High school football: Viewmont Vikings 2020 preview

Note: Viewmont finished with a 3-8 overall record in 2019 and tied for fourth in Region 5 with a 2-3 record. It was RPI seed No. 21 in the 5A playoffs, and was eliminated by Orem 66-6 in first round.

BOUNTIFUL — After three consecutive winning seasons in 2016, 2017 and 2018, Viewmont unfortunately often found itself on the losing side last season. 

Head coach: Scott Ditty

Entering his seventh season as head coach at Viewmont, where his teams have posted a 31-33 record over the past six years. He’s a graduate of Placer (California) High School and Weber State.

The program is now starting to feel the sting of losing many of its players to recently opened Farmington High School. The rebuild won’t get any easier this season for the Vikings who have lost 16 of last season’s 22 starters including first team All-State and now University of Utah offensive lineman Alex Harrison.

The team will now rely on many of its underclassmen to perform if it hopes to have a bounce-back season.

Despite the dependence on its youth, Viewmont has experience under center with senior quarterback and returning starter Will Schultz. Schultz will be counted on to lead the young players and to ignite an offense that struggled to get going at times last season.

The youth and returning leadership will certainly bring hope to Viewmont’s fanbase, but it remains to be seen if that hope can translate into the wins the Vikings are seeking.

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Viewmont Vikings at a glance

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

“Most of the guys have stayed really active and we’ve communicated well. Morale is pretty good. I’ve talked to them and let them know that (they) are making history because (they) are playing football during ‘the year of the COVID-19.’ They have the opportunity to strengthen themselves because they have far more adversity to deal with than any other team I’ve ever coached.”

2020 Schedule

Aug. 14 — at Northridge, 7 p.m.

Aug. 21 — DAVIS, 7 p.m.

Aug. 28 — WASATCH, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 — BONNEVILLE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 — at Box Elder, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25 — FARMINGTON, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 — BOUNTIFUL, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 — at Woods Cross, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 — at Ridgeline, 7 p.m.

Viewmont offensive snapshot

Offensive coordinator: Nick O’neal

2019 offense: 15.9 (22nd in 5A)

2019 offensive statistics

• 4 returning starters
• Hybrid offense

Returning offensive starters

• Will Schultz (QB)
• Alex Zesiger (RB)
• Kolby Ferrell (OL)
• Matt Bowen (OL)

Offensive newcomers to watch

• Elias Uiselli (RB)
• Carter Risk (OL)
• Nate Jones (OL)
• Ryker Fraughton (OL)

Coach Ditty’s keys for offensive success in 2020:

“Keys on offense are always the same. It’s the offensive line. Our other key to offensive success is going to be our quarterback Will Schultz. We’re really excited about him. He’s a returning starter and he really throws a beautiful deep ball.”

Viewmont defensive snapshot

Defensive coordinator: Scott Ditty

2019 defense: 27.5 ppg (19th in 5A)

2019 defensive statistics

• 2 returning starters
• 3-4 defense

Returning defensive starters

• Jesson Layton (DB)
• Carson Williams (DB)

Defensive newcomers to watch

• Luke Jacobs (S)
• Zach Lockheart (ILB)
• Cooper Royal (ILB)

Coach Ditty’s keys for defensive success in 2020:

“The key to success on defense is energy. You just have to have a sustained amount of energy and you have to play with a relentless attitude. We try to make things simple so they don’t have to think as much. I tell them that defense isn’t complicated. They just need to line up right, read your keys, run to the ball, and get there in a bad mood. It’s really just about establishing the right culture and mentality more than it is about any single player or any schematic aspect.”

Deseret News outlook for 2020

Expectations can’t be very high for a team that has lost so many of its starters to graduation and to a new school opening. Coach Ditty can be counted on to have his players as prepared as possible, but inexperience is definitely a concern when it comes to the season. Don’t be surprised if you see Viewmont pull off an upset or two, but the lack of depth will make competing for region wins very difficult.

Felt’s Facts for Viewmont

• All-time record: 239-328-2 (56 years)

• Region championships: 6 (1972, 1973, 1974 co, 2011, 2016 co, 2017)
• Playoff appearances: 28
• All-time playoff record: 16-27

• State championships: 1 (1971)

• State championship record: 1-1

• Most played rivalry: 54 meetings with Bountiful dating back to 1964. Bountiful leads 31-23.

Last 5 seasons

• 2019 — 3-8 (2-3 in Region 5 – 5A First round)
• 2018 — 7-4 (4-1 in Region 5 – 5A Quarterfinals)
• 2017 — 7-3 (4-0 in Region 5 - 5A First round)
• 2016 — 6-5 (4-2 in Region 2 – 5A First round)
• 2015 — 5-6 (3-3 in Region 2 – 5A First round)

Viewmont coaching history


• 2014-current — Scott Ditty (31-33)

• 2009-2013 — Brad Lloyd (20-34)

• 2003-2008 — Robbie Gunter (36-29)

• 2000-2002 — Russ Jones (20-13)

• 1992 -1999 — Ross Harris (24-55)

• 1987-1991 — Joe Yanowsky (9-37)

• 1983-1986 — Warren Hatch (18-21)

• 1981-1982 — Mark Pierce (12-9)

• 1980 — Wade Bender (6-7)

• 1976-1979 — Monte Jones (6-29)

• 1974-1975 — Chuck Banker (8-11)

• 1969-1973 — Steve Dangerfield (38-18) *1 state title
• 1966-1968 — Bill Ostler (8-18-2)

• 1964-1965 — Dick Lewis (3-14)


Deseret News All-State Archives

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

Viewmont All-State history

Deseret News First Team All-Staters the past 10 years


• 2019 — Alex Harrison, OT
• 2018 — Robert Summerhays, RB
• 2018 — Alex Harrison, OT
• 2017 — Preston Pitt, P
• 2017 —Cameron Brown, TB
• 2016 — Preston Pitt, P