Mikey Keene, Nicco Marchiol, Kai Millner, Devin Brown: Here’s the quarterback situation at every 6A school in Arizona

We’re only a couple of days from opening night of the Arizona high school football season. Today, we examine the quarterback situation for every 6A team in the state.

We’re only a couple of days from opening night of the Arizona high school football season!

SBLive has been bringing you preview content for the past two weeks. Today, we examine the quarterback situation for every 6A team in the state.

Note that most of the information provided here reflects where things stood as camps opened. Be sure to follow SBLive for this weekend's Week 1 coverage and throughout the 2020 season for the latest on what's happening with each team!

Cesar Chavez, Copper Canyon, La Joya Community, North, Tolleson Union, Trevor G. Browne, Tucson and Westview will not begin their season for at least three weeks.

Brayten Silbor (Chaparral) photo by Shari Miller / SLM Images

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Basha Bears

Freshman Demond Williams Jr. won a four-way battle over the summer against junior Josh Sink, who started the final four games last season, and two others. “It was neck-and-neck with Josh, who had a good preseason as well, but we decided to go with the young gun,” Bears coach Chris McDonald said. “He’s extremely athletic, his arm is live and pops, and he was grasping the offense very well for his age.”

Boulder Creek Jaguars

Three-star New Mexico commit Bear Milacek is the top-ranked senior prospect in Region 7. The pro-style quarterback threw for 2,364 yards in 11 games last season, and he did some damage on the ground with 268 rushing yards. 

Brophy Prep Broncos

EJ Warner, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, was the primary backup to Matthew Winter last year. He played in nine games, completing more than 75 percent of his passes (61 of 81) for 647 yards and five touchdowns, and he should thrive in a full-time role this fall. “EJ split time last year with a senior and did a nice job,” Broncos coach Jason Jewell said.

Casteel Colts

Casteel returns Dane Christensen, who threw for more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. That’s a recipe for success as the Colts make the move up from 5A this year.

Centennial Coyotes

Senior Josh Gasca played in a handful of games as Jonathan Morris’ primary backup last season. Entering camp, he had the edge over 6-5 sophomore Austin Glimpse. “Josh has looked really good so far and has more experience,” longtime Coyotes coach Richard Taylor said. “I think Austin will be really special, but we don’t want to throw him to the wolves right away.”

Chandler Wolves

Senior Mikey Keene, a recent Central Florida commit (the No. 17 recruit in 247Sports’ state rankings) and second-team all-region pick, “checks all the boxes of a great quarterback,” said Wolves coach Rick Garretson. Keene threw for 2,835 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2019, completing nearly 73 percent of his passes (193 of 265) with just five interceptions.

Chaparral Firebirds

Junior Brayten Silbor got his first taste of varsity action spelling an injured Jack Miller last year, throwing for 1,129 yards and 11 touchdowns while completing 62 percent of his passes (80 of 129) in 4½ games. The starting job is his now.

Cibola Raiders

Quanah Locklear guided the Raiders to their 6-4 record a year ago, but they’ll enter this season without any experience under center after Locklear signed with NAIA school Valley City State and backup Zeke Rios graduated.

Corona del Sol Aztecs

Senior Quade Swearingen completed 151 of 277 passes for 2,010 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. “Quade is our leader. He’s gotten stronger and faster from last year,” Aztecs coach Jon Becktold said. “Everyone responds to his leadership skills. He’s a heck of an athlete, too.”

Desert Ridge Jaguars

Senior Austin Kolb threw for 2,980 yards and twice as many touchdowns (22) as interceptions (11) last year, completing nearly 62 percent of his passes (214 of 347). Jaguars coach Jeremy Hathcock wants to see Kolb become a better runner this season to complement his passing skills. 

Desert Vista Thunder

With Parker Navarro now playing at Central Florida, junior Landen Powell — a strong-armed Mountain Pointe transfer who threw for 1,178 yards, eight touchdowns and 15 interceptions last year while completing 55 percent of his passes (112 for 202) — will battle sophomore Jackson Akins for the starting job once he becomes eligible in Week 5.

Dobson Mustangs

Senior Damyian Duarte returns after throwing for 612 yards and seven touchdowns and rushing for 702 yards and seven scores in 2019. “Our offense runs through him,” Mustangs coach Bill Godsil said. “He is our best overall athlete. His passing has improved, and he is a true weapon with his legs.”

Hamilton Huskies

Junior Nicco Marchiol transferred from Regis Jesuit of Aurora, Colo., where he threw for more than 4,200 yards and 43 touchdowns in his first two seasons. He immediately jumped to No. 2 on the 247Sports list of Arizona’s junior recruits. His arrival means the Huskies won’t skip a beat after the graduation of last year’s starter, Nick Arvay, and the transfer of his top backup, Gavin Goulette (now at Gilbert). 

Highland Hawks

Junior Gage Dayley won the starting role last season and received all-region honorable mention, throwing for 1,250 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 80 of 123 passes (65 percent). A broken collarbone suffered against Mountain Pointe allowed senior Taylor Siren (54 of 98, 742 yards, eight touchdowns) to see action, but make no mistake — Dayley is the starter.

