They think about it all the time. Sure, they're proud to be part of a program that can be one of the last two standing, but they want to be the last one standing, and that has definitely motivated all of them. – Lone Peak head coach Bart Brockbank, on the Knights losing in the 5A title game in 2016
Note: Lone Peak finished with a 12-2 overall record in 2016 and first in Region 4 with a 6-0 record. It lost to Bingham 17-10 in the 5A championship.
Lone Peak 2016 offensive and defensive stats
HIGHLAND — There's a chip on the shoulders of the Lone Peak players entering the 2017 season, and honestly, why wouldn't there be?
Both 2015 and 2016 saw the Knights fight their way to the 5A state championship game, only to come up just short against Herriman and Bingham, respectively. The ending results have been forefront in the minds of the players throughout the offseason, according to first-year Lone Peak head coach Bart Brockbank.
"They think about it all the time," Brockbank said. "Sure, they're proud to be part of a program that can be one of the last two standing, but they want to be the last one standing, and that has definitely motivated all of them."
Being the last team standing in the newly formed 6A division won't be an easy task, given the existing strength of programs such as East and Bingham, coupled with quite a few question marks within the Knights' program. Gone is head coach Mike Mower, although Brockbank has been part of the program for a good while and understands what makes the program successful. But also gone are a lot of the big-name players usually associated around the program.
"We don't have those big names like we usually do — the names of kids who are highly recruited and are known largely because of that," Brockbank said. "But we have some good players, and they've really come together and worked hard in the offseason, and I think you'll see that hard work pay off during games."
As for the Region 4 competition, Brockbank feels it has the makings for another competitive, albeit different year.
"There's only five teams in our region, so that's a little frustrating," he said. "It makes scheduling harder, obviously, but I guess because the teams are so tough that they wanted to keep the numbers lower? I really don't know what the reason is, but we're excited for the challenge."
Lone Peak Knights at a glance
Coach: Bart Brockbank has been an assistant coach at Lone Peak for four seasons and offensive coordinator for the past three seasons. He is a graduate of Lehi High School, where he led the Pioneers to a state championship in 2000.
Lone Peak offensive snapshot
Offensive coordinator: Bart Brockbank
2016 offensive production: 36.6 ppg (4th in 5A)
— 5 returning starters
— Spread
Key offensive returning starters
— Connor Paye (OL)
Paye is the best-known of the returning players on Lone Peak, having committed to sign with BYU after graduating. According to coaches, the senior has received a lot of other interest.
"He's had a lot of top programs try to get him to change his commitment, but he seems solid on BYU," Brockbank said. "So that speaks for itself. He's a real good player for us and someone who will lead that offensive line."
— Kobe Freeman (RB)
Freeman averaged just short of 7 yards per carry last season while gaining 523 yards. He also caught 29 passes for another 294 yards. He'll be leaned on heavily this year.
"Kobe will be our featured back and he's just a big, strong and fast kid who sees the field super well," Brockbank said. "He's a little bit bigger and faster this year, so we look for him to only improve this year."
Returning offensive starters
Connor Paye (OL)
Kobe Freeman (RB)
Brigham Trowbridge (WR)
JT Siri (OL)
Cody Collins (OL)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Brock Jones (QB)
Masen Wake (RB)
MJ Patane (RB)
Carson Stosich (WR)
Kaden Clemens (WR)
Matt Moore (OL)
Christian Penn (OL)
Brockbank's comments on Brock Jones (QB):
“He’s more of a pocket guy, but he can run. We’ve had a lot of quarterbacks who could really run, but he’s more of a pocket guy than the guys we’ve had before. He’s real cerebral and he has a great arm.”
Brockbank's comments on the receivers (WR):
"I think you're going to see a lot of guys who aren't known stars, like we had last year, but guys who are talented and are excited for their opportunities. We have about seven guys who we feel can play for us right now, so we'll just see how they each develop leading up to the season."
Keys for offensive success in 2017:
Quarterback has been a big position for the Knights in years past and will be again this year. Brock Jones is the assumed starter, and he'll be key to the team's overall success in 2017.
The Knights had a lot of playmakers last year who have moved on, so replacing all of them won't be an easy task. The overall play of Jones in getting his playmakers the ball effectively will go a long way in equaling last year's very good offensive production.
