OREM — The last time Tyler Anderson roamed the sidelines at Orem High School, he led the 1987 Tigers to their fourth state title as an all-state wide receiver. Now, 24 years later, Anderson is in the process of reviving the Tigers as their head coach and offensive coordinator.
Anderson, who previously coached Tooele High to the school's only state championship in 2002, explained that the talent he is surrounded with at Orem will make a lot of noise in region this year.
"We are going to surprise a lot of teams in region this year. The players we have are talented and athletic," said Anderson whose Tigers won their first game of the season with a 31-20 win over Lehi last week.
The talent Anderson is raving about starts with junior quarterback Taylor Camp. Camp in three games has passed for 883 yards and seven touchdowns. Camp's favorite target is senior wideout Cole Payne, who has 378 receiving yards on 20 receptions and six touchdown catches.
"Coach Anderson's spread offense fits the type of talent we have on our team," Camp said. "We are jelling as team and, as the season wears on, we are trusting one another because this offense relies on me trusting my line, my receivers trusting me and the runningbacks trusting everyone to do their assignments."
That trust is echoed by senior captain Kaleb Egbert, "Our strength is working together and playing together. When we play as a team we are unstopple."
That statement proved true this past week when Egbert led the Tigers with 172 yards rushing and three touchdowns to help defeat Lehi. The running game which was nonexistent during the first two games came alive, according to Anderson, when changes where made on the line. Zack Jensen was moved to center and Talai Tuimaumei to left tackle to help Reinhard Gaul, Austin Snow and junior tackle Ben Thomas.
"The movement of Jensen and Tuimaumei really helped our running game and getting Mike Mua back healthy is a big plus," Anderson said. "But, in order to have a running game, we must pass the ball and get the ball into the hand of our play maker Cole (Payne)."
Payne has been nothing short of astounding as his athletic abilities have helped keep the Tigers in all three games thus far. His nickname on the team is "Manchild" because of the way he abuses opposing teams' defensive backs.
"Offenssively, we are starting to play well, but we still need to make a lot of improvements (to be successful), but I like how our team is playing right now," said Payne.
Defensively, Anderson said that moving Shawn Saili from linebacker to defensive tackle was key in slowing down opponents' running game. Saili has 27 tackles one sack and four tackle for losses so far this season. Saili gets plenty of help from DE/LB Joe Jensen, Al Tuuhetauga and Tuimaumei on the D-line. But the key to the Tigers' defense according to Anderson are the linebackers lead by Egbert, Mitch Steele, Ed Plothow and Elia Jennings.
"Coach Anderson really brings the intensity to all the practices and it really help our team, especially on defense," said Jensen, who had 13 tackles and an interception against Lehi.
This week, the defense will be tested for the first time with an airal assault from Provo, as the three previous opponents (Herriman, East and Lehi) relied heavily on the running game. Called upon to shore up the last wall of defense are the defensive backs, seniors Brady Call and Brandon Poulous and juniors Luke Steele and Jake Wadsworth.
"Region is up in the air right now and we have just as good a chance as any other team," said Anderson.
Tonight the Tigers host Provo for their homecoming game. This game will also be a homecoming of sort for Anderson, as he will try and revive the winning tradition he is so accustomed to at his alma mater.