Note: Northridge finished with a 5-5 overall record in 2018 and was fourth in Region 1 with a 3-3 record. It lost to Kearns 40-37 in the 6A first round.
Northridge’s 2018 Offensive and Defensive Stats
LAYTON — Expectations were not particularly high for the Northridge Knights heading into last year.
The season before, 2017, had been a great one, in which the Knights finished tied for second in Region 1.
Heading into 2018, however, Northridge was severely lacking in “Friday Night” experience, having returned only two starters from the season before.
Expectations were roundly that the team would struggle.
Instead, they turned into one of the season’s pleasant surprises.
Northridge finished 5-5 overall, 3-3 in region play, and earned a playoff berth.
While Northridge was defeated by Kearns in a first round barnburner, it was in no uncertain terms a successful season.
This year, the hope is to build upon that unexpected success.
“It has been continuing that,” Northridge head coach Braden Mitchell said. “The year before last, we had a lot of returners, a lot of guys who had played a bunch, and we were expecting to be good and we tied for second in the region. We had a great year, but then we only returned two guys that started off that team. We had a lot of questions going into last season, but we had a lot of juniors step up. And now, we want to build on what we have.”
What the Knights have are returning starters at some of the game’s most important positions, namely quarterback and offensive line.
“We bring back four out of our five O-linemen, we bring back our quarterback and one of our best receivers, so offensively we feel like we should be able to pick up where we left off,” Mitchell said. “We hit our stride towards the end of the year, last year. That Kearns game was back and forth all game, they won it on a field goal, but offensively we hit our stride late in the year.”
While there is confidence in what Knights have on offense, the defense has a few more question marks.
“Our defense has a lot of newer guys, because we graduated most of our guys there,” Mitchell said, “but the kids that are here know our system. This is year three of me being the head coach, so we have our system in place and they know what is expected of them. They have looked really good so far.”
Perhaps in part thanks to their unexpected success in 2018, Mitchell and the Knights are optimistic they can overcome any lack of experience they might have this time around.
“We had a great year,” said Mitchell. “Guys stepped up for us and we believe we should be able to pick up where we left off.”
Northridge Knights at a glance
Coach: Braden Mitchell is entering his third season as head coach of the Knights. In Mitchell’s two years at the helm of his alma mater, the Knights are 11-9 with a pair of postseason appearances. Prior to taking over at Northridge, Mitchell spent eight years as an assistant on Erik Thompson's coaching staff. He graduated from Northridge in 2008, before attending Southern Utah University.
Coach Mitchell’s comments on new UHSAA RPI:
“I am intrigued. I’m wondering how it is going to look, how to plays out. This first year it feels like everyone is in the feel-it-out stage. I think it is good to give everyone a shot and it’ll probably make that first round more competitive. The one thing I wish they’d still do is have region and a region championship mean something. Have a region champion get a bye. I think there is a way to do it. It looks like they might try to get to the point where there are no regions and I think there is something to be said for regions and rivalries and those different things. Especially up here, we will try to play the local schools.”
Northridge Offensive Snapshot
Offensive coordinator: Braden Mitchell
2018 offensive production: 26 ppg (13th in 6A)
-- Six returning starters
-- Spread offense
Key offensive returning starters
-- Colby Browning (QB)
Threw for over 2,000 yards (2,138) and 18 touchdowns (15 interceptions) last season, completing 157 of 298 pass attempts. Browning also rushed for a team-high 787 yards and two touchdowns.
-- Otto Tia (WR)
Was one of the Knights’ top receivers in 2018, with a team-high 623 receiving yards. Tia averaged 20.1 yards per reception.
Returning offensive starters
Colby Browning (QB)
Otto Tia (WR)
Alec Lowe (OL)
Lex Lewis (OL)
Austin Joy (OL)
Offensive newcomers to watch
Andres Esparza Maciel (WR)
Zanoah Martinez (RB/WR)
Bronson Brown (WR)
Zack Benzley (TE)
Diesel Freeman (WR)
Dorian Ishmael (RB)
Ryker Schenck (RB)
Ron Sanders (OL)
Dylan Madrigal (RB)
Mitchell’s comments on the Knights’ offensive line, which returns four starters:
“It is a relief and kind of different. Usually every year we are trying to throw things together up front. We’ll tell a tight end, ‘Hey, you have to play O-line this year,’ or we’ll move a fullback to guard. This year, it’s a lot different. We are way ahead of where we’ve been, our install has been different. We can kind of throw different looks at them. It has been a luxury to have and hopefully it pays off. There are about five or six that are in the mix on the O-line, and hopefully having guys that have been through it is gonna be huge.”
Mitchell’s comments on Knights’ ground game:
“Our running backs are still a question mark. We have good guys, but no one who has stood out as far as that goes. We have a great running quarterback, so he might run a lot. I think coming in (to the season) I feel more confident about our run game.”
Mitchell’s comments on wide receiver Otto Tia:
“We have one of the best receivers up north in Otto. What we do (on offense) is going to be based on how defenses play us. I’m assuming they’ll send a lot of coverage at Otto and that will allow us to run the ball a bit. When you have a guy like Otto, though, you have to do all you can to get him the ball.”
