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RAMS return linemen, receivers

Aug 22, 2013

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The head football coach of the Maricopa High School Rams rushed around storage Room 530 in the boys’ locker-room the Friday before school started, distributing helmets, pads and practice jerseys to players and getting his staff ready for the upcoming fall season.

High school football is back in Maricopa.

After taking the No. 7 seed in the playoffs going 7-4, 34-year-old head coach Cory Nenaber said he hoped the Rams can become perennial playoff contenders despite losing some of their star players to graduation.

Nenaber said this will not be a rebuilding season because all of his receivers and most of his linemen are returning.

“I’m excited for this season,” said 17-year-old senior defensive end Eloi Ishya. “I want to get 20 sacks.”

Maricopa High School went through three coaches in as many years until settling on Nenaber in fall 2010, assigning him a one-year rolling contract. This will be his fourth season as head coach. Last year he also was named the athletic director for the entire district.

This fall, the Rams will compete with familiar and unfamiliar teams in a restructured schedule. MHS will play Flowing Wells (Tucson), Catalina Foothills (Tucson), Tempe, Williams Field (Gilbert), and other high schools.

Rivalry games against Casa Grande will still be favored matches.

MHS recently raised its academic eligibility requirement for students to a 2.0 grade point average. Before, a student just needed to pass his classes with Ds.

“We wouldn’t put scoreboards on the field if we didn’t want to win, but it’s not just about wins and losses,” Nenaber said. “It’s our job to fully develop these kids as student athletes.”

The coach said the ability to play sports is enough of an incentive for students to study hard and maintain 2.0 GPA because Rams players love playing football at the end of the week.

“There is nothing like a Friday night.”

All games start at 7 p.m.: