Note: Hunter finished with a 6-5 overall record in 2015 and was second in Region 2 with a 5-1 record. It lost to Roy 17-7 in 5A first round
Hunter’s 2015 offensive and defensive stats
WEST VALLEY CITY — In an industry (high school football) characterized by never-ending change and innovation, the Hunter High School Wolverines stand out in large part due to their consistency and firm hold on tradition.
“This is Hunter, this is Hunter, this is Hunter. This is smash-mouth football,” Hunter coach Scott Henderson emphatically said when asked if he would ever consider a change in offensive scheme. “Everybody runs the spread now, but it’s the power running teams that have lasting success.”
The Wolverines have been a model of consistency and success under Henderson. In his four seasons with the program, Hunter has won 25 games and three region titles. In 2015, the Wolverines finished second in region play behind Davis High School before falling to the Roy Royals 17-7 in the first round of the 5A playoffs.
This upcoming season will be a transition year of sorts for the Wolverines. Many key players from the 2015 campaign are gone, including quarterback McKay Meidlinger. A three-year starter, Meidlinger threw for 1,242 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for two scores last year as well as accounted for a total of 4,500 yards and 40 touchdowns in his high school career. Hunter will look to two players to replace Meidlinger, Gordon Nai and Tanner Lundeford.
“They are both talented kids,” said Henderson. “We are high on both of them. We need one of them to step up and take the job.” Henderson noted that he is comfortable having either player under center but singled out the sophomore Lundeford as one with a very bright future.
The Wolverines must also replace their top four rushers from last season. As a group, departed running backs Jerome Fauatea, Duke Atiga, Olson Williams and David Mapa rushed for a combined 1,395 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2015 (Williams and Mapa were also the team's top two receivers).
“We have good backs that can fill in,” said Henderson. “I’m not worried about our running game. If they (the Wolverine running backs) do their job, and our offensive line does its job, we will be just fine.”
Two of the many running backs Hunter will rely on this season are seniors Carson Pututau and Ty Carlson. The duo only received a combined six total carries last season for 16 total yards, but the expectation is that both backs will have breakout 2016 campaigns.
In the passing game, the Wolverines will look to wide receiver Austin Mitchell and tight end Logan Lutui. Mitchell caught eight passes for over 160 yards last season and averaged over 20 yards a reception. Lutui hauled in nine passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in 2015 and looks to play an even bigger role this year. “I need to lead by example,” said Lutui, a senior and returning starter. “I need to leave it all on the field for my team.”
Defensively, the Wolverines will continue to run the 3-4 scheme that has characterized Henderson’s tenure.
“Our line is our biggest strength heading into this season,” said Henderson. “We won the Ute Shoot lineman challenge, so we know we have talent. We need those guys to be ironmen for us this year.” Senior linemen Lorenzo Fauatea, Tavita Tauvoa and Dylon Hill will anchor the Hunter defensive line. At linebacker, the Wolverines are led by two-way players Logan Lutui and Carson Pututau. As for the secondary, Henderson is still waiting for players to seize the opportunity.
“We pretty much know who will be in certain areas in the secondary but at free safety we have a couple kids who are borderline and we just need to see who will be able to rep it the best,” said Henderson.
Henderson noted that his style of coaching and the Hunter way are different from many of the other programs in the state. “I know other teams have been going since April and you know what, I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to get my kids burnt out. They’re kids. Football is a game. It teaches great life values and instills a work ethic that will stay with them throughout their life, but for most of these kids it is just part of a great high school experience.”
Hunter Wolverines at a glance
Head coach: Scott Henderson is entering his fifth year as the head coach at Hunter. He has amassed a 25-19 record and won three region titles with the Wolverines. Henderson is a graduate of Cedar High School and Southern Utah University. He has coached high school football for over 20 years.
Offense (6 returning starters; I-Backs)
Offensive coordinator: Lee Chart (5th year)
Returning offensive starters
Lorenzo Fauatea (OL)
Logan Lutui (TE)
Carson Pututau (RB)
Ty Carlson (RB)
Tavita Tauvoa (OL)
Austin Mitchell (WR)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Gordon Nai (QB)
Tanner Lundeford (QB)
Defense (6 returning starters; 3-4)
Defensive coordinator: Scott Henderson
Returning defensive starters
Lorenzo Fauatea (DL)
Logan Lutui (LB)
Carson Pututau (LB)
Ty Carlson (DB)
Tavita Tauvoa (DL)
Austin Mitchell (DB)
Coaches' preseason Region 2 straw poll: 3
Deseret News Region 2 prediction: 2
Bottom line: The Wolverines are quite talented yet again. They have great skill on the offensive and defensive lines, a staple of running backs, per the usual, and some gifted receivers. If they can settle on a quarterback, and solidify their secondary, there is no reason Hunter cannot once again be in a battle at the top of Region 2 and take home another region title.
2016 schedule
Aug. 19 — AMERICAN FORK, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 — at Riverton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 — MOUNTAIN VIEW, IDAHO, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 — at Layton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 — GRANGER, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 — at Bingham, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 — at West, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 — at Viewmont, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 — DAVIS, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 — SYRACUSE, 7 p.m.
Felt's Facts for Hunter High School
All-time record: 169-109 (26 years)
Region championships: 8 (1991 co, 1996 co, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2009 co, 2012, 2014 co)
Playoff appearances: 25
Current playoff appearance streak: 25 (1991-2015)
All-time playoff record: 21-24
State championships: 1 (2003)
State championship record: 1-0
Most played rivalry: 22 meetings with Kearns dating back to 1990. Hunter leads 17-6. Last met in 2012.
Felt’s Factoid(s): Hunter is one of just six teams in state history to have a 14-0 record (2003). … Joseph Tiatia rushed for a state record 456 yards, eclipsing the previous mark by five yards, on Oct. 15, 2014.
Last 5
2015 — 6-5 (5-1 in Region 2 — 5A first round)
2014 — 6-6 (4-1 in Region 2 — 5A quarterfinals)
2013 — 6-5 (4-1 in Region 2 — 5A first round)
2012 — 7-3 (5-0 in Region 2 — 5A first round)
2011 — 3-7 (3-2 in Region 2 — 5A first round)
Hunter coaching history
2012-current — Scott Henderson (25-19)
2011 — Les Hamilton (3-7)
2008-2010 — Dustin Pearce (19-15)
1999-2007 — Wes Wilcken (67-32)
1994-1998 — John Lambourne (40-15)
1990-1993 — Mike Fraser (18-13)
Deseret News Mr. Football recipients
2003 — Ray Feinga, OL
1998 — David Fiefia, RB
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
2014 — Joseph Tiatia, RB
2010 — Ului Lapuaho, OL
2009 — Laau Tanuvasa, RB
2006 — Ray Mulitalo, DL
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.
Email: twood@bonneville.com