Note: American Leadership finished with a 4-6 overall record in 2015 and was fifth in 2A North with a 1-4 record. It lost to Enterprise 37-6 in 2A first round.
ALA 2015 offensive and defensive stats
SPANISH FORK — The 2015 season was a noteworthy one for American Leadership.
It won four games the first time in the 10-year history of the program and in the process scored 208 points, both school records. With the bulk of last year’s starters returning, expectations are at an all-time high for ALA.
“There’s a lot of excitement. I think the boys are hoping to have another record-breaking year,” said ALA coach Billy Nixon, who’s now in his third season as head coach.
Last year’s success didn’t translate into more participation this season, which Nixon said is frustrating but not necessarily surprising considering the dynamic of the charter school.
“We have to be willing to do more with less,” said Nixon.
The players have bought into that notion.
Jackson Shockley is a returning starter at quarterback, and would definitely be an asset at that position this season, but he might end up playing right tackle instead. ALA returns three starters on the offensive line this season, but unproven freshmen and sophomores are trying to fill in the other two spots. Nixon isn’t sure how successful they’ll be.
If things don’t pan out, Shockley will make the rare switch from quarterback to offensive line.
“Jackson is by far the smartest player on the field, and that’s why we put him at quarterback last year ’cause he knows the game so well. But the other thing is Jackson is one of our biggest, strongest kids in the program. He’s 6-foot-2, he’s long, he’s strong, he has a great work ethic. He just wants to win football games,” said Nixon.
“That kind of shows the culture that we’ve built at ALA, that most of the kids have bought into this idea that the team comes first.”
Nixon wouldn’t consider the change if ALA was a passing team. But in the wishbone offense, the running game is key and Shockley’s services might be best suited on the offensive line anyway.
If Shockley joins Holland Morley, Michael VanWagner and Trey Twitchell on the offensive line, then Trae Alvarado would get the starting nod at QB.
Regardless, the game plan will center on getting the ball in the hands of running backs Owen Huff and Dallen Short.
Huff rushed for over 1,000 yards a year ago, while Short came close to 1,000 yards. Nixon believes with a solid offensive line in front of them they could each approach 1,500 yards.
“I’m hoping that Dallen is going to be our power back. In the offseason he gained about 25 pounds and has worked really hard for his senior year to be that power back,” said Nixon.
Huff is a more of a hybrid between a shifty back and a power back.
They aren’t the only talented running backs on the team, which is why Nixon is switching from a split-back formation to a wishbone.
Filling that third position will be either sophomore Kimball Morley or junior Truman Henderson. Morley is the fastest player on the team and has the potential to be very good. Henderson, meanwhile, had a great summer and even though he’s not as fast as Morley, he’s very disciplined and is a great blocker.
“For the first couple games I see them both getting their reps until we can decide on one,” said Nixon.
American Leadership’s defense could end up being the strength of the team with seven returning starters. Some of those players are about to become three-year starters, and Nixon said that makes a huge difference on how he can call a game.
Holland Morley and VanWagner are returning starters on the defensive line, and Nixon believes VanWagner is one of the best in 2A.
The linebacking core is very solid. Huff led the team in tackles last season and he’ll again patrol the linebacker position along with Short, who is moving from safety. Shockley and Baker Henry are returning starters at outside linebacker.
There are question marks about the secondary, which took the biggest hit because of graduation,
American Leadership Eagles at a glance
Coach: Billy Nixon is entering his third season as head coach at American Leadership. He’s posted a 5-14 record in his first two seasons. He’s a graduate of Hayfield High in Virginia.
Offense (7 returning starters; Wishbone offense)
Offensive coordinator: Billy Nixon
Returning offensive starters
Jackson Shockley (QB)
Dallen Short (RB)
Owen Huff (RB)
Holland Morley (OL)
Michael VanWagner (OL)
Trey Twitchell (OL)
Baker Henry (TE)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Trae Alvarado (QB)
Wyatt Gardiner (WR)
Brett Staheli (WR)
Kimball Morley (RB)
Truman Henderson (RB)
Defense (7 returning starters, 3-4 defense)
Defensive coordinator: Douglas Vincent
Returning defensive starters
Jackson Shockley (LB)
Baker Henry (LB)
Dallen Short (LB)
Owen Huff (LB)
Holland Morley (DL)
Michael VanWagner (DL)
Conner Bowen (CB)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Trey Twitchell (DL)
Brett Staheli (FS)
Kimball Morley (CB)
Coaches' preseason 2A North straw poll: Fourth
Deseret News 2A North prediction: Fifth
Bottom line: American Leadership is proud of setting a new school record last season with four victories. The challenge this year is finding a way to beat some of the better teams. The Eagles’ four wins last year were against 1A programs Altamont and Layton Christian, and then a couple of doormat 2A teams, North Sevier and Gunnison. In Week 6 it narrowly lost to Millard 19-14, and that’s the type of performance that shows ALA can compete with some of the better teams in 2A. If the program avoids the injury bug, it could be setting another school record for wins.
2016 schedule
Aug. 19 — ALTAMONT, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 — at Layton Christian, 4 p.m.
Sept. 2 — GRAND, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 — at North Sevier, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 — at South Summit, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 — MILLARD, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 — at Gunnison, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 — NORTH SUMMIT, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 — at Summit Academy, 7 p.m.
Felt’s Facts for American Leadership Academy
All-time record: 18-80 (10 years)
Region championships: 0
Playoff appearances: 6
Current playoff appearance streak: 1
All-time playoff record: (0-6)
State championships: 0
State championship record: (0-0)
Most played rivalry: Seven meetings with Manti dating back to 2006. Manti leads 7-0. Last met in 2012.
Felt’s Factoid(s): ALA is one of six private schools that compete in football. … Eagle Jordan Lamb is one of just 16 prep gridders in Utah to return an interception 100 yards (2011).
Last 5
2015 — 4-6 (1-4 in 2A North — 2A first round)
2014 — 1-8 (0-6 in 2A North — Missed playoffs)
2013 — 3-7 (1-5 in 2A North — Missed playoffs)
2012 — 2-7 (1-6 in 2A North — Missed playoffs)
2011 — 3-7 (2-5 in 2A North — Missed playoffs)
American Leadership coaching history
2014-current — Billy Nixon (5-14)
2013 — Chase Ryan (3-7)
2012 — Bobby Kauo (2-7)
2009-2011 — David Lewis (6-25)
2007-2008 — Tom Fell (1-19)
2006 — Ron Olsen (1-8)
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
(None)
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.