Note: Grand County finished with a 2-8 overall record in 2014 and was fifth in 2A South with a 2-4 record. It lost to Millard 34-13 in the 2A first round.
MOAB — The Grand County football team is in a building year.
Not a rebuilding year, because it has been two seasons since the Red Devils made their way to the 2A championship in 2013.
Not a rebuilding year because the majority of the players who were part of the 2013 runner-up finish have since graduated or otherwise left the program.
Rather, it is a building year. Another season for head coach Dennis Wells, his players and the football-focused community to take steps toward creating a squad that is capable of the kind of on-field success Grand County teams have earned just twice in the last 10 years.
"We are in a building year," said Grand County athletic director and assistant coach Ron Dolphin. "We are trying to regroup from last year."
It was the 2013 season when the Red Devils suffered a death during a summer practice. The tragic loss united the team. The players vowed to play in honor of their teammate and took him all the way to the 2A championship game.
Last season, however, the opposite happened. Major injuries and other distractions pulled at the team, which mustered just two wins and was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round.
Now, Wells and his staff are looking for a catalyst to generate some new life in the program.
"We have changed the offense, changed the defense, he's shaking things up to spark some life into the young kids," Dolphin said of Wells.
The next order of business includes picking a quarterback. Wells is rotating a couple of players at the position, including a veteran who suffered a major finger injury last winter and a kid who is talented but young.
"Dalton McElhaney is a key returning offensive position player," Dolphin said of the senior who severed his finger just before baseball season last spring.
"He is working at QB," Dolphin said, "but he had to reconfigure his finger. He's still adjusting to a shorter ring finger."
McElhaney completed 25 of 54 passing attempts last season for 348 total yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions.
Another potential quarterback is sophomore Josh Jones, a 5-foot-10 sophomore who Dolphin called "an exciting and talented kid."
Senior lineman Brandon Secrest is back on the field after missing much of the 2014 season due to chronic ankle injuries. His return, which places a 5-foot-11, 230-pound player back at linebacker, is a welcome addition to the Red Devils' lineup.
"We missed him last year, he only played three games," Dolphin said, noting the Secrest totaled 23 tackles and two sacks in his limited time. "He is a bull in a China shop. He's a great player and he'll anchor the defense."
The Red Devils are anticipating big things from senior Brendan Bennett, who will anchor the secondary, as well as contributions from numerous sophomores.
"The junior and senior classes are not deep," Dolphin said. "We are mostly going to rely on sophomores."
Giving those underclassmen early exposure to the Friday night lights might be a significant step toward building the team Dolphin, Wells, and the Moab fan base expect from Grand County.
"We have good talent but not a lot of depth," Dolphin said. "Our sophomores are going to be good, but they're just not tested at the varsity level yet."
Grand Red Devils at a glance
Head Coach: Dennis Wells is entering his 14th season as Grand County’s head coach. He’s amassed a 64-74 record and led Grand to a 2A state title in 2005. Wells is a graduate of Grand County High School and Southern Utah University.
Offense (5 returning starters; Spread offense)
Offensive coordinator: Dennis Wells
Returning offensive starters
Dalton McElhaney (QB)
Seth Holyoak (TE)
Brendan Bennett (TE)
Joseph Shumway (WR)
Derrick Johnson (OL)
Josh Staples (TE)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Josh Jones (QB)
Brandon Secrest (OL)
Defense (6 returning starters, 3-4 defense)
Defensive coordinator: Scott Horton (Two years as assistant)
Returning defensive starters
Seth Holyoak (LB)
Brendan Bennett (FS)
Joseph Shumway (C)
Dalton McElhaney (C)
Derrick Johnson (DL)
Josh Staples (DE)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Brandon Secrest (LB)
Coaches preseason 2A South straw poll: Fifth
Deseret News 2A South prediction: Fifth
Bottom line: After a frustrating season in which Grand County mustered just two wins, the Red Devils are shifting focus. Head coach Dennis Wells has changed up the offense while the defense is working toward building a strong unit. The key this season is to limit injuries for the few experienced upperclassmen while giving sophomores and freshmen time on the field to get rid of jitters and gain experience. Doing so will prepare Grand for great things in upcoming seasons.
Last 5
2014 — 2-8 (2-4 in 2A South – Missed playoffs)
2013 — 10-2 (5-1 in 2A South – 2A Runner-up)
2012 — 7-4 (5-2 in 2A South – 2A Semifinals)
2011 — 2-8 (2-5 in 2A South – Missed playoffs)
2010 — 5-6 (2-3 in 2A East – 2A Quarterfinals)
Grand coaching history
2002-current — Dennis Wells (64-74)
1996-2001 — Ron Dolphin (21-39)
1994-1995 — Doug Thompson (13-7)
1992-1993 — Steve Hren (3-15)
1989-1991 — Doug Thompson (11-16)
1985-1988 — Bill Moore (16-19)
1983-1984 — Curtis Page (14-7)
1982 — Verplank (4-5)
1980-1981 — Bruce Burningham (5-14)
1959-1979 — Glen Richeson (134-72)
1954-1958 — Darrel Crawford (12-18)
1951-1953 — Dick Hill (8-11)
1949-1950 — Larry Palmer (12-4)
1947-1948 — K.L. Davis (7-10)
1946 – Mike McQuirk (0-4)
1944-1945 — Unknown (5-8)
1943 — Willard Devitt (2-4)
1941-1942 — Unknown (7-4)
1939-1940 — Ken Soffe (6-5)
1931-1938 — Glenn Merrill (25-14)
1930 — Joe Day (2-1)
1927-1929 — Eddie Kimball (14-5)
1925-1926 — Clem Campbell (8-4)
1921-1924 — H.B. Evans (7-5)
Deseret News MVPs the past 10 years
2005 — Tanner Brown, RB
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
2013 — Jacob Francis, QB/FS
2013 — Koi Cook, RB/LB
2013 — Edgar Gomez, OL/DL
2012 — Jacob Francis, QB/DB
2012 — Koi Cook, RB/DB
2012 — Edgar Gomez, OL/DL
2011 — Kevin Ballard, LB
2010 — Billy Keddington, QB
2009 — Sam DeMars Conoly, LB
2009 — Trevor Robertson, QB/DB
2009 — Dallen Dalton, RB/LB
2008 — Tony Cossairt, OL
2007 — Gordon Garrett, QB/DB
2007 — Daniel Simpson, DL
2006 — Tanner Brown, RB
2006 — Gordon Garrett, QB/DB
2006 — Kelly VanArsdol, WR/DB
2005 — Zane Taylor, DL/OL
2005 — Tony Dalton, QB/DB
2005 — Andy Baker, OL/LB
2005 — Travis Stott, OL/DL
2005 — Cody Skiby, TE/LB
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.
Sarah Thomas earned a degree in Mathematics from the University of Utah and is currently pursuing an MBA at Westminster College. She has been covering sports for the Deseret News since 2008.