New Championship Leads To New Cover Look By Jose Garcia azpreps365.com Hello. If you’ve seen the back issues of the Sollenberger’s AZ Football Prep Maga- zine, you probably noticed the change to this year’s cover. We took a different approach this year because of the introduction of a new crown, the Open Division. Some of the state’s top returning players usually grace the cover. That’s one of the things the Sollen- berger is known for, and that tradition will continue. This year, we just wanted to highlight one of the biggest shifts in the Arizona Inter- scholastic Association's football championship history. The best eight big schools will compete during the Open Division tournament each year. In this year’s Sollenberger, azpreps365.com’s Les Willsey details how the Open Division teams will be selected and why the Open Di- vision was introduced. Also in the magazine, there’s a story on a team that’s celebrating its 70th state championship anniversary this year. The story on the 1949 Chandler Wolves was written by Barry Sol- lenberger. He originally published the story on the 1949 Wolves in 1999, six years before Sollenberger, an AIA historian and high school sports walking encyclopedia, passed away. This year is also big for Arizona high school football because of all the talent in the 2020 senior class. azpreps365.com dug up some of Sollenberger’s all-state collections of elite Arizona senior classes, going as far back as the 1920s. In the magazine, we published the classes that stood out, and there are plenty. Speaking of plenty, there’s a lot more to read in this year’s special edition of the Sollenberger, which was first published in 1971. We can’t wait for one of the more highly antici- pated seasons to begin. The 2019 Sollenberger’s AZ Football Prep Magazine is designed and published by Kukulski Brothers. Special thanks to Brian Bolitho, Frankie Acosta, Brian Lukas, Seth Polansky, David Kukulski, Andy Kukulski, Matt Kukulski and Pam Kukulski for their efforts with this publication. The staff writers are Jose Garcia, Andy Morales and Les Willsey of azpreps365.com. Intern Stephen Perez also con- tributed stories. The Sollenberger cover was designed by Daniel Navarrette. We also want to thank Verrado’s foot- ball program for helping us with the cover photo shoot near its campus. Verrado High football players Austin Bilski, Jose Gomez, Cameron Coronado, Blake Gamez, Logan Gingg and Dilon Hanson held the trophy during the photo shoot. The cover photo is courtesy of Steve Paynter of paynterpics.com. page 3 New Season Unveils Open Division Championship By Les Willsey azpreps365.com The Arizona Interscholastic Association adds a new wrinkle this season to its 60th year sanctioning football state championships. That wrinkle — approved by the AIA's executive board in January — is an Open Division tournament. It's no secret there's been little to no mystery the last several years who would win the respective 6A, 5A and 4A football conferences titles. Many fans wait with bated breath for prognosticators top-10s in July/August when there has essentially been no need — 6A Chandler (three- peat in progress), 5A Centennial (repeat and three titles in four years) and 4A Saguaro (four-peat in progress and eight titles in nine years this decade) are heavy favorites for the next year seconds after stepping off the field with their most recent title trophy. There will still be state champs crowned in the six existing conferences — 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A. The hope is the Open Division will fuel renewed intrigue and perhaps make more competitive the 6A, 5A and 4A conference title chases. The Open Division is set up to feature eight teams, based on a separate ratings system from the regular power-ranking format that identifies the 16-team fields in 6A, 5A and 4A. Only schools in 6A, 5A and 4A are eligible to compete in the Open Division. The eight teams competing in the Open Division will be identified by a computer program taking into account all games a team plays, including out of state contests with a strength of schedule component and a 14- point cap on margin of victory (hence no rewarding of lop- Who will lift the Open Division trophy for the first time? (photo by Steve Paynter of paynterpics.com) sided victories). A top-15 ranking for the Open Division will be posted on azpreps365.com following the fifth week of the regular including the Open Division, have not been determined season. The power-ranking system that identifies the 16- yet. team fields in 2A-6A and 12 teams in 1A will continue to be Had the Open Division bracket existed last year with the used and post at the same interval. ranking system that will be in place, the qualifiers would Open Division playoff play will have three