2026 Zone Wars: Central Metro RBs vs East Valley - North LBs

<p>We're back for round two of the Zone Wars series, and this time it's the Central Metro running backs taking on the East Valley - North linebackers. The first matchup gave us a look at some serious skill on the perimeter — but now, we're taking a look inside.</p>   <p>This one's all about physicality, vision, and tackling in space. The Central Metro group brings a mix of shifty runners and downhill guys, while the East Valley - North side features a bunch of hard-nosed linebackers who thrive on contact. It's a fun clash of styles, and every rep in this hypothetical showdown would certainly be loud. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/PRZ-Coverage-Region-Count-w-Logos.png?w=1024" alt="PRZ AZ Coverage Region Count w Logos" class="wp-image-1707475" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Central Metro RBs</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">There's a whole lot to like about [player_tooltip player_id='595765' first='Bodie' last='Zamorano']'s game. At 5'11” and 195 pounds, he's built to handle a real workload, and his tape backs it up. He's got that smooth mix of burst and power, able to hit a crease and turn upfield or lower his shoulder when needed. His balance is outstanding — the kind of player who just refuses to go down on first contact, even in what should be a clean tackle. What really stands out is how natural he is with the ball in his hands. He has a strong feel for space, can shift gears mid-run, and keeps his legs driving through traffic. There's a real three-down quality to how he plays, and as he continues to sharpen his burst and quickness, he's only going to become more of a problem for defenses.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1587273' first='Nathan' last='Johannes'] quietly put together one of the more productive seasons in Arizona last year, racking up over 1,300 all-purpose yards for Northwest Christian. At 6'0” and 175 pounds, he's got a lean frame with room to grow, but plays with plenty of strength and confidence already. His speed shows up in space, where he's able to turn short gains into chunk plays with a quick cut and acceleration. Whether he's running between the tackles, bouncing outside, or catching passes out of the backfield, he's a steady threat every time he touches the ball. He's also a smooth, patient runner who reads his blocks well and doesn't waste movement. As he continues to fill out physically, there's a lot of reason to believe his impact will only grow.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='835498' first='Harrison' last='Chambers'] isn't the biggest back on the field, but he runs with the kind of twitch and vision that gives defenses fits. He's got explosive acceleration once he sees daylight and doesn't hesitate to hit the hole. What makes him really stand out is his ability to read leverage and make defenders miss in tight spaces — that, and his willingness to finish runs with power despite his size. Chambers has already produced some big-time games for Brophy, and his balance between patience and burst makes him one of the more fun backs to watch in the Central Metro region.</p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">As a Group</h3>   <p>This group brings a ton of agility and suddenness to the table. Each back has a different style, but all three are tough to square up and bring down in space. They might not have a classic power back in the mix, but what they do have is vision, balance, and explosiveness. Bodie brings a three-down build with smooth footwork, Nathan hits you with stride-out speed and patience, and Harrison has that jittery, short-area quickness that makes him a nightmare in tight spaces. Defenses won't have an easy time slowing this group down, because even without the bruiser archetype, these guys all find yards — and fast.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">East Valley - North LBs</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Tengei spends a lot of time coming off the edge, but his impact goes well beyond just pass rushing. He does a great job of reading the run and crashing down hard to close off gaps that look out of reach. His timing and awareness help him beat blocks, and when he makes contact, it's usually violent. What really stands out is his power — he's not always the biggest guy in the matchup, but he can still win with raw strength and a solid base that lets him stay upright and drive through blocks. Add in the motor and physicality he brings every snap, and it's no surprise he's already picked up several Division I offers and committed to ASU. He's a tone-setter who fits right in with the physical identity of this East Valley LB group. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='739444' first='Jameson' last='Wade'] has one of those ideal linebacker builds — 6'2” and 220 pounds, with the frame and athleticism to cover ground and take on blocks. He plays light on his feet and moves really well laterally, which lets him stay balanced and break down in space. He's not a gambler either — he plays patient, reads the play as it develops, and trusts his instincts to lead him to the football. That discipline showed up all year long, as he racked up 97 tackles during a standout junior season and played a major role in Red Mountain's success. With another year under his belt, Wade should be looked to as the emotional and physical anchor of that defense again.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1682244' first='Dane' last='Anderson'] brings a lot of versatility to Highland's defense. At 6'1” and 215 pounds, he's built solid and moves well enough to handle multiple roles — whether that's rushing the passer, dropping into coverage, or plugging up gaps in the run game. He's flashed strong instincts on the edge, using his athleticism to stay disruptive even when plays break down. He's still developing, but you can see the tools taking shape. As he gets more reps and sharpens those instincts, Anderson could become a really valuable piece for Highland — the kind of player who just quietly makes things happen and eventually turns heads.</p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">As a Group</h3>   <p>This East Valley LB group brings a really strong mix of size, toughness, and versatility. All three guys play with an edge and show different strengths that make them hard to plan against. Wade is the steady anchor — smart, physical, and rarely out of position. He's the type of backer who diagnoses a play in a blink and finishes with authority. Tengei plays with straight-up violence. He's relentless when crashing the edge and brings that kind of disruptive energy that forces offenses to adjust. And then you've got Anderson, who might not be as well known yet, but brings valuable flexibility. He can rush, drop, or plug gaps depending on what's needed. Together, this group checks a lot of boxes. They can all hit, they can all move, and they're all tough to shake once they lock in.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Matchup</h2>   <p>This one's about as close as it gets. The Central Metro running backs bring a ton of speed, shiftiness, and creativity, and in a real matchup, they'd be a threat to break off big plays at any moment. But these linebackers are a physical, disciplined group that knows how to play their assignments and set the tone. It's a classic battle of flash vs. force, and the contrast is what makes this so fun to think about. </p>   <p>Both sides have guys who could absolutely take over at different points. But if we're talking about consistency over the course of a full game, I'm leaning slightly toward the East Valley - North linebackers. They're physical enough to wear you down, smart enough to limit chunk plays, and built to stifle the kind of explosiveness this RB group brings. It wouldn't be a blowout either way — but I think the linebackers find a way to control things just enough to come out on top. </p>

We're back for round two of the Zone Wars series, and this time it's the Central Metro running backs taking on the East Valley - North linebackers. The first matchup gave us a look at some serious skill on the perimeter — but now, we're taking a look inside.