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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JULY 18, 2021
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DaVonte’ Neal making positive impact at Higley BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor
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aVonté Neal can easily recall his favorite play from his high school career at Chaparral in Scottsdale. Neal and the Firebirds were in the semifinals his senior year against Centennial in 2011. He had yet another dominating performance during the regular season in all facets of the game. Centennial had success against Chapparal and in the final play of the game, junior running back Jalen Ortiz began to hit the outside but Neal saw him begin to go into a throwing motion. Neal retreated into coverage, caught up with the opposing receiver and picked off the pass. Neal’s interception sealed the game. Neal came to Higley based on a recommendation from Cal Berkeley special teams coach Chaparral won 31-30 and clinched its Charlie Ragle, who coached him at Chaparral. (Zach Alvira/GSN Staff) third straight title. Wildcats allowed him to pur“Game-winning intersue a career in the Canadian ception to go to the state Football League. championship,” Neal said. Now, he is sharing those ex“That moment meant a lot periences with the varsity deto me.” fensive backs at Higley High, Neal was named Arizowhere he recently joined head na Gatorade Player of the coach Eddy Zubey. Year twice along with two “I had a lot of fun and a lot consecutive All-Ameriof memories from high school,” can nods. Before his high Neal said. “Just to have worked school career ended, he so hard and now I have the opwent on to represent the portunity to come back into state in the Under Armour the community and come back All-America Game, one at coach here at Higley, I hope of the premier All-Star to give them some knowledge games for highly recruited I had when I played that will prep football players from help them go further in their across the country. careers.” Neal signed with the UniNeal began privately training versity of Notre Dame and made an impact on special Davonté Neal was one of the state’s best football players - and a star athletes shortly after his stint in the CFL ended. That eventuteams in his freshman cam- sprinter - at Chaparral High School. (Courtesy Arizona Daily Star) ally led to becoming the defenpaign. He was part of the Seeking a better opportunity, Neal sive backs coach at Dobson under head Notre Dame Team that was ranked No. 1 overall in the country when the Irish transferred to the University of Arizona coach Bill Godsil in 2020. He made the faced Alabama in the 2012 BCS National to complete his college career. transition to Higley after he was conChampionship Game. More accolades in Tucson for the tacted by Zubey.
“Talking to him about what we have, I believe he is perfect for us,” Zubey said. “The unknown benefit at the time was his energy. Even after my two Monsters per day I don’t have as much energy as him.” Zubey has already seen Neal’s impact on the program. He’s the first coach or player to congratulate one of the Knights for a play made during competition or practice. He’s also heavily involved in the weight room, racking weights and spotting Higley players. His energy has become contagious for the defensive backs and the rest of the team. Players gravitate toward him and recognize his athletic ability. In many ways, the players also look up to him for additional guidance in regard to reaching the next level. One of those players, Nijrell Eason, one of the top defensive backs in the state, said he and some of his teammates pulled up their new coach’s highlight tape from high school. “All aspects. Offense, defense, special teams, everything,” Eason said. “He’s energetic and that gives all of us energy. It helps motivate us to go make plays.” LaRon Tarkington, another assistant on Higley’s staff, competed against Neal growing up. The two played against each other in high school but had always remained friends. Neal ultimately aims to coach at the next level but remains focused on the task at hand: coaching Higley to have one of the best secondary units in the state. “We are definitely going to fly around the ball,” Neal said. “We have guys who want to hustle, make plays and guys who want to win. I’ve gotten to know who these players are over the summer and from what I’ve seen so far, I think we can expect some big things from them.”
