Note: Clearfield finished with a 2-8 overall record in 2014 and was sixth in Region 6 with an 1-5 record. It did not qualify for the 4A playoffs.
CLEARFIELD — The Falcons' football team underachieved last season, and when head coach Andre Dyson started looking around for someone to point the finger at, guess who was the first and only person he blamed for their failures?
Himself.
Yep, the former Clearfield High, University of Utah and NFL star looked in the mirror and, with admirable and sincere humility, admitted that in his first year as a head coach, he was at fault for the Falcons' disappointing 2-8 finish in 2014.
"I did a terrible job last year," Dyson said. "It was very humbling for me last year, very, very humbling for me. I'll be honest, it's the first time in my life that I put everything I had into something and I didn't accomplish what I wanted to do. It's the first time I gave everything I had and I had nothing more to give, and I didn't accomplish it. It's the first time I felt like, dang, I gave everything I had and I still failed.
"It's never happened to me before. Every time I put my mind to something and I went and I played, I succeeded. I said I was going to make it in the NFL and I did. Whenever I said I'm gonna do this, I always have. It's the first time I didn't succeed at what I set out to do. I didn't meet my expectations.
"I failed. I failed as a coach, and I don't have a problem saying it," he continued. "I mean, we went 2-8, but it's not just that we went 2-8, it's the way we lost. We gave up 40 points a game and we're out of games in the second quarter. It got a little better, we got a little bit closer. We had some tough games, but I thought every game was winnable. I didn't think any team was that much better than us. But they played better as a team, they played with more confidence, they expected to win, they knew they were gonna win, and that was the difference.
"We had a lot of really good athletes last year but, for whatever reason, we couldn't get them to be really good football players. I don't think we ever gave up, we just didn't play smart. Every game, I thought, this is the game, but it just never came together for whatever reason. We struggled at times; we made big plays but we gave up big plays. So it was kind of hit or miss, you never knew what you were gonna get. We were much better athletically than our record, but I didn't do a good job of getting the best out of them last year."
That said, Dyson is using last year's disappointing, difficult and eye-opening experience and learning from it so that, hopefully, it doesn't happen again.
"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. "And that's the goal, because I don't like to lose. Not just lose games, but I don't like to feel like I didn't accomplish what my goals were.
"I feel like I let the community down, I feel like I let the administration down, and I apologized to the kids because I feel like I let them down. And I don't like having that feeling because I've always been able to be there for people. And I just don't feel like I did a good job."
While this year's team might not possess the athleticism that last year's squad had, Dyson likes the guys he's got coming back and he feels like there is a great group of sophomores coming into the program who will make a difference down the road.
"I think we're more of a team this year than we were last year.," the Falcons' second-year head coach said. "I don't think we'll have as many great athletes; we don't have a superstar, but I think we'll be a more complete team than we were last year.
"This year, these kids just want to win, whether they're sophomores or juniors, it doesn't matter. They understand that the best guy at each position is the guy that's gonna play, and that goes a long way toward accomplishing your goals."
The key, Dyson said, is getting the best possible player at each position, and those players need to know that each of those positions must be earned — no spot is guaranteed.
He's trying to get his players to understand that their roles on the team might change from year to year, and it's possible they might fit the Falcons' system better in a different position. He admits it's been a struggle at times to get young men to understand that, but this year's group gets it.
Dyson feels like it'll be beneficial having kids in the same system for the second year in a row, and he's got a blend of veterans and newcomers who are hoping to help the program, which hasn't had a winning season since 2004, start turning the corner.
Leading the way in Clearfield's comeback bid will be senior quarterback Jace Haney, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound performer who put up solid numbers last season, throwing for 2,344 yards and 16 touchdowns.
"He's super smart, a hard worker and, in my mind, he's one of the best quarterbacks in the state," Dyson said. "He didn't get recognized, but he put up great numbers last year as a junior because a lot of times they look at the total numbers. But look at his numbers for 10 games compared to people who played playoff games, and his numbers are even better than some kids who were all-state and got a lot of recognition.
"The big thing for him is to limit turnovers, but I think the sky's the limit for him. I think having him back there will really be a big difference, a big positive for us. This year, everyone knows it's his team...and he knows it's his team. Everyone understands that he's the key to our offense, the ball's going to be in his hands, he's gonna make the right decisions, and I think having him back there is going to make a lot of people better.
"It all starts with him," Dyson said. "He isn't real vocal, but he sets a great example. He's always the first one here every day, studies his playbook and knows all the answers, and he's a 4.0 student, and you couldn't ask for a better guy to run your team. He had some growing pains last year, obviously, but it's great that he got that experience and he'll make everyone around him better. And he can run it a little bit, too."
