Rams end 2006 football season with awards banquet

Ram coaches, players, parents and boosters gathered at the Francisco Grande in Casa Grande last Monday to recognize the 2006 Maricopa High School football players from the freshman, JV and Varsity teams.

During dinner the crowd of about two hundred enjoyed a 20-minute highlight video of the season’s big plays, put together by inmaricopa.com sports reporter Eddie Garcia.

Coach Tyler Brandt took center stage following the dinner to thank all the people who supported the Ram football program this season.

Brandt thanked the members of the Maricopa Football Booster Club for everything they did and still do in support of the program. The members include: Adriana Torres, Bill Clemans, Carlos and Maria Arguez, Doug and Karen Scofield, Dustin and Krisanne Beckstead, Frank and Romy Boyce, John and Marty Diehl, John and Terri Owings, Lucinda Fierros, Mike and Mary Wilson, Ron and Lisa Stewart, Shawn Barnicle and Robin Field, Sherry O’Leary, Steve and Shannon Hull, Terry and Michelle Burns, Tom and Lori Duffy, Tom and Tena Dugan and Will and Cindy Dunn.

Coach Brandt also expressed special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Zabawa, Bill Clemans, Mike and Mary Wilson, Shawn Barnicle and Ramsey Harkness of Ramsey’s American Grill.

Coach Brandt thanked Mr. and Mrs. Joe Zabawa for supporting Ram football. The Zabawas had two sons on this season’s team.

Special thanks went to the boosters for their support during the season.

Players from the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams received team awards. Freshman team defensive player of the year was Hunter Field; team offensive player of the year was Aaron Aiken and the coaches’ award went to Tony Chavez.

Junior Varsity awards went to team defensive player of the year Sebastian Ugarte, team offensive player of the year Duane Alexander and Vince Davis, who received the coaches’ award.

Varsity awards included: Matt Fierros–team defensive player of the year, Joe Zabawa–team offensive player of the year, Santiago Castro–most improved, James Chavarria–special teams player of the year and Justin Zabawa–the coaches’ award. This year Coach Brandt instituted a new award, the Iron Ram Award; it was given to senior defensive lineman Cody Field.

Senior Josh Bauer receives his All-Region certificate from Coach Brandt.

Several Ram players achieved All-Region recognition. Certificates for All-Region Honorable Mention went to Josh Burns, Matt Main, Keyon Coleman, Chris Wilson and Santiago Castro. All-Region First Team recognition went to junior wide out Cody Seymore, senior defensive end Josh Bauer, sophomore linebacker Blake Schwanbeck, junior special teams return man Will Clemans, senior quarterback Joe Zabawa and junior linebacker Matt Fierros.

Next season Maricopa moves up to 3A. Coach Brandt emphasized discipline and dedication to the returning players, including hitting the weight room. A majority of the starters will be returning to the team, and quarterbacking duties will be turned over to next year’s senior Will Clemans. He will have plenty of weapons to choose from, such as running back/wide out Justin Zabawa, wide receiver Cody Seymore, running back Matt Fierros, running back/wide receiver Blake Schwanbeck, running back Duane Alexander and tight end Jacob Cruz.

The nine departing seniors presented Coach Brandt with a framed photo, signed by all of them.

Coach Brandt and his staff, who implemented both new offensive and defensive schemes this year, are dedicated to the program and want the community to be proud of the young men on the football field. They want to build a winning team, but they also want to build quality young men. Players, parents, boosters and supporters seem to agree that Brandt and staff are doing the job well.