Note: Duchesne finished with a 6-4 record in 2014 and was second in 1A North with a 2-1 record. It lost to Kanab 27-21 in the 1A quarterfinals.


Duchesne 2014 Stat Recap

DUCHESNE — If a win-loss record is an indication of perfection, the Duchesne Eagles were as good as it gets for four years entering last season.

Over a span of 47 games, Jerry Cowan’s club came away victorious 47 times. That run included hoisting the 1A championship trophy four times.

Duchesne won its first contest in 2014 but went on to lose three times during the regular season, something it hadn’t done since 2008. Still, the Eagles were seen as a title contender heading into the playoffs.

Those hopes were dashed quickly, as they lost to Kanab in the quarterfinals, 27-21. The Duchesne dynasty had been dethroned.

“It was a disappointing ending, but that’s the way things end for most teams, so it was just a different feeling for us from the last few years,” Cowan said.

During the spring, Cowan and one of his assistants met with each player who will suit up this fall and asked them what needs to happen in 2015 to return to championship glory.

Almost unanimously, each one responded that things need to be more about the team this year and not about individual accomplishments. Such can be cliche, but Cowan feels the unity of that thought throughout his team will help it be focused on getting back in the title hunt.

“The kids understand it, because that’s what they told me,” he said. “That’s not me preaching it. That’s the kids telling me. When they see what happens when you don’t do that, it makes it easy for me because they realize we can’t worry about statistics and whatnot.”

With that as the backdrop heading into 2015, Cowan is looking forward to what the season will bring.

“I think we’re probably not the favorite, and that’s OK,” he said. “I think we’re coming off kind of a disappointing year, and I think we’ve got a little bit more motivation. I think the kids are a little more eager than they were at this time last year, so hopefully that’s a good thing.”

If the Eagles are to return to the final contest of the season at Weber State University, Cowan feels it will be due to strong play in the trenches. More than just about any other year during his tenure at Duchesne, Cowan is confident the size and strength of his offensive and defensive lines will be able to control games.

Leading the way on the offensive line will be returning starters Shaydon Summarell and Jake Plummer while Aaron Verduzco is a player Cowan is looking forward to seeing.

Those three players, in addition to Rylee Spencer, will man the defensive line.

“I feel like we’ll be as strong as any team we play physically,” Cowan said. “That’s always a bonus, when physically you feel like you can handle any opponent that we have on our schedule. I guess time will tell as far as the mental part.”

As far as the skill positions on offense, Carsen Reinhardt will be at quarterback. He and Wyatt Remund split time there in 2014, but Cowan feels versatility can be maximized if Remund moves to tight end. He’ll have the opportunity to both catch and rush the ball in the Wing-T offense.

At running back, Layne Coil will be tasked with replacing the graduated Dylan Despain, one of the top rushers in the state throughout his prep career. Coil had a decent season as Despain’s sidekick a year ago, but will now be counted on to be a focal point of the offense.

“There’s no reason he shouldn’t have a really good year, a breakout year,” Cowan said. “I thought he was going to do that last year. He never really got it going. He needs to learn to let the game come to him and not try to do too much. If he can get his mindset right, he’s got the physical tools to be our guy.”

If there is one area of worry for Cowan heading into the season, it’s at linebacker. Steven Skewes and Kenyen Kielbasa have separated themselves as key players there, but neither has much varsity experience to speak of.

Thankfully for Cowan, he’s got a bunch of veterans in the secondary. Remund will play safety, while Reinhardt and Tommy Rowley will be at cornerback.

“We’re not exactly perfect all around, but I feel like we’re pretty tough up front and we’re pretty tough in the back,” Cowan said of his defense as a whole. “If the middle can figure things out, we might have a chance.”

An unexpected X-factor for the Eagles could be kicker Bobby Guerrero. The kicking game is often lacking in the 1A ranks, but Cowan feels good about the soccer player who just moved back to Duchesne after spending some of his younger years there.

“He’ll give us a weapon we’ve rarely had,” Cowan said.

Duchesne Eagles at a glance

Head coach: Jerry Cowan is entering his eighth season as Duchesne’s head coach. He has amassed a 71-21 record. He’s a graduate of Grand High School.