Backing up Haney is junior Jake Drake, "an athletic kid who can run," his coach says, and three sophomores who each have different skill sets and are pushing each other.
Miles Anderson is "a big, strong, left-handed kid who's very athletic and can both run and pass," Dyson said. "He has a chance to be a very good player."
Jaxon Mansfield is another very good athlete who's very competitive, and he started as a ninth-grader on the Falcons' baseball team, so he's not afraid of the big stage and displays plenty of potential.
Jaret Scott is a "precision player who really understands the game and knows where to throw the ball," Dyson said.
"It's a good situation to have four underclassmen quarterbacks to work with," Dyson said, "and three of them are really young."
At running back, Dyson expects junior Kenny Sanchez "to be a special player for us." Sanchez likely would have started late last season, but he broke his collarbone playing in a sophomore game.
Austin Ewing, a senior who played a lot last year, is also in the running back mix along with sophomore Isiah Lund, a hard-nosed, hard-running kid with good field vision, and sophomore Jayden Ciarmataro.
"He's going to be a special player," Dyson said of the 6-1, 190-pound Ciarmataro. "I'm really intrigued by him. Potentially he could be one of our team's best players. He works hard, runs hard and has great vision, and he could be one of best players in state in a couple of years."
Dallen Visser, a junior who Dyson calls one of the team's best route runners, headlines a good mix at wide receiver along with senior Garrett Garcia, who started at safety last year and is probably the best athlete on the team, according to Dyson. Two more seniors, Max Sorensen and Jaxon Manning, will also see playing time at wide receiver.
And Aaron Hiebert, a senior who didn't play football last year because he was focusing on basketball, has been a big surprise at the inside receiver spot.
"I think he's gonna turn some heads because every time he catches the ball, he scores," Dyson said. "He runs really good routes, and I'm excited that he decided to come back and play football this year."
Evan Hunter, a junior who Dyson says is probably the fastest and strongest, pound for pound, kid on the team, will also play slot receiver along with sophomore Braxton Smith, who's on the small side but will be a handful to defend.
"He can play running back, slot, wherever he need him," Dyson said of Smith. "He's a smart and talented kid."
At tight end, senior Braxton Weaver is a returning starter who had 19 catches for 222 yards and a touchdown last season.
"He's long, athletic, a basketball kid," Dyson said of the 6-foot-4 Weaver, "who has the potential to have a really big year for us."
Sophomore Colton Manning is expected to be "another special kid for us," Dyson said. "From day one, he stepped out here and said 'I'm gonna play on Friday nights.' And it's gonna be hard not to throw him out there. He runs hard, he plays hard, he's very competitive, very coachable. He wants to learn, he wants to get better, and we're definitely gonna play him somewhere. He's strong and is a really good kid with the right mindset for it."
Also vying for playing time at tight end is junior Gage Burton, "a really athletic kid we'll find a spot for," Dyson said.
"I like what our receiving corps looks like. I was nervous because we had some really good receivers who put up some amazing numbers last year. But I feel like having these guys that really want it, the sky's the limit for our offense and for our receivers.
"They're a young group, and it'll be fun to see how they do, because they are not afraid."
On the offensive line, tackle David Almodovar might be the lone senior who'll start. Sophomore Matt Turpin shows plenty of promise at tackle, with seniors Tyler Craig and Jaxson Pauline providing depth along with sophomore Thomas Taylor.
At offensive guard, junior Joss Nemelka and senior returning starter Josh Tinajero lead the way. But junior Alec Fredericks will "be hard to keep off the field," Dyson says. Juniors Braden Gehrke and Donovan Reyna are the backups.
At center, the other half of the Nemelka twins, junior Aiden Nemelka, will start, with senior Connor Stevens and sophomore Ben Brakey backing him up.
On the defensive line, Craig is a returning starter at one end position, with juniors Austin Hyatt and Cameron Banks, seniors Devin Mack and Tyson Bird, and junior Taylor Stevens — a football-playing female — providing depth.
Of Stevens, Dyson said, "She could get in a game. She does what you ask her to do and she goes hard on every single play in practice. We'll throw her out there — I do not have a problem with it at all."
Pauline, who Dyson said is a "big, strong athletic kid that teams will be looking at at the next level," is a returning starter at defensive tackle, where he'll be joined by senior Shane Squire, who played defensive end last year and has looked very strong this summer.
Almodovar, Tinajero and junior Brandon Bunderson will also help anchor the D-line, which Dyson says is much-improved from last year.
At linebacker, Ewing looks strong in the middle, where he has made good strides and provided good leadership. "He's really a good kid who works hard," Dyson said, "and having him is going to be very good for us."
Junior Jaden Keller and feisty sophomore Anthony Surles provide depth at middle linebacker.
