Manny Alcantar couldn’t have asked for a much better debut season at Canyon View in 2025.  The Jaguars, in just their sixth year of varsity competition, set a school record for wins in a regular season (8) and then put the topper on it by advancing all the way to the 5A Conference championship game at Arizona State last December.

Canyon View went north last week to Camp Coconino in Flagstaff to prepare for the upcoming season, which formally begins its practices for the season with helmets on Monday at their field in Waddell (far Northwest Valley).  Alcantar said the team started the groundwork back in February.  CVHS has a football class that goes year-round and the team has been getting together every Thursday for one practice a week since last winter.  Camp was a time to become more acquainted with one another.

“You become more of a family up there,” Alcantar said.  “You have to talk to your teammates and do some bonding.”

With an emphasis on playing fast and with purpose, the Jaguars have excellent numbers with 110 players in the program for varsity and JV alone.  Depth is there (and building for the future) with 78 on this year’s freshman team.

During the three weeks of spring ball, it was a time to reload and evaluate.

“It was figuring out what we have and who we have,” Alcantar said.  “Seeing how far ahead of where we were before (last year).”

Canyon View made a tremendous turnaround in Alcantar’s first season from a 3-7 record in 2024 to 11-3.  The head coach is no stranger to success as he guided Cesar Chavez HS (now Cactus Canyon) to three consecutive winning records and playoff appearances before the 2020 COVID season decimated the program and led to Alcantar leaving the Phoenix Union school.

The mantra in 2025 was on a “rebuilt culture”. For the team to buy in on that, it relied on being tight with one another.  Several of the players even gathered together at Alcantar’s house on Thanksgiving Day.

“(It’s about) believing in one another and becoming a family,” Alcantar said.  “Treating all the kids the same and always being your brother’s keeper.”

Wide receiver Braylon Anderson will be a big part of the offense and be relied upon to make catches and move the chains.  The 6-foot, 180-pound senior was a First Team All-5A Desert West Region selection and led the Jaguars in all three receiving categories with 62 catches for 866 yards and 14 touchdowns.  Anderson is also a threat on special teams with his track speed (10.92 in the 100m) averaging 33 yards per kickoff return to put the offense in a favorable spot.

“Braylon is a dog,” Alcantar said.  “Smart.  Understands the game.  He’s a sprinter and hurdler.  Good leader.  Leads by example.  Great grades (3.80 GPA) and takes it seriously.”

Anderson went to a camp in May at the University of New Mexico and came away with the MVP award for the receivers.  He holds four college offers, including a Division I one from Army.

“I feel my entire game has improved this offseason,” Anderson said in an email interview.  “I’ve become stronger, faster, and more explosive, which has helped all facets of my performance.”

WR Braylon Anderson looks for running room after a catch during a Canyon View road game last season.

There will be a new quarterback this season as Brady Scott (2,866 yards passing and 37 TDs in 2025) has graduated and is now at Northwestern Oklahoma State (Div. II).  There is still a battle for the starting position for this year.  Titan Jacobs is a three-sport athlete who threw passes in eight games last season as a sophomore.  Jake Spickler is a 6-1 senior who started his high school career at Verrado and led the JV team to an 8-1 record during his sophomore season in 2024.

Other offensive players to watch for on the Jaguars are Brandon Arroyo (junior RB), Charge Young (sophomore RB), Amr Hassan (senior WR), and sophomore Carlos Serrano (sophomore WR).  Hassan played safety last season and holds an offer from New Mexico.  He will be adding offense to his repertoire this year.  Serrano just transferred into Canyon View from ALA-West Foothills.

Up front, Canyon View returns senior guard Cale Garver and junior tackle Jordan Troyer.  Joining them will be sophomore Devin Reml and junior Jude McCarron.  McCarron is also a transfer from ALA-West Foothills.

 

 

With McCarron not eligible until Week 6 (@ Desert Edge), Canyon View needed to find another offensive lineman.  Enter Tiki Teeples.  The 6-4, 275-pound defensive lineman is a Utah commit and will be doing double duty to help out the Jaguars.

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Teeples said in an email interview.  “I’ll be playing offensive tackle for the first five games, along with some fullback.  I’m looking forward to helping the team in any way I can.  Whether it’s on defense, offense, or wherever the coaches need me, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help us win.”

Canyon View defensive tackle Tiki Teeples had 63 tackles last season and led the Jaguars in sacks with 12.5.

Teeples has been a team captain for the past two years and takes pride in being a leader.

“I try to lead by example every day with how I work and how I carry myself,” Teeples said.  “I also make sure my teammates know I’m there for them off the field if they ever need anything.  I’ve made it a point to get to know everyone on a personal level because I think having those relationships helps bring our team closer together.”

It’s that defensive line that Alcantar said is the team’s “strongest position by far”.  In addition to Teeples, Canyon View returns senior defensive tackle Andy Fierros, who is committed to Northern Arizona.  Fierros (6-2, 295) joined Teeples as First Team All-Region selections.  He plays ferocious and will make an impact through the middle.  The rest of the D-line includes junior defensive end Malachi Peterson and senior defensive end Matthew Cerda Jr.  Cerda is a transfer from Centennial who also wrestles.

The secondary will be anchored by a third D-I commit as Keegan McCarthy will be a three-year starter.  The 6-2, 180-pound safety will be going to Western Michigan next year.  There’s more experience back there with Tavin Bayer, who will be a three-year starter at cornerback.  Hassan will also be at his regular position of safety.

Other players to watch on the defense are senior linebackers Ammon Nally and Trey Jones.  Nally is a captain and strong in both the weight room (1,100-pound club) and the classroom (4.47 GPA).  Jones made 46 tackles playing in just eight games.

Perhaps the biggest difference heading into the year for Canyon View is the burden of carrying expectations.  Many teams over the course of history have peaked by going to a state title game and then fallen off.  Alcantar is determined not to let that happen.

“Obviously, you get that far, the standard is elevated,” Alcantar said.  “We came in under the radar last year.  We want to prove to everyone that this is the type of team we want to be.  We’re excited to get going.  It’s a bitter taste (losing the final) and you just want to get back to prove that you can do it.”

After a narrow loss (29-21) to top-ranked Desert Edge in early October, Canyon View reeled off seven straight wins.  The story was the offense as the team scored more than 31 points in each one of them (42.4 ppg in the streak).  Anderson hasn’t forgotten that run, or how it ended last year (a 21-7 loss to Desert Mountain).

“In my senior year, I look forward to enjoying my final high school season with my teammates,” Anderson said.  “Having more great games and getting back to the championship to finish the job.”

 

 

CANYON VIEW SCHEDULE

8/28 at South Mountain
9/4   MARANA
9/11 at Sunrise Mountain
9/17  CHAPARRAL
9/25 at Camelback
10/2 at Desert Edge
10/9   KELLIS
10/16  VERRADO
10/23  MILLENNIUM
10/29 at Tolleson

Reach Chris Eaton at gridironarizona@yahoo.com or DM at @gridironarizona with story ideas.

 





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