Revival of Football at Sedona Red Rock High School

SEDONA – It’s been five years since the Sedona Oak Creek School District made the controversial decision to shut down the soccer program at Sedona Red Rock High School. However, this fall, local coaches, community members, and students are banding together to bring it back.

Since the program was cut, the school has faced significant enrollment declines, losing about a third of its students. The number of students participating in 2A or 3A sports programs, which previously exceeded 450, has now decreased to around 300. One of the main issues seems to be the impact of Airbnb rentals on the city’s housing market, which has significantly affected working families and their kids.

As for the football program, Sedona’s eight-man football team is gearing up for its season opener against Cicero Prep this Friday.

Head Coach Tony Hauserman shared some thoughts with AZPreps365.com about the hurdles the program is facing as they re-establish football at the school.

“We’re essentially starting from the ground up—getting new equipment, recruiting coaches and players, setting up eight-man fields, and kicking off a summer training program,” Hauserman noted, mentioning his collaboration with John Bradshaw, the program’s assistant coach, to set up a youth football initiative in Sedona.

He expressed gratitude for the strong support from both the school and the district so far, as they’ve been instrumental in getting the team ready for preseason practices.

However, the preseason has not come without its difficulties.

For one, there’s a coach on the staff who hasn’t previously led an eight-man football team. “There’s definitely a learning curve we have to navigate,” Hauserman remarked.

Another hurdle is player participation. The team has 16 players this fall, but three are freshmen, two are dealing with injuries, and at least two others still need to complete ten practices before they can fully participate.

Despite these challenges, Hauserman and the team remain optimistic.

“We’re really excited about our kids. Team leaders like Keldon Kane, Steel Stargen, Vincent Smith, and Miguel Villeragus set a great example for what high school athletes should be,” he shared. “They exemplify dedication and character and have developed into excellent players. It’s a privilege to coach such talented athletes.”

On August 16, Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District Principal Tom Swanninger expressed his enthusiasm in a Facebook video. “Bringing football back to Sedona is incredibly exciting!” he said. “Friday night lights, a lively crowd in the stands, and athletes on the field—it’s just fantastic for everyone involved—the students, athletes, and community. You can’t really have a proper high school experience without a football program, and now we have that.”

The SCORPIONS (0-0, 0-0 1A North) previously finished 2-8 during the 2019 season before the program was discontinued by the SOCSD steering committee in May 2020.

Hauserman is focused on the basics for now. “Our main goal is to learn enough to compete in our first year. We’re building the program and creating experiences for kids who haven’t had the chance to play,” he explained.

“It’s really thrilling to be part of this program’s revival and offer students the opportunity to play high school football.”

The game against Cicero is set for 7 PM this Friday, following a loss to Antelope in their last game on November 1, 2019.