Note: Mountain Crest finished with a 4-8 overall record in 2014 and tied for fourth in Region 5 with a 2-4 record. It lost in a three-way region play-in game and missed the playoffs.
Mountain Crest’s 2014 State Recap
HYRUM — For a program that’s missed the playoffs the past two years, Mountain Crest isn’t intimidated whatsoever about this year's jump to 5A.
Not only do the Mustangs return the majority of their starters from last year, but the players also know they weren’t as bad as their 4-8 record. In fact, with a 1-4 record at the midpoint last season, coach Mark Wootton looks back and knows his team was just a few plays away from being 5-0.
It lost to Highland on a last-second field goal in the season opener, and then in Week 3 lost to Syracuse in overtime. In Week 4 Roy beat Mountain Crest 25-22 after it failed to convert a last-second game-tying field goal.
And then in Week 5, Mountain Crest and its fragile psyche lost to Bonneville 28-14, a team it hadn’t lost to since 2003.
“Last year the kids actually played pretty well. Obviously they didn’t get a ton of wins, but we had a lot of young kids and we lost 3 or 4 games on the last play,” said Wootton.
The frustration of those close defeats and the impending move up a classification created fantastic urgency within the program this offseason.
“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.
This year’s group of seniors has always won from little league all the way up to JV football. Playing varsity last year was the first time many had lost consistently, and Wootton is excited about the prospects of a bounce-back season.
“We have a chance to be pretty good, but we can’t afford to take a day off trying to get there,” said Wootton. “If we outwork everybody and we get the right kids in the right spots that should put us in a position with a chance to win some games.”
Mountain Crest was in position to win more games last year but didn’t. With a quarterback returning, three quality running backs, everyone who caught the ball last year but one back and three linemen with experience, the offense should put up a bunch more points this year.
It starts with senior QB Tanner Schwab. He had a decent year last year throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 15 TDs, but he did throw 10 interceptions.
“He’s got a very strong arm. He’s put in a ton of time. If he stays healthy we could be pretty good. He has a mindset that we’re going to win. He doesn’t question his ability,” said Wootton.
Fortunately for Schwab, success doesn’t rest entirely on his shoulders.
Not by a long shot.
Levani Damuni, Bubba Thompson and Kort Fuller combined to rush for 1,800 yards last season, with Thompson leading the way with 975 yards. Thompson and Damuni both start at linebacker as well, so the coaching staff will try and keep all three fresh throughout the game by distributing carries accordingly.
Damuni has been offered scholarships by both BYU and Utah State as a linebacker, but he’s incredibly valuable on both sides of the ball for the Mustangs.
In fact, Damuni and Fuller led Mountain Crest in receptions and receiving yards out of the backfield last season.
This year, though, Schwab needs to get his receivers and tight ends more involved in the offense.
Meanwhile, the offensive line is a bit of an unknown, but Wootton isn’t concerned. Jaden McCullough and Emosi Damuni are both returning starters and Garrett Davis started a handful of games as well. Taylor Demler was a starter on the O-line last year, but he’s moving to fullback.
“O-line might be a little more unknown, but we feel like the kids in there had a pretty good summer. A lot of kids put on weight and got stronger,” said Wootton.
Defensively, Mountain Crest returns seven full-time starters and four more players who played quite a bit.
Linebacker should be the strength led by Thompson, Levani Damuni and Chris Tuckett. Sophomore Kody Pope will also start at linebacker, and he’s a very physical player.
“I think our linebackers, if they really figure it out, they can be really good,” said Wootton.
The secondary will be strong as well with Sirrell Hall and Luis Guerra returning at cornerback, with Kade Christiansen — who received an offer from Wyoming this summer — back at safety. Colton Ferguson also played quite a few snaps at safety last season.
Mountain Crest’s new wrestling coach Jason Lee is joining the defensive coaching staff after serving as an assistant coach at Cedar for nearly a decade. Wootton said he’s thrilled to have someone with his knowledge on staff.