Higley Knights

Senior Kai Millner, 247Sports’ No. 7 statewide recruit, committed to Cal-Berkeley in the spring and received an invitation to play in the Under Armour All-American Game after a junior season in which he completed 64.2 percent of his passes (172 of 268) for 2,390 yards and 31 touchdowns (six interceptions) in earning first-team all-region recognition. The pro-style quarterback rushed for 326 yards and seven scores. 

Liberty Lions

Senior Brock Mast backed up Jonah Guevara last year, playing in 10 games and completing 52 percent of his passes (25 of 48) for 280 yards and three touchdowns for the 6A champions. “Brock’s been in the system for four years,” Lions coach Colin Thomas said. “He’s got Friday night experience and is a great leader.”

Mesa Jackrabbits

Senior John Mendoza completed 122 of 192 passes for 1,398 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. “He’s a leader and a competitor,” Jackrabbits coach Chad DeGrenier said. “He did a great job last year and is having a great camp so far. We’re excited to see what he does on Friday nights.”

Mountain Pointe Pride

The Pride have two transfers — junior Amier Boyd (South Mountain) and senior Jaden Crockett (Alhambra) — from which to choose once they become eligible in Week 5. Having to replace Landen Powell (transfer to Desert Vista) in Weeks 1-4 will fall on someone who has never played under Friday night lights — someone such as senior Damian Page, last year’s JV starter.

Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions

The Mountain Lions could go with senior Cole Mitchell, who was one of the team’s top receivers last season, or accelerate the timetable for sophomore Brendan Anderson and give their top quarterback prospect the job.

Mountain View (Mesa) Toros

Junior Willy Roberts played in four games as a backup to first-team all-region signal-caller Brandon Nieto last year, completing almost 62 percent of his passes (37 of 60) for 540 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions.

Perry Pumas

When all-Arizona quarterback Chubba Purdy (now at Florida State) sat out Week 5 while serving a one-game suspension for violating a team rule, the Pumas turned to senior Ethan James, who went 11 of 19 for 152 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Cesar Chavez. James and senior Dane White, who served as Purdy’s primary backup, should battle this fall for the starting job. 

Pinnacle Pioneers

Sophomore Devon Dampier took over the offense in Week 10 after senior J.D. Johnson’s career ended because of a heart issue. After going 11 of 16 for 198 yards and four touchdowns in his first start against Boulder Creek, Dampier had a rude awakening in the Open Division quarterfinal loss to Salpointe Catholic — 12 of 26 for 107 yards and an interception. The previous freshman quarterback to start at Pinnacle? Spencer Rattler, now a redshirt freshman who grabbed the starting job at Oklahoma. 

Queen Creek Bulldogs

Junior Devin Brown committed to USC after a sophomore season that was abbreviated following his transfer from Casteel. He threw for 1,319 yards and 10 touchdowns. Brown has an excellent mentor in Bulldogs coach Joe Germaine, the 1998 Big Ten MVP at Ohio State who played four seasons in the NFL. “Devin has one of the most live arms that I’ve seen for a 2022 quarterback,” Germaine said. “He also has a unique ability to extend plays inside and outside of the pocket.”

Red Mountain Mountain Lions

Red Mountain coach Mike Peterson has two FCS quarterbacks at his disposal — senior Evan Svopoda, who has offers from Illinois State, Morehead State and Abilene Christian, and junior Jalen Daniels (Howard). Whomever he selects will run a team with Open state playoff potential.

Sandra Day O’Connor Eagles

The Eagles are having to rebuild their offense on the fly, and quarterback Dylan Simonton needs to be adequately replaced. Last year’s backup, senior Seth Felts, should get the first crack, while junior Jace Snyder provides competition.

Shadow Ridge Stallions

The Stallions must replace second-team all-region pick Kaiden Lansford. Last year’s backup, senior Jordan Derby, will battle three other quarterbacks — juniors Seth Gallarod and Micah Hendricks and sophomore Kaden Zordani — for the starting job.

Skyline Coyotes

Senior Jack Nelson has done a little of everything in his high school career, and now he’s the starting quarterback. “Football players play football. Jack’s a football player. He’ll play football,” Coyotes coach George Hawthorne said. “We won’t be the only high school that has a good player go two ways.”

Valley Vista Monsoon

The Monsoon aren’t returning any of their featured options at running back, but they’ll still have one of their top rushers back from last year. Senior Burton Delay IV is a dual-threat quarterback who received all-region honorable mention last season, when he passed for 1,847 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for 394 yards and five scores. 

Westwood Warriors

Junior Gavin Letourneau completed 51 percent of his passes (107 of 212) last year for 1,560 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he rushed for two scores. “Gavin has a very strong arm,” Warriors coach Kyle Ide said. “He’s really blossoming in his second year as a starter.”

Williams Field Black Hawks

Last year’s 5A state champions return plenty of skill players and added transfer Aziya Jamison from 3A champion American Leadership Academy-Queen Creek, but their hopes of cracking the Open playoffs rest on how quickly sophomore quarterback CJ Tiller adjusts to playing under Friday night lights. “He’ll make mistakes like every sophomore does,” Black Hawks coach Steve Campbell said. “But at the same time, he’ll make a lot of plays.”

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