Treffen Rexius is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover North Canyon High School for AZPreps365.com.

Junior quarterback Karlos Romandia stepped into a position that wasn’t always his, not only on the field but in the locker room as well. 

That’s according to North Canyon safeties coach Alex Centa.

“Kids can look around and know not only will Karlos hold you accountable, but the third string as well,” Centa said.

Romandia and the Rattlers of North Canyon High haven’t had a winning reputation in almost a decade. The team’s last two seasons have been plagued by losses and gut-wrenching defeats. After finishing 1-9 in 2023-24 and going winless in 2024, North Canyon struggled through back-to-back years decided by an average margin of 35 points per game.

“To change something historically that hasn’t been all that great, it’s about showing the growth this year and the growth in the next few years,” Centa said.

Now, Romandia and the rest of his team are using the pain from past seasons as fuel to change the program’s direction.

“That 1-9 and 0-10 feeling, having nothing to prove, is just nothing you ever want to feel or happen again,” Romandia said.

But it wasn’t just Romandia who said the offense has gotten better; it’s been a multitude of players and even some on the other side of the ball.

“The offense has improved significantly,” senior defensive back Jemorian Barron said. “We didn’t score that many points last year. This year, we’ve done way better at getting into the end zone.”

At the heart of North Canyon’s progress, teamwork and camaraderie help the Rattlers stay connected through challenging stretches of the season, Centa said.

“As a team, we are a whole unit now,” Romandia said. “Last year, we had freshmen who had no clue who the seniors were. It feels better going out there and practicing now; it feels like a routine.”

For Centa, success isn’t all about wins and losses. Instead, he preaches “process over outcome,” meaning that as long as players put in consistent effort every day, they will see results.

“When you work hard, you will see the results,” Centa said. “It’s tough in those times when you do go 0-10, but you have to stick to the process. As you see here in year two, we’ve stayed true to the process and are starting to get a better outcome, and you can see the reflection of that all throughout our program.”

Wide receivers coach Hunter Perkins applauded the team’s ability to not give up, not only among the seniors but throughout the entire roster.

“It’s a skill that not a lot of people have, to stay four years in a program like this and continue to have that drive. It’ll take you a long way in life,” Perkins said.

Long-term dedication is what Karlos Romandia and the North Canyon football team strive for. But that can’t come without leadership. 

“The North Canyon football team is built on leadership,” Centa said. “Romandia has shown immense growth in his leadership both on and off the field, making sure that no matter where players sit on the depth chart, they’re still making the right plays and decisions for the team.”

Reaching a .500 record in Arizona’s 4A conference can be challenging with more than 50 schools competing for the same state title, Centa said. This North Canyon team could etch itself into the history books for the first time since 2016-17 by finishing with a .500 record.

On a night dedicated to the seniors who’ve weathered every setback, North Canyon looked to finish strong. On October 31, it was more than just another game; it was Senior Night.

Head coach Anthony Johns praised his team for the energy and effort it put in leading up to the game.

“This was the best week of practice we have ever had,” Johns said. “Our boys were fired up. I knew we were gonna win; I just didn’t know by how much.”

North Canyon scored on its first four drives, taking a 28-0 lead after the first quarter. Johns had high expectations for this game, and it didn’t disappoint him.

With the team honoring the upperclassmen, the Rattlers scored 34 more points throughout the game, with senior wide receiver Preston Reed hauling in three touchdowns and Dom Dampier adding one. Junior running back A.J. Garcia added three touchdowns himself as the Rattlers imposed their will on the Lions.

Not only that, but the Rattlers broke their record for most turnovers in a single season when freshman cornerback Markeyvone Burdine intercepted a pass and took it all the way for a pick-six, pushing the total from 29 to 30, and they weren’t done yet, later bumping the mark to 31.

North Canyon won the game 60-6 and completed what hadn’t been done in nearly a decade, finishing the season at .500.

Johns remained optimistic about laying the foundation for the coming years and praised his freshman class.

“Our freshman class is pretty dang good,” Johns said.

Adding onto that, turning around programs is “what he does.”

“I’ve done this before; this is what I did at Heritage Academy and Valley Lutheran,” Johns said. “The staff I bring knows the blueprint for turning teams around.”