Nicholas Hodell is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Estrella Foothills High School for AZPreps365.com

 Estrella Foothills looks to get back to the 4A Football State Tournament in 2020 with a strong senior-led core and strong performances in practices so far this fall.

 Estrella Foothills finished third in the 4A Southwest region last season with a 2-2 conference record and a 4-6 overall record. Last year’s absence from the playoffs was the third time in the last four seasons since moving to 4A the Wolves did not make the state tournament.

 This year’s team, coached by Derek Wahlstrom, who is in his fifth season coaching the Wolves, wants to win its second 4A Southwest region title in Wahlstrom’s tenure. Last season, the Wolves lost by two points to eventual region champion Gila Ridge during the regular season. Even if Gila Ridge will not be back in the region due to conference classification realignment, Wahlstrom said that things will once again be tight. The addition of Deer Valley and Lake Havasu to the region, replacing Gila Ridge and Yuma, will provide solid tests for Estrella Foothills and could only make the margin for error even smaller.

 “The difference between winning the region title and not winning the region title the last two years is very, very small and I would anticipate that would be similar,” Wahlstrom said.

 The Wolves return six all-region players from last season’s team, including senior linebacker Quinlan Popham. Popham averaged 11.2 tackles per game last season and added two sacks. Popham is also excelling in the classroom with a GPA over 4.0.

 “He is really good at everything he does, all the time,” Wahlstrom said. “He’s just excellent at all he does and that very much rubs off.”

 Popham also is a team leader, Wahlstrom said, despite being one of the quieter players on the team.  One of the more outspoken leaders, senior quarterback Ty Perry will make his return this season after battling back from a season-ending injury in week four last season.  In the four games he did get to play, Perry completed nearly 50 percent of his passes and threw for 716 yards and six touchdowns.  Perry also ran for two touchdowns. Wahlstrom cited Perry’s competitive nature as something that has rubbed off on his teammates, even during initial limited practices.

 “People were stepping up and taking it all on,” Wahlstrom said.

 Wahlstrom said the overall spirit of the team has risen since returning to practice amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Wahlstrom noted that players and coaches like himself are more appreciative of having football during this time.

 “It’s really one of the best parts if not the best part of my day is being able to go out there,” Wahlstrom said. “Instead of having to stare at a computer screen teaching that way all day, now I get to go out and see kids face-to face and interact with them and that’s been really good.”

 Even without the normal spring football practices before the fall season, Wahlstrom thinks his team has improved just from seeing the work put in practice leading up to their opening game on October 2. But he is taking gains made from practice with a grain of salt.

 “The proof will be shown on the field,” Wahlstrom said.