Note: Desert Hills finished with a 10-2 overall record in 2014 and tied for first in 3AA South with a 5-1 record. It lost to Hurricane 17-14 in 3AA semifinals.
ST. GEORGE — For Desert Hills, watching region rival Dixie win the state championship last year was tough to swallow.
Thunder coach Carl Franke believes last year’s team was the most talented he’s had in his four years at the program — including the 2013 state championship team — and he also believes it was better than champion Dixie.
At the end of the day, none of that mattered.
“The difference is always one or two plays when you play down here,” said Franke, who acknowledged that in the 17-14 semifinal loss to Hurricane, his team didn’t make the plays down the stretch that needed to be made.
Desert Hills looked poised to score what would’ve likely been a game-winning touchdown late in that semifinal at Rice-Eccles Stadium, but a missed block allowed Hurricane’s linebacker to blindside Desert Hills quarterback Nick Warmsley, who fumbled on first and goal. Hurricane recovered and ran out the clock, forcing region co-champion Desert Hills to watch the championship from its couch the following week.
The response after the loss is a big reason Franke is eager for the upcoming season.
“Everyone took responsibility for the loss. Everyone was pointing fingers at themselves and nobody else,” said Franke.
That mentality has carried over to this year, and Franke said the leadership from the senior class this summer has been tremendous.
“We have less talent than we had last year but I think we’re a better team, that’s the feeling I get,” he said. “This is like the team we had two years ago when we won the state championship. With the senior leadership and the what-can-I-do-for-my-team-type attitude, we’re excited.”
Desert Hills may not have the same star power as last year with Bridger Cowdin, Gabe Sewell and Boogie Sewell, but the overall depth and leadership should make up for it.
One of the biggest strengths is at quarterback.
In a region where Pine View and Dixie are breaking in new quarterbacks, and Hurricane and Cedar are starting QBs who weren’t starters until very late in the year, Desert Hills has the best stability in the league with Warmsley.
He’s entering his third season as a starter and poised for a big season. Last year he completed 50 percent of his passes for 1,250 yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also ran for 676 yards and six scores.
Already this summer he’s made huge leaps by leading Desert Hills to 7-on-7 titles at Virgin Valley in Mesquite, Nevada, and also at UNLV.
“Nick Warmsley has definitely improved over the last two or three years. Heading into his third year, he really understands the offense and you can tell he’s grown a lot making a lot of checks and adjustments based on what he sees in front of him defensively,” said Franke. “He’s done really well. Excited to see what he does this year.”
A year ago Desert Hills didn’t need Warmsley to be overly aggressive since Bridger Cowdin was in the backfield. He rushed for 1,654 yards and 14 TDs despite playing against a stacked box most of the time.
With a talented receiving core and Warmsley’s improvement — in both the passing and running game — opposing defenses likely won’t be stacking the box as much in 2015.
“With his arm strength and his ability to make adjustments and throw the ball accurately and the speed we have on the outside, it’s something that can definitely combat those teams that want to load the box on us,” said Franke.
Garrick Sharp and Zac Fuchs are speed receivers for Desert Hills, while Josh Durr is a great possession receiver and Stetson Wood and Cody Ricketts are slot receivers who run very crisp routes.
Despite Cowdin’s graduation, the ground attack may not see a drop-off.
Nephi Sewell is an electric runner who started at cornerback last year, and someone who will get a ton of carries this season. He’ll also be sharing touches with sophomore running back Marco Jordan, the most powerful runner of the bunch.
Anchoring the offensive line to block all of Desert Hills’ talented skill position players are senior Justice Alo and junior Bundy Sewell. Sophomore Penei Sewell will slide into the starting line-up as well, and Franke said the 6-foot-5, 285-pound lineman is already getting a ton of interest from Pac-12 schools.
In five games against the top four teams from 3AA South last year, Desert Hills averaged 18.6 ppg. That offensive production should go up significantly.
