High School Football: Coconino & Sinagua Inside
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High School Football: Coconino & Sinagua Inside. www.sandenews.com To God be the Glory! Cards 21 Steelers 13 2006 marks the year that the Arizona Cardinals take the first step towards building their best team in the franchise history. What better way then to make the first game in the new, sold out stadium a 21-13 win over last years World Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The pre-season game was led from start to finish by Arizona and all indications are that this is the year for Big Red. The building was full, the streets were backed up for miles in all directions causing about a third of the fans to get to their seats after the kick off. Once inside, the fans spent as much time wandering around the facility as they did watching the game. Who could blame them? The stadium is a shopping mall with a football theme and for the shoppers Christmas came early. For the vendors, well, let’s just say that running out of product was a good feeling. On the field, Kurt Warner and his offense set the stage for what promises to be one of the most exciting scoring teams in the NFL this year. We all know about Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. But the third receiver in that set is Bryant Johnson and for the defenses the Cards face this season he will become known as the one that gets away each week, for first downs and touchdowns. Throw in Edgerrin James on the ground and the NFL’s most versatile fullback, Obafemi Ayanbadejo, tight ends Adam Bergen and Leonard Pope and the road to the NFC West title clearly runs through Glendale in 2006. Scoffers, step off. Get over yourselves. Stop being haters and get behind the team that can make NFL history at many different levels. The defense was already on the rise last year and now it will have an ally on offense that will enable it to finish the season in the top five in NFL scoring defenses. The ringleader of this group of gridiron grifters will be the baddest boy on the block, safety Adrian Wilson. He has 10 interceptions in five seasons but the stat that stands out is his 2005 NFL record setting 8 sacks for a defensive back. Helping make it ugly for the other team’s passers will be the tenacious and aggressive corners Antrel Rolle and David Macklin and safety Robert Griffith. Line backing will be setting the Pace with former defensive lineman Calvin Pace moving into the kill zone. This is a man that was knocking people into next week when he had two and three and blockers targeting him. Pity the fool that gets through the line thinking he dodged a bullet only to wake up on Wednesday at the ICU with 97 tattooed on his chest. Wait, there is more! Middle backer James Darling has buddies like Orlando Huff, Gerald Hayes, and Darryl Blackstock to help murderize running backs and brave tight ends that don’t understand the danger, yet. In the trenches Bertrand Berry, Chike Okeafor, Kendrick Clancy, and the Deathstar himself, Darnell Dockett will be redirecting traffic and otherwise negating the opposition’s efforts. The stats from the Steelers game are simple, and yes, spare me the lecture of “It was just a pre-season game.” I get that. But with 8-12 pro bowl caliber players on this year’s team, you have to choose to hate to stay negative on this team. Don’t even go to the garbage about the “team not filling the needs on the offensive line.” Did you miss the part about the “scoring defense,” if so, then just remember this, turnovers equal short fields and short offensive drives which equals rested, happy “O” linemen. Last year Warner had to force the ball and Boldin and Fitzgerald had to make big plays every game all year. Everyone in the league knew this. This season Warner and the offense will have their pick of the play selection and the defenses will have to man up on more than one Cardinal and hope they guessed right. Oh yeah, the offensive line. Let’s start at the top with Leonard Davis; a man that can ruin another mans life in a matter of seconds. He will become on of the NFL’s best. Then you have Reggie Wells, Alex Stepanovich, Milford Brown, Deuce Lutui, Jeremy Bridges, Fred Wakefield and injured Oliver Ross. Give these guys 30-40 yard drives after turnovers and they are going to be making reservations for their trip with “Edge” to this seasons Pro Bowl. The Scoring for Arizona came on two passes from Warner. One for five yards to Bryant Johnson as he was lined up inside a twin’s right set with Boldin on the outside. Another to Obafemi Ayanbadejo for 15 yards that was capped by a dramatic dive into the pylon in the Northeast corner of the end zone. What made this play so nice was the one handed grab to keep the drive alive by Bryant Johnson for a huge, crowd lifting first down. Diamond Ferri ran one in from five yards out. The beauty of this fourth quarter run into the Southwest end zone was not how he went up and over to score, but how the Steelers corner Deshea Townsend got clowned by Diamond. Townsend came up to make a big hit and instead ended up looking for his helmet as it rolled up the field. Lest we forget, the last score was set up when the Cards Gerald Hayes made his third quarter interception. Earlier in the game Ernest Shazor made a great move to get inside a Steeler for an interception that was nullified by a Cards penalty. But the move to get in position was big league stuff. Other players that had notable performances on special teams were kicker Nick Novak and punter Fred Capshaw. Plus safeties Jack Brewer and Aaron Francisco were getting it done on kick coverage. At this point there is no way to tell how the running back spots will fill out. JJ Arrington and Marcel Shipp should be the front-runners but Damien Anderson and Diamond Ferri are on par with the others. Could get interesting. If you want to find out about the Steelers scoring and high lights, well, go the their media. We don’t do the other guy. After the game Coach Green was actually relaxed and said that he got to play everybody and that was a plus. Yes, he said, they need more running plays but James was only in for five so they did not get to work on that as much as he would like with his main group. He mentioned the fine efforts by Diamond Ferri, Aaron Francisco and Bryant Johnson. He also said that most of the free agents performed well. He was pleased with the offensive line. He also pointed out that Gerald Hayes played a lot, for two full quarters and the Shazor looked good and would be fine. He thought Calvin Pace looked solid and that he saw what he wanted. John Navarre played two and a half quarters and he was good with what he saw from him. Kurt Warner spoke and was pleased though he would have liked to get James more touches. He was thrilled with Bryant Johnson’s performance and remarked “what a blessing to have a third receiver with his ability.” The full house was exciting, coming out of the tunnel onto the field he could see the yellow Pitt towels, but he could not hear them. What a feeling, he is glad this is his football home. He said the entire team has been unselfish and they trust each other. On the Front cover. The big man himself, Leonard Davis is due to have a Pro Bowl season as he leads his linemates and the offense to victory. On the Back cover. The NAU Lumberjacks get ready for their run at the Big Sky Title. NFC Updates all season long! Be sure to look for the weekly print edition of our “Special Editons” at your favorite businesses around Northern Arizona during the entire Training Camp. You can find new information on our web pages at Revelation 7:12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and www.SandEnews.com. honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” www.sandenews.com To God be the Glory! ARIZONA MEDICAL IMAGING NETWORK Excellence In Imaging Understands the importance of a Fast Recovery We are proud to be the AzFL's 1st choice for diagnostic imaging Fast, easy scheduling with same or next day appointments available. Early morning, evening and weekends can be arranged. 12 Valley locations. We accept most major health insurance plans. Generous self-pay discount. Board Certified Radiologists. On the field and in life...... Helping you get back in the game! One number is all you need: call 480-753-6161* *physcian referral required. We offer - MRI, CT, Ultrasound, X-ray, Dexa, Nuclear Medicine, Mammography As a member of the Arizona Football League AzFL, you will receive priority service. www.ami-network.com Remember, there is 1 more edition. The last one will have the biggest impact on your business, ASK US HOW! This final edition will recap the Cards training camp and pre-season plus the Lumberjacks as they prepare for their opening game against the Sun Devils. This final edition will also receive heavy distribution in Glendale at busi- ness locations surrounding the Cardinals Stadium.