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Cooper Ross advocates for small-school athletes

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Tribune Sports Editor

Cooper Ross was in a hospital bed when he was told by doctors his newfound dream of playing football may not be possible.

Ross, a freshman at Heritage Academy in downtown Mesa at the time, had just started playing tackle football for the �irst time. His love for the game grew quickly when he put on a helmet and shoulder pads. But he was in a dire situation.

Doctors said if he hadn’t arrived in the emergency department when he did, not only would his football career be in jeopardy but his life, too.

Ross nearly entered ketoacidosis, a reaction to Type 1 diabetes that can lead to a diabetic coma. Up until that point, he and his family were unaware of him having Type 1 diabetes. His sugar levels were so high it was at the point the machine used in the hospital could not physically give him and his family a reading. But as he recovered his determination to get back on the �ield grew. So, that’s exactly what he did.

“I had to stay in the hospital for three or four days but after that it was kind of just a lifestyle change,” Ross said. “I don’t really think about that much. I kind of just got used to it and didn’t let it stop me from doing what I love.” Ross still re�lects on those worrying hours in hospital. It’s a constant reminder to never take life or football for granted. He has also used it as a motivator to keep working toward his goal, which he can now of�icially say he will achieve.

Now a 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior tight end for Heritage, Ross recently competed at a BYU football camp in Provo, Utah. His frame, athleticism and pass-catching ability opened the eyes of the Cougars’ coaching staff, who extended a scholarship offer for Ross to attend and play football at BYU.

It was his dream offer. Without hesitation, he committed and shut down his recruitment.

“I’m still kind of in shock that it happened,” Ross said. “I wasn’t expecting it at Heritage Academy Mesa senior tight end Cooper Ross, a three-star prospect, hopes to put small schools on the map when he attends BYU to continue his football career on

a full scholarship. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Sta )

all. I’m super blessed and happy that I got it. This is something I never imagined was even possible until my sophomore year.”

Ross’ ability to receive an offer from a Division I program isn’t unheard of at Heritage Academy. Basketball players have done so in the past. However, they don’t often come for football players.

The Heroes play in the Canyon Athletic Association, a smaller and often viewed as less competitive conference compared to the Arizona Interscholastic Association — where the likes of Chandler, Hamilton and nearby Mountain View play. Given the small size of Heritage Academy — about 705 total students from grades 7 through 12 — the Heroes play 8-man football.

Ross and the Heritage coaching staff have a more dif�icult time receiving offers due to the style of football they play. Traditional 11-man football programs typically receive the most interest from college programs, especially at the Division I level. But Ross proved there are always diamonds in the rough. And he hopes to bring more attention to programs like Heritage, which has won two straight state championships – eight overall – and is coached by former University of Arizona and NFL player, Jose Portilla. “It’s been a work in progress for us,” Portilla said. “When he �irst came to us, I told him he would have an opportunity to move on. Being an 8-man, we aren’t on the map. But we have a great coaching staff and are teaching these kids a high-level skillset. “If our kids have a goal to play at the next level, we do what we can to help them move on.” Ross caught 34 passes for 637 yards and 15 touchdowns in six games on an offense that averaged 44 points per game in 2020. The Heroes went undefeated for the second straight season and has a 26-2 overall record since Ross joined the varsity program. There was a point in time in which Ross and his family thought about transferring to an 11-man football program nearby. However, he said prayer helped lead him to sticking at Heritage Academy for many reasons. He has already established himRoss is coached by former University of Arizona and NFL player Jose Portilla, who admitted schools like his have a harder time getting kids to colleges because they play 8-man football. However, in recent years with the team’s success, they have been able to get more coaches on campus. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Sta ) self in the football program and trust Portilla and the rest of the coaching staff. He is receiving one of the best educations in the state at Heritage, where students receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships on an annual basis.

Not to mention, the land in which the school sits on in downtown Mesa was once owned by his grandfather. After committing to BYU, he learned his great grandfather helped build LaVell Edwards Stadium, where the Cougars play on Saturday nights in the fall.

“It was kind of meant to be,” said Stephanie Ross, his mother.

Stephanie was brought to tears thinking about how far her son has come since laying in the hospital bed three years ago. Being proud is an understatement.

“To see this kid come from a hospital bed his freshman year and telling us after he got out of the hospital, ‘I’m not going to let it stop me,’ and he had coaches and everyone else tell him it would be hard to play football while being diabetic and he should just quit, he wouldn’t let that stop him,” Stephanie said.

“He just kept going. As a mom, I’m just so proud he’s willing to tackle obstacles. That’s a great life skill.”

Ross will go on his two-year church mission before joining the BYU program. He will of�icially enroll as a class of 2026 player when he returns.

But before then, he aims to once again help put Heritage Academy on the map. He isn’t so focused on his own accolades. Personally, he wants to see his team win one more championship before he goes on to the next level.

Maybe even more than that, however, he wants to further help Heritage Academy Mesa gain the respect he, the coaches and the rest of the players feel they deserve.

“It means a lot to me to kind of represent this school and other smaller schools. There’s still kids out there that, just because they don’t go to a Chandler and Hamilton, they can still go out there and play. Don’t overlook them, they’re still there.” 

