Note: Summit Academy finished with a 10-2 overall record in 2014 and was second in 2A North with a 5-1 record. It lost to South Summit 28-6 in the 2A championship.
BLUFFDALE — Of everything Summit Academy coach Scott Gorringe was impressed by in watching South Summit beat his team for last year’s 2A state championship, the Wildcats’ confidence is what stood out the most.
“The advantage South Summit has had, and they’re going to have it coming in this year too, they just expect to win. It’s kind of a culture, you build a culture of winning,” said Gorringe. “That’s the takeaway I had from last year, let’s expect to be good, let’s expect to win and let’s expect to have to work hard.”
Developing that winning culture is much easier said than done, but Summit Academy took steps toward that goal last year in just its third season of varsity football.
After missing the 2A playoffs with a 2-9 record in 2013, the Bears utilized that experience the following year on its way to a 10-win season and a spot in the 2A title game. They beat Beaver and San Juan along the way, but eventually lost to South Summit in the championship game.
Throughout the season, it garnered respect not only in 2A but in the south part of the Salt Lake valley.
“When you have a season like we did last year, even though we didn’t win it, more people started taking notice,” said Gorringe.
The goal now is to build on that winning mentality, which won’t be easy after graduating several three-year starters who were instrumental in laying the foundation of the program.
Despite many vacancies to fill both offensively and defensively, Gorringe believes there are enough returning starters to ease the transition heading into the 2015 season.
The biggest strength is on the offensive line with four returning starters, Dakota Pannell, Sterling Hullinger, James Walker and Nate Losee. It’s a luxury any coach would love to have, especially with newcomers virtually everywhere else.
Led by athletic quarterback Hagan Hines last year, the Bears were definitely a run-first spread team. Justin Miller takes over at quarterback this year, and Gorringe believes that with his skill set the offense should be more balanced.
“We have to do a better job of being balanced. Use the ground game to open up the passing game and vice versa. And if we can accomplish some balance and keep people back on their heels guessing what we’re going to do then I think we can be successful,” said Gorringe.
Kohlten Bills and Tyson Dais were defensive starters last year, but they’re doubling their responsibilities this year and should both get plenty of carries at running back.
The biggest weapon offensively could by 6-foot-7 tight end Sam Velez.
“He’s really shown me the most over the summer. He has the potential to be a man among boys. He has massive hands and he really catches the ball well,” said Gorringe.
He caught only eight passes for 90 yards last season, but with Miller’s ability to spread the ball around, that production should go way up.
Defensively, the biggest question mark for Summit Academy is at linebacker after the team graduated several very quality players. There’s some experience back though as Dais and Hunter Mangum return, with Velez expected to contribute there as well by moving from the defensive line to linebacker.
“That’s the big question mark, can we replace those linebackers?” said Gorringe. “Now we can replace them, but will they be as effective?”
One player Summit Academy will lean on heavily defensively is Bills. The free safety was second on the team in tackles a year ago, and he could be even better this year.
“My hope is that (the defense) plays as well as they did last year, and that we can play at the same level that we finished on with San Juan in the semifinal game. I hope we can play that kind of stingy defense,” said Gorringe.
Summit Academy Bears at a glance
Head Coach: Scott Gorringe is entering his fourth season as head coach at Summit Academy. He’s tallied a 17-16 record in his first three years. He’s a graduate of Brighton High School.
Offense (5 returning starters; Spread offense)
Offensive coordinator: Ken Denos (3 years as an assistant)
Returning offensive starters
Dakota Pannell (OL)
Sterling Hullinger (OL)
James Walker (OL)
Nate Losee (OL)
Sam Velez (TE)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Justin Miller (QB)
Kohlten Bills (RB)
Tyson Dais (RB)
Hunter Mangum (WR)
Defense (6 returning starters, 3-5-3 defense)
Defensive coordinator: Matt Hines (3 years as an assistant)
Returning defensive starters
Kohlten Bills (FS)
Tyson Dais (LB)
Hunter Mangum (LB)
Sam Velez (DL) – moving to LB
Dakota Pannell (DL)
James Walker (DL)
Coaches preseason 2A North straw poll: Second
Deseret News 2A North prediction: Third
Bottom line: In its first year of playing 2A football in 2013, Summit Academy just couldn’t compete physically in a lot of game with a bunch of sophomores and juniors starting. Last season, however, many of those kids were seniors and the team’s quality became apparent as it won 10 games and reached the 2A title game. Considering the area in which Summit Academy can draw players from, if it can consistently put juniors and seniors on the field instead of freshmen and sophomores, trips to the 2A semifinals will become the norm for this program.
Last 3
2014 — 10-2 (5-1 in 2A North – 2A Runner-up)
2013 — 2-9 (1-5 in 2A North – Missed playoffs)
2012 — 5-5 (2-2 in 1A North – 1A Quarterfinals)
Summit Academy coaching history
2012-current — Scott Gorringe (17-16)
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
2014 — Hagan Hines, QB/LB
2014 — Steven Harp, RB/WR
2014 — Jake Dartchner, DE
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.