Note: Snow Canyon finished with a 4-6 overall record in 2018 and was fourth in Region 9 with a 3-3 record. It lost to Sky View 61-21 in the 4A first round.
Snow Canyon 2018 Offensive and Defensive Stats
ST. GEORGE — Considering Snow Canyon started 11 sophomores at times last year, it’s pretty impressive that it was still able to win four games and qualify for the playoffs out of Region 9.
It nearly pulled off the upset against Region 9 champ Dixie as well, and was competitive for a half against Desert Hills and Pine View.
Physically the Warriors should be much better prepared to compete this season with everyone on the schedule, which includes three straight triple option teams to open the season.
“Kids sometimes talk about luck. We just want to make sure we work hard enough mentally and physically that we don’t need luck to win a game and that we can win it handily,” said Snow Canyon coach Mike Esplin, who is now entering his fourth season as head coach.
Esplin said it’s been a great offseason for his players as they’ve physically gotten so much stronger, which you’d expect from a team loaded with sophomores.
Offensively Snow Canyon returns nine starters from last year, with the only starting holes to fill coming on the offensive line. Esplin believes that with so much returning experience the playbook options are wide open heading into the season
The key, he said, will be for the coaches and players to work together and put game plans together that give the team the best chance to succeed.
Defensively Snow Canyon was pretty inconsistent from week to week, but with seven returning starters it should be much stronger in that area this year.
Snow Canyon Warriors at a glance
Coach: Mike Esplin is entering his fourth season as head coach at his alma mater. His record the previous three seasons was 13-16.
Esplin comments on new UHSAA RPI:
“Sometimes as coaches it seems like we get left out of the conversation, and we’re putting a lot of time in. I wish we were involved in the decision-making anytime there is a rule change that is going to affect our kids. In our region, which is a really big region with Crimson Cliffs opening this year, I think you’ve got teams that have been in the lower end in certain years — I know we were at the lower end in certain years and went all the way to the semifinals back when everyone got in, and then it gives a team a chance to get on a run. So it’s not all bad for sure, it’s not all good either. I think it’s a good direction to make sure the best teams continue in the playoffs. It does cheapen who goes to the playoffs in the first round because everyone goes.”
Snow Canyon Offensive Snapshot
Offensive coordinator: Tim Nowatzke
2018 offensive production: 22.0 ppg (18th in 4A)
-- Nine returning starters
-- Multiple offense
Key offensive returning starters
-- Landon Frei (QB)
Returns at QB after passing for 1,416 yards and nine TDs, but he did have 10 interceptions, something he’ll look to clean up this year. He also rushed for 243 yards and four TDs last year.
-- James Brown (OL)
One of the returning anchors of the O-line, James Brown will play tackle and checks in at 6-foot-3, 280 pounds.
Returning offensive starters
Landon Frei (QB)
James Brown (OL)
Jacorey McKeever (OL)
Jaden Erickson (OL)
Ryan Bethers (RB)
Bretton Stone (RB)
Jase Mendenhall (WR)
Brenton Childs (WR)
Austin Anderson (WR)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Hayden Frei (WR)
Isaac Lees (OL)
Esplin comments on returning QB Landon Frei:
“He’s a super smart kid, he’s got a lot of things he can do on offense. It comes down to what can the kids pull off. Play-wise, we have a wide-open playbook. He’s a threat running the ball and he can pass it well too, and he’s got a really good O-line in front of him. We’re excited about the things he’s able to do.”
Esplin comments on running backs Ryan Bethers and Bretton Stone:
“We have really good running back-type kids. Bethers is powerful and has got really strong and was the fastest in our 40s, and right with him we have Bretton Stone who’s going to get a lot of running back carries and he’s almost equally as fast and strong. We should have an advantage with a good O-line throwing the ball ‘cause if teams load the ball on us we throw it, and if they spread it out on us we can gash them with the run.”
Esplin comments on three strong returning O-linemen:
“That anchors everything you do offensively are those guys, and we have some other guys that rotated and have some experience around them. We’re probably going to use some guys from the defensive side of the ball as well.”
Keys for offensive success in 2019:
Esplin said the biggest key to the season offensively is going to be unity. He fully believes that the personnel is there in all facets of the game to be successful. Strong quarterback, strong O-line, great group of running backs and receivers, and Esplin said now it’s up to everyone to work together to try to win games and not get caught up in anything else.