On the outside, seniors Rigo Cornejo and Austin B. Johnson look strong, and Ciarmataro is right in the mix along with Garcia, who started at safety last year but has been moved to outside backer this year.
"He might play some safety, too," Dyson said of Garcia. "He's one of the most athletic, fastest and strongest kids on our team."
Keller and Colton Manning will also see duty at linebacker.
The cornerback jobs are still up for grabs with a lot of guys competing for those spots. Senior Brennen Marshall has been moved from safety and shows plenty of potential along with Jaxon Manning.
The Falcons are loaded at the safety spots, with Sanchez a returning starter who "does heck of a job," Dyson said. "He's a good one."
Burton, a junior safety, is "a playmaker who makes a pick every day," the Falcons' coach said, and there are two phenomenal sophomores, Jaxon Mansfield and Yo Finlinson, who also show plenty of promise.
"Mansfield is that kid who just gets it," Dyson said. "He steps out there and is real confident. Those two really impress me as sophomores."
Clearfield has been bumped up into the 5A ranks this year, joining Roy, Weber, Fremont, neighboring Northridge, and Cache Valley schools Sky View and Mountain Crest in a new-look Region 1.
And nobody expects the Falcons to be much of a factor in what shapes up as a juggernaut of a league, where Clearfield was picked DFL — dead freaking last — in preseason polls.
"We've got an uphill battle but, for me, I think it's more enjoyable to do it the hard way," Dyson said. "We'll be one of the smaller schools, numbers-wise, in 5A. But I'm happy because we get to play schools like Northridge, Roy and Weber, schools that are closer to us proximity-wise. That's gonna be fun. I'm excited — 5A, 4A, 3A, it doesn't matter to me. I think it's more fun for everyone around here to play the teams that you grew up playing against.
"Hey, you're the smallest team in 5A? Oh, well, it makes it better when you beat somedody. We get to stay right here and your family and friends get to watch you play all your games."
Coach Dyson says Sky View is likely the team to beat in Region 1, but he knows that it's a rugged region from top to bottom. And he's got a tough preseason schedule, too.
"We played 'em in 7-on-7 and they look the part," he said of the Bobcats from Cache Valley. "They have some really talented players, and they're got some big guys and really good athletes. Their whole team was juniors last year and now they're reaping the benefits of that. So they should be a pretty good team.
"Freddy (Fernandes) is always gonna coach his guys up good at Roy. (Erik) Thompson had a down year at Northridge, but I don't think they're gonna have another one. (Matt) Hammer at Weber, I've known him since we were little kids, and I know he's gonna do a great job there. And Fremont and Mountain Crest are always gonna be great. So it's gonna be fun; it's definitely gonna be challenging.
"I'm excited," said Dyson, whose preseason schedule includes Davis County rivals Davis and Layton along with East. "We try to play teams that are around here. So we've got a bunch of tough games, but I want to play tough games in the preseason. We're gonna get tested week in and week out, and that's good. Our guys have learned a lot in the last year, and our intensity in practice is good."
Dyson isn't backing down from anybody, and that's one reason why he was able to carve out a tremendous college and NFL career for himself after graduating from Clearfield High in 1997.
And not only does he have complete confidence in himself, but he has it in his team, too.
"I think we'll be fine. I think we might shock a lot of people," he said. "High school football is about effort, energy and execution. You're always gonna have teams that are bigger, better and faster, but if you play hard in high school, you can win a lot of games. We have to try harder and play smarter.
"You can't control a lot of things, but you can control your effort, energy and attitude. And I believe that if you give good effort, have good energy and have a good attitude, you're probably gonna have a good day.
"We're gonna go into every game with the idea that we're gonna play every game to win," Dyson said. "I'm not afraid of anybody. I believe we're gonna win region and we're gonna take state. If I don't believe it, then what am I gonna tell the kids? ... Sometimes I can see the potential that our kids have, even when the kids don't see it themselves. So every time we step on the field, I'm think I'm gonna beat you and we're gonna win. And that's how it should be. I'm never gonna have that mindset that I can't win every game I play."
Of course, there's more to high school football than — believe it or not — winning games. Dyson certainly believes that, and he's seen some "victories" in other areas.
"One thing I'm proud of is our kids' grades really went up last year," he said. "Their teachers told me they were well-behaved in class, and that is a plus. That was almost better than winning a game. Our kids are so much more respectful, they're good in the halls, they're not screwing off in class, and that was good to hear. That was a win to me.
"... At the end of the day, we're trying to teach kids how to be men, how to grow up, and teaching them life lessons. And if I can help these kids get into college and get a free education and keep playing football, that's a huge plus. "
So, what happens if the Falcons don't show progress on the field, and if they don't live up to Coach Dyson's high expectations of them and of himself?
