MESQUITE

Conference/Region: 5A-I/Central

2008 record: 2-8, no playoffs

Coach: Mike Reardon, 3rd year, 6-14

Returning offensive starters: 3, including quarterback Steven Hansen, who rushed for 202 yards and passed for 142 in first two games before an injury finished his season.

Returning defensive starters: 8, including linebacker Maka Taufa, who had 60 tackles in the first five games before an injury ended his season.

Outlook: Last year’s injury-plagued season was disheartening, but Reardon hopes the injury gods have moved on.

Many of the returning players were starters before injuries shortened their seasons. With good health, players like Hansen, Taufa and defensive end C.J. Randall will have to be reckoned with.

Reardon believes this team can hold its own, but depth is thin at best for what the coach terms a finesse team. They lack the size of most other teams.

The Wildcats won’t be shocked or taken aback by realignment and the tougher schedules that have come because of it. Mesquite faced one of the toughest schedules in 5A last year, facing seven playoff teams. Nine of their opponents finished .500 or better. The only team in their new region with a record under .500 last year was Dobson (5-6).

Schedule:

Aug. 28 - at Desert Ridge

Sept. 4 - at Desert Mountain

Sept. 11 - at Tolleson

Sept. 17 - vs. Chaparral

Sept. 25 - at Corona del Sol

Oct. 2 - vs. Highland

Oct. 9 - vs. Mountain View

Oct. 16 - at Gilbert

Oct. 23 - Bye

Oct. 30 - vs. Basha

Nov. 6 - at Dobson

Key games:

Aug. 28 vs. Desert Ridge - This is a good test to see what last year might have been like if healthy. Desert Ridge is young defensively, so this is a nice chance to take advantage of inexperience.

Sept. 17 vs. Chaparral - Mesquite opens with three games on the road and this is the first home game. They have a realistic shot to be 3-0 at this point and entice the faithful to come out.

Oct. 9 vs. Mountain View - It’s a reigon game, but oddly enough it will be the first meeting ever between the Wildcats and Toros after a decade of Mesquite football.