Before, we were maybe trying to keep everyone healthy for the playoffs, but now we’ve got to play ’cause we don’t want to play one of their top two seeds. – Pine View head coach Ray Hosner
There’s a bit more urgency for teams in the 3AA South region this season, and the teams up north are a big reason why.
Not only did Logan win last year’s title, but Tooele’s program is getting stronger and stronger and briming with confidence after reaching the semis last year. Then with the opening of Ridgeline High in Cache County, there’s another formidable team in 3AA.
Make no mistake, from top to bottom 3AA South is still the better of the two regions, but the top 3AA North teams are closing the gap, and it will put a bit more pressure on the southern teams to get a good seed at state. The notion of the southern teams steamrolling the north in the playoffs probably isn’t realistic anymore.
“Before, we were maybe trying to keep everyone healthy for the playoffs, but now we’ve got to play ’cause we don’t want to play one of their top two seeds,” said Pine View coach Ray Hosner.
The race for those top two seeds will be as gripping as ever, and unpredictable.
Desert Hills is the favorite buoyed by several key returning starters, not to mention the return of a healthy Nephi Sewell. But like three other teams in the region, it has question marks at the all-important quarterback position.
Only Cedar with Mason Fakahua and Hurricane with Josh Parker have proven players at that position. Everybody else tried to groom new starters this summer, and they’ll all begin the season with a little uncertainty as a result.
Fakahua had a strong junior season as Cedar broke from tradition with the spread offense last year as he racked up 3,600 yards of total offense. He’s added over 15 pounds of muscle this offseason, and at 225 pounds will be a fierce runner. He’s also a strong thrower, and Cedar is one of the favorites as a result.
“He’s had a great offseason. We definitely want to make him more of a threat running the ball this year. Last year we didn’t have him running the ball as much as we should,” said second-year coach Josh Bennett.
He said all of that will hinge on developing the offensive line, but Cedar has a great core to build around with three returning starters this season. Two of Fakahua’s two receiving threats from last year are also back.
Desert Hills is also loaded with experience on the line with three returning starters.
“They work well together. They’re athletic. They’re kind of nasty inside. I like the way they play,” said Desert Hills coach Carl Franke.
Sewell could have a terrific season behind the stacked line. His strong anticipated junior season was cut short just four plays on a scary situation in which he broke his neck. He had two vertebrae’s fused together, but his MRIs have been cleared by some of the top sports specialists in the country, and he’s excited about his senior year.
“He’s got something to prove, he’s a got a bit of a chip on his shoulder. There’s a lot of programs in the state that have kind of passed him by a little bit because of the injury, but there were some that stuck with him. He kind of wants to ball out and show out this year,” said Franke.
Hurricane was projected to be one of the dark horses in region this season, but those hopes took a pretty significant hit this summer when leading rusher Jacob Carr tore his ACL this summer.
The Tigers have always been a good “next-man-up” type of team, and that will need to continue again this year to be successful.
That’s how it will be for Dixie this season. Last year’s 3AA runner-up only returns three offensive starters, and it will be relying on a bunch of underclassmen too.
It will be up to the defense to carry the Flyers early, and maybe the whole season.
“They definitely have to step up and lead that side of the ball. They have to play a little bit above themselves those first few weeks,” said coach Andy Stokes.
Pine View and Snow Canyon were pegged by the coaches as the likely bottom two teams in the region, but nobody would be surprised if that didn’t happen.
Snow Canyon was a surprise 3AA semifinalist after beating Desert Hills in the quarterfinals, and new coach Mike Esplin is hoping to build off that confidence this year.
"We got beat by a very good Logan team to end our year, but we like how we ended the season," said Esplin. "We get some good returning starters and a sophomore and junior class that we feel will prove to be very good.”
For Pine View, it’s hoping for a bounce back after enduring its worst finish in region play in Hosner’s 15 years as head coach.
With question marks at QB, like Dixie it will be Pine View’s strong defensive line to lead the way early in the season.
“I think the defense is our strength his year, I think we’re just going to get better too,” said Pine View lineman Dillan Robertson.
