Note: Orem finished with a 10-4 overall record in 2019 and was tied for first in Region 7 with a 4-1 record. It was RPI seed No. 12 in the 5A playoffs, and defeated Timpview 21-7 in championship.
OREM — Orem lost some notable names off of last year’s championship team, but should be deeper at most positions in 2020, and primed to repeat as 5A champions.
Head coach: Jeremy Hill
Entering his fifth year as head coach at his alma mater, tallying a 39-15 record the past four years and state titles in 2018 and 2019. He’s a graduate of Utah State.
At least that was the overview of Orem coach Jeremy Hill, who has coached Orem to amazing success since he took the head-coaching duties five years ago. Several top athletes have passed through the program during his tenure, with the Tigers presenting more than a few top prep athletes this season.
“I’ve been fortunate to be able to coach here and have so many top athletes come through our program,” Hill said. “This year we’ll have to replace some top guys, but I really do feel we’ll be deeper than we have been and won’t have to completely depend on one guy at certain positions to get it done.”
Orem looks particularly strong on both the offensive and defensive lines, giving Hill and his coaches a good foundation to build on at the other positions.
Of course it all leads to high expectations, with Hill confident his team will yet again meet those expectations, while noting the work that has to go into all of it.
“We play in a tough region, but we like the competition and are excited to meet the challenges ahead of us,” Hill said. “But we’ve built a good program here and feel we have really good players coming up to continue the success we’ve had.”
Orem Tigers at a glance
Coach Hill’s thoughts on how his players dealt with the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:
“Kids have been very good running their own workouts, while being mindful of all the restrictions involved, so I don’t think we’ve missed all that much with regards to preparing for the season. I just hope it’s all clear now and we can finish the season out. You never know with this thing, but we’re hopeful and the kids are certainly hopeful all their work can go toward finishing off the season.”
2020 Schedule
Aug. 14 — at Mountain View, 7 p.m.
Aug. 21 — EAST, 7 p.m.
Aug. 29 — at Skyridge, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 — ALTA, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 — at JSerra Catholic, Calif., 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 — at Timpview, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 — MOUNTAIN RIDGE, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 — LEHI, 7 p.m.
Orem Offensive Snapshot
Offensive coordinator: Lance Reynolds
2019 offense: 31.1 ppg (5th in 5A)
2019 offensive statistics
- 5 returning starters
- Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- Micah Fe’a (QB)
- Kingsley Suamataia (OL)
- Calyb Sauao-To’a (OL)
- Hayden Hixson (OL)
- Vae Soifua (OL)
Offensive newcomers to watch
- Aisake Toiaivao (WR)
- Noah Erickson (WR)
Coach Hill’s keys for offensive success in 2020:
“It’s a really good thing to have our quarterback return, and I believe we’ll be really strong on the offensive line. The big key for us will be to find a running back. The kid we thought would be our main back went down to injury, so we’re platooning there and trying to find some guys who can play the spot.”
Orem Defensive Snapshot
Defensive coordinator: Jeremy Hill
2019 defense: 17.9 ppg (7th in 5A)
2019 defensive statistics
- 7 returning starters
- 4-2-5 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Jayden Ah You (LB)
- Paxton Skipps (LB)
- Tauhi Tupola (DL)
- Zion Saleapaga (DL)
- Joshua Singh (DL)
- Joe Smith (DB)
- Kolton Brown (DB)
Defensive newcomers to watch
- Tim Toa (DB)
Coach Hill’s keys for defensive success in 2020:
“We really like our linebackers and our defensive front. But there’s some question marks in the secondary, which always seems to be the case here, for whatever reason. Hopefully we can find some guys ready to step up, but yeah, I think our secondary will be helped out a lot by what we feel will be a dominant defensive front.”
Deseret News outlook for 2020
Orem is stacked at most positions yet again entering the season, which should provide yet another deep run within the playoffs and quite possibly another state championship. You can’t replace a talent like Noah Sewell, but enough depth and talent at just about every position should put the Tigers deep into the playoffs with perhaps the best chance of anyone at the 5A state championship.
Felt’s Facts for Orem
- All-time record: 528-308-21 (91 years)
- Region championships: 28 (1935 co, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 co, 1974, 1985 co, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996 co, 2000 co, 2004 co, 2012, 2013 co, 2017, 2018)
- Playoff appearances: 55
- All-time playoff record: 61-47
- State championships: 8 (1962, 1968, 1994, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- State championship record: 8-7
- Most played rivalry: 60 meetings with Provo dating back to 1930. Orem leads 32-27-1.
Last 5 Seasons
- 2019 — 10-4 (4-1 in Region 7 – 5A Champions)
- 2018 — 12-2 (5-0 in Region 10 – 4A Champions)
- 2017 — 12-2 (5-0 in Region 10 – 4A Champions)
- 2016 — 5-7 (4-3 in Region 7 – 4A First round)
- 2015 — 4-6 (1-5 in Region 7 – Missed playoffs)
Orem coaching history
- 2016-current — Jeremy Hill (39-15) *3 State Titles
- 2015 — Bob Steele (4-6)
- 2011-2014 — Tyler Anderson (21-24)
- 2002-2010 — Bob Steele (48-52)
- 2000-2001 — Alex Jacobson (15-8)
- 1989-1999 — Paul Clark (74-39) *1 State Title
- 1985-1988 — Thomas Rabb (31-11)
- 1980-1984 — Steve Downey (27-22)
- 1977-1979 — (unknown) (21-11)
- 1971-1976 — Tom Molen (33-23-2)
- 1969-1970 — Charlie Dine (17-5-2)
- 1954-1968 — Udell Westover (105-31-5) *2 State Titles
- 1949-1953 — Glenn Zimmerman (27-13-1)
- 1929-1948 — Don “Sanky” Dixon (56-48-11)
Deseret News All-State Archives
Check out our archives of Deseret News all-state teams from 1929 to 2019 at Deseret.com.
Orem All-State at-a-glance
Deseret News Mr. Football recipients
- 2019 — Noah Sewell, LB
- 2018 — Puka Nacua, WR
Deseret News MVPs the past 10 years
- 2018 — Cooper Legas, QB
- 2017 — Puka Nacua, WR
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
- 2019 — Kingsley Suamataia, OT
- 2019 — Buju Tuisavura, S
- 2018 — Fred Prescott, OG
- 2018 — Hunter Hill, OT
- 2018 — Rylen Su’a-Filo, DT
- 2018 — Sione Mounga, DE
- 2018 — Noah Sewell, LB
- 2018 — Ethan Slade, S
- 2017 — Ethan Slade, S
- 2017 — Cayne Sauao-To’a, DT
- 2017 — Austin Kirkby, DE
- 2017 — Ryan To’a, C
- 2017 — Cole Watts, OL
- 2017 — Enoch Fiso, TE
- 2017 — Cooper Legas, QB
- 2013 — Nolan Gray, WR
- 2012 — Nolan Gray, WR
- 2011 — Cole Payne, WR