However, the team is strong enough defensively that if for some reason the offense runs into hiccups, it will still compete for the region title.
The strength is on the line with Bundy Sewell and Alo.
“They’re two strong, excellent football players that are very difficult to block. Between their speed, athleticism, strength and size they’re as good as anyone down here,” said Franke.
The secondary will also be strong with four returning starters, led by shutdown cornerback Nephi Sewell and safeties Quinn Kiser and Zak Fuchs.
Badge Morris is a beast at linebacker after finishing second on the team with 118 tackles a year ago.
“He’s a very athletic middle linebacker for us. He’s quick to understand what’s happening in front of him and is always in the right place,” said Franke.
The defense still has some holes to fill on the line, an area that will get tested in Week 1 against 5A’s Jordan.
Overall, though, Franke has no doubt players will emerge at every position in what he expects will be a fantastic season.
Desert Hills Thunder at a glance
Coach: Carl Franke is in his fourth year as head coach at Desert Hills, amassing a 29-8 record thus far with a state title in 2013. He’s a graduate of Minisink Valley High in New York.
Offense (6 returning starters; Spread offense)
Offensive coordinator: Jay Schroeder (2 years at assistant at school)
Returning offensive starters
Nick Warmsley (QB)
Stetson Wood (WR)
Zak Fuchs (WR)
Justice Alo (OL)
Bundy Sewell (OL)
Cody Ricketts (WR)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Nephi Sewell (RB)
Marco Jordan (RB)
Garrick Sharp (WR)
Josh Durr (WR)
Penei Sewell (OL)
Defense (7 returning starters, 4-3 defense)
Defensive coordinator: Nick Hansen (4 years as assistant at school)
Returning defensive starters
Justice Alo (DL)
Bundy Sewell (DL)
Badge Morris (LB)
Quinn Kiser (FS)
Zak Fuchs (SS)
Nephi Sewell (CB)
Austin Hansen (CB)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Houston Stapley (DL)
Kyler Terry (DL)
John Adams (LB)
Coaches preseason 3AA South straw poll: First
Deseret News 3AA South prediction: First
Bottom line: Desert Hills has been to four straight semifinals and could be there again with a very talented, hungry team coming back. Success for this team will ultimately be defined at Rice-Eccles Stadium in November. In its four previous semifinal appearances, Desert Hills is 2-2. In those two title games, it’s 1-1. With three-year starter Nick Warmsley at quarterback, and a big, skilled offensive line blocking for him, the senior is poised for a tremendous season and that could be the difference between the Thunder winning or losing.
Last 5
2014 — 10-2 (5-1 in 3AA South – 3AA Semifinals)
2013 — 11-2 (4-2 in 3AA South – 3AA Champions)
2012 — 8-4 (5-1 in Region 9 – 3A Semifinals)
2011 — 9-4 (4-2 in Region 9 – 3A Runner-up)
2010 — 7-4 (3-3 in Region 9 – 3A Quarterfinals)
Desert Hills coaching history
2012-current — Carl Franke (29-8)
2009-2011 — Jake Nelson (22-12)
2008 — Kevin Cuthbertson (3-7)
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
2014 — Bridger Cowdin, RB
2014 — Justice Alo, OL
2014 — Lausii Sewell, DL
2014 — Tucker Cowdin, LB
2014 — Gabriel Sewell, DB
2014 — Nephi Sewell, DB
2013 — Bridger Cowdin, RB
2013 — Brock Doman, OL
2013 — Jake Wagner, DL
2013 — Gabe Sewell, LB
2013 — Sil Bundy, LB
2013 — Braden Reber, DB
2012 — Ty Rutledge, QB
2012 — Josh Anderson, TE
2011 — Mike Needham, RB
2011 — Peter Brown, LB
2011 — Bud Pope, DB
2010 — Peter Brown, LB
2010 — Bud Pope, DB
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.
Deseret News prep editor and Real Salt Lake beat writer.