The Mustangs will find out right away how beneficial all that experience is when they open the season at Highland. It will be the 13th straight year the teams have met in the season opener.
Mountain Crest Mustangs at a glance
Head Coach: Mark Wootton is entering his 12th year as head coach at Mountain Crest and 25th overall. His record at Mountain Crest is 82-44 and prior to that he spent 13 years at North Sanpete (1991-2003) and recorded a 73-56 mark. He’s a graduate of Provo High School.
Offense (8 returning starters; Multiple-formation offense)
Offensive coordinator: Mark Wootton
Returning offensive starters
Tanner Schwab (QB)
Levani Damuni (RB)
Bubba Thompson (RB)
Kort Fuller (RB)
Colt Ferguson (WR)
Chris Tuckett (TE)
Jaden McCullough (OL)
Emosi Damuni (OL)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Dallas Niemann (WR)
Davis Nixon (WR)
Garrett Davis (OL)
Keone Tupuola (TE)
Taylor Demler (FB) – started OL last year
Defense (7 returning starters, 3-4 defense)
Defensive coordinator: Rod Thomas (5 years)
Returning defensive starters
Sirrell Hall (CB)
Luis Guerra (CB)
Kade Christiansen (S)
Colton Ferguson (S)
Chris Tuckett (LB)
Bubba Thompson (LB)
Levani Damuni (LB)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Taylor Demler (DL)
Mason Fiefia (DL)
Jake Nelson (DL)
Kody Pope (LB)
Coaches preseason 3A South straw poll: Fourth
Deseret News 3A South prediction: Fourth
Bottom line: Mountain Crest’s jump to 5A came at a great time. With the vast majority of last year’s starters returning, the Mustangs are a confident bunch heading into 2015 despite missing the playoffs last year. They know they were a few plays away from winning three or four more games. The challenge this season is proving they learned how to win. The key may ultimately be a trio of very good running backs, which can also hurt teams by catching the ball out of the backfield. If things unfold how the coaching staff envisions, the Mustangs should be able to create all kinds of matchup problems for opposing defenses.
….
Last 5
2014 — 4-8 (2-4 in Region 5 – Missed playoffs)
2013 — 2-8 (2-4 in Region 5 – Missed playoffs)
2012 — 11-3 (5-0 in Region 5 – 4A Runner-up)
2011 — 5-6 (3-2 in Region 5 – 4A First round)
2010 — 10-3 (4-1 in Region 5 – 4A Runner-up)
...
Mountain Crest coaching history
2004-current — Mark Wootton (81-49)
2001-03 — Art Erickson (19-16)
1988-2000 — Dan Cox (85-39)
1986-87 — Jack Robinson (16-8)
1983-85 — George Bayles (3-23)
….
Deseret News Mr. Football recipients
2010 — Alex Kuresa, QB
Deseret News MVPs the past 10 years
2005 — Brady Wootton, RB
Deseret News First Team All-Staters the past 10 years
2012 — Eddy Hall, RB
2012 — Faimafili Laulu-Pututau, WR
2012 — Kyle Christansen, OL
2012 — Gaje Ferguson, LB
2010 — Troy Pickett, WR
2010 — Fernando Huerta, OL
2010 — Tanner Richardson, LB
2010 — Schofield Smith, DB
2010 — Nate Rigby, SP
2009 — Alex Kuresa, QB
2009 — Alex Knowles, RB
2009 — Tyler Weese, WR
2009 — Matt Stewart, TE
2008 — Colton Reeder, OL
2008 — Ethen Lofthouse, LB
2008 — Ethan Rasmussen, DB
2007 — Nick Salvesen, DL
2005 — Brady Zimmerman, QB
2005 — Cameron Webb, WR
2005 — Nick Salvesen, DL
2005 — Phillip Rutledge, LB
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.