fun, which peaked in Flagstaff. Canyon View beat Brophy Prep in the semifinals and rival Verrado in the final.
“I definitely think NAU was phenomenal for the team. Being able to show off what we can do at a big time tournament like that, and just the mindset of the team during it was fantastic. I haven’t seen a 7s sideline that hyped before,” McCarthy said.
Junior linebacker Ammon Nally is ready for a breakout next to McCarthy.
Alcantar said seniors Brady Grizzell and Derek Vasko have become leaders alongside Teeples.
Grizzell will start at a safety spot and earned a leadership role. Very smart and a future Ivy League kid who is also not afraid to hold teammates accountable.
Junior Keegan McCarthy is back in the secondary after a breakout six-interception, 67-tackle sophomore season. Defensive backs coach Jordan Champion stayed on from last year.
Vasko is a quiet leadership presence always working on strength and conditioning, Alcantar said. Younger brother Alex is a sophomore.
“Those kids come from a great family,” Alcantar said.
Scott shuttled in and out with two other quarterbacks last year, but put up the best numbers. His new coach said Scott looked great at the NAU tournament, particularly against Brophy in the semifinals.
“I think Coach (Ron) Baker has done a great job with him and I think Coach Pena has helped out with the receivers and passed on some tips to QBs. But Coach Baker has been with him since the very beginning,” Alcantar said. “He worked with him on 7s team, and with Christian (Sartor-Sharp), another kid we had. His confidence is night and day difference.”
Behind only the defensive line, the receiver corps is the position group with the most break out potential. Junior Braylon Anderson is a competitive sprinter who has gotten bigger since leading Canyon View with 26 catches last season.
Senior Brandon Catalan was one of several transfer wide receivers trying to earn reps in the second half of last season while the Jaguars also rotated quarterbacks. The Liberty transfer finished with 14 grabs for 197 yards. One of the 1,000-pound kids.
“Those two kids have shocked the heck out of me,” Alcantar said. “The last one would be Mikey Callejas. He’s torn it up at all the tournaments we’ve been at. He’s a dude. Nobody knows about him and he sat a whole year out.”
Callejas briefly transferred to Desert Edge from Shadow Ridge in early 2024 before landing at Canyon View, forcing him to sit out last year.
Senior offensive linemen Dillon Jewell, Daniel Tarlip and Caleb Wilhelm are back. Senior Treydon Baker, Rob’s son, could fill in at center, linebacker or receiver depending on the week
Non-league road trips to Marana and Scottsdale Chaparral will test the program’s progress. But Alcantar is wary of home games against Sunrise Mountain and Camelback, as well as the entire Desert West Region.
“DE is always going to bring it. Henri’s always got dudes over there. I think Verrado is going to be a tough team. I don’t think people realize what that guy is going to bring out there with his 44 shoot,” Alcantar said. “ I think another sleeper is Camelback. I think Maldonado is going to do a good job at Sunrise Mountain. Kellis had a heck of a year. And you bring in Wellbrock with a couple D1 kids.”
McCarthy has Desert Edge home game Oct. 3 circled. Why not test how much the team has improved against the defending 5A champs?
“We’re an underdog going into that game, so I love that. We’re going to show everybody,” McCarthy said.
Desert Edge also is the sixth game, when junior receiver Amr Hassan is eligible after transferring from ALA-West Foothills. New Mexico offered Hassan this summer.
While the bigger games are crucial, Scott is determined to pick up the Jaguars first win over Millennium in their fourth attempt.
“I cannot lose to that team again,” Scott said.
Richard Smith Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps
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.
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