Note: Northridge finished with a 4-6 overall record in 2015 and was fifth in Region 1 with a 2-4 record. It did not make the playoffs
Northridge’s 2015 offensive and defensive stats
LAYTON — The Knights may be few in number, but they are great in spirit and determination.
And that just might be enough to get ’em back in the state playoffs this year.
Erik Thompson begins his 13th year at the Northridge High helm with a roster that is short on bodies — little more than 60 of them in all — but is long on key elements of success like hard work, desire, discipline, commitment and camaraderie.
"We were pretty worried in the offseason," Thompson said. "We finished up the season where our to-be seniors had only won one game in three years and they weren't really committed, a lot of them, and the numbers were down. We went on a mission during the offseason to kind of weed people out and make things harder and make people more accountable, and if we were gonna have less guys, we'd rather have less guys than a lot of guys that were just hanging out.
"I can't imagine anyone having less numbers than us, so we're worried about that, and obviously depth and a lot of guys playing both ways is an issue. But we really feel that now we've got kids that want to be here; we've made things really hard, and they've proven to be kids that are willing to do hard things. The atmosphere and camaraderie is stronger than it's been. It's nice as a position coach because you have six guys you're coaching instead of 15, so you can get more work in and more reps.
"Most programs in our league are going to have twice as many guys as us, so guys don't have to play both ways and when somebody gets hurt they've got a serviceable backup," he said. "So there's gonna be some things we're gonna have to tweak and be creative with, but these guys are working hard and I love the challenge.
"I think most people think we're not going to be very good, but that gets me up in the morning every day and the team feels the same way. We're all in the same boat. No matter how many there are of us or how talented we've been in the past, we can change our bodies and get stronger and be more disciplined. And sometimes something like that, throughout time in history, the underdogs have won the moors more often than not. I feel like when you're up against it, it's a little easier to be unselfish and it's a little easier to be all in and it's a little easier to give a little more effort. And we feel like that's happened with this group."
The Knights have only three returning starters, and one of them, Ethan Udy, has switched positions from wide receiver to quarterback this year. He and Marquise Jones will start in the defensive backfield at safety and cornerback, respectively, so there will be a lot of new faces finding their baptism by fire under the bright Friday night lights.
Though they might be a decided underdog in many of their matchups, coach Thompson loves the challenge that presents.
"The 15 or so seniors we've got left are good leaders and good kids, and the assistant coaches are doing a good job of coaching them up," he said. "We'll probably be the least talented of every team we play, but I think we'll be close enough that it's gonna be competitive and we're gonna try to win games by liking each other more and executing better and making less mistakes. Those are all things we feel like we can control, and we're happy and excited and ready to go.
"We'll probably only start five or six seniors, so we'll probably be a very sophomore- and junior-heavy team, and with that obviously we've got two returning starters, but Udy has switched positions, so we've really only got one guy returning who played in the spot he played in last year.
"We don't really know what we have yet, but every day it's competitive because there are very few people who have a spot anchored down, and people are fighting every day and through that I think people get better," Thompson said. "We try to focus on the positives. We've got what we've got and we're gonna go be the best we can be, and we feel that could be a team that battles and gets in the playoffs, and that's our goal. … I think that would be a tremendous stride for us. We feel we can be very competitive in our region. We're gonna go be ultra-aggressive and let it all hang out and give someone our best shot, and if it's not enough, we're gonna feel good about our efforts."
Udy, who was the team's top receiver last year, has never played quarterback before this year. But Thompson likes his spunk, toughness and competitive desire, and he feels good about how the senior athlete is going to make the transition.
"With a lot of things, we're starting at ground-zero with him," Thompson said. "But there's a certain spirit about him. … He's gonna do any and everything he can to make sure he's first. We felt that that's a good match for our team right now. We needed a guy at quarterback to be somebody that's confident and a scrapper, and maybe it's not always gonna turn out how we drew it up, but he makes a lot of good plays because he can flat-out run and he's got a cannon for an arm. He can definitely throw it.
