BY PETE MOHR | JUNE 27, 2012

Meet the Football Falcon seniors …
Nick Molchan

Before profiling this issue’s Football Falcon senior, Nick Molchan (r), I offer for readers’ consideration the familiar abbreviation “K.I.S.S”, translating “Keep It Simple, Stupid!” I opine that in high school football, “simplicity” can be a good thing. For his defense this upcoming season, Falcons Head Coach Greg Davis is, to his credit, already opting for “simplicity” – starting with himself.

Thwarted by the continuing non-availability of a full-time math teaching position at Cactus Shadows, time ran out on Coach Davis in his negotiations with a highly qualified prospect to become his new defensive coordinator. So what has Coach Davis done? He’s stepping up to put on a third “hat”: that is, adding defensive coordinator to his responsibilities as head coach and offensive coordinator. Bravo!

Now don’t get me wrong: I thoroughly enjoyed covering “The Bradshaw Badasses” (2005-2010); but as a high school football fan, I support the concept of having a head coach hold all three responsibilities. The way this writer sees it, the “Indians,” i.e. the Falcons, will fare better playing for only one “Chief,” i.e. Coach Davis. We’ll see.

And “Chief” Davis has moved quickly to implement one major defensive change: he’s abandoning the complicated schemes that cost his 2011 Falcons too many 2nd Half points, and will re-install the more conventional 4-3-2-2 (four down linemen; three linebackers; two cornerbacks; and two safeties) alignment. Even with a nicked-up Bryce Kinsler (shin and throwing hand bruised thumb) and receivers Cody Folts (concussion) and Kyle Gladstone (torn left knee ACL) sitting for the season, the Falcons, led by Kinsler, do-it-all R.J. Anderson and hard-working Matt Hartlen, put up enough points to win more than three (I totally overlooked their 4th Quarter comeback “W” over Barry Goldwater. Sorry, ‘Birds!) games in 2011. In the last three games, Notre Dame, Paradise Valley and Shadow Mountain each scored 40+ points. Coach Davis aims to stop that bleeding – starting on August 24 against Boulder Creek. But this June 27, I have to remain “from Missouri,” as in “Show Me!”

One Falcon defender upon whom Coach Davis is counting: outside (or middle) linebacker Nick Molchan who earned his first CSHS letter last season. “Nick is one of our hardest hitters,” Coach Davis volunteers. Continuing, “Linebackers Coach Kenny Gibadlo and I are looking for big things out of him this season.” The 6’1”, 220 lb. Molchan rates himself primarily a run-stopper, quickly acknowledging, “I need to work on my pass coverage.”

Nick praises his Falcon fellow seniors: “We’re very close, and we’ve been playing together for a long time.” Then, taking his Blue-and-Grey inspiration from his brother, Alex (CSHS ’10), and rooting for the 2006 State Champion Falcons, Nick set a high bar – both for the team and himself: “We have as our goal earning a State Playoffs home game. For me, personally, I want to make 100 tackles.” And, he admits, “a couple of interceptions” would be a bonus. Hey, Nick! I’ll settle for your helping to stop the sweeps that have seemed to consistently hurt the Falcon “D.” He is a fan of Coach Davis’s return to a 4-3 defensive scheme: “I think it’s definitely going to help us. Last season, there were too many times when our guys were uncertain of their roles.” “Keep It Simple, Stupid!” The “new” Coach D. knows that his defenders must do that. There follows a brief “bio” on Nick.

Nicholas Erik Molchan was born June 30, 1995 (happy 17th birthday, Nick!) in Portland, Ore. He is the younger son of north Scottsdalians Paul and Karie Molchan. Older brother, Alex, 20, a rising junior at University of San Diego, was a varsity soccer Falcon. A 3.22 GPA student, nick identifies Messrs. Rob Reisner (Chemistry) and Steve Mitten (History) as his favorite CSHS teachers. He tactfully skirted naming his ladyfriend!

Nick has played organized football since 5th grade; but unless college recruiter overtures materialize, he’s okay with this season being his last. About his goal of making 100 tackles: Nick, when you get to 50, please remember to call me. I want to be among the first to congratulate you on one helluva season!