Note: Cedar City finished with a 3-6 overall record in 2018 and was sixth in Region 9 with a 1-5 record. It did not qualify for the 4A playoffs.
Cedar City 2018 Offensive and Defensive Stats
CEDAR CITY — Cedar won just one Region 9 game last year despite being competitive through three quarters of every game. It even led eventual region champ Dixie 16-7 heading into the fourth quarter before allowing three consecutive touchdowns.
The inability to close games out cost Cedar a playoff berth but is something coach Josh Bennett hopes his team can do better this year. It won’t be easy in what has the potential to be a rebuilding year.
“We’re not going to be real experienced — we were real senior heavy last year. We have a few seniors that are returning that can help us, and we have a real good junior class, which I’m exciting to see how they can do, they’re a real competitive group,” said Bennett.
Bennett likes the way his younger players have performed this summer, and they’ve made great strides every week, but the speed of varsity games on Friday night isn’t something JV football can prepare you for.
Cedar only returns a couple of starters on offense and defense, and none of them were marquee players.
How quickly the young Cedar squad hits its stride could fall on the shoulders of junior quarterback Jaron Garrett. He was undefeated as a sophomore in JV ball last year and is an accurate thrower and an elusive runner.
Bennett doesn’t want to put too much pressure on his young quarterback, but also knows he’s exactly the type of player he wants leading the offense.
Cedar City Reds at a glance
Coach: Josh Bennett is entering his fourth season as head coach at Cedar City having tallied a 16-24 record over the past three years. He’s a graduate of Millard High School.
Bennett’s comments on new UHSAA RPI:
“I think it’s positive. I think I’ll understand it a bit more after this first year. Something that we’ll have to feel out for a year to see how we like it. It comes across as a good thing especially for teams with tough regions like our Region 9. Last year we didn’t make the playoffs but I felt like we had a really good team that would’ve competed in some of those other regions, so it helps some of the regions that are traditionally a little stronger.”
Cedar City offensive snapshot
Offensive coordinator: Josh Bennett
2018 offensive production: 18.7 ppg (21st in 4A)
— 3 returning starters
— Spread/pistol offense
Key offensive returning starters
— Kobe Meek (TE)
Was second on the team a year ago with 28 catches for 367 yards.
— Jack Cook (WR)
Only caught a couple passes last year but will take on a much bigger role this season.
Returning offensive starters
Jack Cook (WR)
Kolbe Meek (WR)
Trey Payne (TE)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Jaron Garrett (QB)
Teague Speakman (RB)
Seth Brinkerhoff (RB)
Payton Murray (OL)
Kian Tullis (OL)
Bryce Ford (OL)
Trevor Nielsen (OL)
Tanner Esplin (WR)
Bennett’s comments on young offensive line:
“That whole offensive line is a good group, a little undersized and not too big. But I like how quick they are and how well they get off the ball and get into people. We’ll change a few things in our offense to try and meet their abilities and stuff.”
Bennett’s comments on new running backs:
“We’ve got two big backs in the backfield so we’ve moved more to a pistol set to try and get a little bit more downhill running to fit the strength of our offensive line. Teague Speakman and Seth Brinkerhoff both are bigger backs, over 200 pounds, and they both have good speed so putting them in a pistol set we’ll get them running downhill a bit more.”
Bennett’s comments on returning ball catchers:
“Jack Cook was a kid who came on last year as a sophomore, he runs great routes, has the ability to get himself open. Has really good speed. Trey Payne started last year at tight end, and he can also play wideout that can give us a bigger target. Kolbe Meek will play slot and he’s extremely fast, runs great routes, someone who gives us a deep threat downfield.”
Bennett’s comments on new QB Jaron Garrett:
“Went undefeated at the JV level as a sophomore last year, but varsity is a whole different level. He throws the ball really well, really smart kid. He reads defenses well. He has a nice touch on the football so he’s very accurate especially intermediate and deeper passes downfield. He’s a good runner so we’ll get him involved in the running game. We’re excited about him, definitely feel like he has some good potential.”
Keys for offensive success in 2019:
With virtually all new starters, Cedar’s offense has work to do in all areas. The biggest, however, according to coach Bennett is the running back. With the personnel Cedar has on the line and at running back, the offense is getting a slight makeover to try and maximize the potential and how quickly it all comes together will determine whether Cedar is capable of cracking the top four in Region 9 this year.
Cedar City defensive snapshot
Defensive coordinator: Mark Esplin
2018 defensive production: 22.0 ppg (9th in 4A)
— 2 returning starters
— 4-2-5 defense
Key defensive returning starters
— Zac Maggio (DB)
Returns after recording 25 tackles last year.
