Competition for playing time a benefit for Scorpions2 min read

By
Jeff Bear
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With a wealth of competition in the offensive backfield and the defensive secondary, plus a solid set of lineman and linebackers, the Sedona Red Rock High School football team is looking to be more competitive than it’s been in years.

The schedule, minus perennial powerhouses Winslow and Northwest Christian, may be more favorable for the Division V Scorpions, too.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association reshaped Division V and now has Sedona in Section 7 with six other teams, all of whom they play this season.

The Scorpions, however, do have games against two Division IV teams — at home against Page on Friday, Sept. 13, and at North Pointe Prep on Friday, Sept. 20.

The good news is that after graduating only five seniors from last year’s team, the Scorpions have a lot of players with varsity experience competing for just a few jobs.

“We’ve been in a position this year where we’ve actually been able to push guys to compete for positions, especially in the defensive secondary and in the backfield on offense,” fourth-year Scorpions head coach Rick Walsworth said. “We’ve got some quality guys that have experience — more than we need — to actually go out and play, so that’s been really good for those guys to have to compete for playing time.”

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Walsworth said he has a big group of juniors on the team that have worked hard in the weight room for the last two years, and also has a big group of incoming freshmen.

“Our numbers are low with our seniors and sophomores, but the guys we have are real quality and they’re hard workers,” Walsworth said. “Overall this will probably be the strongest team that we’ve put on the field on Friday nights in the four years that I’ve been here.”

For the full story, please see the Friday, Aug. 30, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.

Jeff Bear

Jeff Bear began his journalism career in 2003 as a graphic designer and sports reporter at the Weekly Register Call in Central City, Colorado. In 2007 he began working at the Canyon Courier in Evergreen, Colorado, as a graphic designer, but soon transferred into the editorial department where he worked as a copy editor and sport reporter under Editor Doug Bell. After a stint as a graphic designer at American Classifieds in 2009-10, Bear began working in 2011 as a copy editor at the Arizona Daily Sun, in Flagstaff. While at the Daily Sun, Bear was tapped by the late Randy Wilson to report on local sports including Northern Arizona University and Olympic medalists training in Flagstaff for the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 Bear began working at the Red Rock News in Sedona, Arizona, where he was an assistant editor and sports editor. Bear has two daughters, Angela and Jessica, with his wife Nina. He is a singer and guitarist, an avid cyclist and hiker, and enjoys camping with family and friends.

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Jeff Bear
Jeff Bear
Jeff Bear began his journalism career in 2003 as a graphic designer and sports reporter at the Weekly Register Call in Central City, Colorado. In 2007 he began working at the Canyon Courier in Evergreen, Colorado, as a graphic designer, but soon transferred into the editorial department where he worked as a copy editor and sport reporter under Editor Doug Bell. After a stint as a graphic designer at American Classifieds in 2009-10, Bear began working in 2011 as a copy editor at the Arizona Daily Sun, in Flagstaff. While at the Daily Sun, Bear was tapped by the late Randy Wilson to report on local sports including Northern Arizona University and Olympic medalists training in Flagstaff for the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 Bear began working at the Red Rock News in Sedona, Arizona, where he was an assistant editor and sports editor. Bear has two daughters, Angela and Jessica, with his wife Nina. He is a singer and guitarist, an avid cyclist and hiker, and enjoys camping with family and friends.