By Don Ketchum

Seniors here, seniors there, seniors everywhere.

It’s a comforting feeling for long-time Peoria High football coach Doug Clapp as his team looks to the fall of 2011.

And 2012, when a projected group of 40 seniors will be gone? He will cross that bridge when he comes to it.

The Panthers are expected to have 130 players across all three levels when the new school year convenes.

“We’ve never had that many seniors before. And the 130 . . . that’s huge in this day and age,’’ Clapp said.

He will get a better idea of where his team stands on Saturday (June 4) from 8 a.m.-noon with a seven-on-seven passing competition hosted by new Tempe Corona del Sol coach Tom Joseph and his team at Corona.

Other teams participating are Queen Creek, Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep, Glendale Cactus, Corona del Sol, Higley, Tempe Marcos de Niza, Tempe and Mesa Skyline.

Peoria also is expected to participate in the large seven-on-seven competition later this month in Surprise, in conjunction with the annual All-Star games.

“We’ve always had good athletes, and that’s been one of the reasons for our success at Peoria,’’ Clapp said. “I’ve also been blessed, been lucky to keep many of my assistant coaches from year to year – they are all on campus – and that adds to the consistency.’’

One of the team leaders will be Chris Chapman, an All-State cornerback last season.

“He is our shut-down corner. He is capable of being spectacular,’’ Clapp said.

The team also will have one of the best punters in the state in Bryce Perez, a linebacker and defensive end. Clapp claims that Perez can punt in the 50-yard range with regularity.

Peoria will be a member of the new Division III Section II alignment set up by the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

Other teams in that section will be Flagstaff Coconino, Bullhead City Mohave, Cactus, Flagstaff, Peoria Liberty, Buckeye Verrado, El Mirage Dysart, Surprise Shadow Ridge, Glendale Copper Canyon, Glendale, Peoria Sunrise Mountain and Phoenix Greenway.