Judge Memorial High School's football team had high expectations going into the 2004 season, but the Bulldogs never managed to get on track as they only managed one league win and finished with a 2-8 record.
Fast forward 12 months, and Judge returns a bevy of talented players, including tight end Braden Brown and cornerback Chad Meske. Those are the type of athletes coach James Cordova hopes can turn the corner for his program and wipe away the memories of 2004.
"We tried to get a little too cute for own good (last year)," said Cordova. "We tried to do too much."
This year, Cordova's just hoping to put his players in the right positions to succeed. Cordova quickly pointed out that he's now in his third season at the helm of Judge's football program, and he's hoping that the foundation laid from the previous two seasons will lead to success this year.
"I'm feeling like we're at a crossroads," he said. "They say it's three to four years (before things get going), so I'm hoping this will be the year."
Much of Judge's offense in 2005 will be predicated on running the ball through backs Don Parker and Alex Price. For now, Cordova said the pair of seniors will be splitting time at running back. Parker was the starting tailback for the Bulldogs last year, but Price could be a wild card for the team.
Price transferred from Las Vegas' Centennial High, where he started at running back as a junior. Last season, Centennial started 2-0 with Price carrying the ball. He rushed for 238 in those two games, but a season-ending injury took him off the field and Centennial went 0-7 without him.
Interestingly, Price grew up in Utah and played little-league football with several of Judge's current seniors. The running back doesn't hide the fact that he's set lofty goals for himself.
"I want to be the No. 1 running back in the state and just help the team win," Price said.
Luke Hristou gives Judge lots of experience at the quarterback position, and he's got a good target in Brown, a junior 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end who will likely be a D-1 recruit.
Brown's older brother, Les Brown, starred for Judge last year at wide receiver and was a second-team All-State choice by the Deseret Morning News. Instead of returning to Judge for his senior season, however, Les Brown decided to transfer to Highland for personal reasons.
Even so, another of Judge's 2004 All-State selections will be back on defense. Meske, who was an honorable mention by the Deseret Morning News at cornerback, will help anchor Judge's defense. Meske is listed at 5 feet 8 inches, 145 pounds, and Cordova said that opposing teams try to pick on Meske because of his size.
It's a challenge Meske relishes.
"I take it as a compliment when teams come at me," he said.
Judge Bulldogs
COACH:James Cordova, who's entering his third year as the Bulldogs' coach. Cordova has compiled a 5-16 record over his previous two seasons. Prepped at Judge High and went to California's Humboldt State.
KEY PLAYERS: Junior tight end Braden Brown gives quarterback Luke Hristou a legitimate target. Brown recently excelled at a UCLA football camp and likely will receive lots of attention from D-1 schools. Don Parker and Alex Price are neck-and-neck at the running back position, while cornerback Chad Meske earned honorable mention all-state accolades last year.
STRENGTHS: Plenty of talent and lots of speed across the board for this team. Parker, Price and Jordan Wydell, among others, all have done well in track and field and bring that speed to the gridiron. In Hristou, the Bulldogs have a very experienced quarterback capable of leading the offense.
QUESTION MARKS: While they've got lots of speed, Judge lacks size and strength, which will take its toll by the end of a tough schedule. The Bulldogs must cope with the loss of talented receiver Les Brown, a Deseret Morning News second-team All-State selection last year who transferred to Highland.
LAST SEASON: 2-8 with losing streaks of three and five
PREDICTED REGION 10 FINISH: Ranked fifth by the preseason coaches' poll.
POSTSEASON POSSIBILITIES: It will be a positive step for Cordova's team to make the 3A playoffs. Anything else would be a bonus.
2005 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 — GRANITE, 7 p.m.
Aug. 27 — at Bishop Keelly, 1 p.m.
Sept. 2 — at Ben Lomond, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 — JUAN DIEGO, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 — OGDEN, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 — UINTAH, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 — at Union, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 — WASATCH, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 — at Morgan, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 — at Park City, 7 p.m.