Note: North Summit finished with an 8-3 overall record in 2014 and third in 2A North with a 4-2 record. It lost to South Sevier 14-6 in the 2A quarterfinals.
COALVILLE — In the past four years as North Summit’s head football coach, and the previous eight as assistant coach, Devin Smith doesn’t ever remember having a luxury on the offensive line quite like what he has this year.
“We’re going to be deep there, maybe deeper than all the years I’ve been here — even in our state championships runs,” said Smith.
Four of last year’s starters in the trenches are back, along with a quality tight end. As for that vacant spot on the offensive line, Smith said four or five other linemen are vying for playing time. Under different circumstances, most of them would start.
That depth on the line gives North Summit a great foundation heading into the 2015 season after finishing third in 2A North last year and advancing to the 2A quarterfinals.
Twin brothers Braden Richins and Mason Richins will start at the two tackles positions for the Braves, and Smith said they’re both very aggressive and deceptively strong despite their taller, thinner appearance.
Zac Simister is a returning starter at center, while Holden Jones saw a lot of playing time at guard.
As a team, North Summit ran for over 2,500 yards out of its option offense, and it should easily eclipse that total with its strong returning offensive line.
“With our experience at line we’re going to be able to move it, but we’ve got to take care of it and make sure we finish drives,” said Smith.
Those things really hurt North Summit in the 2A quarterfinals last year. After beating South Sevier 47-14 in Week 6, just over a month later the Braves scored six fewer touchdowns in a stunning 14-6 loss.
Tristan Woolstenhulme is the player who will be counted on most to finish off those drives. As a sophomore last year he was third on the team with 296 rushing yards and four scores, but the potential is there for him to go well over 1,000 yards this season.
“Tristan is only a junior and he’ll be our feature back. He’s pretty special. He’s not very big, but he’s super, super strong and works really hard. He’s going to carry a load,” said Smith.
After Woolstenhulme, Smith said four other backs are in the hunt for playing time — Rand Pentz, Logan Rex, Jayce Richins and Cole Peterson. The quartet of running backs is unproven, but Smith said they’re all “pretty dang good.”
The big question for North Summit is at quarterback, a position that Ryan McMichael owned for the past three seasons as he racked up 52 combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
Vying for that starting QB position are senior Chris Richins and junior Braxton Northrop. Because North Summit doesn’t participate in a padded camp in the summer, Smith will likely wait until the week before the season opener at Layton Christian on Aug. 21 to name a starter.
“I want to see them both with pads on scrimmaging and seeing how they react to different situations, and then we’ll try and make a decision,” said Smith. “Maybe we’ll play them both the first game.”
With a veteran offensive line, Smith said he needs a quarterback to be consistent.
While North Summit’s line will lead the way offensively, the same goes defensively with the Richins twins and Wardrop anchoring the defensive line.
Mason Richins finished third on the team in tackles last year with 64, with Braden Richins adding 35. They combined for 13 sacks as well. Wardrop tied for third in tackles with 63 along with Woolstenhulme, who’s a returning starter at linebacker.
“We’re going to run a 3-5, and I think we have really good personnel for that. Right now I would say our defense is going to be our strength,” said Smith. “We’ve got guys who can run, guys who are tough. I’m really excited to see how well our defense performs, I really am.”
Smith said all three defensive linemen are excellent leaders, players who hold themselves just as accountable as their teammates.
Just as they’re expected to make contributions at running back, Pentz, Rex, Jayce Richins and Peterson are expected to do the same at linebacker.
“We’re counting on those newcomers at linebacker to be real aggressive and make plays,” said Smith.
A year ago North Summit allowed only 12.0 ppg, and if it can duplicate that success it should be in great shape with a potentially strong offense coming back.
North Summit Braves at a glance
Coach: Devin Smith is entering his fifth season as head coach at his alma mater, and he’s put together a 24-19 record in his first four seasons.
