It was a new venue for the sixth annual edition of Just Chilly’s Flight Club. The 7-on-7 competition and big man challenge, which regularly closes out the month of tournaments, was hosted by Basha HS in Chandler on June 27. And the victors didn’t have to take the trophies very far.
For the second straight year, Basha claimed the belts for both the big man competition and the 7’s tournament. Last year, the Bears followed that duo up with an Open Division Championship in December.
There were 27 different schools represented in the 28-team field and half of those also had representation in the lineman competition. Basha used its main stadium for two of the 7’s fields with the other games taking part on five others nearby. The big man took place in the outfield of the baseball stadium.
There was a lot going on during the seven-hour event, with much of it taking place after the sun had gone down. A few food trucks kept fans hydrated and well-fed.
The big-man competition featured an agility obstacle course, tire flip, tug-of-war, and one-on-one battles. Points were tallied up to determine a top five. Those finalists moved on to the Hummer pull. The name is just how it suggests, a couple of linemen pulled a tow rope attached to a Hummer electric vehicle. The fastest time would win the challenge.
The top five schools that moved on to the finals were Brophy, Verrado, Sunnyslope, Corona del Sol, and Basha. Basha had the best time by less than a half-second over Sunnyslope.
Had a great time competing last night at the @JUSTCHILLY big man competition, with our team placing second overall by 4 tenths of a second in the hummer pull.@CoachCotton12 @SlopeFootball @RonTBAOL @coachbarrett91 @cuff_lee @therealbeadle @gridironarizona pic.twitter.com/xk7v5JpWjj
— Owen Lifshitz (@OLifshitz90318) June 28, 2026
With seven games happening at once, plus the big man area, it’s impossible to see everything. I did manage to see nine different games featuring 14 teams (half the field), plus a stop at the lineman competition (and a meal from a food truck). Here’s a look at nine of the schools that I saw:
SOUTH MOUNTAIN
Last Year: It was a rough 2025 season for the program, which started with a forfeit against Canyon View. Several players were injured in a preseason scrimmage and some of the remaining members had not completed their mandatory heat acclimatization protocol required by the AIA. The Jaguars did play in Week 2, but finished with a mark of 1-9 and got shut out three times. Five of the team’s losses came by at least 28 points. It was South Mountain’s worst record since 2016. The season did end on a happy note as the Jaguars defeated Fairfax, 30-24.
Skill Position Players: CB/WR Aryan Johnson (one of top sprinters in the state), TE Lamont Laster, WR/CB BJ Butler, WR Jesiah Lewis, RB/LB Jah’loni Jones
Something Different in 2026: A new head coach. Larry Davis was hired in March as the Jaguars’ new sideline boss. He was most recently the associate head coach and offensive line coach at Corona del Sol. He has head coaching experience with the Salt River Scorpions at the juco level. Davis said the players have been showing up and buying in.
Talking to the Coach: As expected with a coaching change, it is about establishing what the team wants to be about. “We’re just trying to build a culture of commitment, a culture of competition, and a band of brothers that’s going to play for something bigger than themselves,” Davis said. “Our goal is to build on that and evaluate the small things so we can go back and get better.”
In the Tournament: I saw South Mountain play in its first pool play game at 4 p.m. Butler played well and had the interception for the Jaguars in a 3-3 tie with Arizona College Prep. The temperature was 106 degrees on the main artificial-turf field. Christian McCray, who played in four varsity games as a freshman last season, was the team’s quarterback. South Mountain finished pool play at 1-1-1 after gaining a victory over Mesa. The Jaguars were defeated in the first round of the knockout round by Tempe. South Mountain did not allow more than two touchdowns in any of its four games (and only gave up four total TDs on the night).
CACTUS
Last Year: Cactus was consistent going 4-1 in its freedom games in the first half and then 4-1 in 5A Northwest Region play for an 8-2 season. It was the Cobras’ most regular-season wins since 2021, however, CHS fell in the first round of the playoffs to eventual champion Desert Mountain (and led that game at halftime). Cactus had both the region player of the year (Robert Bell) and the defensive region player of the year (Jayson Burkhard). Both were seniors and will need to be replaced.
Skill Position Players: RB/WR Nathaniel Linares, WR Canyon Ozog, QB Jake Martin, S Cole Douglas, WR James Angulo, S Donta Sutton, WR Malaki Rodriguez
Something Different in 2026: New starting quarterback, replacing top two wide receivers. Mental aspect of wanting to advance after early playoff loss in ’25.
