A 6-6 season at most schools is considered mediocre. At Brophy, six losses has people scratching their heads, looking for explanation. Head coach Scooter Molander had gone 54-13 with Brophy before 2010. Losing to arch-rival St. Mary's for the first time in eight years was beyond unthinkable. The current players are ready for a bounce-back season.
Offense
Even though Brophy is switching back to a pro-style offense from the spread, according to a team source, the Broncos still have the offensive firepower to return to University of Phoenix stadium.
Receiver Devon Allen, who anchored Brophy's first ever state championship track team, is a threat anytime he touches the ball. Allen caught 60 passes for 915 yards and six touchdowns - as a sophomore.
Fred Gammage caught 41 passes for 462 yards and hauled in four touchdowns. He also played quarterback when Tyler Bruggman went down with an injury. Read more on that here.
Running back Marche Dennard, the fourth Dennard brother to play football at Brophy, is nursing a foot injury, and will not be ready for the season opener. Dennard came on strong late in the 2010 season, rushing for 210 yards and three scores on 28 carries. Before that, he was mainly used on Boise State's patented "Statue of Liberty" play.
Going back to a pro-style offense means the team will be now be playing with a tight end, most likely Andrew Curtis or Robert Relf.
The offensive line has two returning starters in Alex Rosner and Charlie Renfree. Dominic Riccitelli could also play on the offensive line this year.
Defense
The secondary is expected to be the strength of the defense. Matt Cahal led the team with five interceptions last year, including three against Red Mountain. Safety Jake Faust had 63 tackles, but did not deflect an opposing pass. Relf switched from linebacker to strong safety in the summer. Relf led the team in tackles (113).
With Relf and Andy Hale switching positions, the linebackers have two first year starters in Zach Zemer and Jack Stamets. Outside linebacker Andrew Curtis came on strong last year after recovering from a neck injury. Curtis had 71 tackles in 7 games including 32 in the postseason.
The defensive line will be hurt by the loss of end Charlie Beck. Beck recorded 14 sacks in 2010 and had 93 tackles. The rest of the team had 16 sacks. Riccitelli had 43 tackles and 4 sacks as a sophomore. Sean Luther and Michael Mosharrafa are expected to be the other starters on the line.
Special Teams
Brophy's special teams, most notably the kicking position, was their Achilles heel all last season. The kicking game cost Brophy two games - the two most important ones.
Against St. Mary's, Brophy missed a field goal and an extra point. At the end of the game, coach Molander decides to go for it with fourth and 10 at St. Mary's 10-yard line. The team does not convert the fourth down play; a field goal would have sent the game into overtime.
In a one-point loss to Mountain Pointe in the quarterfinals, Brophy missed two extra points and also missed a potential game-winning field goal in the last minute of the game. The defense did not allow a touchdown all game despite the Pride having exceptional field position most of the night.
Not much is known about Zach Hudson, who will be Brophy's kicker for 2011.
The other special team units are more reliable. Allen returns kicks (25 yards/return), and Auran punts (33 yards/punt). Auran also plays wide reciever.
Offensive Starters Returning - 5 (Bruggman, Allen, Gammage, Rosner, Renfree).
Defensive Starters Returning - 6 (Cahal, Faust, Relf, Curtis, Riccitelli, Mosharrafa).
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