GILBERT, Ariz. — To some on the outside, it might be a shock Perry sophomore Kael Snyder is the team's quarterback for the 2024 season. But to Snyder, this was always part of the plan even operating as the team's ball boy just a handful of years ago.
"When my dad coached here, I was the ball boy and have always wanted to come and play here at Perry," Synder said.
The sophomore was thrown into the starter role this offseason after (then) starting quarterback Diesel Taylor moved to California for family reasons.
Head coach Joseph Ortiz isn't new to this and is aware the transition from playing on the freshman team to the varsity level, might be not perfectly smooth.
"When you have a sophomore quarterback you take your lumps here and there but we feel he's more advanced than most sophomore quarterbacks," Ortiz said. "But the one thing he will realize quickly is how much faster the game is at this level."
Adapting to the varsity level is no simple feat, but fortunately, Snyder has his dad, former Arizona Cardinal, Adam Synder, to lean on.
"He really helps me on the mental side of the game," Synder said. "We watch film all the time, every week, it's awesome. Any questions I have I can go to him, he'll answer it so I know what to do moving forward."
The up-and-coming sophomore also knows half the game is a mental battle and inner confidence is a large trait he leans into when playing among older students.
"I need to put into my mind that I am a senior even though I am just a sophomore," Synder said. "Play and act like I am as old and as good as everybody else. But yes, I'd say there's definitely a mental part to it."
While Snyder is caught up in the daily grind that is football, he said he continues to draw on the journey of legendary Perry quarterback Brock Purdy and he looks at Purdy's success to motivate himself.
"I ask myself, 'What would Brock do?'" Snyder said. "He's really smart and calm in games and I try to be exactly like him. I talked to him before my freshman year and he told me to keep my head down, keep working and everything will come to be as it should."
Snyder will start his varsity career on Aug. 30 at home against Desert Ridge. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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