Brophy wide receiver Daylen Sharper secures his 10th touchdown catch of the season in the 6A quarterfinals against Perry. (Photo courtesy of Jaden Batiest/Arizona Republic)
PHOENIX – After securing its 500th victory in team history, Brophy Prep is all in to bring home a football state title.
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The sixth-ranked Broncos (10-2), who last won an Arizona high school championship in 2007, toppled Perry High last Friday and have their eyes set on the 6A trophy, but a heavyweight semifinal matchup this Friday against No. 3 Mountain View Toros (11-1) stands in the way of ending the title drought.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve even been in the state championship game. We were one play away last year, now we’re one game away,” Brophy coach Jason Jewell said after his team beat Perry, 31-13. “(It’s) gonna take a tough week of preparation. It takes luck, it takes some grit. I think our kids got it though.”
After a back-and-forth first half against the Pumas, the Broncos started to strike on all cylinders – ultimately outscoring Perry 17-3 in the second half.
At the head of the snake for Brophy is junior quarterback Case Vanden Bosch, who has offers from Nebraska, Arizona State and Iowa. As he’s done all year, Vanden Bosch dominated through the air and on the ground. In addition to throwing for 163 yards and two touchdowns, he also ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Brophy quarterback Case Vanden Bosch powers forward for a first down in the second quarter against Perry in the 6A quarterfinals. (Photo courtesy of Jaden Batiest/Arizona Republic)
“I’m glad my coach has trusted me to run the ball back there, it keeps the defense on their heels,” Vanden Bosch said. “They got to go an extra guy back there when I’m running, they got to be ready for everything and it adds an extra level to our offense.”
Brophy wide receiver Daylen Sharper hauled in both of Vanden Bosch’s touchdown throws against Perry. The junior leads his team this season with 52 receptions for 724 yards and 10 touchdowns. Along with Vanden Bosch, he was named to the All-Region First Team.
Sharper has received a swarm of interest from programs at the next level, receiving offers from Oregon, Arizona State and Kansas, among others.
Brophy Prep wide receivers Devin Fitzgerald and Daylen Sharper celebrate a touchdown in the end zone during the 6A quarterfinals against Perry. (Photo courtesy of Jaden Batiest/Arizona Republic)
Despite the victory, Sharper and the team are far from satisfied, knowing that more has to be done if they want to become 6A champions.
“We still need to work hard and be determined. This is a good win, but honestly, I think we made a little too many mistakes,” Sharper said. “We need to work even harder so that we can get past Mesa (Mountain View) next round.”
Following the devastating loss and end to their season, the Pumas (6-6) remain proud of the year they had and the fight they showed until the very end despite falling one game shy of their first semifinal appearance since 2018.
The Perry Pumas’ defense erupts in celebration after forcing a crucial turnover against Brophy Prep in the 6A quarterfinals. (Photo courtesy of Jaden Batiest/Arizona Republic)
“We had a good season,” Perry coach Joseph Ortiz said. “These seniors played their hearts out and we never quit in any game.”
Perry coach Joseph Ortiz observes his team from the sidelines in the third quarter of the 6A quarterfinals. (Photo courtesy of Jaden Batiest/Arizona Republic)
Brophy wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald, a junior, made it clear that assembling a championship run for the team’s seniors is their top priority and how it would mean the world to the team if they can finish the season with a title.
“I’m just excited for another opportunity to play with my seniors, just get out there and get another win, hopefully go to the championship,” Fitzgerald said.
“We get to hang a banner and I bring my kids back here one day and show them that was us. I really can’t wait,” Fitzgerald added.
Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald watches his son, Devin, and the Brophy Broncos battle the Perry Pumas in the 6A quarterfinals. (Photo courtesy of Jaden Batiest/Arizona Republic)
The Toros are coming off a convincing 41-10 quarterfinal victory over Salpointe Catholic, one of two teams to defeat Brophy this season in a 45-30 final on Nov. 8.
Mountain View coach Andy Litten, who is in his first season with the team, is more than familiar with winning at the high school level. Litten led Horizon over Salpointe Catholic in the 5A championship game in 2021.
The Toros’ lone loss this season came on Sept. 13 against Liberty, the defending state champions. Mountain View has looked as dominant as ever since, putting together a nine-game winning streak. Elite on both sides of the ball, Mountain View is averaging 49.5 points per game this season while allowing less than 20 points per game.
Similar to Brophy, Mountain View has star power all over the field.
Toros quarterback Brady Goodman, a junior, has thrown for 38 touchdowns this season – which ranks first in the 6A. Goodman’s top target is junior wide receiver Talen Arnett, who leads the division with 21 touchdown receptions and ranks second with 1,006 receiving yards.
Brophy Prep head coach Jason Jewell strategizes with his team during halftime of the 6A quarterfinals. (Photo courtesy of Jaden Batiest/Arizona Republic)
Mountain View also has the 6A rushing leader, senior Reese Bolidy, who has racked up 1,383 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Toros are capable of matching up with any team in the state on offense, and Jewell showed nothing but respect for the Toros while remaining confident in his team’s chances to come out on top.
“I don’t know anything about Mountain View other than they’ve only lost one game,” Jewell said Friday after the quarterfinal victory. “A coach I respect, a team that has great tradition, it’s going to be a battle.”