By Tyler J. Scott ’12
THE ROUNDUP
Not only have the temperatures reached their highs but so too have the expectations for this year’s Brophy football season.
After losing in the second round of the playoffs last year to Mountain Pointe, the Broncos are aiming high.
Senior starting safety Jake Faust ’12 said he expects the ultimate prize for the team.
“I expect for us to win the state championship,” Faust said. “I have full confidence in our ability to beat anyone we play.”
Besides the importance of this season’s outcome as a whole he also stressed the importance of this year for him personally.
“This season literally means more to me than any other year that I’ve played football, and I’ve played for eight years,” Faust said. “It means so much because of the chance to play college football and because it’s the last year I’ll play for Brophy.”
This is his second year on the varsity squad seeing playing time. He was pulled up to varsity from junior varsity his sophomore year but did not see the field much.
Head coach Mr. Scooter Molander said Faust is an integral part of their skilled defense.
“We’ve got experience coming back in the secondary … (Jake) Faust has done a nice job,” Mr. Molander said.
Faust considers himself one of the team’s defensive leaders and he welcomes the responsibilities that accompany that position.
“(Being a leader) includes guiding the younger players, being there for their mental and physical support and keeping the energy up in practice and the games,” Faust said.
Junior wide receiver Devon Allen ’13 also had high praise for the safety.
“Jake is one of my best friends,” Allen said. “He’s one of the few guys I can talk to about anything. He has always been friendly to me from the beginning, from football and even during track. Jake is also a great teammate, he makes practice more enjoyable and encourages everyone on the field. He always works hard and never takes a play off and that makes us want to work that much harder.”
Faust will be a part of a Brophy defense that he said will be the “best that it’s been in a while.”
“It is for sure the best defense that I have been at Brophy to witness,” he added.
With these high expectations, Faust enters this season eager to get on the field.
The Broncos will face Mountain Ridge Friday Aug. 26 at Phoenix College for their first game at 7 p.m.