State champion Chandler rolls into 1st official football practice with optimism for season

"It's time!"

A Chandler High School football assistant coach yelled it out, and clapped his hands, as players warmed up Monday morning with the AC/DC song, "Hells Bells," blared from loud speakers.

Helmets on their heads for the first time in 2020 -- the year of the coronavirus pandemic -- Arizona high school football players felt an adrenaline pump they've not had since champions were crowed last November and December.

At Coolidge, the anticipation of fall football season was so strong that coach Rodger Schenks conducted a midnight practice at 12:01 a.m.

Exactly nine months to the date that Chandler held off Scottsdale Saguaro for the state's first Open Division championship, after months of uncertainty dictated by COVID-19 numbers, after seeing the season pushed back, after no spring ball, no 7-on-7 passing tournaments, no big-man competitions, after a summer conditioning phasing in, stoppage, return to phasing in, it was time for the Wolves to put on their helmets.

"It feels great to play a game that I love," said junior Kyion Grayes, the state's No.1-ranked wide receiver, who has committed to the University of Arizona. "I'm very confident. I do feel that we'll get a chance to play.

"I see all these other states have the same (COVID-19 metrics) numbers that we do playing football. I'm very confident we're going to play."

But since Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Director David Hines sent a letter to the schools on Friday with the board-approved Sports Medicine Advisory Committee's metrics chart, there has been a groundswell of social media concern over the weekend on whether the season will ever get off the ground, because of the 10-per-100,000 case per county or district metric that must be met, before games can be played.

"They had to have made a mistake on that number," Florence district Superintendent Chris Knutsen said. "If we use that number, the season is over.  

"Only one state in the country has a number under 10 right now. They might want to come back to the table and rethink that metric, unless they really do not want football to happen. I would imagine that type of bait-and-switch will not go over too well.

"They also might want to have a serious conversation regarding the mental illness this seven months of isolation is having on our young people.  Extra-curricular activities just might alleviate this very serious problem."

Hines expressed optimism on Friday, when the metrics chart was sent to schools, because of confusion over the numbers on when it is OK to start practicing and when it's OK to start playing games.

"All the things that we've been doing, all the things the coaches have been doing, the athletic directors and the schools have been doing in Arizona, to tell you the truth, they have helped the numbers," Hines said. "The positivity (rate) was very concerning for a while. But it's gotten pretty good.

"If we can still monitor the numbers in the next couple of weeks, we'll be in position to play. But it starts with practice. The biggest concern is being able to start practice and have enough time to get the four weeks in to play. Then, some schools are further ahead than other schools.

"As the numbers continue to progress, we'll get back to competition. If we wait to even start football (practice) and had to be all green, we'd just run out of time."

Most schools got the green light to practice Monday from their districts, except for  Tucson, and Tolleson and Phoenix Union districts. But in most parts, it was time for helmets, bags, sleds, 11-on-11s.

The Tempe Union High School District is moving forward with helmets and mandatory masks, and no 11-on-11s yet.

"It's actually nothing different than what we've been doing since the start," said Phoenix Desert Vista coach Dan Hinds, whose school is in the Tempe district. "Our players have been wearing masks.

"With masks, I believe we were allowed to do a little more, and, at the same time, keep players safe. We'll continue to wear them as long as we are told to do so. It's out of the coaches' hands."

Chandler is coming off a 13-0 season culminated in a 42-35 win over Saguaro, the first Open Division title in Arizona history.

"It does feel like a long time," said senior quarterback Mikey Keene, who led the Wolves' offense last season. "There was for sure a doubt on whether there was going to be a season or not. I was happy to get our helmets, get out here, have our first official  practice.

"With them saying the season will go on, we have no doubts. We're getting ready to play Oct. 2 against (Peoria) Liberty."

The last two weeks, Chandler has been doing 7-on-7s.

"We're coming out every day working to get better, trying to get everyone in the mix," Chandler senior running back Eli Sanders said. "Offense and defense are looking good."

Chandler coach Rick Garretson's main point to his players through the spring and summer has been, "Just control what you can control."

On Monday, it marked the first time the Wolves went 11-on-11 in practice since playing Saguaro inside Sun Devil Stadium.

In three days, the Wolves will be in full pads, ready to increase the work.

"It's the same old story that we've been doing for umpteenth years," Garretson said.

Only now the Wolves have to guard against the virus and hope that the metrics, in the end, don't knock them from reaching Week 1.

"I don't see anything from stopping us from playing ball," Garretson said. "As a state, the numbers are good. I tell the kids, 'We don't worry about things we don't control.' We only control what we can do on the field and in the classroom.

"I think we'll be just fine."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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