2021 Team Preview: Sunrise Mountain Mustangs

<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Overview</strong></span> Sunrise Mountain will enter 2021 as the reigning 5A Champs as they posted an impressive 9-2 season to win it all in 2020. Their road wasn’t easy to get there, as they play in possibly the toughest division in 5A football and also faced very tough opponents for their non-conference matchups, which included 4A state Champs Mesquite, 4A runner up Cactus, and open division contender Liberty. Their two losses on the year came against Ironwood (20-11), and Desert Edge (26-23), who ended up in the open division playoff. However, they met Ironwood again in the 5A state championship where they were able get their payback with a 42-20 win in the biggest stage of 5A football. The biggest question that everyone seems so hesitant to ask is, can Sunrise do it again in 2021? Well, they lose a handful of key players which includes RB [player_tooltip player_id="93180" first="Tommy" last="Arnold"] who ran for over 1,300 yards and 19 TD’s. Yet they also return some big guns on both sides of the ball who have the potential to have breakout seasons in 2021. They will also play a very similar schedule to last year’s as well, as they’ll once again have Liberty, Cactus, and Mesquite to take on, and not to mention their tough region games as well. The 5A Desert West region and 5A football in general is up for grabs, and it projects to be a neck and neck competition throughout 2021, and Sunrise Mountain will be an intriguing team to follow. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span> [caption id="attachment_133968" align="alignright" width="284"]<img class=" wp-image-133968" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/04/AZ-NP-Showcase-Hunter-Kronengold-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="284" height="284" /> Photo: National Preps Showcases- [player_tooltip player_id="161970" first="Hunter" last="Kronengold"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="161970" first="Hunter" last="Kronengold"], <em>QB, 2022</em> Kronengold saw some action last year and flashed solid potential as he threw for 539 yards and 4 TD’s. He’s a new name around the valley that could bust loose out of the gates and establish himself early in the season. He sizes up with a slender frame at 6’4" 180lbs and has shown the ability to hit difficult throws with solid accuracy and timing. A big sleeper at the QB spot who holds numerous intangibles to develop into a promising gunslinger. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="42879" first="John" last="Hart"], <em>TE/DE, 2022</em> Hart should play both ways for Sunrise, and sizes up with a solid frame and build at 6’4" 230lbs. Sunrise is expecting Hart to step up and fill a big role here in 2021. Hart flashes good physicality all around and the ability to shed and get off blocks to make plays. Big body kid who has the potential to take a major leap from his junior to senior season. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="100729" first="Darnell" last="Stephens"], <em>LB, 2022</em> Stepehens had a productive year in 2020 as a junior where he racked up 60 tackles, 3 TFL’s, 1 sack and 1 INT. Good frame and build at 6’1" 200lbs and is strong at the POA while flashing a nice striking ability. Reads and diagnoses plays well and does a great job playing and fighting through traffic to blow up the run. Overall an impressive prospect who projects to have a very strong senior season. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="110096" first="Micah" last="Johnson"], <em>WR, 2023</em> Johnson is a promising young receiver with excellent length for a 6’2" kid. He flashes a nice burst off the LOS and is a huge mismatch in the slot against a LB or SS given his quickness, flexibility/bend, and overall athleticism. Excellent top end speed as he’ll hold big play ability any time he touches the ball, and is clearly one of the top 2023 WR’s in Arizona. Division 1 caliber kid with massive potential for the next two seasons. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Key Departures</span></strong> [player_tooltip player_id="93180" first="Tommy" last="Arnold"], <em>RB</em> <em>*Rushed for 1,305 yards and 19 TD’s and 1 TD receiving</em> &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="93273" first="Owen" last="Thomas"]</strong>, <em>LB</em> <em>*Led team with 94 tackles, 20 TFL’s, and 12 sacks</em> &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="42745" first="Micah" last="Scott"], <em>DB (Maricopa Mustangs JUCO) </em> <em>*63 tackles and 3 INT’s</em> &nbsp; <strong>Robbie Maple</strong>, <em>OL</em> &nbsp; <strong>Steven Hoffman,</strong> <em>DB</em> <em>*30 tackles and 3 INT’s</em> <hr /> <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>2021 Schedule </strong></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>*5A Desert West Region Game </em></span> 9/3- Cienega<img class="alignright wp-image-108908" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/PRZ-crop-750x492-1613408357-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="468" height="307" /> 9/10- @ Horizon 9/17- Liberty 9/24- Cactus 10/1- @ Mesquite 10/15- *Millennium 10/21- *Ironwood 10/29- *@ Desert Edge 11/5- *@ Verrado 11/12- *@ Betty Fairfax &nbsp;