Note: Richfield finished with a 2-8 overall record in 2015 and was sixth in 3A South with a 0-5 record. It did not qualify for the playoffs.
Richfield 2015 offensive and defensive stats
RICHFIELD — Heading into the 2016 season and coming off a forgettable 2015 campaign that saw the Wildcats finish 2-8 and go winless in region play, Richfield football has one main goal, a return to competitive football.
“We don’t want to be the “little brother” anymore,” said Richfield head coach Eric Thorson. “We know we can’t control wins but we can control how much work we put in and we have worked hard this summer.”
Much of the work done by the Wildcats this summer has been on the offensive side of the ball. Richfield primarily ran a spread offense in 2015, and while that is the base of its offense heading into the 2016 season, it has also worked to add new elements to its offense.
“We ran a straight spread offense last year, but this summer we have worked to add elements of a fly sweep offense to our attack,” said Thorson. He noted that the reason for these additions was to stay ahead of the competitors and to keep opposing defenses off balance.
No player is set to benefit more from these offensive changes than star running back Evan Jerome. The incoming senior was the team’s second leading rusher last year behind Jensen Magleby. Jerome ran for 323 yards and two scores on a team-high 89 carries in 2015, and chipped in 163 receiving yards and a touchdown. With Magleby graduated, taking his team-leading 334 yards rushing and 679 receiving yards with him, the Wildcats' offense is all about Jerome.
“We are going to rely heavily on him (Jerome),” said Thorson. “He is a very important piece in our offense.”
Another player who will be vital to the Richfield offense is quarterback Emmitt Hafen.
“He started a couple of games for us late last season so he has some experience. He and Evan (Jerome) are going to have large roles.” said Thorson.
Hafen finished the 2015 season with 285 passing yards and three touchdowns and a team-best 52 percent completion percentage.
The strength of this Richfield team, offensive adjustments notwithstanding, is the defense.
“We are strongest on defense, especially our secondary,” said Thorson. “We are very young on the defensive line, especially at the end position, but we really like our young players and need them to step up.”
One of those young defensive ends is Tason Lacorti who Thorson hopes will have a breakout year for the Wildcats. “He (Lacorti) is very quick off the edge. We are excited about him,” said Thorson.
Richfield has three key returning defensive players set to anchor that side of the ball and bring along the young talent in linebackers Mason Holdaway and Wyatt Peterson and defensive end Jason Schaugaard. Peterson, known as Old Faithful by the Richfield coaching staff, paced the three returning starters with 52 tackles in 2015. Holdaway added 27 tackles and a sack and Schaugaard had one tackle while learning from a senior heavy line.
In the secondary, Richfield is going to rely on safety Jed Poulsen. The junior racked up 10 tackles last season, and Thorson expects more this year. “He isn’t a big kid but he is just a spark of energy. He plays hard and hits hard and we expect big things from him,” said Thorson.
“We are very young and lack depth,” Thorson said of his Wildcat team. “We graduated a lot of players, including most of our defensive line. This is going to be a rebuilding year for us.”
Richfield Wildcats at a glance
Head coach: Eric Thorson is entering his third season as Richfield’s head coach where he has amassed a 9-12 record. He is a graduate of Davis High School and Utah State University.
Offense (7 returning starters; spread offense)
Offensive coordinator: Corey Morrison (20th year)
Returning offensive starters
Wyatt Peterson (G)
Emmitt Hafen (QB)
Evan Jerome (RB)
McKay Lewis (RB)
Jordan Masaqueptawa (C)
Moroni Shumway (G)
Mason Holdaway (RB)
Defense (10 returning starters; 4-3)
Defensive coordinator: Eric Thorson (3rd year)
Returning defensive starters
Wyatt Peterson (LB)
Emmitt Hafen (CB)
Evan Jerome (DT)
McKay Lewis (LB)
Wyatt Norman (LB)
Mason Allred (CB)
Jesse Nay (CB)
Jed Poulson (S)
Jason Schaugaard (DE)
Mason Holdaway (DE)
Defensive newcomer to watch
Tason Lacorti (DE)
Coaches' preseason Region 5 straw poll: Sixth
Deseret News Region 5 prediction: Sixth
Bottom line: The Wildcats have strong senior leadership, especially on the defensive side of the ball. However, a lack of depth and experience at key positions may prove too much to overcome for a team looking to be competitive and move out from the bottom of the 3A South region.
2016 schedule
Aug. 19 — BEN LOMOND, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 — at South Sevier, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 — SAN JUAN, 6 p.m.
Sept. 9 — at Union, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 — JUAB, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 — at Canyon View, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 — at North Sanpete, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 — MANTI, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 — at Delta, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 — CARBON, 7 p.m.
Felt’s Facts for Richfield High School
All-time record: 331-387-12 (86 years)
Region championships: 17 (1926, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1984 co, 1985, 1988 co)
Playoff appearances: 38
Current playoff appearance streak: 0
All-time playoff record: 30-37-1
State championships: 1 (1984)
State championship record: 1-5
Most played rivalry: 55 meetings with North Sanpete dating back to 1923. Richfield leads 30-24-2.
Felt’s Factoid(s): The 1931 Wildcats are one of just six teams to average more than 50 points a game. … Richfield held Manti to minus-90 yards in a 1971 game, the second fewest rushing yards allowed in a game.
Last 5
2015 — 2-8 (0-5 in 3A South — Missed playoffs)
2014 — 7-4 (2-3 in 3A South — Missed playoffs)
2013 — 7-4 (2-3 in 3A South — 3A quarterfinals)
2012 — 6-5 (5-2 in 2A South — 2A quarterfinals)
2011 — 6-5 (5-2 in 2A South — 2A quarterfinals)
Richfield coaching history
2014-current — Erik Thorson (9-12)
2008-2013 — Corey Morrison (37-28)
2005-2007 — Seth Giddings (12-18)
2000-2004 — Dave Clark (11-38)
1995-1999 — Corey Morrison (3-40)
1989-1994 — Randy Madsen (24-31)
1983-1988 — Paul Messersmith (50-17)
1982 — Larry Estep (4-5)
1979-1981 — Paul Tidwell (20-12)
1973-1978 — Nyle Norris (37-29)
1969-1972 — Gary Roylance (29-13-1)
1967-1968 — Ronald Pierce (1-16)
1966 — Ken Sampson (1-7)
1965 — Unknown (1-6-1)
1963-1964 — Andy Anderson (8-7-1)
1957-1962 — Art Nielson (12-34-3)
1955-1956 — Darwin Woodbury (2-12)
1943-1954 — Clive Roberts (1-7)
1937-1942 — Unknown (13-16-1)
1931-1936 — Joe Buys (28-14-1)
1925-1930 — Paul Packard (17-16)
1922-1924 — Unknown (6-7-3)
1921 — Harry Casey (5-1-1)
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
2015 — Jensen Magleby, WR
2013 — Brodie Ellis, RB
2013 — Shay Morrison, DL
2013 — Riley Cunningham, DB
2012 — Shay Morrison, TE/DE
2011 — Braden Hampton, RB/DB
2011 — Justus Clark, OL/DL
2010 — Robert TorgersonDL
2008 — J.D. Michaelsen, WR/DE
2007 — Tyler Tuttle, FB/LB
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.