2015 Cheyenne Football Capsule
August 18, 2015 - 1:50 pm
CHEYENNE
League: Division I-A Sunset
Head coach: David Cochran, sixth season (25-26)
2014 record: 4-6 (4-3 Sunset, third)
Returning lettermen: 25
Returning starters: Eight offense, nine defense
Base offensive set: Shotgun double wing
Base defensive set: Four-man front
Top offensive players: RB/WR Zavieh Harrell (Sr.); QB A.J. McConnico (Sr.); WR Ashton Lawson (Sr.); RB David Walker (Sr.)
Top defensive players: MLB George Carmona; DB Ashton Lawson; MLB John Tarver; SS Laron Perkins
Top newcomers: RB/WR/CB Corwin Bush (Jr.); RB/WR/CB Derionte Green (Jr.); WR/FS William Federson (Jr.)
Key losses: TE/OL Joe Rose; OL Erwin Burrell
Outlook: The Desert Shields made the playoffs for the fourth straight year last season, but it was a rocky ride to the postseason.
Cheyenne beat Sunset League champion and 2013 I-A state champ Faith Lutheran, but lost to Pahrump Valley and Clark, two teams that missed the playoffs. When it all shook out, the Desert Shields finished in a cluster of five teams at 4-3 in the league and wound up with the league's No. 3 playoff seed.
Cochran is shooting for a better result this season.
Harrell is a big-play threat who rushed for 537 yards and five TDs and caught 12 passes for 303 yards and five scores.
Lawson also can make big plays, as he averaged 28.9 yards per catch, and four of his seven receptions went for touchdowns.
Walker was the team's leading rusher with 654 yards.
On defense, Carmona should lead the way from his middle linebacker position after making the All-Sunset League first team last season. Lawson, who had four interceptions, made the first team at defensive back and will key the secondary.