Note: North Summit finished with a 6-4 overall record in 2019 and was second in 2A North with a 4-1 record. It was RPI seed No. 7 in the 2A playoffs, and was eliminated by North Sevier 21-11 in first round.
COALVILLE — In 2018 North Summit didn’t win a game. A year later in 2019, the program won six games, and a big reason why was the determination of last year’s group of juniors.
That group never hung its head when the losses mounted in its sophomore year. They just kept plugging away, working on the little things, believing that the wins would eventually come.
Now those players are seniors, and buoyed by nine returning offensive starters and eight returning defensive starters, there’s expectations within the program much loftier than simply winning six games.
“We’re pretty excited about the group we have. They’ve been working super hard and trying to come together, and we’re like everybody else, we’re assuming the season’s a go and that’s what we’re preparing like,” said North Summit coach Gary Crittenden.
Of North Summit’s six wins last year, only one came against a team with a winning record and its five wins against 2A teams all came against teams with a lower RPI when the playoffs rolled around.
Leading the way on both sides on both sides of the ball in the trenches will be three-year starter Matagi Fa’avale. He’s been a first team all-stater each of the past two season and expectations are very high for a strong senior season.
North Summit Braves at a glance
Coach Crittenden’s thoughts on how his players dealt the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:
“I think they’re holding onto what they can and controlling what they can control, not taking things so much for granted as far as understanding this can be taken away type of thing. That’s how they’re preparing. We kind of see the whole situation as a positive and working your guts. It’s cliche that every play could be your last play, but I think they’ve been able to get a taste of that and it’s brought things into perspective.”
North Summit offensive snapshot
Offensive coordinator: Waylon Bond
2019 offense: 26.0 ppg (7th in 2A)
2019 offensive statistics
- 9 returning starters
- Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- Beau Woolstenhulme (QB)
- Matagi Fa’avale (OL)
- Chase Dawson (OL)
- Ryker Johnson (OL)
- Brett Rees (OL)
- Quinton Jones (TE/SE)
- Ethan Crittenden (WR)
- Kale Hobson (RB)
- Carsen McKnight (K/P)
Coach Crittenden’s keys for offensive success in 2020:
“We’re going to have to win those battles up front and run the ball to set up the pass. The run-and-gun stuff, that’s never been North Summit. We have to make sure we win those battles in the trenches. Everybody says you go where the line takes you and that couldn’t me more true for us.”
North Summit defensive snapshot
Defensive coordinator: Gary Crittenden/Cory Jones
2019 defense: 15.6 ppg (3rd in 2A)
2019 defensive statistics
- 9 returning starters
- 3-4 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Quinton Jones (DE)
- Matagi Fa’avale (DL/LB)
- Ethan Crittenden (DB)
- Hunter Rex (DB)
- Kale Lewis (DB)
- Chase Dawson (DL)
- Ryker Johnson (DE)
- Dakota Jones (LB)
Coach Crittenden’s keys for defensive success in 2020:
“We really feel like we have to fly around and create. I think the harder you work the luckier you get. We’ve got to create those lucky opportunities and then capitalize on it. To get a turnover and then do nothing with it, it didn’t do you a lot of good but maybe flip the field. We’ve got to have our defense step up and create those sparks that really change the game. We feel with the depth and experience that’s going to create those sparks within a game that’s going to give us an edge.”
Deseret News outlook for 2020
To truly take the next step and get back to consistently being ranked in 2A, North Summit needs a marquee win this year. It realistically only has two opportunities for that in the regular season, a tough game against 3A’s South Summit in Week 2 and then Duchesne in Week 5. A win in either of those would go a long way toward building momentum toward the playoffs. Otherwise, it could be another one-and-done playoff appearance if it faces another team from 2A South.
Felt’s Facts for North Summit High School
- All-time record: 443-397-23 (94 years)
- Region championships: 22 (1928, 1929, 1930 co, 1937, 1955, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 co, 1978, 1983 co, 1989, 1990, 1991 co, 2006, 2007, 2013 co)
- Playoff appearances: 52
- All-time playoff record: 51-45
- State championships: 7 (1964, 1972, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2007, 2008)
- State championship record: 7-4
- Most played rivalry: 92 meetings with Park City dating back to 1926. North Summit leads 47-42-3. Last met in 2004.
Last 5 seasons
- 2019 — 6-4 (4-1 in 2A North – 2A First round)
- 2018 — 0-10 (0-5 in 2A North – 2A First round)
- 2017 — 2-8 (1-4 in 2A North – 2A First round)
- 2016 — 4-7 (3-2 in 2A North – 2A Quarterfinals)
- 2015 — 7-4 (4-1 in 2A North – 2A Semifinals)
North Summit coaching history
- 2017-current — Gary Crittenden (8-22)
- 2011-2016 — Devin Smith (35-30)
- 2000-2010 — Jerre Holmes (74-53) *2 state titles
- 1999 — Steve Carlsen (1-8)
- 1995-1998 — Earl Blonquist (13-27)
- 1994 — Travis Crittenden (3-6)
- 1993 — Van Hutchinson (8-3)
- 1987-1992 — Rick Harrison (48-20) *3 state titles
- 1985-1986 — Earl Blonquist (5-15)
- 1983-1984 — Bill Brown (10-11)
- 1982 — Scott Summers (2-7)
- 1969-1981 — Earl Blonquist (99-44-3) *1 state title
- 1962-1968 — Ernest Jacklin (37-26-5) *1 state title
- 1958-1961 — Raynor Pearce (12-18)
- 1957 — Bob Sanchez (5-2-1)
- 1953-1956 — Benny Kilpack (20-13-3)
- 1952 — Ken Bearden (1-6)
- 1951 — Unknown (1-6)
- 1950 — Don Snow (1-5-2)
- 1949 — Ralph Olsen (1-7)
- 1945-1948 — Floyd Biddolph (5-12-1)
- 1944 — Ed Jensen (5-3)
- 1931-1947 — Unknown (41-49)
- 1930 — “Silky” Knudsen (4-2-1)
- 1926-1929 — Unknown (13-14-2)
North Summit All-State at-a-glance
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
- 2019 — Matagi Fa’avale, DL
- 2019 — Cannon Richins, ATH
- 2018 — Matagi Fa’avale, DL
- 2016 — Tristan Woolstenhulme, RB/LB
- 2016 — Logan Rex, OL/LB
- 2015 — Tristan Woolstenhulme, RB/LB
- 2015 — Carter Wardrop, TE/DL
- 2015 — Braden Richins, OL/DL
- 2015 — Mason Richins, OL/DL
- 2014 — Ryan McMichael, QB/DB
- 2014 — Carson Richins, RB/DB
- 2014 — Cason DeForest, WR/DE
- 2013 — Ryan McMichael, QB/DB
- 2013 — Josh Birk, RB/DB
- 2013 — Trevor Hale, RB/LB
- 2013 — Austin Simister, OL/DL
- 2012 — Ben Stephsn, RB/DB
- 2011 — Braden Brown, RB/DB
- 2010 — Courtney Orgill, RB/LB