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JULY 4, 2021

Passing leagues providing outlet for East Valley football teams

BY DREW SCHOTT Tribune Staff Writer

As Higley High School opened its 2020 campaign with a 26-18 win over Mountain Pointe, it marked an abrupt end of play for Aidan Garcia.

The wide receiver suffered a broken ankle in the game, which sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season. For three months, Garcia was unable to walk without crutches or a walking boot.

But now, the rising senior is back to full speed ahead of his �inal season for the Knights. Garcia was able to showcase his skills, highlighted by a 40-yard touchdown on a post route, Thursday night as ten high schools participated in a seven-on-seven competition at Higley’s campus in Gilbert.

“It’s awesome,” Higley head coach Eddy Zubey said. “A lot of guys, this is their �irst time doing it because they didn’t get to do it last year. It’s good to see the kids come together and build that camaraderie.”

Seven-on-seven competitions, a way for teams to practice against other schools and assess position battles, were canceled last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that it is safe enough to resume play, Zubey holds the Higley Varsity Passing League every Tuesday night in June for schools across the East Valley.

While the format is similar to that of a non-padded practice — two-hand touch marks a tackle and no score is recorded — the return of seven-on-sevens are enabling players to strengthen bonds on the �ield ahead of the regular season.

For Devin Sparks, a senior wide receiver at Mountain Pointe, competing under the Arizona sunsets is a familiar feeling. He took part in the Pride’s offseason sevenon-seven practices as a sophomore. Approaching his �inal year of high school football, Sparks and his teammates are looking to use these scrimmages as a way to improve mechanics and speed.

Additionally, he is focusing on acclimating new players to the fast and physical environment of 6A Division varsity football.

“It’s about making chemistry with my teammates better,” Sparks said. “It’s about getting the younger guys out here, getting them to compete and getting better as a team. And just make sure everyone is doing their job.”

The weekly event includes 10 6A squads from localities such as Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Ahwatukee and Queen Creek. Each team played six 20-minute games at the Knights’ stadium or their practice �ield. Even though wins and losses were not the main focus of the two-and-a-half period, competition was still �ierce between some of the Valley’s top high school programs, as well as within the teams themselves.

Despite only running 15 percent of its offense, Red Mountain head coach Mike Peterson appreciated the ability to work with his players in a seven-on-seven environment for the �irst time in two years. He watched closely as the Mountain Lions’ quarterbacks practiced dropping back to pass during games, since run plays, screens, and play action passes are not utilized during sevens.

The Passing League also offered the

Higley coach Eddy Zubey has hosted several East Valley schools on his campus throughout the summer, something greatly missed last year due to the pandemic. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Sta )

fourth-year head coach a prime opportunity to evaluate his team’s up-and-coming talent like rising junior wideout Ja’kobi Lane. Against teams such as Basha and Mountain View, Peterson said receivers practiced running crisp and consistent routes and how to read opposing defenses. He also worked with Red Mountain’s defense and linemen.

Coming off a 1-7 season, Mountain Pointe head coach Eric Lauer complemented his player’s trust in one another and their coaches. Ahead of the 2021 season, he is using seven-on-sevens to pay close attention to the strengths of his players.

“Is he a defensive player versus an offens(ive) because he doesn’t catch the ball quite as well versus another guy that he’s battling with on offense?” Lauer said. “You want to try to identify who those guys are. Those game-changing guys that you gotta have on both sides of the ball, you start to �ind who they are as well.”

From under the bright afternoon sky to under the �loodlights, position battles were on display for multiple teams. In the case of Higley, Zubey is looking to �ind a quarterback to succeed Kai Millner, a three-star recruit who signed with the University of California, Berkeley. The competition is between junior Cash Merrell and freshman Jamar Malone, who moved to the Valley from Carson, California.

According to Zubey, the Knights were not as affected by the loss of sevens as other teams due to Millner — who �inished his career with 4,564 passing yards and 46 touchdowns — returning as an experienced starter in 2020. But in 2021, seven-on-seven competition has provided the signal callers the environment to not only compete, but also face different coverages from teams other than Higley. “Coming in junior (year), �irst time being on Varsity, the guys got a faster speed than JV,” Merrell said. “Just getting familiar with the guys and getting better. Kai’s a great quarterback and it’s gonna be a lot to live up to him.”

Other teams, like Desert Vista, already have their signal caller locked in for next season. Junior quarterback Jackson Akins will return for his second consecutive season under center for the Thunder, who are looking to rebound from a 0-6 season that included cancelled games due to COVID-19 protocols.

Even though Desert Vista primarily runs the triple option, Akins felt that playing from the shotgun during sevens helped improve his ability to make reads and look off the safeties. First-year coach Ty Wisdom, who came to the Thunder from Horizon High School in Scottsdale, shared that the team worked on the triple option all spring and that the offensive strategy will be ready for use during the season.

Wisdom emphasized how it is important to keep in perspective that “it’s seven on seven.” However, he is thrilled at yet another opportunity to evaluate the team and watch his players connect on the gridiron.

“It’s obviously great having summer stuff,” Wisdom said. “This being my �irst year at Desert Vista, just getting to know the guys and building those relationships is the most important to me.” 

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