Note: Monticello finished with a 6-4 overall record in 2019 and was third in 2A North with a 3-2 record. It was RPI seed No. 8 in the 2A playoffs, and was eliminated by Kanab 74-0 in first round.
SANDY — In the second year of Reed Anderson’s tenure as Monticello head coach, the Buckaroos took a big step forward.
Monticello had its first six-win season since 2012, and despite a blowout first-round playoff loss to Kanab, the season was a success for the Buckaroos.
“We had some bright spots and we had some low spots. It was things like when we went against teams that were also inexperienced, we managed to do well. We hit a game where a team had a lot of experience and that really showed, especially given the fact that five or six of our starters, this was the first year they’ve they had ever played football in their lives. So it was quite a new experience for a lot of them,” Anderson said.
Experience is key, and Monticello will have lots of returning experience this season — six returning starters on offense and eight on defense. The Buckaroos return three offensive linemen and four defensive linemen, which will be huge for Monticello.
“We’ll have some experience. We’re going into year three. For example, our linemen, they picked up and remembered the offense and the defense much quicker than we had before. We’re able to spend more time on things that help them beat players that may be bigger or stronger than them,” Anderson said.
Other returners include quarterback Devin Hatch, who threw for 1,641 yards and 16 touchdowns last year, running back Brevin Olson, who rushed for 582 yards and seven touchdowns, and receiver Cedar English, who had 516 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. On defense, linebacker Olson, who had 67 tackles, two sacks and an interception, and Tuff Adair, who had 64 tackles and 15 sacks, will be key.
Monticello Buckaroos at a glance
Coach Anderson’s thoughts on how his players dealt with the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:
“You know, they’re like the other kids, they were tired of being cooped up in their house, not seeing their friends. I think that was the biggest thing. There were still opportunities to get stronger, there were home workouts, things like that. We’ve done okay. We haven’t really had, cross our fingers, we haven’t really had a big outbreak where we are. Those things will come up as the season goes on for sure. Once they were able to get out of their house and come to practice and go to the weigh room and things like that, they responded really well because they were excited to see their friends. So we haven’t been hit as hard and haven’t been restricted as much as some places have.”
Monticello Offensive Snapshot
Offensive coordinator: Reed Anderson
2019 offense: 20.9 ppg (9th in 2A)
2019 offensive statistics
- 6 returning starters
- Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- Tuff Adair (OL)
- Carson Wells (OL)
- Joe Boyle (OL)
- Devin Hatch (QB)
- Cedar English (WR)
- Brevin Olson (RB)
Offensive newcomers to watch
- Logan Draper
- Tate Ramsay
Coach Anderson’s keys for offensive success in 2020:
“We have to have consistent line play. That’s going to be our biggest concern. If you have consistent lines, you can get away with injuries to your receiving corp or your quarterback, you can hide deficiencies and get away with things. If you don’t have good line play, then you cannot hide, those deficiencies will be glaring, bigger holes than they normally would. So the success is all dependent upon the line.”
Monticello Defensive Snapshot
Defensive coordinator: Art Adair
2019 defense: 32.0 ppg (10th in 2A)
2019 defensive statistics
- 8 returning starters
- 4-4 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Tuff Adair (DL)
- Carson Wells (DL)
- Camden Lewis (DL)
- Joe Boyle (DL)
- Cedar English (S)
- Logan Draper (S)
- Brevin Olson (LB)
- Robert Musselman (LB)
Defensive newcomers to watch
- Drew Wescott
- Michael Peterson
- Easton Young
Coach Anderson’s keys for defensive success in 2020:
“The biggest thing for us is going to be tackling. It’s one of the hardest things to introduce, to attack the offense and not just sit back and wait for the tackle. With a lot of inexperienced players last year, that was a big hole on our defense. Over time it really takes its toll, when teams are able to chip away five yards at a time because we’re not meeting them at the line of scrimmage or we’re seeing them halfway down the field. Getting those defenders to step up into those holes, step up to meet the offense rather than wait for them is going to be the key for us.”
Deseret News outlook for 2020
Following a season in which it took a big step forward, totaling its first six-win season since 2012, Monticello is looking to make another jump. With a bevy of returning starters and a more experienced line, the Buckaroos could be poised to add to their win total from last season and win a playoff game.
Felt’s Facts for Monticello
- All-time record: 359-287-9 (67 years)
- Region championships: 18 (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 co, 1973, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 co, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013 co)
- Playoff appearances: 48
- All-time playoff record: 35-44
- State championships: 4 (1969, 1992, 2001, 2004)
- State championship record: 4-4
- Most played rivalry: 68 meetings with San Juan dating back to 1956. San Juan leads 45-21-2.
- Felt’s Factoid(s): Buckaroo Antonio Mustache set a state record for season interceptions with 26 in 2004.
Last 5 Seasons
- 2019 — 6-4 (3-2 in 2A North – 2A First round)
- 2018 — 5-6 (1-2 in 1A South – 1A Semifinals)
- 2017 — 2-9 (0-3 in 1A South – 1A Quarterfinals)
- 2016 — 3-7 (1-3 in 1A South – 1A Quarterfinals)
- 2015 — 5-6 (2-2 in 1A South – 1A Quarterfinals)
Monticello coaching history
- 2018-current — Reed Anderson (11-10)
- 2014-2017 — Art Adair (15-29)
- 2010-2013 — Lee Chadwick (24-22)
- 2009 — Jake Downard (4-5)
- 2005-2008 — J.C. Hall (20-25)
- 2004 — Seth Giddings (11-1) *1 State Title
- 1997-2003 — Mike Bowring (46-30) *1 State Title
- 1994-1996 — Matt Torrens (13-16)
- 1991-1993 — Bill Manzanares (25-6) *1 State Title
- 1989-1990 — Joe Davis (11-11)
- 1979-1988 — John Dowell (63-37)
- 1976-1978 — Joe Davis (23-12)
- 1972-1975 — Nyle McFarlane (26-13-1)
- 1971 — Harold George (8-3)
- 1966-1970 — Ray Odette (30-13-3) *1 State Title
- 1961-1965 — Tom Burr (15-26-1)
- 1955-1960 — Dale Maughan (12-25-4)
- 1934-1935 — Unknown (0-3)
Monticello All-State at-a-glance
Deseret News First Team All-Staters the past 10 years
- 2018 — Weston Nebeker, RB/LB
- 2018 — Mark Beh, QB
- 2018 — Wyatt Fullmer, OL/DL
- 2018 — Gage Wilcox, OL/DL
- 2017 — Thomas Anderson, RB/LB
- 2016 — Shandon Bradford, RB/LB
- 2015 — Andrew Torres, WR/DB
- 2015 — Paul DeAnda, LB
- 2014 — Makade Maloy, QB/DB
- 2014 — Cole Eldredge, RB/LB
- 2014 — Andrew Torres, WR/DB
- 2013 — Austin Maloy, RB/LB
- 2013 — Austin Wilcox, TE/LB
- 2013 — Jake Giles, OL/DL
- 2012 — PJ Leiataua, TE/FS
- 2012 — Gunner Hollingsworth, OL/DL
- 2011 — Adam Black, OL/DL
- 2010 — Kendal Maughan, RB/LB
- 2010 — Devin Wright, RB/FS