Snow Canyon Defensive Snapshot
Defensive coordinator: Mike Esplin
2018 defensive production: 27.4 ppg (15th in 4A)
-- Seven returning starters
-- Multiple sets
Key defensive returning starters
-- Brock Nowatzke (S)
Led Snow Canyon in tackles with 48 last year and the senior is poised to have a big season.
-- Jayden McKee (LB)
Finished second on the team in tackles a year ago with 45 and will anchor a group that includes all starting linebackers back from last year.
Returning defensive starters
Isaac Lees (DL)
Carson Hansen (DL)
Braxton Hickman (LB)
Jayden McKee (LB)
Wesley Tauanuu (LB)
Austin Turner (LB)
Brock Nowatzke (DB)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Hayden Frei (DL)
Esplin comments on four returning starting linebackers:
“They’re kind of old-school linebackers, that’s what I like the most about them. They love to come downhill and hit, they still have enough speed to get out and cover in zone or in man, and they’re coordinated. There’s leaders back there who will talk and make sure everyone’s in the right place.”
Esplin comments on Brock Nowatze returning at safety:
“He’s our one senior that’s a true Division I recruit that has everything they look for, speed, power, strength, leadership, 4.0 GPA, not a diva, can take some hard coaching and use it to get better. He can be critiqued and use it to improve. That example and leadership spreads to everyone else.”
Keys for defensive success in 2019:
Snow Canyon returns most of its starters and contributors at linebacker and on the defensive line from last year, which is a great strength going into the season. The inexperience comes in the secondary. That group will need to be sharp throughout region play against some of the top passing teams in the classification.
Coaches preseason Region 9 straw poll: Fourth
Deseret News Region 9 prediction: Fourth
Key Region Game: vs. Pine View, Sept. 20 (Week 6)
Bottom line
Snow Canyon went 4-6 last year, and in those six losses it was competitive in five of those games heading into the second half. Physically the young group of sophomores just wasn’t ready to compete. This year it will be trotting out juniors and seniors and physically it should be just fine. For Snow Canyon, now it’s about proving it can win football games in the second half and that requires focus and execution that this team needs to prove it can do.
2019 Schedule
Aug. 16 — EAST, 7 p.m.
Aug. 23 — SHADOWRIDGE, NEV., 7 p.m.
Aug. 30 — at Hurricane, 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 — DESERT HILLS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 — at Dixie, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 — PINE VIEW, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 — CRIMSON CLIFFS, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 — at Cedar, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 — at Canyon View, 7 p.m.
….
Felt’s Facts for Snow Canyon High School
All-time record: 150-110 (25 years)
Region championships: 5 (1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003 co)
Playoff appearances: 16
Current playoff appearance streak: 1
All-time playoff record: 22-14
State championships: 2 (1996, 1999)
State championship record: 2-2
Most played rivalry: 28 meetings with Dixie dating back to 1994. The series is tied 14-14.
Felt’s Factoids: Warrior Kyle Coop holds the state record for average rushing yards per game during a season, 236.0, set in 2004. ... Snow Canyon has a perfect playoff record at home — 10-0. Only Skyline has won more on its home field without losing (37).
...
Last 5
- 2018 — 4-6 (3-3 in Region 9 - 4A First round)
- 2017 — 6-3 (3-3 in Region 9 - Missed playoffs)
- 2016 — 3-7 (1-4 in 3AA South - 3AA First round)
- 2015 — 6-6 (1-4 in 3AA South - 3AA Semifinals)
- 2014 — 4-7 (2-4 in 3AA South - Missed playoffs)
...
Snow Canyon coaching history
- 2016-current — Mike Esplin (13-16)
- 2013-2015 — Marcus Matua (17-17)
- 2009-2012 — Jay Graft (14-23)
- 2007-2008 — Rick Secrist (10-17)
- 2005-2006 — Bill Jacobsen (14-9)
- 2002-2004 — Jay Graft (19-13)
- 2000-2001 — Wane Kittrell (13-8)
- 1994-1999 — Bill Jacobsen (53-13)
….
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
- 2016 — Kolton Barber, P
- 2015 — Joe Servati, DL
- 2015 — Teagan Mendenhall, LB
- 2013 — Zachary Kennedy, Specialist
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.