"Every day he's learning something new and he's getting better at it. But he's gonna be a playmaker back there, and he's kinda got a Jim McMahon, Brett Favre-type personality. He's not into all these frills and stuff, let's just go play. There's not going to be anyone who competes any harder than him. He's a real competitive and athletic kid, and we've tweaked the offense to fit him.
"We know there will be some growing pains when you've got a guy that's never played there before," said Thompson. "But it was his idea. He came to me in the offseason and was humble and almost ashamed to talk about it. He said, 'Hey coach, I think I want to be the quarterback next year. If we've got a team that's doesn't have as much talent and is maybe low on numbers, I want the ball in my hands 25 times a game,' almost telling me 'You put me there and we'll make the playoffs.' And I like that confidence. He's our guy, and we had to find a new No. 1 receiver, and Marquise has emerged as that guy."
Udy will be backed up by juniors Jackson Murphy and Brody Swertfeger, who are both "really progressing as well," Thompson said. "They provide a little more of a traditional quarterback, but they're both athletic enough that they can run."
At tailback, junior Hunter Harris is the likely starter, backed up by juniors Malachi Uasila'a and Lawrence Yarborough, the flex guy who can also play tailback, outside receiver and "is a tremendous athlete that we move around in there and will definitely have a role in the offense," Thompson said.
At fullback, seniors Ryan Orton and Razhan Reed, along with junior Brevin Perkins, will take turns lining up.
"We've got six guys that are all really good running backs and can spell each other," Thompson said. "All of those guys do something well enough that they'll push each other and we'll rotate in there."
Jones, a multi-talented senior, leads the receiving corps. "He has become the go-to guy, but he goes both ways and does a lot of other things for us," the Knights' coach said, so juniors Jake Porter, Scott Daybell, Josiah Kelley and Jack Lyons will also get their opportunities at wide receiver.
Senior Braxton Barlow will start at tight end, and he'll be joined there by junior Isaiah Atkinson. "They're both more of a traditional tight end and do a great job," Thompson said.
Thrown into the mix with them is sophomore Jacob Rhoades and junior Ryker Kap, who are both raw but have good size and speed and will rotate into the lineup, with the Knights often employing a double-tight package.
"We definitely feel like that's a strength of our team," Thompson said.
At center, junior Jack Stewart will be the starter, with senior Harold Moran and junior Connor Smith backing him up.
Josh Ortiz, a senior, and junior Korgan Green will man the offensive guard spots, with juniors Tavion Martinez and David Crowl providing depth there. Junior Matt Adamson, who is quick, strong and emerged as their best O-lineman in camp, and senior Caleb Slama, who's 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, is an excellent run blocker and brings a physical presence, will start at offensive tackle, backed up by senior Andreas LaPlant.
Over on the defensive line, Crowl will start at a tackle spot along with junior Tavis Fitzgerald, who Thompson considers his best D-lineman. "He's super strong and plays with an edge and a motor all the time," the coach said. "Both of our D-tackles are smaller and quicker and play hard all the time."
Juniors Winston Siufanua and Martinez, and seniors James Bjerregaard and Slama will rotate in and see playing time at D-tackle. At defensive end, Barlow and Reed are the likely starters, with Atkinson, Rhoades and Green backing them up, and they'll all rotate through during games.
Rhoades will start at one linebacker spot, with junior Nolan Tuamoheloa backing him up, while Orton will starting at middle linebacker, with Moran and Kap also battling for playing time. Juniors Carter Chappelle, Randy Rodriguez, Kade Worthen and Letane Fonoti will also provide depth at linebacker.
Jones will start at one cornerback spot, where "he's as good as anyone in the state," Thompson said. "He's really good, has a great vertical leap and long arms, and is really strong. He's built like a linebacker."
Kelley, who's also very strong and fast and placed third in the state in the weightlifting competition last spring, will start at the other corner spot.
"Pound for pound, he's the strongest kid on our team," Thompson said. "And he's probably the fastest kid on our team. He's super athletic."
