PHOENIX — The 2021 football season had barely finished when Phoenix coach Mike Robinson knew what he wanted to do with it: Put it behind him as quickly as possible.
The Pirates, facing ongoing challenges from the Almeda Fire that devastated the town in September 2020, found themselves woefully outmatched at nearly every turn, and the win-loss record reflected it.
Phoenix went 0-8 overall and 0-5 in the Skyline Conference. It was shut out twice, scored only one touchdown in each of three other games and was outscored by an average of 48-10.
“For the most part,” said Robinson, in his second year, “we tried hard to be competitive, but we were just outmanned and outbodied and outgunned at many positions last year. The majority of our team had a lot of freshmen playing, and sophomores.”
Among the ramifications of the past couple years has been a move to a lower classification for football.
The Pirates will play in the Far West League this year, a 10-team loop of Class 3A teams that includes state playoff favorites Cascade Christian and South Umpqua as well as former Skyline mate North Valley, which moved to 3A for all sports.
“We just want to be competitive,” said Robinson, a former Southern Oregon University fullback who dabbled in the Arena Football League before a knee injury ended his playing career.
“We’ve had a lot of setbacks with natural disasters that have kind of decimated the population,” he said. “We had to drop down to another level so we could be more competitive. Throughout the summer, our kids have been coming steady, and we’ve had scrimmages against some of these other schools. They (Pirate players) have shown to have grit and to fight pretty hard.”
“Our goal,” he added, “is to be .500 this year, if not better, in conference play.”
As for the lasting impact of the fire on the community, particularly the student population, it’s been “huge, huge,” he said.
“It’s just housing, and affordable housing, and people being able to move back into the area,” said Robinson, who works as a medical social worker in Jackson and Josephine counties with AccentCare Asante Home Health.
The district is still using the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to help bus in kids who have been displaced, he said.
However, said Robinson, many families were forced to transfer to other new areas, and some students needed to work to help their families, impeding their availability for practice and games.
“We’re just hopeful that as housing has increased, we can get our student population back to where it needs to be,” he said.
A byproduct of playing a slew of youngsters last season is that Phoenix returns nearly all of its starters. There are nine back on offense, 10 on defense.
They engaged in scrimmages with St. Mary’s and North Valley this summer, allowing an opportunity to learn and jell in Robinson’s system following a couple years stunted by the fire and COVID-19.
The line will be a strength on offense, with four seniors leading the way in tackle Aaron Clark (6-foot-1, 240 pounds), guards Omar Mendoza-Cortez (5-11, 250) and Eric Rangel (5-11, 230) and center Cory Cunningham (6-0, 300).
“They’re physical and they’ve been working together all summer,” said Robinson, who wants a balanced attack between rushing and passing.
Senior Jair Ramirez will be the featured running back, and senior Hunter Everhart is back at quarterback.
“The biggest thing we need from our quarterback is ball control and being a leader at that position,” said Robinson. “His strength is his arm. He’s got a really good, strong arm. He’s been able to read and become more decisive in that position.”
Senior Charles Butcher, a 255-pound fullback, adds force to the backfield, while sophomore Derek Corder and junior Jackson Shilts are expected to get carries, along with freshmen Luke Jennings and Cody Martin.
The backfield depth will allow Robinson to “spread the ball around and try to keep kids healthy,” he said.
Senior Jackson Selden and junior J.J. Jimenez return at wide receiver.
Defensively, safeties Selden and Shilts are the lone returning Pirates who were on the all-league team last year, each earning honorable mention. Cornerbacks Jimenez and sophomore Julian Montez fill out the secondary.
Selden led the team in tackles from his free safety position a year ago.
“It’s just his motor,” Robinson said of the team captain. “The kid is all over the field. He is not afraid of contact.”
Corder and junior Hayden Hicks are returning linebackers, while defensive linemen back are ends Ramirez and Butcher, tackle Rangel and nose tackle Mendoza-Cortez.
Phoenix gets a major test in its first game, at home against South Umpqua. The Lancers were state runners-up last season.
“Like I said,” said Robinson, “we just want to be competitive and kind of get the spark back, not only for the kids at the school, but the community as well.”
PIRATES
HEAD COACH
Mike Robinson (second year, 0-8)
GENERAL INFORMATION
ASSISTANTS: Tim Seeley (assistant head coach/defensive coordinator), Ernest Johnston (quarterbacks/linebackers), Mark Garcia (offensive line/defensive line), Jack Cosgrove (JV head coach/receivers/defensive backs).
2021 LEAGUE RECORD: 0-5 (sixth Skyline).
2021 OVERALL RECORD: 0-8.
PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR: Tenth.
2021 RESULTS
Phoenix Opponents
6;Sutherlin 46
0;Stayton 49
30;Elmira 36
0;Hidden Valley 45
6;Henley 49
20;Klamath Union 56
6;Mazama 68
12;North Valley 35
RETURNING STARTERS
OFFENSE (9): Quarterback Hunter Everhart (6-2, 180, sr.), fullback Charles Butcher (6-0, 255, sr.), running back Jair Ramirez (5-10, 220, sr.), receiver Jackson Selden (5-11, 185, sr.), receiver J.J. Jimenez (5-10, 185, jr.), tackle Aaron Clark (6-1, 240, sr.), guard Omar Mendoza-Cortez (5-11, 250, sr.), center Cory Cunningham (6-0, 300, sr.), guard Eric Rangel (5-11, 230, sr.).
DEFENSE (10): End Jair Ramirez, tackle Eric Rangel, nose tackle Omar Mendoza-Cortez, end Charles Butcher, cornerback J.J. Jimenez, free safety Jackson Selden, linebacker Hayden Hicks (5-10, 220, jr.), linebacker Derek Corder (5-10, 210, so.), cornerback Julian Montez (6-2, 185, so.), strong safety Jackson Shilts (5-10, 160, jr.).
OTHER NOTABLES
Offensive tackle Diego Vaca (6-0, 250, so.), linebacker Shane Gordon (6-1, 170, so.), tight end Sidney McQueen (6-3, 215, so.), running back/strong safety Luke Jennings (5-10, 205, fr.), running back/defensive back Cody Martin (6-0, 185, fr.).
2022 SCHEDULE
Sept. 2 at South Umpqua, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Coquille, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at St. Mary’s, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 DOUGLAS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 BROOKINGS-HARBOR, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Cascade Christian, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 SUTHERLIN, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 LAKEVIEW, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 at North Valley, 7 p.m.
Tim Trower is a freelance writer. To comment on this article, write to sports@rosebudmedia.com.
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