Evan Sailer is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Campo Verde High School for AZPreps365.com

First year head coach Ryan Freeman has had quite a bit to overcome since being named Campo Verde High School varsity football coach back in April.

With Covid-19 ravaging through the cities of Arizona, being able to adapt has become a new part of culture nobody was expecting entering 2020. But the Campo Verde football players have tackled the challenge head on.

“For as crazy as it’s been, our kids have been awesome,” Freeman said. “Our team motto this year is adapt and overcome. And that was something I started putting in over the summer because I knew that’s what was going to come. And we just had to be able to adapt to whatever we were faced with, and not use it as an excuse.”

Coaches had to adapt as well.

“I think it was tough on our coaching staff,” Freeman said. “Because we were in the protocols we couldn’t use footballs, and we couldn’t do team sessions, and we couldn’t do a lot of those things. So, I would argue that it probably got monotonous for our coaches at times.”

As far as this upcoming season goes, Coach Freeman is excited to see several seniors: running back Caden Calloway, defensive and offensive lineman Jake Leighty, linebacker Mark liano, offensive lineman Hayden Preston, and Christopher Villalobos at both defensive back and wide receiver.

“Our seniors who have been with us for four years have put the time, the blood, the sweat, the tears into this program. And have helped it to reach new heights,” Freeman said. “Just for them to get the opportunity to play. And that’s one of the messages we’ve been consistently giving is just having new appreciation for everything, and valuing every single day.”

Campo Verde opens the season against defending 5A state champion Williams Field. After losing the 5A state championship to Williams field 19-0 in 2019, Campo Verde will be coming into this game with a chip on its shoulder, especially on the defensive side.  

“Obviously we’ve got returners on defense, but we lost Jayden Fletcher who was one of the best linebackers who’s ever come through this program,” Freeman said. “We lost a lot, but I feel like we’re going to be pretty salty defensively.”

As far as their offense goes, Freeman is optimistic to see what new quarterback Reilly Garcia and receivers Boston Williamson, Jersey Blasingame, Noah Borchard and Chris Villalobos can do against the talent around the state.

“So I think that’s going to be a little bit of a challenge because we know Williams Field is going to be talented, they’re going to be fast, (and) they’re well coached by coach Campbell,” he said.