High school football: North Sanpete Hawks 2020 preview

Note: North Sanpete finished with an 11-2 overall record in 2019 and was second in Region 14 with a 4-1 record. It was RPI seed No. 1 in the 3A playoffs and was eliminated by Morgan 10-7 in semifinals. 

MT. PLEASANT, Sanpete County — Over the past two years, North Sanpete has advanced to the 3A championship and the 3A semifinals, and coach Rhett Bird is optimistic this year’s team might be able to take the final step and claim the first state title in school history.

Head coach: Rhett Bird

Entering his fifth season as head coach at his alma mater, where his teams have posted a 22-22 record the past four years, including a runner-up finish in 2018.

A big reason why is the vocal leadership from his seniors.

“The last two years, our leadership has been more of a role model leadership, lead by example. This year our leaders are more vocal. They call each other out if things aren’t done the right way, loud and energetic. This year it’s coming from the kids, and we’re super excited about that,” said Bird.

Cole Mickel is one of those vocal leaders, and he’s back to anchor the defense at middle linebacker after being named a first team all-stater last season.

Offensively, Bird is expecting third-year starting QB Landon Bowles to make great strides entering his junior season. A year ago, he threw 19 TDs but also had 13 interceptions. Bowles has bulked up in the weight room this offseason so he’ll be able to improvise on broken plays with his feet instead of trying to force things with his arm.

In big games against the state’s best defense, that should help the offense remain efficient.

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North Sanpete Hawks at a glance

Bird’s thoughts on how his players dealt the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:

“Down here we haven’t been hit with it quite as hard like the programs up north, so our district has been pretty lenient. We got the kids back on the weekend after Memorial Day, and we started up and we’ve been lifting weights. We’ve taken temperatures when we’ve gone to compete, I ask questions every morning, but our kids are just excited to be able to be back on the field practicing.”

2020 schedule

Aug. 14 — at Grantsville, 7 p.m.

Aug. 21 — EMERY, 7 p.m.

Aug. 28 — at South Sevier, 7 p.m.

Sept. 4 — RICHFIELD, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 — at Grand, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 — DELTA, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25 — JUAB, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 — at ALA, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 — at Manti, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 — UNION, 7 p.m.

North Sanpete offensive snapshot

Offensive coordinator: Rhett Bird

2019 offense: 31.5 ppg (fourth in 3A)

2019 offensive statistics

• 5 returning starters
• Spread offense

Returning offensive starters

• Landon Bowles (QB)
• Cole Mickel (TE) — moving from RT
• Andrew Petersen (OL)
• Dallon Steadman (OL)
• Magnus Clawson (WR)

Offensive newcomers to watch

• Trevin Morley (RB/Slot)
• Brady Jacobsen (Slot/TE)
• Owen Sunderland (OL)
• Gavin Christensen (OL)
• Brady Holt (OL)
• Landon Milne (OL)
• Duncan Hendry (OL)

Bird’s keys for offensive success in 2020:

“Two years ago one of the biggest things for us was we couldn’t score, and we heard that a lot in the papers and in the media. We heard that almost everywhere we went. We were really good defensively, but we were averaging only 14 to 17 points per game, and somehow we ended up squeezing out those wins with an awesome defense. Last year we ended up switching to a spread offense and I think late in the season we were averaging 35 points a game. I feel really comfortable about where we’re at offensively running the spread with Landon playing quarterback. He’s comfortable being in the gun and that’s why we made that change. We went to Wasatch’s 7-on-7 (in early June) and went 5-1 and lost to Westlake. We look good throwing the ball so far, obviously when you get in pads and you add the running game it’s going to be a little different, but as far as timing and the kids that we have we’ll be OK offensively.”

North Sanpete defensive snapshot

Defensive coordinator: Cade Beck

2019 defense: 9.6 ppg (second in 3A)

2019 defensive statistics

• 5 returning starters
• 3-4 defense

Returning defensive starters

• Cole Mickel (OLB)
• Laramie Roberts (MLB)
• Brady Jacobson (DB)
• Parker Lee (DB)
• Trevin Morley (DB)

Defensive newcomers to watch

• Landon Milne (LB)
• Gavin Christensen (DE)
• James Latu (NG)
• Andy Mower (MLB)

Bird’s keys for offensive success in 2020:

“We told the kids our main thing is we have to bend but don’t break. Defensively, you’re going to give some things up, but we’ve got to rally as a team. We have to make sure we get 11 guys to the ball. We can’t blow coverages. When we went 0-10 a few years ago that was the thing that broke us. We would blow coverages and we never gave us a chance to win any ballgames, so that will be our mentality going into the season. Keep everything in front of us, when the ball does go wide make sure we get help there and everyone rally to the ball. Another big thing we’re going to emphasize this year is trying to create turnovers. Late in the year if you can create turnovers it can be huge going into those big games.”

Deseret News outlook for 2020

The way the 2019 season ended in the semifinals was a tough one to swallow, with an unfortunate missed call leading to Morgan’s only touchdown in the 10-7 loss. The personnel is there to try and make another deep run in the playoffs this season, but North Sanpete must clean up its offensive efficiency in big games to take the next step. Defensively, despite the departure of defensive coordinator Dave Peck to Bingham, the Hawks have plenty of returning talent to be one of the top teams in 3A again.  

Felt’s Facts for North Sanpete

• All-time record: 320-455-19 (104 years)

• Region championships: 11 (1923, 1984 co, 1990, 1996 co, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003 co, 2004 co, 2005 co, 2015 co)
• Playoff appearances: 30
• All-time playoff record: 14-30

• State championships: 0

• State championship record: 0-1

• Most played rivalry: 72 meetings with Delta dating back to 1933. Delta leads 56-14-2.

Last five seasons

• 2019 — 11-2 (4-1 in Region 14 — 3A semifinals)
• 2018 — 7-5 (3-2 in 3A South — 3A runner-up)
• 2017 — 0-10 (0-5 in 3A South — 3A first round)
• 2016 — 4-5 (1-4 in 3A South — missed playoffs)
• 2015 — 7-5 (4-1 in 3A South — 3A semifinals)

North Sanpete coaching history


• 2016-current — Rhett Bird (22-22)
• 2014-2015 — Rick Wilson (11-13)

• 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)

• 1975-1978 — Brent Thorne (12-29)
• 194 — Craig Oliver (1-7)
• 1973 — Roger Tree (3-5-1)

• 1968-1972 — Jim Thornton (14-30)
• 1967 – unknown (6-3)
• 1965-1966 — Brent Rock (10-7)

• 1956-1964 – Mack Wilkey (36-26-9)
• 1954-1955 — Don Holbrook (5-7-1)

• 1951-1953 — unknown (2-21)

• 1950 — E.G. Brunger (3-3)

• 1948 — E.G. Brunger (2-6)
• 1947 — Zimmerna (2-5)
• 1946 — E.G. Brunger (0-3-1)
• 1945 — Edwin Miner (0-2)
• 1941 — Del Moine Christensen (0-6)
• 1938-1939 — L.W. “Bony” Fuller (1-8-1)
• 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 All-State Archives

Check out our archives of Deseret News all-state teams from 1929 to 2019 at Deseret.com.

North Sanpete All-State at-a-glance

Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years


• 2019 — Connor Jorgensen, FB
• 2019 — Jaxton Langschwager, TE
• 2019 — Cole Mickel, OLB
• 2018 — Dustin Ashworth, C
• 2018 — Connor Jorgensen, LB
• 2018 — Brock Justesen, LB
• 2018 — Payton Clawson, S
• 2015 — Spencer Applegarth, RB
• 2015 — Taylor Lee, DB