Cheyenne football players, from left, Davion Moore, Jordan Butler and Chris Spencer Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009.
Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.
Cheyenne High first-year coach Perryn Hale feels he has a talented roster that could challenge defending Northwest Division champion Palo Verde for the league title.
To do so, however, the Desert Shields must rebound from the graduation of several Division-I prospects that led them to the last two Sunset Regional semifinals. Also, administrators released coach Charles Anthony in a controversial move at the end of last season.
It is up to Hale to return the Desert Shields to the playoffs and prove that he can handle a highly skilled roster as well as Anthony did when Cheyenne fell just one point short of the regional championship game in a 37-36 loss to Bishop Gorman. Cheyenne went 9-1 during the regular season last year with the lone loss coming to Palo Verde.
“We definitely have to fill in some holes, but I think we have some very talented athletes who can do that,” Hale said.
Senior quarterback Chris Spencer, who is also a star on the track team, and speedy tailback Chris Butler will anchor the offense. Butler, who rushed for 395 yards and five touchdowns last year in reserve duty behind Cheyenne’s senior-heavy backfield, has already attracted the attention of USC, Arizona State and San Diego State.
“He is electrifying,” Hale said. “He has been amazing people all summer long.”
Two solid Division I recruits, Xavian Johnson and Juan Miller, will highlight a physical defense that Hale said he hopes to stack against the run as much as possible.
“We are going to be a very physical, pounding defense,” Hale said.
Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or [email protected].
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