Talking to the Coach: Head coach Brian Belles is in his fifth year for Cactus and works to combine a businesslike approach while still letting the players enjoy themselves. “We were really young last year,” Belles said. “I thought we’ve had a really good offseason. The kids have been competing at all these tournaments.” Earlier in June, the Cobras won the 7-on-7 title at O’Connor.
Like many previous Cactus teams, this one embraces the blue-collar approach. “They have a very workman-like attitude,” Belles said. “We’ve been working really hard in the weight room. Last year, we weren’t happy with the way things ended. We’ve been used to making really deep runs in the playoffs.”
In the Tournament: I saw Cactus open pool play against Perry, which has had a lot of success in tournaments over the past month. Linares had a pair of touchdowns and the Cobras won 21-7. Cactus finished 2-1 in pool play and won a couple more games in the bracket portion (over Shadow Ridge and Chandler’s Rising Stars) before falling in the quarterfinals against Desert View. The offense scored 19 touchdowns over its six contests.
McCLINTOCK
Last Year: Injuries and a young defense led to McClintock getting off to a slow start (1-4). However, the Chargers turned it around in region play and finished at 5-5 after falling to Sunnyslope in the season finale. It was the first year at the school for head coach Nick Offenberger.
Skill Position Players: WR/DB Aidan Whitaker, QB Kaiden-Ikaika Agbunag, LB Ryan Lee, WR Cohen McDowell, WR Jackson Whitaker, LB Quincy Greene
Something Different in 2026: Last year was the first year for the coaching staff. It’s a full offseason for the group and the seniors are following their lead.
Talking to the Coach: Offenberger was not with the team at Flight Club, so I talked to offensive coordinator Ruben Pimbert. He mentioned that there are still a lot of young players on the team. “I hope we just continuously grow throughout the season,” Pimbert said. “We have a group of young guys.”
Agbunag, now a sophomore, was the starter in the opener in his freshman year and went 15-of-21 against Camelback with three touchdown passes, but suffered an injury and missed the rest of the season. He’s back and was leading the team in this tournament. “His arm strength is great,” Pimbert said. “He puts the ball where he needs to put it.”
Aidan Whitaker is a senior who stands out with his 6-3 height. He has offers from 16 Division I schools including Colorado State, Kansas, and New Mexico. The team is looking for a consistency on the QB/WR duo for goal-line situations. “We’re trying to perfect that go up and get it ball with Aidan and Kaiden,” Pimbert said.
In the Tournament: I watched McClintock (a 5A team) not only go toe-to-toe with Casteel (the reigning 6A champs), but defeat the Colts, 30-28. One of the newest weapons for the Chargers is RB/WR Oneil Mclean (a junior), who brought a lot of speed in a long touchdown play.
McClintock went on a surprise run to the semifinals in the ’25 Just Chilly Flight Club event and this time took it a step further. After going 2-1 in pool play, the Chargers defeated region opponent Sunnyslope before knocking off Maryvale and Brophy. Then, McClintock was a beneficiary of Chandler getting removed from the tournament (due to a fight in the quarterfinals). This allowed MHS to have a walkover to the championship game. Unfortunately, the night ended there against Basha.
MARANA
Last Year: Marana was just two points away from a second consecutive perfect regular season. The Tigers dropped a 20-18 game against Salpointe Catholic before reeling off 10 straight victories. MHS broke the 40-point barrier in seven of those contests. Marana defeated Yuma Catholic in the first round of the 5A bracket, but lost to Horizon in the quarterfinals.
Skill Position Players: WR Sean Roebuck, WR Jaxsun Sharp, RB Jeffery Smith, TE Remy McKinnon, LB AJ Rocha
Something Different in 2026: According to Head Coach Phillip Steward, not one particular person is standing out as a leader, but they are all working together for the greater good. The wide receivers will be a strength as that unit all returns. It will be a quarterback battle between junior Trent Hicks and sophomore Isaac Flores. The team lost a lot of players on defense after going 19-1 over the past two regular seasons.
Talking to the Coach: The team’s game in pool play got a little chippy and Steward used it as a teaching tool afterwards before bracket play began. “It’s competitive,” Steward said. “There’s some trash talking. I’m trying to teach them to control themselves when things are not going right. This is a great environment to put them in those situations.”
Marana traveled further north to Heber to attend camp at Shadow Pines on July 16 for a few days. A couple offensive linemen Steward is excited about are Gannon Nesbitt and Koen Reidy.
