There is an excitement on campus. People are smiling and talking about football. That's something Tempe Corona del Sol football players have used to keep them motivated in the midst of a 5-1 season entering this week's game.
A year ago, the Aztecs were muddling through a 3-7 season. It was the first under coach Eric Lauer. He knew if there was a commitment to the weight room, if the players bonded, backed each other and stayed the course, it would change.
It also helps to have one of the state's top quarterbacks in Luke Farrell returning.
Farrell has thrown 17 touchdown passes in the first six games, while setting the school's all-time record for TD passes with 47. He will try to add to that record Thursday, Oct. 15, when the Aztecs play at 2-5
Mesa Desert Ridge in a 6A football game.
"We just made sure we were focused all offseason," Farrell said. "We just go week by week."
Farrell, who has recovered from May 6 thumb surgery on his throwing hand, has been a stickler for detail.
"Just take every practice serious, take every rep serious, and make sure I'm ready for the game on Friday," Farrell said.
Receiver Tristan Richey said he can tell how different football is this season by the positive campus vibes he feels every day he goes to school.
"We've changed a lot," Richey said. "Coach Lauer always talks about how he wants to make Corona del Sol football something more than it was before. I think we've done that. The teachers, other students, they all love to see us and come out. The student section is packed. It just changed.
"Nobody would come to the games. Now everybody comes to the games. Everyone is a lot more respectful. Everyone cares a lot more."
The players have cards too, showing their commitment to changing the team culture, Lauer said.
"They've been getting after it really well, so far," he said.
Lauer has great trust in the 6-foot-5 Farrell running the offense. The left-hander, who committed to UNLV last March, completed 174 of 314 passes for 2,020 yards and 12 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 2025.
This year, he has cut way down on interceptions, throwing only two in his first 115 pass attempts, completing 70 for 1,166 yards. He also ran for 198 yards and six touchdowns through the first six games.
"It's getting used to this offense," Lauer said. "We try to give as much as we can to the quarterback to allow us to go faster and keep us on schedule. He's been able to pull a little bit more in Year 2, so it's been cool to watch."
For the seniors, this is the best of their four years at Corona.
"That's like an eternity for high school kids," Lauer said.
This team has a chance at finishing 9-1 in the regular season and move up in the MaxPreps 6A rankings. The Aztecs are currently ranked 19th in 6A. After Desert Ridge, they finish against Queen Creek (2-4), Queen Creek Casteel (1-5) and Phoenix Desert Vista (4-2).
"We still got a long road to go," Lauer said. "They're working hard. They've been getting a better understanding of our expectations, our core values. It's been good."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: QB Luke Farrell leads Corona del Sol's turnaround football season
