Note: Juab finished with a 12-2 overall record in 2019 and was first in Region 14 with a 5-0 record. It was RPI seed No. 2 in the 3A playoffs, and was eliminated by Morgan 8-0 in championship.
NEPHI — Juab has never won a state championship in its 64 years playing football, including last year’s heartbreaking runner-up finish to Morgan.
Head coach: Mike Bowring
Entering his 16th season as head coach at Juab and 24th season overall, making him the third-longest active coach in Utah. His record in 15 years at Juab is 130-57, including a runner-up finish last year. Previously he coached at Monticello for eight years, finishing with a 46-30 and a state title in 2001. His overall coaching record stands at 176-87. He’s a graduate of San Juan High School and Southern Utah University.
Juab coach Mike Bowring said the response from his players after coming as close as they did a year ago as been phenomenal.
“The kids are very hungry. You get a taste of it being so dang close, and it’s the little things that make the difference. I think the kids are hungry and ready to get back and try and go after it again,” said Bowring.
Getting all the way back to the championship, and perhaps claiming that coveted title certainly won’t be easy as Juab graduated numerous high-quality players on both sides of the ball.
There is definitely some experience back with five offensive starters and six defensive starters returning, but replacing those headliners players is always difficult.
A balanced effort may be the key each Friday night as Juab will lean heavily on its depth in the trenches and its overall team speed defensively.
“Defensively we have some good speed and we have some good players and we have some that have stepped in positions that looked really good at camp. We think defense will be kind of our strong point,” said Bowring.
Juab will lean heavily on returning first team all-staters Dominic Davidson (OG) and Bodee Blackett (CB).
Juab Wasps at a glance
Coach Bowring’s thoughts on how his players dealt the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:
“It took something away that they love, and so our attendance to our summer workouts has been better. Our numbers have been great. The kids have worked hard this summer and I think it’s because they’ve been cooped up and not been able to do anything for so long. I feel really good about our offseason.”
2020 Schedule
Aug. 14 — PAROWAN, 7 p.m.
Aug. 21 — at Cedar City, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 — SALEM HILLS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 — at South Sevier, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 — EMERY, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 — UNION, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 — at North Sanpete, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 — MANTI, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 — at Delta, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 — at American Leadership, 7 p.m.
Juab offensive snapshot
Offensive coordinator: Mike Bowring
2019 offense: 32.4 (2nd in 3A)
2019 offensive statistics
- 5 returning starters
- Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- David Phillips (OL)
- Dominic Davidson (OL)
- Trey Lund (FB)
- Bodee Blackett (Slot)
- Shan Jackson (RB)
Offensive newcomers to watch
- Teagen Christensen (Slot)
- Jared Dye (Slot)
- Daylen Christensen (OL)
- Alex Jackson (QB)
- Luke Ivers (QB)
- Grant Orme (Slot)
Coach Bowring’s keys for offensive success in 2020:
“Keeping guys healthy throughout the year. Our offensive line is key to us being explosive. They have played well this summer.”
Juab defensive snapshot
Defensive coordinator: Jake Downard
2019 defense: 13.6 ppg (3rd in 3A)
2019 defensive statistics
- 6 returning starters
- 4-2-5 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Boden Ballow (LB)
- Louk Stevens (S)
- Trey Lund (S)
- Bodee Blackett (CB)
- Dominic Davidson (DL)
- David Phillips (DL)
Defensive newcomers to watch
- Jake Bailey (CB)
- Shan Jackson (DT)
- Hudson Perry (DE)
- Will Harmon (LB)
- Teagen Christensen (LB)
Coach Bowring’s keys for defensive success in 2020:
“They saw what the hard work does last year and saw what you can accomplish when you do go to work. I think success helps the younger kids say ‘oh, that’s what we do.’ It sets that culture. The defense was very good last year, so we’re expecting more of the same this year. You lose some kids and you have to replace but we feel like we’ll be able to do that.”
Deseret News outlook for 2020
Juab has reached at least the semifinals in six of the past seven years, and the odds are good that benchmark will be reached again this year with roughly half of last year’s starters returning. Getting over the hump and claiming the first state championship in school history — which it was so close to last year — is the ultimate goal and one that this year’s team is certainly capable of.
Felt’s Facts for Juab
- All-time record: 300-331-3 (64 years)
- Region championships: 10 (1976 co, 1995, 1997, 2005 co, 2006 co, 2008, 2014, 2015 co, 2016, 2019)
- Playoff appearances: 36
- All-time playoff record: 25-36
- State championships: 0
- State championship record: 0-4
- Most played rivalry: 54 meetings with North Sanpete dating back to 1957. Juab leads 31-23.
Last 5 seasons
- 2019 — 12-2 (5-0 in Region 14 – 3A Runner-up)
- 2018 — 6-5 (2-3 in 3A South – 3A Quarterfinals)
- 2017 — 7-4 (4-1 in 3A South - 3A Semifinals)
- 2016 — 8-4 (5-0 in 3A South – 3A Semifinals)
- 2015 — 9-3 (4-1 in 3A south – 3A Semifinals)
Juab coaching history
- 2003-current — Mike Bowring (130-57)
- 1999-2002 — Will Biesinger (18-25)
- 1992-1998 — Paul Messersmith (48-26)
- 1991 — Alan Sperry (3-6)
- 1988-1990 — Raymond Nielsen (4-21)
- 1985-1987 — Fenton Broadhead (8-18)
- 1976-1984 — Lee Scott (35-54)
- 1971-1975 — Unknown (24-25-2)
- 1967-1970 — Dennis Hansen (18-19)
- 1964-1966 — LeRoy Davis (1-23)
- 1962-1963 — Verl Shell (2-14)
- 1960-1961 — Unknown (1-15-1)
- 1959 — Cary LaComb (3-4)
- 1957-1958 — Unknown(4-11)
- 1956 — Marcus Garrett (2-6)
- 1955 — Unknown (0-6)
Deseret News All-State Archives
Check out our archives of Deseret News all-state teams from 1929 to 2019 at Deseret.com.
Juab All-State at-a-glance
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
- 2019 — Cade Bowring, TB
- 2019 — Dominic Davidson, OG
- 2019 — Blake Mangelson, DE
- 2019 — Bodee Blackett, CB
- 2018 — Blake Mangelson, DE
- 2018 — Cade Bowring, S
- 2017 — Max Gurney, DE
- 2017 — Talon Mangelson, OL
- 2017 — Alex White, RB
- 2016 — Ryker Osborne, QB
- 2016 — Payton Bowring, WR
- 2016 — Cason Messersmith, OL
- 2016 — Ashton Seely, LB
- 2016 — Mason Mangelson, CB
- 2015 — Peyton Bowring, WR
- 2015 — Jaxon Allred, OL
- 2015 — Ashton Seely, OL
- 2015 — Nick Wohlforth, DL
- 2014 — Nick Robins, QB
- 2014 — Dedric Davidson, WR
- 2014 — Ashton Seeley, LB
- 2013 — Nick Robins, QB
- 2013 — Brandon Morgan, WR
- 2010 — Elias Brooks, LB