weeks of com- have been in order: Centennial, Chandler, Pinnacle, petition. Participants receive a week off after the regular Williams Field, Salpointe Catholic, Perry, Highland and season ends (Nov. 1). Saguaro. That breaks down to four 6A schools, two 5A The first playoff date for Open Division games is Friday schools and two 4A schools. Nov. 15. Open Division semifinals follow the weekend of Seven of the eight were semifinalists or better in their re- Nov. 22-23. spective conferences. AIA executive director David Hines The finalists get another week off with the Open Division said the Open Division should allow for competitive games title game set for Dec. 7 along with the 6A final. The 4 and every week, which has been missing in big conferences in 5A finals will be played the day before. recent years. The championship sites for the 2019 state tournaments, Limiting Open Division qualifiers to eight teams makes page 4 that more likely. Speaking to the lopsidedness of first- compete against schools my size. But most 5A and 4A round playoff games in big school conferences in the last schools would have a tough time competing with schools two season, the average margin of victory in 6A first-round like Chandler or Perry when they have close to 4,000 stu- games was 28 points (2018) and 34 points (2017); in 5A dents. That's double the size of most 5A schools and even 30 points (2018) and 21 points (2017); and in 4A 21 points a portion of the 6A schools who already can't compete." (2018) and 34 points (2017). Westwood coach Kyle Ide, a Westwood product in the In the final games of the tournaments in 6A, 5A and 4A Jerry Loper era in the late 1980s, recalls how different but — quarters, semis and title game — two of the seven 6A scintillating competition was when he played three games in 2018 were decided by a TD or less and 1 of 7 in decades ago. 2017; 5A 3 of 7 (2018) and 5 of 7 in (2017); and in 4A 0 of "We were usually good enough to win state and had that 7 (2018) and 1 of 7 (2017). expectation at the start of a season," Ide said. "So did a lot One of the six title games — two in each conference in of other schools. At the same time we knew we could end that span — was decided by a TD or less. The rest were up not making the playoffs. That's how competitive it was. no closer than a 20-point margin. "That's the way it should be. But you should have a Reaction to bringing in an Open Division championship chance, not know your season is over before it begins. from fans has been positive as most anticipate closer That prevents a lot of kids from going out for football in the games and watching elite schools match up even if it first place." means a 4A school taking on a 6A school. Ide continues: "I think the Open Division will be a good Coaches have mixed feelings on the extra champi- thing, but I hope it helps lead to getting schools where they onship. should be in the first place. That's where the focus needs Arguments against the Open Division is it cheapens the to be. Schools need to start a season knowing they at conference title races when top teams shift to the Open Di- least have a chance to make the playoffs. For too many vision. schools today, that's not a reality." "How can you be called 6A champ when say Chandler is Once the 2019 season concludes in December, football the top team in the rankings and then competes in the will be the last sport to undergo realignment for the coming Open," one coach said. two-year block. Another coach said many schools jumped on board with Data from the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons will be the idea of the Open Division believing it's a wider opening used to place teams in conferences beginning 2020-2021. for them to win a title, albeit a watered-down title. The goal is a trending to more competitive balance. "If you believe Chandler, Saguaro and Centennial are How effective the Open Division is will be a by product going to quailfy for the Open Division, and it's a good bet, it and important to how conferences look come the 2020- removes an obstacle," the coach said. "I feel like I want to 2021 season. azpreps365.com Staff Predicts Elite Eight JOSE GARCIA ANDY MORALES LES WILLSEY Centennial Centennial Centennial Chandler Chandler Chandler Desert Vista Desert Vista Desert Vista Liberty Highland Highland Perry Perry Perry Pinnacle Pinnacle Pinnacle Saguaro Saguaro Saguaro Salpointe Salpointe Salpointe (in alphabetical order) (in alphabetical order) (in alphabetical order) page 5 2020 Class Boasts Elite Talent; A Look at AZ’s Best Ever Senior Classes (Left) Saguaro’s Kelee Ringo and Salpointe’s Bijan Robinson (photos by Mark Jones of maxpreps.com) By Jose Garcia Credit Arizona’s population rise partly for the surge of foot- azpreps365.com ball talent.