Juniors Nakoa Sadang and Porter, who Thompson calls his "Swiss Army knife" due to his versatility, will provide depth at cornerback, and Porter can play several other positions.
Udy will start at a safety spot, backed up by senior Taylor Turner and Lyons, while either Perkins or Yarborough will start at the other safety spot.
Reed and junior Jake Hotchkiss are in contention for the punting job, while Chappelle has shown a strong leg in handling the kickoff duties, with sophomore and Bryan Velasquez and Murphy vying for the place-kicking job.
Coach Thompson sized up the Region 1 race as a two-team chase for the championship.
"From what I've seen, Roy and Fremont are the most talented teams and definitely teams that are to be reckoned with in the state — a lot of size and a lot of talent," he said. "From what I've seen in camp, pound for pound and player for player, they're both pretty loaded and there's not many weaknesses that they've got. Roy's the biggest and most physical team I've seen in a long time. And they already do a great job in their run game. I think Roy will be one of the better running teams in the state. And Fremont's so dynamic with all those playmakers they've got, so it's a fun challenge. We're excited for the challenge, but we know it's going to be a challenge. They're both well-coached and it'll take a good effort to beat those guys. And we plan on giving a good effort.
"I think Weber's going to be the best they've been in a long time. They've got all their returning starters and a lot of good young kids. And then those two schools in Cache Valley (Sky View and Mountain Crest) are always tough, and they had two of the best teams they've ever had last year and lost a lot of seniors, but they've got great tradition. I fully expect those guys to be really good. And those teams always play with a chip on their shoulder.
"I would expect most people to pick us and Clearfield to be towards the bottom, just because of our numbers and our depth," Thompson said. "But Clearfield had really good sophomores last year and I think they're similar to us. I think they're on the rise and gonna be better than they've been. And they might call us crazy, but we feel like all those teams we just named, on any given day, we line up and they might have an advantage in a few areas, but we're gonna give ’em all they got, we're gonna be competitive, and we're gonna find a way to win our share and get in the playoffs hopefully. … There's gonna be a really good football team in this region that doesn't make the playoffs this year."
Thompson fully realizes that, with his team's shortage of players, a lack of depth is a definite concern and they must avoid injuries in order to be successful and maintain any momentum. And staying injury-free is a near-impossible thing to do in football.
But ever the optimist, he feels his team can accomplish that and reach its postseason goal.
"We have to play hurt and be lucky, trust our young guys when we throw ’em in there. … These young kids that nobody knows about have grown a lot more than anyone expected them to; they've worked hard, and we're very optimistic and we feel like we're going to give someone all they can handle each week," Thompson said. "… I always like to say that 'Fate loves the fearless,' and we're gonna take some chances and maybe we'll surprise some people. … By the time we hit region, we're gonna challenge you. You're not gonna just come into Northridge and have it be easy like I think a lot of people think it's going to be. I promise you we're gonna be prepared, we're gonna play really hard and we'll see what happens.
"When people play Northridge, they're gonna know they played Northridge. We're gonna play as hard as we can, be physical, run to the ball, be mean, nasty, give great effort and all that kind of stuff. And really those are the only things we can control, and I just promised the kids that if you do that, you're gonna be better than people think and we're gonna win enough games and be competitive enough to give every team a run. And right now, they're buying in and working hard and hopefully we can find some success early in the season that can continue to build.
"In our region, it's just not a kind region," he said. "You have a key loss, an injury, you have a couple of bad breaks in a game, it's tough to overcome because there's no weak sauce in this region. But at the same time, when we're in the position we're in, we're gonna be in games where it's gonna come down to one or two plays, and if we make those plays this year instead of not making ’em, then we can be the team that's going to the playoffs. So that gives you hope that every year; it's up to you. You're gonna make your own destiny and make your own way in the region, and you don't really feel like there's no way you can compete in it. And I feel like every team in the region should feel the same way as us, so it's gonna be a fun year again."
