Numbers, talent up for Telesis football program

Landon Merrill is looking for big things from his football team this year.

The Telesis Tigers head coach said the Arizona Charter Athletic Association created two divisions this year – one for large schools and one for smaller schools like Telesis. And Landon said facing comparable talent means his squad should be competitive.

“Our defense looks so good. And out offensive line is solid,” Merrill said. “We got speed in the backfield, at wideout and in the defensive backfield. We look fast.”

Almost half the team is returning from last year. Jimmy Hill looks to anchor the defensive line while Nathaniel Merrill should start at linebacker, along with Dalton Smith and Jake LaCoste, a new Telesis student in from Montana.

At running back, the Tigers can choose from Ernie Cruz and two more Hill brothers, Tony and Bo.

And quarterbacking will be a new face to Telesis football, but not to Havasu, Cody Kramer. Kramer makes the move up to high school ball from the Pop Warner program.

The Tigers had 30 tryout for the team, which Merrill and his coaching staff cut down to 20. A number, he said, that should allow players in the 8-man league to concentrate on one side of the ball.

“Some players will still play two ways,” he said. “Our backups will be the starters on the other side of the ball. But we won’t have to have players playing both ways the whole game. No more iron man football.”

Merrill and his staff will get a better feel on his starting lineups Saturday as the Tigers travel to Laughlin for the annual Laughlin Jamboree, a six- to eight-team preseason series of scrimmages.

Telesis will take the field starting at 5 p.m.

You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.

Telesis Preparatory Academy

2009 Tigers Football Schedule

Aug. 27 at Mesa Heritage Academy, Hohokam Park, 7 p.m.

Sept. 4 vs. Surprise Arizona Charter Academy, at SARA Park, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 at Tempe James Madison Prep, Benedict Park Sports Complex, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 vs. Gilbert Desert Hills High School, at SARA Park, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25 Bye

Oct. 1 at Quartzsite Scholars Academy, Quartzsite Town Park, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 vs. Apache Junction Apache Trail High School, at SARA Park, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16 vs. Mohave Accelerated Learning Center, at SARA Park, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Yuma Harvest Preparatory Academy, TBA, 7 p.m.