High school football: Cyprus Pirates 2020 preview

Note: Cyprus finished with a 2-9 overall record in 2019 and was tied for fourth in Region 2 with a 2-4 record. It was RPI seed No. 25 in the 6A playoffs and was eliminated by Syracuse 49-7 in first round.

MAGNA — Tyler Garcia’s first season as Cyprus head coach didn’t go as planned.

The Pirates struggled to a 2-9 record and were beaten soundly in the first round of the 6A playoffs by Syracuse.

Head coach: Tyler Garcia

Entering his second season with the Pirates, he’s coming off a 2-9 rookie head coaching campaign. Garcia is a graduate of Cyprus High School and Denver University.

“I think we underachieved last year. I think we had some good talent. Last year was my first year here at Cyprus,” Garcia said. “We had a group of players that didn’t buy into the changes that we were making, and that showed in our performance on and off the field, and so that kind of hindered us on the field, but we underachieved largely due to that.”

This year, Garcia is seeing buy-in from his players. The Pirates will be fairly young, as they return just three starters on offense and four on defense. Running back Jhdhan Lester, who rushed for 790 yards and six touchdowns last year, will be a key part of the offense, while cornerback Cary Butler, who had 37 tackles and an interception a year ago, will be key in leading the defense.

“Cultural changes that we’re making and new energy and kind of a new attitude towards what we’re doing. I think we’ll live up to our potential this year,” Garcia said.

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Cyprus Pirates at a glance

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

“Well I think because of the buy-in and the desire to get better every day, as a whole, the team is just adapting. Very versatile, and they’re adapting to any changes that we have. They understand that every day is important and that it could be our last practice for awhile, depending on how things go that are out of our control. So they focus on what they can control and they continue to get better.”

2020 schedule

Aug. 14 — SNOW CANYON, 7 p.m.

Aug. 21 — at Ridgeline, 7 p.m.

Aug. 28 — LOGAN, 7 p.m.

Sept. 4 — at West, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 — at Taylorsville, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 — at Timpview, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24 — GRANGER, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 — at West Jordan, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 — HUNTER, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16 — KEARNS, 7 p.m.

Cyprus offensive snapshot

Offensive coordinator: Jeff Shaw

2019 offense: 20.0 (20th in 6A)

2019 offensive statistics

• Three returning starters
• Spread offense

Returning offensive starters

• Jhdhan Lester (RB)
• Marcos Navarro (OL)
• Ryan Herzog (FB)

Offensive newcomers to watch

• Cary Butler (WR)
• Adrian Banuelos (WR)
• Fisi Tuatonga
• Isaiah Garcia (T)

Garcia’s keys for offensive success in 2020:

“Balanced attack, being able to run and pass. Last year, we were very, very pass heavy — extremely pass heavy. If we’re going to be successful, we need to be able to run the ball and balance our offense.”

Cyprus defensive snapshot

Defensive coordinator: Tyler Garcia

2019 defense: 34.5 ppg (25th in 6A)

2019 defensive statistics

• Four returning starters
• 4-3 defense

Returning defensive starters

• Dakota Garreaud (DE)
• Adrian Banuelos (DB)
• Cary Butler (DB)
• Spies Tia (LB)

Defensive newcomers to watch

• Julius Tikoisuva (LB)
• Aidan Murphy
• Ryan Herzog (LB)

Garcia’s keys for defensive success in 2020:

“We need to be able to stop third-and-longs. Last year, we gave a lot of third-and-longs, our defense was on the field a lot. We need to get off the field, take away those third-and-longs and continue to get better every game.”

Deseret News outlook for 2020

With not very much experience returning from last year’s team, Cyprus may struggle again in Region 2 play. If Garcia can get buy-in from his players and find a good quarterback to run the spread offense, and if the defense can improve its showing this year, the Pirates can raise their win total.

Felt’s Facts for Cyprus

• All-time record: 344-477-25 (93 years)

• Region championships: 8 (1944, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1971, 1977 co, 1990, 2000)

• Playoff appearances: 93

• All-time playoff record: 12-29

• State championships: 1 (1944)

• State championship record: 1-3

• Most played rivalry: 77 meetings with Murray dating back to 1926. Murray leads 42-32-4.

Last five seasons

• 2019 — 2-9 (2-4 in Region 2 — 6A first round)
• 2018 — 7-3 (2-2 in Region 2 — 6A first round)
• 2017 — 4-6 (1-3 in Region 2 — 6A first round)
• 2016 — 1-8 (0-5 in Region 6 — missed playoffs)
• 2015 — 2-8 (1-4 in Region 6 — missed playoffs)

Cyprus coaching history


• 2019-current — Tyler Garcia (2-9)
• 2015-2018 — Jed Smith (14-25)
• 2012-2014 — Scott Wooldridge (8-22)

• 2009-2011 — Brian Jacketta (4-25)

• 2000-2008 — Sonny Sudbury (45-52)

• 1995-1999 — Dave Peck (20-30)

• 1986-1994 — Jerry Simonson (34-53)

• 1979-1985 — Billy Hunter (33-33)

• 1975-1978 — Don Conrad (17-20)

• 1973-1974 — Tom Crittenden (5-11)

• 1966-1972 — Glen Rupp (28-37)

• 1961-1965 — Howard Condie (14-28)

• 1953-1960 — Lex McKee (26-39)

• 1948-1952 — Roy Mercer (31-12)

• 1945-1947 — Unknown (13-8)

• 1944 — Bill Cowley (7-1) *one state title
• 1942-1943 — Unknown (5-8)

• 1941 — Gus Papanikolas (1-6)

• 1940 — Ronald Sleator (1-6)

• 1931-1939 — Russell Magleby (23-37)

• 1930 — Glen Worthington (3-3)

• 1927-1929 — Unknown (5-10)

• 1926 — Mr. Walker (5-2)


Deseret News All-State Archives

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

Cyprus All-State at-a-glance

Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years


• 2019 — Parker Meldrum, P
• 2018 — Jaxon Garcia, OL