(Courtesy Dysart Schools)

SHADOW RIDGE STALLIONS

COACH: Mike Zdebski (second year)

2024 RECORD: 2-8

REGION: 6A Central

OFFENSE: Spread

DEFENSE: 4-3

KEY RETURNEES: Michael Cruz, Sr., RB/WR; Hayden Overholts, Sr., OT; Grant Jordan, Sr., LB; Nate Pearson, Sr., LB/DE; Matt Born, Sr., LB; Daniel Lesan, Sr., FS/WR.

TOP NEWCOMER: Joel Cooper, Jr., RB, (transfer-Willow Canyon); Jakhi Epson, Soph., WR, (transfer-Desert Edge).

2025 SCHEDULE

Home games in caps

Aug. 29 at Mesa

Sept. 5 at Las Vegas Clark

Sept. 12 WESTWOOD

Sept. 19 at Valley Vista

Sept. 26 MILLENNIUM

Oct. 3 at Brophy Prep

Oct. 16 WILLIAMS FIELD

Oct. 24 HIGLEY

Oct. 31 MOUNTAIN RIDGE

Nov. 7 at Saguaro

The Shadow Ridge Stallions are stampeding through Surprise with an underdog mentality.

They are coming in hot this season with plans of a breakthrough year to prove their doubters wrong.

One of their reasons to believe this is the fact that 6-5, 305-pound senior offensive lineman Hayden Overholts is returning this season from a knee injury that ended last season in week two. From the moment he had his injury to surgery to rehab to the weight room, Overholts ensured he would step onto the field in his last season.

“I’m glad that I would be back on the field playing with them and continuing that momentum from the end of last season,” Overholts said.

While recovering from surgery, Overholts never left the team. He was on the sidelines at games and practices, mentoring and preparing the young linemen group.

“Not everybody’s going to want to come back and play after an injury like that. He loves the game. He’s extremely competitive,” head coach Michael Zdebski said about Overholts’ work ethic. “He’s a vocal leader. He really helps the kids in their communication skills with just how he leads and talks, and he’s always helping those young offensive linemen out.”

Last year, the Stallions were 2-8 while they ranked fourth in the 6A Desert Valley. Now with the return of Overholts and a new region, they have the chance to make a statement about their program.

Overholts said sophomore quarterback Christian Normandin proved his readiness this offseason, displaying the football IQ and leadership of a older player.

Senior running back/wide receiver Michael Cruz, a key returner for the Stallions, was an offensive force who was in the top three for multiple team stats. He will start in the backfield after two promising games last year — 10 carries for 60 yards against Apollo and eight carries for 108 yards.

Willow Canyon transfer Joel Cooper will add to the backfield at midseason.

Cruz had 194 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last season, contributing to the offense along with former players Robert Perry, Xavier Armenta and Max Cauley. With their departure, Cruz is able to be the bedrock of the offense and set his own goals for his last season.

“I hope to accomplish winning every game on our schedule and making the playoffs, doing better than we did last year, taking the fire from those last two games and bringing it into next season,” Cruz said,

Shadow Ridge ended its season on a hot streak, winning the last two games. They defeated former region opponents Boulder Creek and Surprise rival Valley Vista following a 0-8 start that included three losses by five points or less.

With this momentum and returners coming back, the Stallions are ready to compete.

“What they did day in and day out in the offseason to become the people they are today, it’s incredible. The sacrifices they’ve made, you just hope it’s enough to get you over the hill,” Zdebski said,

Seniors like Overholts, Cruz, linebacker Grant Jordan and safety Daniel Lesan are among the last remaining links to the undefeated freshman team from 2022.

They have put in the extra hours through two difficult seasons. Now the class of 2026 wants to reap the rewards.

“We’ve been working pretty hard the last couple of seasons with coach Z. A lot has changed, but we still have that motivation to be undefeated,” Cruz said.

The Stallions’ schedule looks different since last year with only facing three familiar teams, Westwood, Mountain Ridge and Valley Vista.

Shadow Ridge will start against a new opponent, Mesa High, on Aug. 29 with the hopes to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

In their new region 6A Central, they will compete against Brophy College Prep, Higley, Saguaro and Williams Field. Brophy and Higley were, by almost any measure, top 15 teams in the state last year.

And none of these schools are anywhere near the Stallions.

“You’re talking about community support and kids going to games. It’s got to be regionalized. You want people to drive a hour to see their buddies and support their kids. High school is about making memories and looking back. How many kids are going to drive to Brophy? Ad that’s the close one,” Zdebski said. “I think it’s awful, the way the regions are set up.”