Note: Carbon finished with a 1-8 overall record in 2019 and was sixth in Region 12 with a 0-5 record. It was RPI seed No. 18 and didn’t qualify for the playoffs.
SALT LAKE CITY — Last year was a tough year for the Dinos. In fact, it’s been a tough decade for Carbon football. With only 13 wins over the last 10 seasons, it’s very apparent that changes would benefit the program.
A big change came in March when Carbon named Phil Howa its new head coach. With years of coaching experience, Howa appears to be rebuilding the program in the right way with a philosophy focused on player development, simplicity, and effort.
“My goal is to give kids a good experience,” Howa said, “if that means that we just enjoy each other’s company and put forth our very best effort then that’s what we’re going to do.”
Howa and the Dinos certainly have their work cut out for them this season as they attempt to buck the program’s losing trend. It won’t be an easy or fast process, but all rebuilds have to start somewhere.
Carbon’s fans have the right to hope the 2020 season will be labeled in the future as the year where things began to turn around.
Carbon Dinos at a glance
Coach Howa’s thoughts on how his players dealt the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:
“The kids seem to be in relatively good spirits. The kids were anxious to get started because they were getting a little stir-crazy. But players, coaches, we’re all kind of anxious and we’re all just trying to put our best foot forward.”
Carbon offensive napshot
Offensive coordinator: Phil Howa
2019 offense: 15.0 (14th in 3A)
2019 offensive statistics
- 3 returning starters
- Option offense
Returning offensive starters
- Cooper Schade (RB)
- Derrick Robison (ATH)
- Joshua Andresen (WR)
Offensive newcomers to watch
- Davin Moss (ATH)
- Hyrum Nelson (OL)
Coach Howa’s keys for offensive success in 2020:
“The players have bought into the offense. It’s a simple offense but it requires a lot of discipline to run. So things should go smoothly if we maintain our discipline.”
Carbon defensive snapshot
Defensive coordinator: Taylor Brower
2019 defense: 32.3 ppg (14th in 3A)
2019 defensive statistics
- 2 returning starters
- 3-5 and 4-4 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Davin Moss (ATH)
- Hyrum Nelson (DL)
Defensive newcomers to watch
- Alex Manzo (DB)
- Bradley Wood (DL)
Coach Howa’s keys for offensive success in 2020:
“They need to learn to work together. They need to talk to each other. We need to avoid ball-watching. Our key to defense is gang-tackling, getting to where the ball is at, and helping each other finish the job.”
Deseret News outlook for 2020
Progress in any form and in any degree will be considered a success for the Dinos. It remains to be seen if that progress will come in the form of wins this season. It seems likely, given the extended struggles Carbon has had, that this rebuild will be a long process. Expect things to improve for Carbon under coach Howa, but don’t expect it to have a record incredibly different from last year’s campaign.
Felt’s Facts for Carbon High School
- All-time record: 321-532-22 (101 years)
- Region championships: 12 (1924, 1926, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1951, 1956, 1957, 1964)
- Playoff appearances: 28
- All-time playoff record: 18-25-2
- State championships: 3 (1924, 1938, 1951)
- State championship record: 3-3-1
- Most played rivalry: 52 meetings with Uintah dating back to 1929. Uintah leads 30-20-2. Last met in 2009.
Last 5 Seasons
- 2019 — 1-8 (0-5 in Region 12 - Missed playoffs)
- 2018 — 2-8 (2-3 in 3A North – 3A First round)
- 2017 — 0-10 (0-5 in 3A North – 3A First round)
- 2016 — 0-10 (0-5 in 3A North - Missed playoffs)
- 2015 — 1-9 (0-5 in 3A North - Missed playoffs)
Carbon coaching history
- 2020 — Phil Howa (0-0)
- 2015-2019 — Josh Huntsman (4-45)
- 2014 — Jan Jorgensen (3-7)
- 2010-2013 — Jeff Blanc (6-32)
- 2008-2009 — Leo Paur (0-19)
- 2007 — Tim Tiller (2-7)
- 2006 — J.P. Salisbury (1-9)
- 2004-2005 — Lane Herrick (1-18)
- 2003 — Jeff Jorgensen (3-6)
- 2002 — Don Gressman (2-7)
- 1998-2001 — Troy Moynier (15-31)
- 1991-1997 — Jeff Jorgensen (20-46)
- 1987-1990 — Don Gressman (14-24)
- 1982-1986 — Mike Kernodle (10-34)
- 1979-1981 — Jerry Dyer (4-23)
- 1974-1978 — Tom Rabb (10-35)
- 1971-1973 — Boyd Bell (13-15)
- 1970 — Tom King (2-7)
- 1969 — Boyd Bell (2-6)
- 1966-1968 — Louis Mele (1-25)
- 1962-1965 — Larry Regis (9-27)
- 1952-1961 — Jackson Jewkes (39-42)
- 1946-1951 — Preston L Summerhays (31-17) *1 state title
- 1945 — Jackson Jewkes (4-3)
- 1944 — George Young (4-3)
- 1941-1943 — Jackson Jewkes (13-10)
- 1933-1940 — Preston L Summerhays (51-18) *1 state title
- 1929-1932 — Vernon Merrill (18-5)
- 1928 — William Nixon (3-5)
- 1924-1927 — Carl W. Peterson (29-7) *1 state title
- 1923 — Howard N Blazzard (2-3)
- 1916-1922 — Unknown
- 1912-1915 — Merrill O. Maughn (6-5)
Carbon All-State at-a-glance
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
- 2017 — Nathan Olson, RB