In the Tournament: I watched Marana finish off pool play with a 20-14 win over Corona del Sol. That made the Tigers 2-1 to that point. Marana continued on after its most productive win of the night (41-21 over Mesa) before falling to Basha in the second round.
SUNNYSLOPE
Last Year: Sunnyslope finished 8-3 overall and won the 5A Central Valley Region. The final season for Head Coach Sam Jacobs (before retiring) resulted in the Vikings reaching the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years. In his second year as the starting quarterback, junior Royce Vanacore improved on his numbers throwing 22 touchdown passes and nearly 2,000 yards.
Skill Position Players: QB Royce Vanacore, WR Rider Cerone, RB Kelton Rogers (1,200 rush yards & 20 TDs), DB Brendan Camp (6 INTs), DB Mason Walker
Something Different in 2026: A new head coach. Tony Cotton comes to Slope after seven years as the wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator at Brophy. When asked what he learned from working under Jason Jewell, Cotton mentioned a couple of things. “Organization – being prepared every day,” Cotton said. “Also, the way we attack the weight room. These two things will change the lifeblood of a high school program.”
Talking to the Coach: It’s been an inconsistent summer for the Vikings. They won a tournament at Arizona Christian and made the semifinals in a big field at Northern Arizona. However, they didn’t do well at Arizona State and finished 1-2 in pool play at Flight Club. “We’re up and down,” Cotton said. “It’s trying to get them to build confidence and believe in themselves.”
As far as improvements this spring, Cotton has seen a tremendous movement in the weight room culture. Having a third-year quarterback should allow Sunnyslope to score plenty of points as well. “Royce has a lot of skills,” Cotton said. “He’s high-energy and he’s competitive.”
In the Tournament: I saw Sunnyslope in what ended up being the high point of the night – a 17-14 hard-fought win over Benjamin Franklin. The Vikings did score 21 points in each of their two pool-play losses. In the first round of the knockout phase, SHS fell to McClintock.
VERRADO
Last Year: Under a new coaching staff headed by Brett Davis, Verrado went on an early four-game winning streak. The Vipers ended the regular season at 6-4 and made the 5A playoffs. It was a high-powered 44 Shoot passing offense that led to the team averaging 37 points per game. Unfortunately, Campo Verde was able to shut it down in a 24-14 win in the first round of the playoffs.
Skill Position Players: WR Carter Bliss (11 receiving TDs), WR Eli Mock, LB Jamari Carter, RB Jesse Abundes, QB Chase Valdez, DB Remy Shelton
Something Different in 2026: A new QB to direct the offense following the graduation of Malachi Wilt (3,100 passing yards and 34 TDs last season).
Talking to the Coach: I popped in on the Big Man competition to see Verrado. The Vipers scored enough points during the rounds of competition to make the top five (Hummer pull final). VHS has an offensive tackle in Cyrus Padilla, who is getting some college attention (seven offers, including FCS schools Drake and San Diego). Padilla is 6-3, 295, and carries a lofty 4.81 GPA. He qualified for state in wrestling in the heavyweight division. According to the film, he had 26 pancake blocks as a junior.
I talked to offensive line coach DJ Cresswell, who was there with the bigs. The Vipers had just nine players at the event. “We didn’t have a full crew today,” Cresswell said. “We’re doing good with what we have.”
The line coaches are impressed with the players’ work ethic this offseason. “The heart and the grit,” Cresswell said. “The work they’re willing to put in and they’re hungry. We’re doing it every day when everybody else isn’t.”
In the Tournament: Verrado went 1-2 in pool play, defeating Paradise Honors. In the first round of the bracket play, the Vipers were victorious in a score fest against Casa Grande (52-42). In the second round, the Vipers had a rematch with Desert View, and scored 28 points, but lost by a pair of scores.
Taking in some of the Big Man competition. Verrado defeats Mesa in tug of war. #JCFC26 pic.twitter.com/icqxVMLnGf
— Gridiron Arizona (@gridironarizona) June 28, 2026
CACTUS SHADOWS
Last Year: Cactus Shadows won its first playoff game since 2017 with a 56-35 win over Tucson in the 5A first round. The Falcons made the postseason for a second straight year and finished 7-5 after a heartbreaking one-point loss to Arizona College Prep. It was the final season for QB Donivan Dixon, who was a four-year starter with 9,764 passing yards, 4,110 rushing yards, and 147 total touchdowns (102 passing) in his HS career. Dixon is now at Northern Arizona.
