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No. 3 Desert View (11-1) lost 38-28 to No. 6 Waddell Canyon View in the state quarterfinals on Friday, but it wasn’t long before the underclassmen Jaguars were thinking about the future.

“Future (is) gonna be great because we're young, we're super young,� said Desert View sophomore running back/free safety Jaylee Abraham. “I’m a sophomore, most of our players are sophomores, we’re only losing 12 seniors and some didn't play, but it was a team effort every time, so without every senior and every kid on this team, it won't be nothing, but we'll be perfect next year.�

Abraham won Region Player of the Year and received All-5A Southern nods three times, on offense, defense and as a punt returner.

Desert View head coach Robert Bonillas won the Arizona Republic State Coach of the Year and 5A Southern Region Coach of the Year.

“I think we're set up great,� said Desert View freshman receiver/defensive back Anthony Rodarte. “We keep putting in work, especially how hard we did on during this off-season and this season, I think the future is very bright.�

Desert View had six selections to the first team All-5A Southern Region, including Abraham, plus sophomore offensive/defensive lineman Esteban Ortiz and Rodarte were the underclassmen. The Jaguars had five on the second team, with sophomore receiver/defensive back Kenny Sonnah, junior defensive end/tight end Cristian Salgado and junior tackle/defensive lineman Angel Bracamonte.

Desert View had 17 honorable mentions, 15 of which were sophomores or juniors.

The All-5A accolades are still being processed as of press time.

Desert View’s sophomore class played a big role in their 11-0 start.

“Feels great because we had a great bond,� Abraham said about the sophomores. “But our goal was state but we didn't make it, we came out short, but it felt amazing to us.�

Last year, as freshmen, the Class of 2028 went 9-0, beating Salpointe Catholic 46-0, Canyon del Oro 80-7, Cienega 61-7, Sierra Vista Buena 44-3, Marana 69-0, Sunnyside 70-6 and then helping the varsity beat Sunnyside 29-28 a day after the freshman season ended.

Bonillas was impressed by the underclassmen.

“I think they did a good job,� Bonillas said. “Like everybody else, I think they can do a little better next year but through the work, offseason workout and, and them feeling this, they should be doing better.�

Bonillas thinks they can improve again, like they did after their freshman year.

“I think they made a good amount of a leap this year with the football IQ and stuff,� Bonillas said. “I'm hoping that next year, they’re gonna be a little bit more mature, so I still expect a little bit more of a jump.�

Desert View has twice reached the state quarterfinals under Bonillas; they had just one Elite Eight appearance before he became their coach.

“Well, it’s playoff football, so hopefully we just got to learn how to play in November and gotta start working again after some time off and then get back to it,� Bonillas said.

This season, the Jaguars won a school record 11 games, won the region and hosted a couple of playoff games.

“That's pretty awesome, it means a lot, especially to do it with these seniors, especially because we're such a young class and those seniors helped out a lot,� Rodarte said. “It’s gonna be sad to say goodbye to them, but we coming back for more next year.�

Rodarte had 54 catches for 769 yards.

Bonillas said it was a great season and was “proud to see that the kids came this far.�

“It feels great to make history, but I wish we ended just a little bit better, but we get back to work and then get ready for next year and we're gonna be nice next year,� Abraham said.

They went 3-7 in 2024.

Abraham ran for 1,716 yards, scored 33 rushing touchdowns, had 574 yards receiving, 2,527 all-purpose yards and five interceptions, two of which were in the playoffs.

“It went great, I broke records for Desert View and I broke state records and I'm the No. 1 back in state people say, so I'm happy that I'm right there,� Abraham said.