What he had to say in that regard might surprise you.
"If I don't get these kids to play up to their ability, then they should fire me at the end of the season," he boldly stated. "I truly believe that. I'm not saying wins and losses, I'm talking about growth. There's a difference between losing by four or five points and losing by 20 or 30. There's a big difference. I feel like if the way I coach or what I'm teaching is not getting over to the kids in a positive way, then you need to find someone else that can get it across to them.
"Maybe they need someone that's more of a yeller, and that's what they need. Because in my opinion, when you're a great coach, you can coach anywhere. But for most coaches, you've got to have players that fit your personality, because some players don't fit a coach's personality and you're not going to get the best out of them. If it's not a good fit, it's not a good fit. In high school, you don't get to pick your players, so you've got to take what you've got. Some schools have bigger and better players, and more of them to choose from, and they're gonna win a lot of games.
"Just because you played the game doesn't make you a good coach. What makes you a good coach is being able to get kids to do things they don't think they can do and getting kids to believe they can do it," Dyson said. "What makes you a good coach is getting a guy that's average and turning him into a good player. It's easy to coach a guy who's already a good player.
"I'm a realist and I'm my biggest critic. I don't claim to say just because I played the game I'm automatically a great coach. Do I think I'm a good coach? Heck, yeah I do because I have confidence in myself. In my mind, I think I can turn anyone into a great player because I feel like I have all the answers. But it's not what I know; it's me getting them to know it, and to believe in themselves. So I'm working on that. That's our goal this year."
Clearfield Falcons at a glance
Head coach: Andre Dyson enters his second season as Clearfield's head coach. He went 2-8 last year in his first season at the school. He's a graduate of Clearfield High and the University of Utah and went on to spend seven solid seasons as a defensive back in the NFL, where he started 80 of 96 games.
Offense (4 returning starters; Spread formation)
Offensive coordinator: Andrew Fresques (2nd year at the school)
Returning offensive starters
Jace Haney (QB)
Austin Ewing (RB)
Braxton Weaver (TE)
Josh Tinajero (OG)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Kenny Sanchez (RB)
Jaden Ciarmataro (RB)
Dallen Visser (WR)
Garrett Garcia (WR)
Aaron Hiebert (Slot)
Colton Manning (TE)
Matt Turpin (OT)
Defense (4 returning starters; 4-3 formation)Defensive coordinator: Andre Dyson (2nd year at the school)
Returning defensive starters
Jaxson Pauline (DT)
Tyler Craig (DE)
Garrett Garcia (LB)
Kenny Sanchez (S)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Shane Squire (DT)
David Almodovar (DT)
Austin Ewing (LB)
Rigo Cornejo (LB)
Brennen Marshall (CB)
Jaxon Manning (CB)
Austin M. Johnson (S)
Gage Burton (S)
Coaches preseason Region 1 straw poll: Seventh
Deseret News Region 1 prediction: Seventh
Bottom line: Clearfield has been bumped up from 4A to 5A this year and faces one of the toughest schedules in all of 5A this season. The Falcons go up against Davis, Layton and East in preseason games before entering what shapes up as a Region 1 gauntlet against teams like Sky View, the league favorite from Cache Valley, defending league champion Fremont, last year's 4A finalist Roy, an up-and-coming Weber program and always-tough Mountain Crest. No, it won't be easy for Clearfield, which hasn't had a winning season in more than a decade. But second-year head coach Andre Dyson likes his guys' grit, effort and determination, and he loves a difficult challenge. With a blend of solid veterans led by quarterback Jace Haney and a great group of newcomers, which features a strong sophomore class, Dyson feels confident that Clearfield can prove the so-called experts wrong this year.
Last 5
2014 — 2-8 (1-5 in Region 6 – Missed playoffs)
2013 — 2-8 (0-6 in Region 6 – Missed playoffs)
2012 — 3-7 (1-4 in Region 6 – Missed playoffs)
2011 — 2-8 (1-4 in Region 6 – Missed playoffs)
2010 — 3-7 (1-7 in Region 1 – Missed playoffs)
Clearfield coaching history
2014-current — Andre Dyson (2-8)
2012-2013 — Will Hawes (5-15)
2009-2011 — Jeff Bingham (8-22)
2006-2008 — Billy Plium (10-22)
1991-2005 — Randy Johnson (100-64)
1988-1990 — Brent Lund (12-18)
1977-1987 — Brent Hancock (49-61)
1969-1976 — Jack Hannum (37-40)
1965-1968 — Don Jenson (7-30)
1961-1964 — Boyd "Tiny" Grant (10-21)
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
(None)
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.
EMAIL: rhollis@desnews.com