Offense: (5 returning starters, Wing-T offense)

Offensive coordinator: Billy Hoopes (six years as assistant)

Returning offensive starters

Carsen Reinhardt (QB)

Layne Coil (RB)

Wyatt Remund (TE)

Shaydon Summarell (OL)

Jake Plummer (OL)

Offensive newcomers to watch

Aaron Verduzco (OL)

Defense (7 returning starters, 4-2-5 defense)

Defensive coordinator: Jerry Cowan

Returning defensive starters

Jake Plummer (DL)

Rylee Spencer (DL)

Shaydon Summarell (DL)

Layne Coil (LB)

Carsen Reinhardt (DB)

Tommy Rowley (DB)

Wyatt Remund (DB)

Defensive newcomers to watch

Aaron Verduzco (DL)

Steven Skewes (LB)

Kenyen Kielbasa (LB)

Bobby Guerrero (K)

Coaches preseason Region 1A North straw poll: First

Deseret News Region 1A North prediction: Second

Bottom line: After coming back down to earth in 2014, the Eagles' response will be an interesting storyline. Strength in the trenches should go a long way in helping Duchesne have success. That said, the running game might not be as great as it has been in past seasons. The Eagles could have a hard time finding the end zone if the ground game proves to be a long-term problem. Defensively, Duchesne’s line and secondary will need to play well if a young linebacking corps struggles. The Eagles should be able to stop teams if that can happen.

Last 5

2014 — 6-4 (2-1 in 1A North – 1A Quarterfinals)

2013 — 13-0 (3-0 in 1A North – 1A Champions)

2012 — 12-0 (4-0 in 1A North – 1A Champions)

2011 — 12-0 (6-0 in 1A – 1A Champions)

2010 — 11-1 (3-0 in 1A North – 1A Champions)

Duchesne coaching history

2012-current — Jerry Cowan (31-4)

2008-2011 — Bill Hoopes (36-12)

2003-2007 — Jerry Cowan (40-17)

2000-2002 — Colby Knight (10-19)

1999 — Brian Berrong (1-8)

1996-1998 — Don Hill (9-21)

1993-1995 — Dave Woolstenhulme (17-13)

1987-1992 — Rick Durban (27-30)

1984-1986 — Stan Young (23-8)

1981-1983 — Rick Durban (14-16)

1979-1980 — Robert Cook (9-9)

1977-1978 — John Dowell (3-14)

1974-1976 — Ed Browning (3-21)

1973 — Russ Shirts (5-5)

Deseret News MVPs the past 10 years

2013 — Trent Roberts, QB/LB

2012 — Kaden Moon, RB/LB

2011 — Max Lewis, OL/DL

2010 — Grant Marett, OL/DL

2006 — Weston Despain, RB

Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years

2014 — Dylan Despain, RB/LB

2014 — Jesse Wickel, OL/DL

2013 — Matt Muir, RB/DB

2013 — Colin Moon, Duchesne, RB/DB

2013 — Dylan Despain, RB/LB

2013 — Matt Dye, FB/DL

2013 — Braxton Spencer, WR/LB

2012 — Trent Roberts, QB/LB

2012 — Josh Hanberg, RB/DB

2012 — McKade Nielsen, TE/FS

2012 — Jesus Pena, OL/DL

2012 — Wade Shepard, OL/DL

2012 — Cassidy Smith, OL/DL

2011 — Shiaba Allen, QB/LB

2011 — Braiden Despain, RB/LB

2011 — Macoy Young, RB/DB

2011 — McKade Nielsen, TE/DB

2011 — Kane Nealley, OL/LB

2010 — Shiaba Allen, QB/LB

2010 — Braiden Despain, RB/LB

2010 — Max Lewis, OL/DL

2010 — Devin Fabrizi, RB/LB

2010 — Kane Nealley, OL/DL

2010 — Austin Poulson, OL/DL

2009 — Travis Potter, RB/LB

2009 — Austin Thompson, OL/DL

2009 — Jacob Verde, RB/LB

2009 — Kyle Wilkerson, OL/DL

2008 — Jacob Evans, OL/DL

2007 — Colby Evans, RB/LB

2007 — Tyler Reinhardt, RB/DB

2006 — Zack Bertola, RB/DB

2006 — Brenton Farnsworth

2006 — Sam Hoopes, TE/DB

2006 — Tyler Reinhardt, QB/DB

2006 — Shayne Wilkerson, OL/DL

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2005 — Shayne Wilkerson, OL/DL

2005 — Sam Hoopes, TE/DB

To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.

Ryan McDonald is a part-time reporter at the Deseret News. Follow him on Twitter @ryanwmcdonald.

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