Maricopa High School’s first football schedule as part of the new Arizona Interscholastic Association 5A Conference will pit the Rams against some of the best teams in the state.

The 2016 schedule will see the Rams play four playoff teams, one state runner-up and one state champion from 2015.

The Rams will face Division III state runner-up Paradise Valley High School at home in the second week of the season on Aug. 26. Two weeks later, on Sept. 9, Maricopa will travel to Peoria to take on Centennial High School. The Coyotes are nationally ranked following their Division I state championship this season and have been one of the best teams in the state over the last decade.

“It’s obviously going to be a step up, but I think that we have some kids coming through this program that are pretty good football players, so it’ll allow them to challenge their talents and challenge us as a program,” football head coach Chris McDonald said.

Maricopa will open the 2016 season in Surprise against Willow Canyon High School on Aug. 19. The Rams will also host Desert View High School (Tucson) on Sept. 2 and travel to Phoenix to take on North Canyon High School on Sept. 16 before receiving a bye week on Sept. 23.

“The AIA allowed us to have a zero week game, so we scheduled one to give our players some rest in the middle of the season,” Maricopa Unified School District Athletic Director Mark Cisterna said.

Maricopa will enter Metro Region play following the bye week.

“I think we’re going in the right direction, and it’s just a matter of continuing with that,” Cisterna said. “I think this community is ready to compete with the larger schools. Our athletes are buying in and I think our coaches are starting to accept that we’re not a small school anymore. Personally, I’m up for the challenge, and I know our coaches are.”

The upcoming season will test what is expected to be a young Maricopa team. However, the Rams will have an opportunity to make a statement in their new conference against perennial powerhouse schools.

Adam Wolfe
Adam Wolfe
http://inmaricopa.com
Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams. Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams. Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams.
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