TUCSON, Ariz — If it looks like there are a lot of students on this year's Catalina Foothills High School Football team, that's because it's true. Approximately 30 new players have signed up, bringing the roster to more than 80.
Many of them are here for first-year Falcons coach Darius Kelly, the former Buena High and Syracuse star who played briefly in the NFL.
"It's a dream come true," said Kelly. "There's not many places I'd want to coach high school football."
Kelly takes over for the legendary Jeff Scurran, who took southern Arizona high school teams to eight state title games. The twenty-six year old Kelly knows how to make his extra point.
"You've got to be able to teach them. They want to be coached and loved hard. But, teaching is the way to get through to them."
"He's really good at stopping kids, teaching, and communicating," said senior Will Parker. "He's not a yeller."
Coincidentally, Kelly and the Falcons open up against his alma mater, the Buena Colts.
