New QBs coming to Class 3A’s South-Central League

A new two-year cycle beings for the 2020 season, which brings Canon City into the Class 3A South-Central League, replacing Durango. The other five squads all hail from the Steel City in Pueblo Central, Pueblo Centennial, Pueblo County, Pueblo East and Pueblo South. While not much changed with the league itself, the look on the field will involve some new faces under center as five of the six teams graduated their starting quarterback from 2019. Here is a look at who could be coming up the ranks for the 2020 season. [caption id="attachment_22252" align="alignright" width="210"] [player_tooltip player_id="22666" first="Chase" last="Hartman"][/caption]<strong>Pueblo County: [player_tooltip player_id="22666" first="Chase" last="Hartman"], 2021</strong> The one returner from the S-CL is Pueblo County’s [player_tooltip player_id="22666" first="Chase" last="Hartman"], who started all 10 games last season under center as a junior. Like many teams across Class 3A, the Hornets are a run-heavy offense, especially under coach Monte Pinkerton, who took over the head coaching job last season after many years at Pueblo West and a 2007 Class 4A state title. Hartman threw for a 51.2 completion percentage and picked up 799 yards through the air with 5 TD passes compared to 3 interceptions. On the ground, he had 105 carries for 560 yards and 4 rushing TDs. With a year under his belt at the starting spot, look for Hartman to break out a bit more with the arm in 2020 and continue to be a force rushing the ball as well. <strong>Pueblo East: [player_tooltip player_id="22586" first="Jaxson" last="Herring"] (2021), CJ Lucero (2022)</strong> After starting QB Jack Helzer went down with an injury last season, current senior [player_tooltip player_id="22586" first="Jaxson" last="Herring"] stepped into the gunner spot and had mixed results. [caption id="attachment_22253" align="alignright" width="200"] [player_tooltip player_id="22586" first="Jaxson" last="Herring"][/caption]The Eagles won the two games Herring started, but he threw 4 INTs with no TD passes and completed just over 50 percent of his passes. On the ground, Herring found success with 380 rushing yards on 85 carries with 5 TDs. However, with two senior wide receivers gone from 2019, the 6-foot-4, 215 pound Herring might be left in his wideout spot under first-year coach Tony Valdez. Valdez is also Pueblo East’s track and field coach, so there is a strong emphasis on speed in his offensive scheme that he helped create for the Eagles as their offensive coordinator the last few seasons. That could mean Valdez sticks with Herring at the QB spot for his rushing ability, but if not, look for junior CJ Lucero to potentially took over. He is the only other returner who attempted a pass in 2019. <strong>Pueblo Centennial: Tony Cardona, 2021</strong> The Bulldogs have a strong emphasis on the run game, which meant 2019 starting QB Devin Blue was more run-first than pass-first. Cardona is also prone to running the ball, but the senior showed off the arm a little more in 2019 as the offense opened up to more air action under fourth-year coach Jeff Wilkerson. The 6-foot-2, 198 pound Cardona could be an important piece in making the Bulldogs’ offense a little more two-dimensional in 2020 as they look to build off of some success from last season. <strong>Pueblo Central: Ryley Roth, 2021</strong> After starting at QB in 2018 season, Roth was slated behind senior Brandon Martin for the 2019 starting QB spot. With Martin gone, Roth appears to be in line to take the starting job back with sophomore Darrian Fritzen as the only other Wildcat to attempt a pass in 2019. Roth threw 5 TDs and 7 INTs in the 2018 campaign and completed only 37.3 percent of passes. In 2019, the 5-foot-7, 140 pound Roth was still involved on the offense in the receiving game. With Roth’s speed, look for Central to try and repeat the success they had with Martin in 2019 behind a more run-focused offense led by Roth. [caption id="attachment_22254" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="22715" first="Jace" last="Bellah"][/caption]<strong>Pueblo South: [player_tooltip player_id="22715" first="Jace" last="Bellah"], 2022</strong> The Colts made it all the way to the Class 3A state title game in 2019 behind senior QB Logan Petit and some help from Bellah, who led Class 3A in interceptions in his first-ever season playing cornerback. Despite the standout season on defense, Bellah looks to be slotted as the next QB for the Colts as he attempted the second most passes on the team last year with 13, completing 10 of them and throwing 3 for TDs. Petit was a two-year starter, which is something that the 5-foot-10, 155 pound Bellah could be in line to repeat with a promotion in 2020. <strong>Canon City: Treyton Boitz (2022), Lucas Walcott (2021), Josh Rall (2021)</strong> There’s a potential long line for the starting QB job in Canon City for the 2020 season after last season’s starter Harrison Pilafas graduated. Boitz, Walcott and Rall all attempted a few passes here and there with Boitz throwing the most with 17 attempts. He went 10 for 17 for 47 yards, 0 TDs and 3 INTs. With a couple more guys currently listed on the Tigers’ MaxPreps roster for the 2020 season, the next signal caller in Canon City will be heated competition heading into the fall.