Andrew Dirst is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Valley Lutheran High School for AZPreps365.com

Adapting to a new system and new coach can be tough for even some professional athletes, so one can imagine the burden placed upon high school student athletes to perform well with this change. 

Especially at a lower level of high school football, like in the 2A conference: balancing school, football and free time can be a tough balance for a student athlete — and this burden can increase when having to completely change how you practice and play. 

Senior wide receiver and cornerback Xavier Espinoza has played at Valley Lutheran for four years and had multiple coaches. He said he has battled alongside this team despite the changes. 

“It’s been a tough four years, just fighting the whole time,” he said. 

The Flames ran a completely different system the year prior with a different head coach, but former assistant Jason Stanfield Sr. took over the helm for the team in 2023 with a new style that Espinoza said he's confident in.

Assistant coach Jalan Pugh has also been at Valley since 2020, coaching Espinoza since his freshman year. Pugh said that the entire team structure has changed. 

“We brought in a totally new defense,” Pugh said. “There’s new positions and different names. The offense is just completely different. We went from more of a spread air raid to a power run team.” 

This change has completely flipped the job of Valley wide recievers from a more glamorous repertoire of a passing attack to nearly always blocking. 

All those around the team said that Espinoza has taken this challenge extremely well, though. 

“He took it a little skeptical, but as we got into the season, he accepted his role and he’s played well,” Pugh said. “He’s excelled, especially on defense. He’s locked up his side.” 

Athletic Director Dave Meyer also raved about Espinoza’s commitment to the team following this change. 

“He’s bought in,” Meyer said. “It’s hard for seniors to buy into the system, when they change so much … he does a great job.”

Espinoza said that the changes this year have helped complement his game and his habits alike. 

“I’ve developed my game by listening to my coaches, watching film, and just giving it all I’ve got on the field, especially at practice,” Espinoza said. “My prior years here at Valley, I didn’t really watch film as much as I do now.”

Senior running back Jason Stanfield Jr. has played in three different schemes during his time in high school, and said that the team feels more prepared this year, with more practicing and inputs based on opposing teams and players. 

“Everything I’ve learned, it’s never come easy,” Stanfield Jr. said. “Mainly, when it comes to learning new things, you just have to accept it and put your mind to doing it.” 

On a young team like Valley Lutheran, some seniors are faced with a heavier burden and more of a leadership role, adding to this challenge of learning a new scheme. 

“As a senior, I try to bring everybody together,” Espinoza said. 

Pugh said that Espinoza’s experience, in being with the program for four years, has been good for the younger players, who are able to learn from their senior captain. 

“They’re buying in,” Pugh said. “As the season’s progressed, they bought in more and more. He’s willing to teach the guys, and he puts a fire under their behind to get them going.”