Offense (6 returning starters; Option offense)
Offensive coordinator: Devin Smith
Returning offensive starters
Mason Richins (OL)
Braden Richins (OL)
Holden Jones (OL)
Zac Simister (OL)
Tristan Woolstenhulme (RB)
Carter Wardrop (TE)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Chris Richins (QB)
Braxton Northrop (QB)
Rand Pentz (RB)
Logan Rex (RB)
Jayce Richins (RB)
Cole Peterson (RB)
Luke Keisel (WR)
Jace Hirzel (WR)
Defense (4 returning starters; 3-5 defense)
Defensive coordinator: Colby Hortin (4 years as assistant at school)
Returning defensive starters
Mason Richins (DL)
Braden Richins (DL)
Carter Wardrop (DL)
Tristan Woolstenhulme (LB)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Chris Richins (CB)
Rand Pentz (LB)
Logan Rex (LB)
Jayce Richins (LB)
Cole Peterson (LB)
Luke Keisel (S)
Jace Hirzel (CB)
Coaches preseason 2A North straw poll: Fourth
Deseret News 2A North prediction: Fourth
Bottom line: Despite graduating a three-year starter at QB and numerous other skill position players, expectations haven’t been tempered this offseason. North Summit is loaded with talent in the trenches, and there are some quality skill position players waiting in the wings to prove themselves. The big question is at QB. If North Summit can find a capable starter, it will compete for the region title. If not, it could be a struggle against some of the better teams in 2A North like South Summit, Summit Academy and Millard.
Last 5
2014 — 8-3 (4-2 in 2A North – 2A Quarterfinals)
2013 — 8-3 (5-1 in 2A North – 2A Semifinals)
2012 — 2-8 (2-5 in 2A North -- Missed playoffs)
2011 — 6-5 (4-3 in 2A North – 2A Quarterfinals)
2010 — 4-6 (3-2 in 2A East -- Missed playoffs)
North Summit coaching history
2011-current — Devin Smith (24-19)
2000-2010 — Jerre Holmes (74-53)
1999 — Steve Carlsen (1-8)
1995-1998 — Earl Blonquist (13-27)
1994 — Travis Crittenden (3-6)
1993 — Van Hutchinson (8-3)
1987-1992 — Rick Harrison (48-20)
1985-1986 — Earl Blonquist (5-15)
1983-1984 — Bill Brown (10-11)
1982 — Scott Summers (2-7)
1969-1981 — Earl Blonquist (99-44-3)
1962-1968 — Ernest Jacklin (37-26-5)
1958-1961 — Raynor Pearce (12-18)
1957 — Bob Sanchez (5-2-1)
1953-1956 — Benny Kilpack (20-13-3)
1952 — Ken Bearden (1-6)
1951 — unknown (1-6)
1950 — Don Snow (1-5-2)
1949 — Ralph Olsen (1-7)
1948 — Floyd Biddolph (0-6)
1946-1947 — unknown (5-6-1)
1945 — Ed Jensen (5-3)
1931-1947 — unknown (41-49)
1930 — “Silky” Knudsen (4-2-1)
1926-1929 — unknown (13-14-2)
Deseret News MVPs the past 10 years
2008 — Deven Holmes, QB
2007 — Dallin Donaldson, RB/DB
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
2014 — Ryan McMichael, QB/DB
2014 — Carson Richins, RB/DB
2014 — Cason DeForest, WR/DE
2013 — Ryan McMichael, QB/DB
2013 — Josh Birk, RB/DB
2013 — Trevor Hale, RB/LB
2013 — Austin Simister, OL/DL
2012 — Ben Stephsn, RB/DB
2011 — Braden Brown, RB/DB
2010 — Courtney Orgill, RB/LB
2008 — Caden Richins, TE/DE
2008 — Colby Richins, RB/DE
2008 — Wyatt Richins, OL/DL
2008 — Stevin Sommerville, RB/LB
2008 — Bryer Trussell, WR/DB
2007 — Caleb Adams, FB/DL
2007 — Deven Holmes, QB
2007 — Colby Richins, LB
2007 — Drew Robinson, TE/DE
2007 — Chandler Woolstenhulme, LB/OT
2006 — Dallin Donaldson, RB/DB
2006 — Kamren Garfield, QB/DB
2006 — Nathaniel Richins, RB/DB
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.