— Trey Payne (DE)
Rotated in at defensive end last year and recorded 13 tackles on the season.
Returning defensive starters
Zac Maggio (DB)
Trey Payne (DE)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Shaun Sharp (DL)
Teague Speakman (LB)
Seth Brinkerhoff (LB)
Ben Ellis (LB)
Tanner Esplin (S)
Kolby White (S)
Josh Meisner (S)
Kolbe Meek (CB)
Bennett’s comments on defensive lineman Trey Payne:
“He’s the anchor as a defensive end with his returning experience. He’s quick and tall, but real lengthy and can get off the ball quick.”
Bennett’s comments on new linebackers:
“Our two running backs Teague Speakman and Seth Brinkerhoff should play our middle backers in our 4-2 set, and when we go to a 3-3 to give different looks on defense we’ll move Trey Payne back to an outside backer. Teague and Seth are real physical kids. Seth at our camp was one of our more physical linebackers, had some great hits. He reads really well and gets to the ball quick.”
Keys for defensive success in 2019:
Coach Bennet said it’s important that his team stay fundamentally sound this year as it doesn’t have the luxury of falling back on experience this year. That was obvious at team camp, even though the players made great strides this summer. With many players playing both ways, staying in good shape will be key.
Coaches preseason Region 9 straw poll: Fifth
Deseret News Region 9 prediction: Fifth
Key region game: vs. Snow Canyon, Oct. 4 (Week 8)
Bottom line:
Cedar heads into the season full of uncertainty. Last year’s team was senior dominated and competitive in every game, but only went 3-6 and won just once in Region 9. This year’s team has much less experience and on paper isn’t as good, but it will hope to overachieve throughout the season and close out some of the games that last year’s team couldn’t.
2019 Schedule
Aug. 16 — at Spanish Fork, 7 p.m.
Aug. 23 — at Juab, 7 p.m.
Aug. 30 — PINE VIEW, 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 — DIXIE, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 —at Canyon View, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 — DESERT HILLS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 — at Hurricane, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 — SNOW CANYON, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 — CRIMSON CLIFFS, 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 — BYE
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Felt’s Facts for Cedar City High School
All-time record: 364-318-8 (72 years)
Region championships: 18 (1953, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985 co, 1987, 1994 co, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2010 co)
Playoff appearances: 41
Current playoff appearance streak: 5 (2013-2017)
All-time playoff record: 29-41
State championships: 0
State championship record: 0-3
Most played rivalry: 88 meetings with Dixie dating back to 1949 in the second-longest uninterrupted active rivalry in Utah. Dixie leads 56-33.
Felt’s Factoids: Cedar was the last school to score more than 90 points in a game when the Redmen blitzed Kanab 95-0 in 1954. … Redman Danny Lindsay is one of only two players to return a punt for 100 yards (1959). (Since 1974, kick and punt returns from the end zone haven’t been allowed.) … Cedar and Page (Arizona) battled to a 41-41 tie in 1999 — the highest tie game involving a Utah team.
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Last 5
- 2018 — 3-6 (1-5 in Region 9 — Missed playoffs)
- 2017 — 4-6 (3-3 in Region 9 — 4A first round)
- 2016 — 4-6 (1-4 in 3AA South — 3A first round)
- 2015 — 5-6 (2-3 in 3AA South — 3AA quarterfinals)
- 2014 — 5-6 (1-5 in 3AA South — 3AA quarterfinals)
...
Cedar City coaching history
- 2015-current — Josh Bennett (16-24)
- 1991-2014 — Todd Peacock (149-116)
- 1986-1990 — Kit Janes (19-31)
- 1980-1985 — Dave Jensen (43-18)
- 1977-1979 — Jim Dalton (10-18)
- 1974-1976 — Jack Bishop (12-14)
- 1971-1973 — John Pensis (14-21)
- 1970 — Jim Marshall (2-6)
- 1967-1969 — Unknown
- 1966 — Jack Sawyers (4-3)
- 1956-1965 — Harold Norton (49-30)
- 1952-1955 — Glen Jackson (26-6)
- 1937-1950 — Unknown
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Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
- 2016 — Jade Bulloch, MLB
- 2016 — Quaid Murray, C
- 2015 — Koalman Kimber, OL
- 2015 — Jade Bulloch, LB
- 2014 — Koalman Kimber, OL
- 2013 — Kole Dotson, OL
- 2011 — John Ursua, QB
- 2011 — Kahi Eldredge, OL
- 2010 — Matt Grover, RB
- 2010 — Connor Ottenbacher, OL
- 2009 — Jackson Carter, DB/QB
- 2009 — Jesse Woods, DL
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.