Lone Peak defensive snapshot
Defensive coordinator: Ryan Denney
2016 defensive production: 14.1 ppg (2nd in 5A)
— 2 returning starters
— 4-3 defense
Returning defensive starters
Thomas Bateman (LB)
Kevin West (DE)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Michael Daley (DE)
Jonah Vimahi (DL)
Andrew Ostler (LB)
Logan Greer (LB)
Jared Fotu (LB)
Brockbank's comments on Thomas Bateman and Andrew Ostler (LBs):
“They’ll be our two rocks at linebacker and probably for the entire defense. Thomas had a real good year last year for us, and Andrew will be playing middle linebacker this year. We’ll depend a lot on those guys.”
Brockbank's comments on defensive holes to be filled:
"We have a lot of question marks in our defensive backfield — especially at safety, so we're anxious to see how those positions develop. We really like our defensive ends and we have some guys I think will step up at tackle. We just need to figure out our secondary and we'll be OK and even very good on defense, if we can do that."
Keys for defensive success in 2017:
Brockbank said it best in pointing out the need to find some quality players in the defensive backfield. Top region foes, such as Bingham, American Fork and Pleasant Grove, all look to have very potent passing attacks this year, so finding quality players at corner and safety will be a big key for the Knights' overall defensive success.
Coaches' preseason Region 4 straw poll: Second
Deseret News Region 4 prediction: Second
Key region game: vs. American Fork (Sept. 22)
Bottom line: It's sort of unusual to pick a team losing as much talent as Lone Peak did, second in the state's toughest region, but it's a testament to how good the Knights have been. Most expect the players coming up to prove they are able to make another deep run into the playoffs — possibly to another championship game.
But the fact is Lone Peak may be a bit down this year, while other programs (Pleasant Grove, Westlake and American Fork) appear to be on the way up. Look for Lone Peak to again contend for the region crown but to have a much tougher time doing as much as a season ago, particularly with Bingham now in the mix.
2017 schedule
Aug. 18 — at Herriman, 7 p.m.
Aug. 25 — at Dixie, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 — LEHI, 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 — HIGHLAND, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 — at Kearns, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 — AMERICAN FORK, 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 — at Bingham, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 — WESTLAKE, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12 — at Pleasant Grove, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 — BYE
Felt's Facts for Lone Peak High School
All-time record: 172-68 (20 years)
Region championships: 13 (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 co, 2005, 2009-co, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 co, 2015, 2016)
Playoff appearances: 18
Current playoff appearance streak: 9 (2008-2016)
All-time playoff record: 29-17
State championships: 1 (2011)
State championship record: 1-4
Most played rivalry: 20 meetings with two schools, American Fork and Pleasant Grove, both dating back to 1997. Lone Peak leads American Fork 13-7 and Pleasant Grove 15-5.
Felt’s Factoid(s): Lone Peak is one of seven teams in state history to have a 14-0 record (2011). … Chase Hansen directed Lone Peak to its only state football title by compiling 475 yards of total offense, the second-most in championship-game history, in 2011.
Last 5
2016 — 12-2 (6-0 in Region 4 – 5A runner-up)
2015 — 13-1 (6-0 in Region 4 – 5A runner-up)
2014 — 5-6 (3-3 in Region 4 – 5A first round)
2013 — 8-5 (4-2 in Region 4 – 5A semifinals)
2012 — 10-3 (4-1 in Region 4 – 5A semifinals)
Lone Peak coaching history
2017 — Bart Brockbank (0-0)
2013-2016 — Mike Mower (38-14)
2008-2012 — Tony McGeary (51-13)
1997-2007 — Monte Morgan (86-51)
Deseret News Mr. Football recipients
2011 — Chase Hansen, QB
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
2016 — Jackson McChesney, FB
2016 — Tyler MacPherson, WR
2016 — Ryan Schoen, C
2016 — Seth Larsen, DE
2016 — Thomas Rossi, K
2015 — Talmage Gunther (QB)
2015 — Terrence Levy (DL)
2015 — Seth Corry (DB)
2012 — Talon Shumway, WR
2012 — Josh Buck, LB
2011 — Connor Humphrey, WR
2011 — Curtis Taufa, LB
2011 — Micah Hannemann, DB
2011 — Zach Saunders, SP
2009 — Kyson Flake, LB
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.