Deseret News projections for 3AA South football teams in 2016
(Preseason rankings are based on coaches’ votes)
1. DESERT HILLS: Last year’s surprising early playoff loss gave the Thunder extra motivation this offseason. Nephi Sewell (RB/DB) is back after breaking a bone in his neck four plays into the 2015 season. Coach Carl Franke said he’s a 14-point difference maker every game. Marco Jordan filled in at running back without Sewell last year, and he’s back as well, which strengthens the position. They’ve got a terrific line to run behind with the return of Bundy Sewell, Penei Sewell and Houston Stapley. Quinn Kiser takes over at quarterback and is a solid dual-threat quarterback. The defense should be a strength as well with Penei Sewell and Bundy Sewell anchoring the D-line. 2015 RECORD: 5-5. PLAYOFFS: Lost to Snow Canyon 17-13 in 3AA quarterfinals.
2. CEDAR: Cedar is one of the most experienced teams in 3AA South, and definitely one of the top contenders for the league title. Mason Fakahua returns at quarterback, and he’s put on over 15 pounds of muscle and is poised for a terrific season in the spread offense. He rushed for 1,250 yards a year ago and passed for 2,419 yards. Two of his top receiving threats return, Drake Lewis and Derek Ball, along with three offensive linemen, Quaid Murray, Ryder Bearnson and Justin Gray. Anchoring the defense is linebacker Jade Bulloch, who led 3AA in tackles a year ago with 139. Bailey Gray was also among the top tacklers as well with 90. 2015 RECORD: 5-6. PLAYOFFS: Lost to Logan 45-0 in 3AA quarterfinals.
3. HURRICANE: Expectations were very high for Hurricane this season and its six returning starters on both sides of the ball. Those expectations, however, took a big hit when last year’s returning leading rusher, Jacob Carr, suffered an ACL tear in the summer. Replacing him will be very difficult, but an experienced quarterback will help. Senior Josh Parker has been starting since late in his sophomore year. The defense will be anchored by a pair of returning D-lineman starters, Quando Ieremia and Isaiah Johnson. Tobie Swensen returns at linebacker with high expectations. 2015 RECORD: 6-4. PLAYOFFS: Lost to Tooele 35-7 in 3AA quarterfinals.
4. DIXIE: A year after falling in the state title game, Dixie will be one of the youngest teams in 3AA as it only starts four or five seniors this season. With a very tough preseason schedule (Springville, Lone Peak, Alta), those youngsters will get tested right away. Jacob Barben takes over at quarterback and will have a bit of experience in front of him with returning O-line starters Tim Miles and Gavyn Begay. Hobbs Nyberg returns at receiver after tallying 789 yards and eight TDs a year ago. The strength of the team is in the linebacking core with returning starters Malakai Fakahua, Cutler Thomas and Magalei Stevenson. Payton Wilgar is a big-time recruit at safety for the Flyers. 2015 RECORD: 9-3. PLAYOFFS: Lost to Logan 26-15 in 3AA championship.
5. PINE VIEW: Defense, particularly the defensive line, should be Pine View’s strength. Dillan Robertson and Tyler Heaton are both returning starters, with Robertson leading the team in tackles last season. Sophomores Solo Katoa and Brooks Maile are both projected starters and expected to be very good. There are question marks offensively without a starting quarterback named yet. An experienced offensive line should help with that transition led by Heaton, Saxton Leavitt and Zach Spendlove. Senior Kawika Santiago will take over at running back this season after playing sparingly a year ago. Move-in Christian Damon also figures to get plenty of carries. 2015 RECORD: 6-5. PLAYOFFS: Lost to Dixie 28-23 in 3AA quarterfinals.
6. SNOW CANYON: Mike Esplin takes over as Snow Canyon’s head coach after serving as an assistant coach the past three years. The Warriors surprised many by advancing to the semifinals last season, but they’re hoping to back it up with another strong season. Defense will need to be key to keep pace in region. Caleb Gates, Britton Webster and Chris Poulsen will anchor what figures to be a strong linebacking core. Poulsen will be one of the team’s top playmakers at both wide receiver and running back. The quarterback position is a battle between Austin Staheli and Matt Kitchen. 2015 RECORD: 6-6. PLAYOFFS: Lost to Logan 42-14 in 3AA semifinals.
James Edward is the Deseret News prep editor and Real Salt Lake beat writer. EMAIL: jedward@deseretnews.com