Given its football success in recent years, Brophy Prep is feeling a drought of sorts  in the sport. With three title-game appearances between 2005 and 2008 (two ending in championships) it's now been two seasons without a semifinal berth or better. A lot of schools would love to live the Broncos' drought.

Not that the Broncos have been far from semifinal berths. They lost quarterfinals games the last two years to Mesa and Mountain Pointe, respectively, by scores of 13-3 and 13-12. A 6-6 record in 2010 with more sophomores playing than a coach would want to use, nearly saw Brophy make it to the final four. That has a good chance of being rectified in 2011 for several reasons. First and foremost are numbers.

Numbers as in 13 returning starters. Coach Scooter Molander also called on 11 sophomores in 2010, all of whom either started or played a significant amount of time. They all return as juniors -- many at key positions.

The headliners are lightning-fast receiver Devon Allen, who set a school record for receiving yards in a season (917) and nearly one in receptions  in a season (61). Allen also helped Brophy to the Division I boys track title scoring 27 points with second-place finishes (200 meters and 110 hurdles); third-place (100 meters) and fourth-place (400 meters). Quarterback Tyler Bruggman, who missed half the season due to a broken ankle, passed for 1,700 yards in six games. Bruggman and Allen have received early offers from Molander's alma mater -- Colorado State.

Add a trio of seasoned junior linemen in Alex Rosner, Dominic Riccitelli and tight end Robert Relf and the interior on both sides of the ball has some prowess. Versatile Fred Gammage, now a senior who played several positions last year, figures to settle in at receiver and defensive back this year. Junior running back Marche Dennard  possesses more skill-position speed to go with Allen and Gammage.

While all these players have vital varsity game time, they will often line up against seasoned seniors from other schools. It remains to be seen how they fare with players with a year more of physical maturity.

What is likely to help this year is a schedule not as rigorous as the past two seasons. Gone from the regular-season girind are Hamilton, Centennial, Chandler, Desert Vista and Mesa. Mountain Pointe, a team many figure to challenge this season for the title, is on the slate as are Red Mountain and Westview. Still a decent slate, but physical wear-and-tear should be less on Friday nights. Not so much with many other Division I title contenders.

Barring massive injuries and the like, this seems to be a year where Brophy can play a longer season as it did in the mid-to-late first decade of the new millennium.