Canyon Springs looking to repeat as Northeast champs

By Brent Hinckley

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Canyon Springs is the defending Northeast Division champions, but after losing most of its high-powered offense to graduation, the Pioneers will have several newcomers in key roles for their title defense.

Still, first-year coach Chris Littmann feels his team will be in the thick of the division race.

“We expect victory. We‘re going to contend for the division and make a run in the playoffs” said Littmann, an assistant last year under Matt Jenkins, who left for Desert Oasis.

Replacing quarterback DeVonte Christopher, the state’s player of the year who passed for 3,285 yards and 44 touchdowns, and All-Sunset Region wide receiver Juron Criner won’t be an easy task.

But it will be manageable, said the team’s returners. Canyon Springs went 9-2 last year and doesn’t expect much of a drop off.

“Those were our top guys, but there was still other guys out there on the field every Friday night,” senior linebacker John Podemeyer said.

Senior wide receiver DeShawn Stewart, who had 43 receptions for 1,002 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, will be the biggest threat.

“Other teams are going to focus on me, and that’s going to take pressure off my teammates so they can make plays,” Stewart said.

Defensively, senior linebackers Podemeyer and Timmarie Randolph are third-year varsity players. They hope to advance further than last year’s team that fell 28-24 to Del Sol in the Sunrise Regional semifinals.

The duo is the Pioneers’ leaders.

“You have to come in every day and work hard,” Randolph said. “We have to guide the younger players so they are ready.”

Brent Hinckley is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-2687 or [email protected].