It’s always a benefit when you can return players. They don’t have that little eye of wonderment when they go into that first game. They’ve been there, they’ve done that. – Sky View head coach Craig Anhder said.
Moving up one classification for high school sports competition, such as going from 4A to 5A, can present some difficult challenges for a lot of prep programs.
But that's certainly not the case with Sky View — at least not if you can believe what the rest of the Region 1 coaches have to say.
The Bobcats, who were bumped up from 4A to the 5A ranks in the latest Utah High School Activities Association realignment, have been installed as the overwhelming favorite for this year's Region 1 title.
And no wonder.
After all, they've got 16 returning starters — eight on each side of the ball — from last year's team that went 9-3 overall and reached the 4A state quarterfinals before getting knocked out by a powerhouse Timpview team which went on to take the state title.
“It’s always a benefit when you can return players," veteran Sky View head coach Craig Anhder said of his experienced, battle-tested squad. "They don’t have that little eye of wonderment when they go into that first game. They’ve been there, they’ve done that. I think it helps us raise our level of practice up, and whenever you can raise your practice level up, you’re going to raise your game level up.
“It’s created a sense of urgency," he said of the move to 5A. "The kids want to make sure they have an opportunity to perform there. ... They have a great desire to prove they belong in 5A and can compete at this level.
“I hope were as good as they say we are,” Anhder said of being picked to win the league, “but heck, we havent even played a game yet. We've still got over three weeks until region play, so I hope we improve drastically to meet those expectations. There are a lot of great teams in this league. It would be great to win it, and of course we want to be region champs, but we've got a long way to go.”
One of those returning starters who will help ease that transition is quarterback Garrison Beach, an extremely efficient and accurate passer who threw for 2,223 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. Beach completed an eye-popping 64 percent of his passes and threw only three interceptions last year.
And the receiving corps is loaded with returning starters like 6-foot-6 Bryce Mortenson, who caught 16 touchdown passes last season.
On defense, Jake Pitcher and Colton Durrant return after combining for more than 160 tackles last year.
Mark Wootton, head coach of neighboring Cache County rival Mountain Crest, put a little added pressure on the 'Cats when he told an Ogden newspaper reporter, "If they don't take state this year with that team, they never will. They've got studs."
Mountain Crest is one of three other schools, along with Roy and Clearfield, that have been bumped up from 4A to 5A to be part of this new-look Region 1.
Roy, coming off a glory-filled 12-1 season that propelled the Royals all the way to the 4A championship game, was picked second in the league's preseason poll.
The Royals have their potent "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" backfield back in the talented one-two punch of seniors Baby Tee Eteuati and Matty Matautia.
That terrific twosome combined for nearly 1,500 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns on the ground last year, with Eteuati carrying the ball 131 times for 775 yards (5.92 yards per carry) and 12 TDs. Matautia added 699 yards rushing on 92 carries (a whopping 7.6-yard average) and 12 touchdowns of his own.
Defending Region 1 champion Fremont has another solid ballclub with returning playmakers like running backs Braxton Porter and Austin Freeman, slot receiver Haze Hadley and offensive linemen Brock Carter, Zach Clawson and Kole Calvert.
But the Silver Wolves, too, have just two returning starters on defense in Calvert and linebacker Caleb Ingram, a three-year starter.
Head coach Kory Bosgieter of Fremont, which has taken home the region title in five of the last 10 years, looks at Sky View as the favorite, but says this league is a juggernaut that will be difficult to navigate unscathed.
"Sky View's loaded," he said. "They've got a lot of great athletes, and I think they're the team to beat. ... I still think, top to bottom, this is the toughest region in the state. Sky View is very good, Roy is very good, Mountain Crest is very good, Northridge is very good, Clearfield is gonna be better, and Weber's gonna be better. I tell you, it's a tough region."
Mountain Crest, coming off back-to-back losing seasons after playing for the state championship in 2012, has a bundle of returning starters who should boost the Mustangs' chances to get back to the state playoffs after a two-year absence and several close, frustrating losses last year.
Quarterback Tanner Schwab threw for almost 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns last year, and running backs Levani Damuni, Bubba Thompson and Kort Fuller combined for 1,800 yards rushing last season, with Thompson getting 975 of them.
“I think the fact we’ve moved up to 5A, the kids recognized that it was going to require some great effort in the offseason, and I think they’ve done that,” said Wootton.
Northridge also missed the state playoffs last season, and the Knights don't have a lot of returning starters back from that ballclub.
Top returnees include quarterback Jrue Perkins, who was the team's leading receiver last year, and a solid receiving corps. Head coach Erik Thompson considers the offensive line the strength of his team, led by a pair of three-year starters in center Brogan Poll and guard Taylor Allen.
Tackle Noah Kramer, ends Poll and Allen and Ethan Udy at safety help lead the Knights' defense.
Thompson sees the new Region 1 as an intense challenge.
"I think it'll be, if not the toughest in 5A, right there with anyone," he said.
Weber High went to the 5A state playoffs and got bounced out by eventual state champion Bingham last year, and third-year head coach Matt Hammer feels like his program is headed in the right direction.
Running back Garrett Hoyt, experienced receivers Wyatt Berdinner and junior Brevin Dean, and tackle Levi Nye lead the way for the Warriors' offense, while freshman linebacker Brandt Opheikens and sophomore Carter Green have been a huge addition to the defense.
"We've definitely got our hands full," Hammer said. "But we've got good kids and good coaches here, and they care for one another. So we have a chance. We're gonna be competitive."
Clearfield's second-year coach, former University of Utah and NFL standout Andre Dyson, blames himself for the Falcons' lousy 2-8 finish last year. And he promises better fortunes for the Falcons this time around.