Northridge Knights at a glance
Coach: Erik Thompson is entering his 13th season as Northridge’s head coach with a career coaching record of 74-53. He’s a graduate of Roy High School and Mesa State College.
Offense (1 returning starter; spread/multiple formations)
Offensive coordinator: Braden Mitchell
Returning offensive starters
Ethan Udy (WR last year/QB this year)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Hunter Harris (RB)
Malachi Uasila'a (RB)
Lawrence Yarborough (RB/WR)
Ryan Orton (FB)
Brevin Perkins (FB)
Razhan Reed (FB)
Marquise Jones (WR)
Braxton Barlow (TE)
Matt Adamson (OL)
Jack Stewart (OL)
Josh Ortiz (OL)
Korgan Green (OL)
Caleb Slama (OL)
Defense (2 returning starters, 4-2-5 formation)
Defensive coordinator: Erik Thompson
Returning defensive starters
Ethan Udy (DB)
Marquise Jones (DB)
Defensive newcomers to watch
David Crowl (DL)
Tavis Fitzgerald (DL)
Razhan Reed (DL)
Jacob Rhoades (LB)
Ryan Orton (LB)
Josiah Kelley (DB)
Brevin Perkins (DB)
Coaches' preseason Region 1 straw poll: Fifth
Deseret News Region 1 prediction: Fourth
Bottom line: The Knights are definitely low on numbers this year, but longtime head coach Erik Thompson is confident that they can overcome their shortcomings by being extremely focused, diligent and determined, and by staying together as a tight-knit team. With only 60-something young men on their roster, they won't have much depth so they must avoid devastating injuries to key personnel. A lot of young, relatively inexperienced players will be called upon to step into starting roles this year, so how well they handle that pressure will have a huge bearing on Northridge's quest for success. It won't be easy, and a lot of things will need to fall into place, but don't be too surprised if the Knights finish among the top four teams in a rugged region race and grab a state playoff spot.
2016 schedule
Aug. 19 — VIEWMONT, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 — at Bonneville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 — LAYTON, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 — at Olympus, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 — WEBER, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 — at Sky View, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 — FREMONT, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 — MOUNTAIN CREST, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 — at Roy, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 — at Clearfield, 7 p.m.
Felt’s Facts for Northridge High School
All-time record: 155-102 (24 years)
Region championships: 5 (1993 co, 1998 co, 2001, 2002 co, 2003)
Playoff appearances: 17
Current playoff appearance streak: 0
All-time playoff record: 20-14
State championships: 3 (2000, 2001, 2002)
State championship record: 3-0
Most played rivalry: 23 meetings with Layton dating back to 1992. Northridge leads the series 17-6.
Felt’s Factoid(s): Northridge has won the most championship games — three — without a loss. … The Knights have scored the most points in a four-game playoff series, 212 (2001). … The Knights hold the single-game passing yards record for a state playoff game, 513, set in a 2004 quarterfinal contest.
Last 5
2015 — 4-6 (2-4 in Region 1 — Missed playoffs)
2014 — 3-6 (2-4 in Region 1 — Missed playoffs)
2013 — 4-6 (4-2 in Region 1 — 5A first round)
2012 — 9-3 (4-1 in Region 1 — 5A quarterfinals)
2011 — 8-4 (4-1 in Region 1 — 5A quarterfinals)
Northridge coaching history
2004-current — Erik Thompson (75-53)
1996-2003 — Fred Fernandes (67-26)
1992-1995 — Mike Rosky (12-26)
Deseret News Mr. Football recipients
2001 — Daniel Coats, WR
Deseret News First Team All-Staters the past 10 years
2015 — Cyrus Daniels (RB)
2012 — James Baird, K
2012 — Eliyah Mayberry, DL
2012 — David Adams, RB
2011 — Karson Casteel, QB
2011 — David Adams, RB
2011 — Dallas Clark, OL
2011 — Austin Tate, LB
2010 — Brock Johnson, DB
2006 — Nate Ellis, RB
2006 — Mike Baker, DL
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.
EMAIL: rhollis@desnews.com