Jack Brooks is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Campo Verde for AZPreps365.com

For those who grew up playing sports, there always seems to be special team-bonding memories that stick with people forever. These moments could be rallying to win a big game, eating together at a team dinner, or going out for a beach day, among a variety of other activities.

For Campo Verde flag football, some of these memories could be created on Saturday.

The Campo Verde Coyotes (5-1, 4-0 5A San Tan) will be making a trip out to California to face the Western Christian Fighting Lancers (15-7, 4-1 Ambassador League) on Saturday. The matchup will be the Coyotes’ first and only game outside of the AIA as they travel to the home state of head coach Brian Coger.

“That’s kind of why I picked California,” Coger said. “I’m originally from that area, so I know quite a few of the coaches out there on the club side.”

Campo Verde was originally scheduled to face the Mission Viejo Diablos, who backed out of the competition. However, with a new opponent on the same date, the same values of the contest hold true for Coger as the team makes the trip to Upland, California. 

“For me personally, it’s about taking what we have out here in Arizona back home to where I’m from,” Coger said. “Kind of show [California teams] what we do out here.”

The team will be traveling on Friday, giving the 14 underclassmen an opportunity to further build connections about a third of the way through the season. Some of those underclassmen, such as freshman wide receiver and defensive back Jaiyana Bogan, have already had opportunities to bond with teammates outside of the field.

Bogan, who will be making her first trip to California, is one of many players who are multisport athletes, sharing responsibilities between flag football and basketball.

“I know some of them, and I played with them in summer,” Bogan said. “We go out and hang out…this team’s good [with bonding].”

Coger remembers these moments back from his playing days and holds fond memories of his teammates after the Friday night lights.

“Back in those days, every postgame on Friday nights [was] going and just hanging out at people’s houses afterwards,” Coger said when thinking back to his favorite team bonding moments.

Although there will be lots of fun to be had during the out-of-state trip, the Coyotes still recognize the task at hand.

“Honestly, we got to go out there, and we got to compete,” Coger said. “We got to execute. In the end of it, if we do those two things, we’ll become closer as a team.”

“I’m really excited for this team,” Bogan said. “We’re going for the state [championship] ... [I’m excited for] winning. Playing together, having team bonding and winning the whole thing.”

For a young team that will be excited to experience all Upland, along with other parts of California, has to offer, staying locked in on the game itself is a message built around the fundamentals of high school sports.

“Not being distracted by other people,” Bogan said when talking about the keys to staying focused on the matchup. “Listening to coaches, not talking while coaches are talking, just staying locked in on the game, but also cheering on our teammates.”