Note: North Sanpete finished with a 4-8 overall record in 2014 and tied for third in 3A South with a 2-3 record. It lost to Union 19-15 in the 3A quarterfinals.


North Sanpete 2014 Stat Recap


MOUNT PLEASANT — A complete mystery.

That is the way North Sanpete football coach Rick Wilson described his incoming team, which is a combination heavy in youth and potential while light in experience and consistency.

"Our senior class is only 11 guys," Wilson said. "And probably a quarter of those guys didn't play much last year. That gives you an idea of where we are."

Add to that the constant turnover of coaches and philosophies that has had North Sanpete players shuffling positions and relearning team expectations each season.

"This group of kids has been through so many coaches in so many years," said Wilson, who is entering his second season at the helm. He feels that instability has gotten the team down.

"Right now, we are trying to build their self-esteem and build their self-concept, to work together, trust each other, trust us," Wilson said.

He and his coaching staff, which includes new people once again, are addressing that team building by implementing new and consistent discipline and structure.

"It's almost a cultural change for them," said the head coach. "Everything from 6:30 a.m. workouts to when we're on the field it's all business to the way we compete — we play with discipline, we have fundamentals, I teach fundamentals."

Wilson is confident that with time, the shift toward consistency will allow the potential of his players and his entire team to be realized sooner rather than later.

"Once that comes together, I think we have a chance to compete. That's about as close as I could say," he said. "How well we could compete? Maybe very well."

Leading that charge will be new starting quarterback Zack Lee. The 6-foot-3 senior threw just six passes in bits of time at QB last season, but Wilson is excited to see what he can do for the Hawks with the full-time role.

"Zack Lee can be a pretty good quarterback, too," the coach said. "He has a lot of good quarterback skills and he may be pretty darn good."

Senior running back Spencer Applegarth, who the coach describes as a standout, returns after leading the team with 1,376 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns along with more than 400 receiving yards and three receiving TDs.

"We have some ability and we have some lineman," Wilson said. "Again, you put some of that youth together and convince them they can win and we have a chance."

Add to the list Taylor Lee, Jake Hadley, Trent Seely, Trey Sorensen and a handful of linemen, all of whom rotated into varsity games and gained experience a year ago on both offense and defense.

"They should not have a shock" under the Friday night lights, Wilson said. "They're shouldn't be a shock of competition and speed and all of that. They've adjusted to that already. They've had that experience."

Overall, Wilson said he and his staff are excited about the potential his team holds and the steps the North Sanpete players have taken to tap into that ability.

"We have made great strides and kids have really started to play together," Wilson said. "We just need to increase our fundamentals and discipline and trusting of one another and all of those fundamentals."

North Sanpete Hawks at a glance

Head Coach: Rich Wilson is entering his second season as North Sanpete’s head coach. He amassed a 4-8 record in his first year at the school. Wilson is a graduate of Mountain View High School and BYU.

Offense (4 returning starters; I-back offense)

Returning offensive starters

Spencer Applegarth (RB/WR)

Jake Hadley (WR)

Trey Sorensen (TE)

Offensive newcomers to watch

Zach Lee (QB)

Dallas Larson (RB)

Brady Wheeler (RB)

Defense (4 returning starters)

Returning defensive starters

Taylor Lee (S)

Jake Hadley (SS/DB)

Trent Seely (DB)

Defensive newcomers to watch

Dylan Olson (DB)

Landon Glasgow (DB)

Garrett Turpin (DE)

Coaches preseason 3A South straw poll: Third

Deseret News 3A South prediction: Third

Bottom line: For the past few years, the only constant for the North Sanpete football team was change. Finally, the Hawks have a coach (Rich Wilson) who is returning for a second year and establishing a philosophy the team can believe in. While the team returns talented players like Spencer Applegarth and anticipates great things from new starters like quarterback Zack Lee, what will mean the greatest difference for the Hawks is a combination of discipline and fundamentals. Wilson said that once his team puts those pieces together on and off the field, it will be only a matter of time before they start to see success. "And those successes," Wilson said, "will motivate them to see what they can become. That, I think, is when all bets are off on how good they can be."

Last 5

2014 — 4-8 (2-3 in 3A South – 3A Quarterfinals)

2013 — 3-8 (2-3 in 3A South – 3A Quarterfinals)

2012 — 5-6 (3-2 in Region 12 – 3A First round)

2011 — 4-7 (3-2 in Region 12 – 3A First round)

2010 — 2-8 (0-5 in Region 12 -- Missed playoffs)

North Sanpete coaching history

2014 — Rick Wilson (4-8)

2012-2013 — Matt Roberts (8-14)

2011 — Steve Coburn (4-7)

2008-2010 — Casey Jensen (6-24)

2005-2007 — Ben Morley (13-19)

2004 — Blake Turner (6-5)

1991-2003 — Mark Wootton (73-56)

1988-1990 — Todd Peacock (17-11)

1987 — Gary Stears (2-7)

1985-1986 — Dale Barker (1-15)

1984 — Dave Peck (7-3)

1979-1983 — Paul Tidwell (16-30)

1974-1978 — unknown (13-36)

1973 — Roger Tree (3-5-1)

1967-1972 — unknown (20-33)

1965-1966 — Brent Rock (10-7)

1960-1964 — unknown (18-14)

1956-1959 — Mack Wilkey (16-12)

1954-1955 — Don Holbrook (5-7-1)

1951-1953 — unknown (2-21)

1950 — E.G. Brunger (3-3)

1929-1949 — unknown (21-73-4)

1927-1928 — Donald Simmons (4-6)

1919-1926 — unknown (14-10-2)

1915-1916 — unknown (2-3-1)

1912-1913 — unknown (1-1)

Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years

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2007 — Russell Christensen, DL

2005 — Tyson Church, RB

To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.

Sarah Thomas earned a degree in Mathematics from the University of Utah and is currently pursuing an MBA at Westminster College. She has been covering sports for the Deseret News since 2008.

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