Skill Position Players: LB Gunnar Perry, DB Aidan Chambers, DB Tavion Johnson, QB Gage Millard, WR Zach Spielman, LB Clayton Pfaff, LB Casen Stieg, S Colin Godfrey
Something Different in 2026: A new quarterback at the helm in Millard. The need to play as a team. On defense, the arrival of transfer Gunnar Perry (who had 119 tackles for Notre Dame last season).
Talking to the Coach: Head Coach Chris Dixon wasn’t with the team at this event. Offensive Coordinator (and former Hamilton Head Coach) Steve Belles was leading the Falcons. He said that for the most part, CSHS made it through the summer injury free. Also, participation has been very good during summer workouts. “However much you invest is what we’re going to get out of it,” Belles said. “Our kids have invested and they play hard.”
Millard, a junior, got some reps on varsity last season as the backup. This was the first summer of 7’s for him to be leading the team. Cactus Shadows has fared well winning tournaments at the White Tanks and Arizona State. “Gage has progressed better throughout the summer,” Belles said. “He had a really good tournament tonight. He’s a kid capable of leading our team to a great season.”
Teams preach brotherhood and getting along with one another as important principles during the offseason. For the Falcons to carry that summer success into the fall, that’s what it will take. “We know we have to be closer to be successful,” Belles said. “We have to be 11 as 1 on the field. If we’re not, we’re not going to be anywhere near our potential.”
Talking to the New QB: “It’s been a ton of learning experiences,” Millard said of leading the team in spring ball and the summer. “Being behind one of the best QBs in Arizona teaches you a lot.”
Cactus Shadows scored late in the quarterfinals against Basha to either tie the game or. . . Go for two. That’s what the Falcons did. With a single play from the 10-yard line, Cactus Shadows was unable to take the lead and lost by a single point. Still, Millard appreciated the coach’s faith in the offense. “I love his confidence,” Millard said of Belles’ call. “Along with his plays and style.”
In the Tournament: The loss to Basha was the only blemish on the night for Cactus Shadows. The Falcons earned the No. 2 seed after pool play wins over Shadow Ridge, Cactus, and Perry. A win over Casteel advanced the Falcons to the quarterfinal matchup with the Bears.
DESERT VIEW
Last Year: It was the most successful season in the Jaguars’ 40-year history. Desert View rolled through the regular season undefeated and knocked off Mountain Pointe (its first playoff win in four years) before falling to Canyon View in the 5A semifinals. It was nice to see the patience pay off for Desert View. Bonillas began his coaching career with the Jags at 4-26. He is now heading into his 15th season at the South Tucson school.
Skill Position Players: QB Andrew Godoy, WR/DB Desmond Dowayee, WR/DB Robert Medrand, RB/LB Greg McKinstry, WR/DB Keanu Romero, DB Kenny Sonnah, DB Lamichael Flanagan
Something Different in 2026: Replacing RB Jaylee Abraham (1,700 yards & 33 TDs). The junior transferred to Centennial. Also a new starting QB as Ryan Vasavilbaso (2,600 yards & 28 TD passes) has graduated.
Talking to the Coach: Desert View had success in the tournament at the University of Arizona and advanced to the semifinals in Flight Club. QB play is a big part of that and Bonillas likes what he’s seen out of Godoy. “Andrew is doing a good job of managing our offense, ” Bonillas said. “He has a strong arm and good feet.”
2025 was a turnaround season for the Jaguars as they improved from 3-7 to 11-1. The energy remains high that it wasn’t a fluke year. “Good vibe, good numbers,” Bonillas said. “Kids are working hard.”
The defense returns several players including Dowayee, Sonnah, Romero, and Flanagan in the secondary. It’s a crew of mostly juniors that played together last year. “It’s coming together,” Bonillas said. “We’re focusing on the mental part of it.”
In the Tournament: Desert View won its pool at 3-0, taking each by one touchdown. After receiving a bye in the first round of the bracket, the Jaguars defeated Verrado and Cactus before facing Basha in the semis. DVHS battled, but fell short by a 34-24 count.
BASHA
Last Year: Basha claimed its second Open Division State Championship in school history (also won in 2022) with a resounding 34-7 victory over Chandler in the title game in December. The Bears lost quarterback Brodie Vehrs late in the regular season to an injury, but backup Jake Rogers stepped in and led the team during its playoff run. In a year that saw Basha go 12-1, the team scored at least 30 points 11 times. Hamilton was the only squad to defeat the Bears. . . And the Huskies are not on this year’s schedule (but Chandler, Orange Lutheran, Liberty, Red Mountain, and Brophy are).