"Last year was very humbling and I learned so much, and hopefully the stuff I learned I'm doing the right things now to correct it this year," he said. "... This year, these kids just want to win."
Leading the way in Clearfield's comeback bid will be senior quarterback Jace Haney, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound performer who put up some solid numbers last season, when he threw for 2,344 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Running back Kenny Sanchez and receivers Dallen Visser, Garrett Garcia, Aaron Hiebert and Braxton Weaver are also being counted on to bolster the Falcons' offensive effort, while linemen Tyler Craig and Jackson Pauline spearhead the defense.
Deseret News projections for Region 1 in 2015
(Preseason rankings are based on coaches' votes)
1. SKY VIEW: The Bobcats have 16 returning starters — eight on each side of the ball — back from last year's team which finished 9-3. Leading the way is quarterback Garrison Beach, who threw for 2,223 yards and 21 touchdowns last season while completing 64 percent of his passes and throwing just three interceptions. Mason Tye — a 250-pound converted defensive tackle — will handle the bulk of the running game until Jameson Daines, recovering from a torn ACL last fall, can return in September. The receiving corps is loaded with four returning starters, led by 6-foot-6 Bryce Mortensen, who caught 16 touchdown passes last season. Colton Durrant, Dereck Talua and Wes Anderson all return on the O-line, with Jake Pitcher, Max Christensen and Durrant leading the defense for a Bobcat ballclub that could be legitimate state championship contender despite making the move up from 4A to 5A. 2014 RECORD: 9-3. PLAYOFFS: Lost to Timpview 45-7 in 4A quarterfinals.
2. ROY: The Royals rolled to a 12-1 record last year, when they reached the 4A title game, but have only a handful of returning starters from that team, including just two on defense, as they make the move up to 5A. They'll have their potent running back duo of Baby Tee Eteuati and Matty Matautia, who combined for nearly 1,500 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns on the ground last year, in tact. Linemen Joe Joe Tufele and Brayden Montalvo are also returning starters on offense. Eteuati and his younger brother, cornerback Tyler Eteuati, along with Wynton Lamar and linebacker Chase Storey will spearhead a young defense which could start as many as nine underclassmen. Another year like 2014 is too much to ask, but the Royals should definitely be in the hunt for the region title and a 5A playoff berth. 2014 RECORD: 12-1. PLAYOFFS: Lost to Timpview 28-7 in 4A championship game.
3. FREMONT: The defending Region 1 champs have some solid playmakers returning in running backs Braxton Porter and Austin Freeman, slot receiver Haze Hadley and offensive linemen Brock Carter, Zach Clawson and Kole Calvert. But the Silver Wolves have just two returning starters on defense in Calvert and linebacker Caleb Ingram, a three-year starter, so some inexperienced players must step on on Friday nights. However, with five region titles in the last 10 years, it would be foolish for anyone to overlook Fremont when it comes time for handing out postseason appearances. 2014 RECORD: 8-4. PLAYOFFS: Lost to Riverton 17-14 in 5A quarterfinals.
4. MOUNTAIN CREST: Another school making the jump from 4A to the 5A ranks, Mountain Crest has had uncharacteristic back-to-back losing seasons. But this year's Mustangs have a high number of returning starters, led by quarterback Tanner Schwab, who threw for almost 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns last year, and running backs Levani Damuni, Bubba Thompson and Kort Fuller, who combined for 1,800 yards rushing last season — Thompson had more than half of them. Jaden McCullough, Emosi Damuni and Garrett Davis all started on the O-line last year, and Mountain Crest has seven full-time starters back on defense. So a return to the state playoffs looks promising for this team. 2014 RECORD: 4-7. PLAYOFFS: Did not qualify.
5. NORTHRIDGE: The Knights also missed the state playoffs last season and don't have a lot of returning experience from that ballclub, but veteran coach Erik Thompson likes what he's seen from his team. Versatile Jrue Perkins, who was the team's top receiver last year, takes over at quarterback, and he'll have a solid receiving corps in Ethan Udy, Mike McGee, Dallas Lobato, Kyzer Armendariz, Ryan Cleverly, Alex Mashburn and Marquise Jones. Three-year starters Brogan Poll and guard Taylor Allen lead a strong O-line, along with Garrison Hinckley, Tyson Astle and Tommy White. Noah Kramer, Poll, Allen and Udy are leaders for the Knights' defense as they try to move back into the state playoff picture. 2014 RECORD: 3-6. PLAYOFFS: Did not qualify.
6. WEBER: The Warriors' program is steadily turning the corner, and they have a solid returning nucleus along with a very promising bunch of newcomers to continue their climb. Running back Garrett Hoyt, receivers Wyatt Berdinner and junior Brevin Dean, and tackle Levi Nye are expected to lead the way for Weber's offense, while freshman linebacker Brandt Opheikens and sophomore Carter Green spearhead that impressive group of underclassmen who are being counted on to help the Warriors keep pushing this program forward. 2014 RECORD: 4-7. PLAYOFFS: Lost to Bingham 30-0 in 5A first round.
7. CLEARFIELD: Even though they, too, are making the jump up from 4A to 5A, the Falcons have high expectations of improving upon last year's disappointing 2-8 record. Quarterback Jace Haney is the guy who makes their offense go, as he threw for 2,344 yards and 16 touchdowns last year and they're hoping for even more this season. Running back Kenny Sanchez and receivers Dallen Visser, Garrett Garcia, Aaron Hiebert and Braxton Weaver are also expected to be playmakers on offense, and linemen Tyler Craig and Jackson Pauline will lead a defense which should be much-improved from a year ago. The Falcons should definitely fare better, but how much better remains to be seen. 2014 RECORD: 2-8. PLAYOFFS: Did not qualify, along with Roy and Clearfield
EMAIL: rhollis@desnews.com