In dire need of a winning season, the Sedona Red Rock High football team went to work this last month with lunch pail and hard hat in hand.

Second year Head Coach Rob Lezcano began his interview stating this August was the hardest training camp ever assembled in Scorpion football history.

He was happy to report most of the boys made it through the gauntlet and now await a team to take their aggression out on.

“Although this is only my second year as head coach of the Sedona program, I have worked with a few other head coaches here throughout the years and I’m sure this pre-season was one of the most difficult things these kids have been through,” Lezcano said.

Lezcano and his coaching staff are adamant about their players being in shape this season and getting ready to take on a full 10-game schedule. With only 27 players on the roster, they’ll need to be.

Losing has become the norm for the Scorpions, having posted a 13-37 [9-19, 3A-West] record since the 2004 campaign.

The last three seasons have been brutal however, with a 4-25 [2-16, 3A-West] overall record since the 2007 campaign. To make matters worse, the team was 3-11 at home in that time span.

Last season the Scorpions did double their win total from the previous year by going 2-8 [1-5, 3A-West] on the season but scored only 148 points and gave up 443, making the margin of loss almost 30 points a game.

Lezcano, however, is one of the more positive men a person could ever meet, and he admitted doubling their win total last season was his goal, and this year, doubling up again is his newest goal.

“I knew coming in we were going to struggle, and two wins was what I thought we could manage. This season, I would like to get four wins. Now obviously, winning more games than four is what we want, and maybe we can do that if we keep the mistakes to a minimum this season,” Lezcano said.

As always, these young players will work hard regardless of the score. Give them credit for that. Lezcano said the mistakes must be kept to a minimum this year, and they must hold on to the ball more if they are to be successful.

With 27 players on the roster, Sedona has only 11 coming back from last season and 16 new faces to work with.

Thirteen players graduated from last season including top performers Sammy Holeyfield, Chris Kamas, Travis Bernard, J.P. Laws, Keith Thorne, Max and Luke Keckeis and Carter Jones.

While Holeyfield rotated in at quarterback last season, Bernard put up big numbers on the ground with 166 carries for 886 yards and seven touchdowns.

Jones was also dominant for the Scorpions having led the squad defensively in tackles with 80.

This season, top returners include senior tailback Dylan Watkins, senior center Colton Langmack, senior defensive end Champion Max Boehm Reifenkugel, senior guard Zach Saxman and senior quarterback and linebacker Pedro Ortega Jr.

Each of these players will play a pivotal role this season for the Scorpions if they are to be successful.

“I think we can be successful this season. We just have to continue to work,” Ortega Jr. said.

Of course Sedona has a few young and talented players including sophomore quarterback Jack Johnson, sophomore linebacker Andrew Rippy and safety and wideout Bradley Cox. All are expected to start, with Johnson getting half the snaps this season under center.

Other top returners include senior wideout Ben Fazekas, senior tackle Chris Brad Lenzen and sophomore guard Jason Marcy.

“I’m excited for this season to start. I love football and I think we can win a few games this season,” Fazekas said.

As for those new faces, the Scorpions have 16 of them, one of which played as a freshman, moved away, then came back for his junior year in Troy Loparco.

The top newcomers include junior wideout and corner Jamison Cunningham, sophomore guard Jordan Pickett, sophomore wideout Soren Johnson and sophomore tight end Colton Trcic.

Also, Sedona soccer player Ryan Cadigan is expected to be the kicker this season for the Scorpions.

The freshman roster this year includes Keenan Crans, Rawlin Carpenter, Zane Saxman, Josh Serin, Ryan Ramirez, James Gould, Alex Riccobene and Kade Gallegos.

“We don’t have much experience out there right now but we do have the talent; it’s just a matter of getting these kids playing time,” Lezcano said smiling while at practice Aug. 19.

The Scorpions will travel north to open their season in Flagstaff on the campus of Northern Arizona University on Friday, Aug. 28.

Sedona is paired with Page High in the Walkup Skydome with an official kickoff time of 5 p.m.

Kickoff was originally scheduled for 2 p.m. but was moved to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, according to Sedona Athletic Director John Parks.

The first home game for Sedona will come against Williams High on Friday, Sept. 4.

Kickoff for that game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 131, or e-mail bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com