SCOTTSDALE, AZ (February 29, 2024) – The Fiesta Bowl Organization took the next step in its football engagement initiatives within the Arizona youth football community by staging the Arizona Milk Producers Fiesta Bowl Youth Football Clinic on February 24 at Desert Mountain High School. More than 100 girls flag football players and 100 boys high school players attended distinct sessions, tailored to hone their skills.
The Arizona Milk Producers Fiesta Bowl Youth Football Clinic elevated the experience for students with two invite-only sessions, one tailored to girls flag football and the other for boys high school football. With the goal of advancing youth football development, the clinics focused on skill development through personalized and advanced coaching and strategic training.
"The Fiesta Bowl has been a part of Arizona for more than 50 years. Connecting in impactful ways with people and communities who are passionate about football is core to who we are and what we do," said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "We want to continue to spread the passion for what football does for our lives and how it helps develop young men and women at every level across this state."
The 200-plus clinic participants were treated to expertise from an esteemed group of special guest coaches, including Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jesse Luketa and running backs coach Autry Denson. Former Arizona high school standout quarterbacks Spencer Rattler (Pinnacle High School, University of South Carolina) and Jack Plummer (Gilbert High School, University of Louisville) also provided guidance to the current crop of local youth talent.
Also in attendance was USA Football, who sent a National Team scout to the clinic. With flag football set to make its Summer Olympic Games debut in Los Angeles 2028, USA Football – the country's national governing body of American football – was on-site to evaluate the state's elite talent.
The skills and drills included position-oriented training and the athletes also tested their 40-yard dash along with other combine-style stations.
"The clinic was a great mix of running and positional drills," said Izzy Pap, quarterback of the first-ever Arizona 5A girls flag football state champion at Campo Verde High School. "I loved that I got to play quarterback. We go to a lot of clinics where you run your 40 or your shuttle and that's it. I loved that I got to show off my real talent and what I'm good at."
The three top performers from each clinic were awarded an Arizona Milk Producers Fiesta Bowl Youth Football Clinic wrestling-style championship belt. On the girls side, Hamilton High School's quarterback Catarina Maccagnano and wide receiver/safety Samaya Taylor-Jenkins and Desert Ridge High School wide receiver/safety Brianna Jacobs were recognized. Pinnacle High School quarterback Wyatt Horton, Saguaro High School defensive lineman Garrett Martin and Vista Grande High School defensive lineman Athiaun Arol were honored on the boys side.
Along with the top three performers, three additional athletes per clinic were awarded with the Arizona Milk Producers LegenDAIRY Champion honor.
This spring's Arizona Milk Producers Fiesta Bowl Youth Football Clinic comes after the organization hosted three Legacy Youth Football Clinics in the fall for youth ranging from elementary to high school. A clinic specifically for girls flag football featured Mexican National Flag Football quarterback and World Champion Diana Flores. Guest coaches from the fall also included former NFL players Prince Amukamara, Hamza Abdullah and Matt Ware.
The clinics have been part of a larger initiative to integrate within Arizona football communities along with the organization's
Friday Night Showdown presented by Super Star Car Wash. The Fiesta Bowl's Friday Night Showdown featured a weekly spotlight of 10 high school football games across the Valley.
"I'm not just speaking for myself, I'm speaking for every high school kid in Arizona; for the Fiesta Bowl to invest in the next generation, put on these clinics and go to high school games, it's incredibly important," said Horton, who was also a recipient of the Fiesta Bowl Super Star of the Game award in the fall following Pinnacle's win over Horizon. "We all have so much respect for what the Fiesta Bowl is doing. It's amazing."
Gallery: (2-25-2024) 2024 Youth Football Clinic
ABOUT FIESTA BOWL
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education. Learn more at
www.FiestaBowl.org and
@Fiesta_Bowl on Twitter.
