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Horizon football thriving under new head coach Andy Litten

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Progress Sports Editor

Horizon’s football program made headlines in 2019 when the Huskies broke into the inaugural Open Division playoffs under then-head coach Ty Wisdom. Much like he has done in his �irst season with Desert Vista this year, Wisdom turned the Horizon program around during his short tenure. But after a 3-3 season in 2020, in which the Huskies canceled two games due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the program, Wisdom took the opportunity to be just the third head coach in team history for the Thunder in Ahwatukee last December.

That’s when Andy Litten stepped in.

“These kids embraced me, this community embraced me, I really felt welcome when I came here,” Litten said. “And a lot of credit has to go to Ty (Wisdom). He’s coached the heck out of these guys and left this program in a good spot. Our whole motto was we would embrace tradition as long as they can embrace change. The kids were really excited about that.”

Litten immediately went to work with his new players. Chemistry was reestablished in the program and relationships between Litten, his coaching staff and players were formed.

There was a sense of trust virtually right away between them all. Most of which stemmed from Litten’ track record as a coach.

He led Marana High School’s program for seven years and coached current Arizona State quarterback Trenton Bourguet. Under Litten, the Tigers had one of the best offenses in the state.

He left Marana and moved to the Valley in 2018 where he became offensive coordinator at Hamilton. It was there he helped coach the Huskies to two straight Open Division appearances, including the semi�inals in 2019 and state title game last season.

Now with his Horizon team at 5-0 heading into Friday’s matchup against Gilbert, the Open eight is once again on his mind.

“We talk about it a lot and that’s where our goals are,” Litten said. “We want to win a state championship and we want to play the best. We want to be in the Open.”

Horizon is led by a group of seniors that were a part of the 2019 team’s success. Matthew Klopfenstein, one of the top tight ends in the state has been a force on offense for the Huskies alongside junior running back Wesley Lambert and senior quarterback Skyler Partridge.

On defense, Daniel “Boobie” Santiago has been a wrecking ball from his defensive tackle spot. The 6-foot-2, 288-pound senior has dominated interior offensive lines. He’s also spent time on offense leading the way for Lambert.

This season has been special for Santiago. Originally from New York, he transferred to Horizon when the pandemic began to take its hold on his home state. He wanted an opportunity to play football, and Arizona and Horizon gave that to him. After his junior year he transferred back to New York to �inish off his high school career with his old friends. Then, a short time later, he returned.

He said returning and leaving his home state again was bittersweet, but his Horizon teammates made yet another move easy.

“It was bittersweet coming back. I love being home, but I had to take care of business coming back and I couldn’t be happier to be here,” Santiago said. “I created a lot of special bonds here that helped clear my mind off the �ield.

“I’m really blessed to be here.”

Like his coach, Santiago aspires to compete against the state’s best. He and his teammates are aiming for a trip to the Open Division playoffs.

Getting there, however, is still a challenge.

The Huskies faced a Gilbert team that won three straight games this past Friday. Next week, Horizon faces a Saguaro team that now has all of its players, including key transfers, eligible. Matchups with Notre Dame and a Campo Verde team with a strong defense still remain to close out the regular season. The Huskies are con�ident they can continue their path of success, but they choose to focus one week at a time.

“We are just taking it one game at a time and thinking about next week,” Santiago said. “This year has been a blast. We have great coaches and I have great friends here. This team means the world to me right now.”

Horizon’s accomplishments through the �irst half of the season paint the picture for what this team could be. For the �irst time ever, the Huskies knocked off their rival Pinnacle. They followed that up with a victory over Desert Edge, a team many tabbed to return to the Open Division playoffs this season.

The Huskies also beat the defending 5A champion in Sunrise Mountain before winning a close matchup against Millennium. They most recently blew out Apollo, currently the No. 7 team in the 5A Conference.

Litten credits his players for buying into the process he and his staff set forth when he arrived. Now, they have to continue to execute and most importantly, continue to believe in themselves.

“It’s been really special,” Litten said. “The biggest thing is the kids believe. The Pinnacle game leap-frogged us into it. Everything has really snowballed. Belief is a nasty weapon and I think we have it.”

Horizon head football coach Andy Litten, hired to lead the Huskies in December, has the program on a path to the Open Division playoffs starting with a 5-0 record with players eager to compete

against the best. (Dave Minton/Progress Staff) Daniel “Boobie” Santiago has been a wrecking ball for Horizon at defensive line and a natural leader. The senior transferred back to Horizon after leaving for his home state of New York after last season. (Dave Minton/Progress Staff)