SMITHFIELD — Scout Morris has intercepted more passes this season than any other player in the state of Utah.
Let that sink in a little.
Arguably no player in the state, and absolutely no defensive back, has been more of a bane to opposing quarterbacks than the Sky View free safety.
Through 13 games this season, Morris has intercepted nine passes, averaging 0.7 thefts per contest. That is one more than Jake Meuter (Salem Hills), and two more than Taylor Crump (American Fork), Isaac Larsen (Logan) Andrew McDonald (Corner Canyon), Jacob Peck (Bonneville) and Nate Ritchie (Lone Peak).
The list of great defensive backs in the state is long, and Morris has bested them all.
“It is definitely a lot more fun and easier to play safety. At corner, it is all on you, one on one. At safety, I have more freedom and can make bigger plays I feel like. It is a fun thing.” — Sky View free safety Scout Morris
He’s had two multi-interception games this year, with a pair of picks against both Ridgeline and Green Canyon in region play. He would have had three interceptions in a single game, if not for an untimely penalty that negated a pick.
“I should’ve had three in one game, but there was a roughing the passer type penalty and it got taken away,” he said. “It is all right.”
He’s also recorded a pick-six, an 81-yarder in the Bobcats’ 56-13 victory over Mountain View in the second round of the 4A state tournament.
“That was cool,” Morris said.
And then there is the matter of tackles. Morris has 81 tackles this season, the second-highest total on the team, at an average of 6.2 per game. When Park City head coach Josh Montzingo recently told the Deseret News that Sky View has “tons of athletes,” who are “big, strong and fast,” Morris was one of the first names on the list.
“Scout is a stud,” Sky View head coach Chris Howell said.
That hasn’t always been the case.
In his first two years at Sky View, Morris played exclusively as cornerback and as a sophomore registered 30 tackles and one interception in eight games played. Solid stats to be sure, but a far cry from what he’s done in his senior season. He made the move from corner to safety as a junior last season and it was a welcome change.
“It is definitely a lot more fun and easier to play safety,” Morris said. “At corner, it is all on you, one on one. At safety, I have more freedom and can make bigger plays I feel like. It is a fun thing.”
In 2018, his first year as a safety, Morris recorded 37 tackles and two interceptions in six games. Everything changed this year, as he became one of the top safeties in the state, on a Sky View defense that has allowed only 11.6 points per game.
“I’ve played as a DB my whole life. I’ve never tried to think about it, go ‘Oh I need a pick every game.’ It just kind of happens. I am just always trying to do the right thing and be in the right spot and it just always kind of comes to me, you know?” — Scout Morris
“We’ve all played together forever,” Morris said, explaining the Bobcats’ defensive prowess this season. “Since freshman year we’ve all been such good friends, especially our DB (defensive back) core and some of our linebackers and that has helped a lot.”
As for his individual success, particularly his predilection for interceptions, he was less quick with an answer.
“I dunno,” he said, “I’ve played as a DB my whole life. I’ve never tried to think about it, go ‘Oh I need a pick every game.’ It just kind of happens. I am just always trying to do the right thing and be in the right spot and it just always kind of comes to me, you know?”
The Bobcats hope a few errant Park City throws fly in Morris’ direction Friday, in the 4A state championship game. Both teams are looking for the first state title in school history, but Sky View is also looking for a measure of revenge. The Miners upset the Bobcats in the 2018 state tournament, in Smithfield no less, and that loss hasn’t been forgotten.
“It’s there, deep in the heart,” said Morris, “but mostly it is about winning state. That is every kids dream growing up and coming out as a senior and winning that would be awesome.”