After reaching the 4A Conference semifinals last season, ALA-West Foothills believes it has the experience — and the quarterback — to compete for the state championship.

The Guardians finished a 9-5 season last year on a five-game winning streak before losing to Arcadia in the semifinals. But with a senior-heavy roster and quarterback Rush Kamakeeaina taking over after sitting out last season, expectations inside the program are high.

“We always want to be a playoff contention team, no matter what happens,” said head coach Bryan Rauzan about the team’s steady progress.

Rauzan, who has been with the program since the school opened in 2022, began as the offensive line and special teams coach before becoming offensive coordinator and eventually taking over the program last summer.

Along the way, he has adapted his offensive philosophy from the run-heavy style he learned coaching in northeast Ohio.

“You’re always going to learn something different from every single person you come across,” Rauzan said. “That’s the fun part about coaching.”

That willingness to adapt should be on display this season.

Last year, ALA-West Foothills leaned heavily on current senior running back Kenyon Rosenthal while breaking in a freshman quarterback Carlos Serrano, who transferred to Canyon View in the summer. This season, Kamakeeaina’s arrival gives the offense another dimension.

“He’s a shifty little cat,” Rauzan said. “If we don’t have an open receiver, we’re still going to get five yards out of it. And if a guy is open downfield, he’s got a cannon for an arm.”

Kamakeeaina transferred from Millennium into the program last year but was forced to sit out varsity games because of Arizona’s transfer rules. He also fractured his shoulder during the JV season, making this fall his first opportunity to lead the Guardians on game day.

“I wish I could play last season,” Kamakeeaina said. “We had so many great players.”

Now healthy, he expects the offense to be far less predictable.

“Just being able to throw the ball definitely opens a lot more,” Kamakeeaina said. “This year we’re definitely coming different.”

Kamakeeaina described himself as a vocal leader, something he believes has helped strengthen the team’s chemistry throughout the offseason.

“If I see something and I know how to fix it, I’ll tell you right then and there,” he said. “It’s just constructive criticism.”

The Guardians believe that chemistry is one of their biggest strengths.

Senior receiver Rex Stabler said the locker room has created a more urgent sense of accountability after last season.

“It helps a lot, having more experience,” Stabler said. “There’s more accountability.”

He said the team’s goals are straightforward.

“I think we can win state 100%,” Stabler said.

Senior receiver and safety Cole Nuanez said the roster has developed a close bond despite adding several transfers to the squad.

“This team is like the tightest team I’ve ever been around,” Nuanez said. “We obviously have the talent, but we’re just such a close team, too.”

Nuanez, who has known Kamakeeaina since youth football, said he believes the offense will benefit from having an experienced quarterback directing it.

“It’s going to be really helpful for our offense,” he said. “We’re going to be a lot better on the offensive side.”

Rosenthal remains the centerpiece of the running game after leading the offense last season. While he expects the passing attack to expand, he doesn’t expect the team’s identity to change.

“Our bread and butter is running the football,” Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal said he believes a more balanced offense will make defenses pay for focusing on stopping just him.

“Once we go short, go deep and then go right down the middle and score,” he said, “they won’t even see it coming.”

On the offensive line, senior left tackle Aden Watson will play a key role protecting Kamakeeaina while helping break in several new starters.

Watson said the offensive line has worked throughout the offseason to prepare for a more balanced attack.

“We finally have a quarterback that I know I can rely on if I give him enough time,” Watson said.

The only returning varsity offensive lineman, Watson has embraced a leadership role while helping younger teammates adjust.

“This is like our biggest leader group,” he said. “I think this is probably going to be one of our best years.”

Several players pointed to rematches against Arcadia and rival Paradise Honors as games already circled on the calendar.

Still, their focus seems to already be set on the bigger prize.

“State’s the goal,” Kamakeeaina said.