Keys for offensive success in 2019:
The Knights in are in enviable position, with almost their entire offensive line back, not to mention quarterback Colby Browning. Through in wide receiver Otto Tia, and Northridge has the makings of an excellent attack. If the Knights are able to develop a few more contributors at the skill positions, like running back and receiver, they should be able to improve on last year's offense.
Northridge Defensive Snapshot
Defensive coordinator: Trent Gill
2018 defensive production: 25.6 ppg (13th in 6A)
-- Three returning starters
-- 4-3 defense
Key defensive returning starters
-- Dorian Ishmael (LB)
Recorded 40 tackles last year, including a season-high nine wrap-ups in the Knights’ 40-37 playoff loss to Kearns.
-- Maximus Lofa Fonoti-Maikui (LB)
Had 18 tackles and an interception in 2018. His best individual performance came in the postseason against Northridge’s 6A first-round opponent, Kearns.
Returning defensive starters
Otto Tia (DE)
Dorian Ishmael (LB)
Maximus Lofa Fonoti-Maikui (LB)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Andres Esparza Maciel (DB)
Zanoah Martinez (DB)
Bronson Brown (DB)
Zack Benzley (S)
Diesel Freeman (DB)
Ryker Schenck (LB)
Ron Sanders (DL)
Dylan Madrigal (LB)
Mitchell’s comments on the Knights’ linebacker corps:
“We have a good linebacking group, our middle linebacker (Dorinn Ishmael) is just a sophomore. He started last year as a freshman, but he is a stud that controls our defense. We are excited about him.”
Mitchell’s comments on developing a secondary:
“We’ve got guys that due to injuries saw time last year. We have a lot of guys who were twos, who got reps, just not Friday night reps. Those guys will be ones this year. If they can step up, we should have a good year.”
Mitchell’s comments on how the Northridge defense is replacing eight starters:
“Our defense has a lot of newer guys, because we graduated most of our guys there, but the kids that are here know our system. This is year three of me being the head coach, so we have our system in place and they know what is expected of them. They had looked really good so far.”
Keys for defensive success in 2019:
Success on defense will be twofold for the Knights. First, they need their secondary, which is largely inexperienced, to get up to speed quickly, particularly in a region where spread offensive principles are rampant. Additionally, development of players along the defensive line will be important, as the Knights are somewhat set at linebacker.
Bottom line
Northridge had a surprisingly good season a year ago, considering the lack of experience it had entering the season. The Knights will need to replicate that feat this year. There is experience on offense, but not on defense. If everything comes together, Northridge can contend at the top of Region 1. If not, a middle-table finish or lower is possible.
Coaches preseason Region 1 straw poll: Sixth
Deseret News Region 1 prediction: Seventh
Key Region Game: vs Fremont, Sept. 6 (Week 4)
2019 Schedule
Aug. 16 — at Viewmont, 7 p.m.
Aug. 23 — WOODS CROSS, 7 p.m.
Aug. 30 — at Davis, 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 — FREMONT, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 — WEBER, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 — at Clearfield, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 — ROY, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 — at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 — LAYTON, 7 p.m.
…..
Felt’s Facts for Northridge High School
All-time record: 170-118 (27 years)
Region championships: 5 (1993 co, 1998 co, 2001, 2002 co, 2003)
Playoff appearances: 20
Current playoff appearance streak: 2 (2016-2018)
All-time playoff record: 20-17
State championships: 3 (2000, 2001, 2002)
State championship record: 3-0
Most played rivalry: 26 meetings with Layton dating back to 1992. Northridge leads the series 19-7.
Felt’s Factoids: Northridge has won the most championship games — three — without a loss. … The Knights have scored the most points in a four-game playoff series, 212 (2001). … The Knights hold the single-game passing yards record for a state playoff game, 513, set in a 2004 quarterfinal contest.
...
Last 5
- 2018 — 5-5 (3-3 in Region 1 – 6A First round)
- 2017 — 6-4 (4-2 in Region 1 – 6A First round)
- 2016 — 4-7 (3-3 in Region 1 – 5A First round)
- 2015 — 4-6 (2-4 in Region 1 – Missed playoffs)
- 2014 — 3-6 (2-4 in Region 1 – Missed playoffs)
...
Northridge coaching history
- 2017-current — Braden Mitchell (11-9)
- 2004-2016 — Erik Thompson (79-60)
- 1996-2003 — Fred Fernandes (67-26)
- 1992-1995 — Mike Rosky (12-26)
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Deseret News Mr. Football recipients
- 2001 — Daniel Coats, WR
Deseret News First Team All-Staters the past 10 years
- 2018 — Carson Stokes, TE
- 2016 — Ethan Udy, S
- 2015 — Cyrus Daniels, RB
- 2012 — James Baird, K
- 2012 — Eliyah Mayberry, DL
- 2012 — David Adams, RB
- 2011 — Karson Casteel, QB
- 2011 — David Adams, RB
- 2011 — Dallas Clark, OL
- 2011 — Austin Tate, LB
- 2010 — Brock Johnson, DB
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.