Skill Position Players: QB Jake Rogers, WR Jaden Baldwin, RB Noah Roberts, DB Taylan Patterson, LB Marc Duerson, TE Barry Adams, CB Tre Kennard III, LB Kyser Wilson
Something Different in 2026: Having the target on their backs as the defending champions. A tremendously loaded senior class with 14 current D-I commitments.
Talking to the Coach: Head Coach Chris McDonald was helping run the tournament on his campus so some of the assistants were in charge of activities on the field for the varsity team. I talked to Chris Gaeta, the wide receivers coach, following one of the Bears’ pool play games. In regards to the WR room, the trends were size, speed, and technique. “They’ve been working hard,” Gaeta said. “We’ve got Makai Nelson, Baldwin, Christian Diaz in the slot, Tristan Sailer runs a 10.9 in the 100.”
Complacency doesn’t seem to be a factor as the team gathered together in the spring to begin the long process of trying to repeat. “They didn’t miss a beat,” Gaeta said. “The standard here is the standard and everything falls into line.”
One of the players I was watching during a win over Casa Grande was defensive back Taylan Patterson, a Utah commit. When the games happen this fall, he’s also a return guy on special teams. “His game is smooth,” Gaeta said. “He can run with anybody. IQ is really high.”
With so many skilled players at all levels, competition is very high, but that doesn’t get in the way of the group playing as one. “They’re all friends off the field,” Gaeta said. “The brotherhood and the things they can get from the game and use in life is the #1 thing. They’re all close and I think that’s what makes a great team.”
Big Man Champs: Basha made the top five out of the 14 teams that brought linemen to the event and then was the fastest in the Hummer pull. Basha commits on the line include Jake Hildebrand (Arizona State), Dajohn Yarborough (Cal), Anitoni Tahi (Kansas State), Caleb Jordan (Nevada), Tre Kennard III (Nevada), and TK Cunningham (Purdue).
Talking to the MVP: Hildebrand was named the MVP for the event. He said O-Line Coach Tim Kelly has been doing a lot for the unit. The biggest practice skill that helped on this night was using their hips, particularly for the Hummer pull. Hildebrand’s favorite event was the medicine ball toss, which forced players to use strength and their hips. He thought the toughest was the Hummer pull.
He said the team is still hungry and not just satisfied with having won last year. “We’re going to put our heads down,” Hildebrand said. “We’re going to work as hard as we can. We want to go back-to-back.”
Hildebrand was a golden ticket recipient and committed to the Sun Devils in May. ASU has coveted the local prospect for a long time. “I’m so glad to stay home and activate the Valley,” Hildebrand said. “(Offensive Line) Coach (Saga) Tuitele and (Head) Coach (Kenny) Dillingham are really great guys. I’ve built a great relationship with them over four years.”
Talking to (Another) MVP: Rogers was named the AALL Insurance MVP of the event. This was the first summer that he had the chance to lead the Bears as the #1 QB. “I feel like a lot of confidence,” Rogers said of improvements in his game. “Also in the weight room getting bigger, faster, and stronger. Trusting in my guys too.”
Rogers, a Princeton commit, acknowledges that the game played in June isn’t exactly the same he’ll see behind center the last week of August. “I feel it helps with learning the playbook,” Rogers said. “It’s a totally different game. I can’t wait to get back in the pads in August.”
He is looking forward to continuing to build connections with his receivers on the field and off as we lead up to the season. That includes having them run routes and become friends with everyone he can.
In the MaxPreps preseason rankings, Basha is ranked No. 15 (the highest Arizona school). Nights like this one are ones that show how difficult it will be to knock the Bears off. “Best skills in the state,” Rogers said. “Best linemen in the state. Just shows we’ve got to go back-to-back.”
In the Tournament: Basha didn’t completely run the table. After shutout wins against Skyline and Casa Grande (a rarity in the offensive-minded 7’s), Centennial bested Basha 15-14. That put the Bears as the No. 7 seed and playing in the first round (only the top four teams got byes). Basha’s run started with a Skyline rematch and then a win over Marana. The Cactus Shadows game was the biggest obstacle to the belt as it came down to the final play. After that, the Bears took care of Desert View (34-24) and McClintock (38-14).
Reach Chris Eaton at gridironarizona@yahoo.com or DM at @gridironarizona with story ideas.
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