Note: Canyon View finished with a 3-8 overall record last season and tied for fourth in the 3A South with a 2-3 record. The Falcons lost to the eventual state champ, Judge Memorial, in the 3A quarterfinals.
CEDAR CITY — After qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in many years, Canyon View is looking to ride that momentum and raise the bar again this season.
“We are really excited. Our kids are just training like crazy. They’re all in the weight room and at the 7-on-7 camps — we are all just doing the right things to get better,” Canyon View head coach Robby Robinson said. “We had a good experience at SUU — we played up and played Roy, Kearns and several Las Vegas schools who were in 5A, and we did pretty well there. Our seniors can’t wait. They’ve got the idea that we are going to compete right away.”
Last season, the Falcons got off to a bumpy start, dropping their first four games — where they gave up an average of 47.8 points per game — before things finally began to click.
Canyon View then went on to really pick up the slack on defense as it won three of its next five games and surrendered just 20.3 points per contest in the three victories before dropping its next two games to close out the season.
With a plethora of starters returning (16) this season and a good offensive line, Canyon View will look to lean on that experience, buckle down on defense, ride that midseason momentum from last year and turn it into more wins this season.
“I think we’re sort of understanding that we can’t give up big plays. A lot of our defense last year was we would give up not just a first down, but we’d give up six points on third- and fourth-and-10’s. We just have to understand that big plays will kill us. But we’re learning,” Robinson said of his defense.
The Falcons have a total of nine starters returning on offense led by quarterback Michael Musto, running back Jackson Vasi and wide receiver Xavier Stoker.
Last year, Musto completed 68 of his 148 passes for 1,085 yards, five touchdowns and a disappointing six interceptions. However, the senior gunslinger had some solid games last year and has really looked good so far in the offseason, but will need to cut down on his turnovers and increase his touchdowns to help the Falcons take the next step this season.
Meanwhile, with a tough offensive line returning, last year’s second-leading rusher on the team, Vasi, will look to increase his workload and produce out of the backfield. Vasi received 108 touches for 649 yards and eight touchdowns last season and will need to fill the hole left behind by the team’s top rusher last year in Braxton Higgins. Higgins tallied 1,268 yards and 13 touchdowns off 178 carries.
“Well, we finished as No. 2 in the whole state in rushing last year, and we’re all back (on offense). We have some great guys returning for us. Hopefully, our goal is to average 400 yards per game. That’s our goal, so we’ll see if we can accomplish that,” said Robinson.
On the defensive end, Canyon View also has the majority of its leaders returning again this season. Despite losing the team’s tackles leader, Austin Evans (125), numerous experienced defensive leaders are set to return to help anchor the defense.
Defensive ends Cody Pedersen and Vasi are both set to return on the end as the duo combined for 15 tackles and three sacks last season, while star defensive tackle Keith Clarke (30 tackles) and nose guard Braxton Beaumont (45 tackles) will also help anchor the defense.
Cornerback Isaiah Shearer and safety Hunter Laird are both set to lock it down downfield as they combined for 59 tackles and three interceptions last season and will look to step up this year to help the Falcons’ defense take some big steps forward by filling some holes and stopping the pass.
“Our defensive ends are really good, so I think that will help us set the edge a little bit,” said Robinson. “And Keith Clarke is the man. When you’re 6-6, 320 pounds, they’re going to have to run to the other side. He is a big old horse, so we’ll count on him a lot this season.”
With 16 of 22 starters returning this season, the Falcons have tremendous experience returning on both sides of the ball and will undoubtedly show vast improvement from last year.
Canyon View’s key skill players such as Musto, Vasi, Stoker, Pedersen, Beaumont and Clarke received valuable experience from last year and will need to step up, perform and lead this season in order for the Falcons to improve and be successful.
However, with the most experienced and talented roster it's had in years returning this season, Canyon View should be considered a serious threat out of the 3A South for the first time in several years.
“We’re coming along great. Our quarterback, Musto, is throwing the ball really well. We have veteran receivers and three backs who are as good as anybody in the state — I really believe that,” Robinson said. “We feel like this is our year. That’s what we talk about all the time — we are in it to win it. That’s why we are here and we are going to make a really good push this season.”
Canyon View Falcons at a glance
Head coach: Robby Robinson is entering his third season as Canyon View’s head coach. He’s amassed a 4-17 record and led the Falcons to the 3A postseason for the first time in several years last season. He’s a graduate of La Junta (Colorado) High School and Point Loma Nazarene University.
Offense (9 returning starters; unbalanced veer offense)
Offensive coordinator: Robby Robinson
Returning offensive starters
Mike Musto (QB)
Keith Clarke (OL)
Jackson Vasi (RB)
Isaiah Shearer (WR/C)
Payton Higgins (RB/C)
Jake Allen (OL)
Cody Causey (OL)
Xavier Stoker (TE)
Jared Barrett (WR)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Isaiah Shearer (WR)
Defense (7 returning starters, 4-6 defense)
Defensive coordinator: Robby Robinson
Returning defensive starters
Cody Pedersen (DE)
Jackson Vasi (DE)
Keith Clarke (DT)
Seth Dabb (DT)
Braxton Beaumont (MLB/NG)
Isaiah Shearer (CB/FS)
Hunter Laird (S)
Abe Huxford (S)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Tyler Hayley (LB)
Porter Miller (LB)
Dax Callison (CB)
Coaches’ preseason 3A South straw poll: Fourth
Deseret News 3A South prediction: Fourth
Bottom line: After qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in many years last season and returning several key skill players, there’s little doubt Canyon View will continue to raise the bar and improve from last season. However, in a tough 3A South Region with teams such as Juab, Manti and North Sanpete, the Falcons will undoubtedly have their work cut out for them game in and game out. With a tremendous offensive line, great experience returning along with several key skill players, Canyon View is set to continue moving forward and will heavily rely on its experienced leaders such as Musto, Vasi, Shearer, Stoker and Clarke to anchor the team. The Falcons compete in a very competitive region and classification and will be heavily tested throughout the season, especially against Manti on Sept. 18, Juab on Oct. 2 and North Sanpete in the final game of the season on Oct. 23.
Last 5
2014 — 3-8 (2-3 in 3A South – 3A quarterfinals)
2013 — 1-9 (1-4 in 3A South – Missed playoffs)
2012 — 1-9 (0-6 in Region 9 – Missed playoffs)
2011 — 2-7 (0-6 in Region 9 – Missed playoffs)
2010 — 0-9 (0-6 in Region 9 – Missed playoffs)
Canyon View coaching history
2013-current — Robby Robinson (4-17)
2008-2012 — Alex Huxford (7-40)
2004-2007 — Randy Hunter (10-28)
1997-2003 — Danny Lewis (23-49)
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
2014 — Braxton Higgins, RB
2006 — Austin Minefee, RB
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.
Ryan Love is a full-time student and has been a part-time sportswriter for the Deseret News since October 2012.
Follow him on Twitter @RLove7724
EMAIL: rlove@deseretnews.com