High school football: Copper Hills 2020 preview

Note: Copper Hills finished with a 4-7 overall record in 2019 and was sixth in Region 3 with a 0-5 record. It was RPI seed No. 21 in the 6A playoffs, and was eliminated by Hunter 57-12 in first round.

WEST JORDAN — With a bunch of seniors and returning starters, Copper Hills coach Corey Dodds said he should be excited about the season.

Make no mistake, he is excited about this year’s group, but trying to compete in Region 3 is extremely difficult.

“This region is a monster,” said Dodds.

In five Region 3 games last year, Copper Hills was blown out in every game, and shut out three times. Dodds is optimistic that with eight returning contributors on defense and seven more on offense, his team will be both physically and mentally ready to compete in Region 3.

The reality of Copper Hills’ region situation is why the UHSAA’s switch to an RPI playoff qualification system, which allows all teams to make the playoffs, was so beneficial.

Where it’s located geographically, Copper Hills is surrounded by great football programs, and cracking the top four in region has been impossible. As a result, Copper Hills’ last playoff appearance prior to last year was 2004.

Even though it was blown out by Hunter in the first round, the players got the benefit of an extra week of practice and got to taste what playoff football is all about.

Region is no longer the only focus. Success in Game 1 is just as important as Game 10, which is why Dodds said last year’s four preseason wins were a great step, as they helped the program earn a No. 21 RPI seed for the playoffs — not a dead-last No. 27 seed.

Dodds believes this year’s team can continue the climb perhaps to an RPI seed in the teens.

Copper Hills Grizzlies at a glance

Coach Dodd’s thoughts on how his players dealt with the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:

“It seems like they didn’t really miss a step. They were pretty hungry when we got going. I was really surprised with the numbers we got. We had a lot of freshmen show up. I think there was a lot of contact; my sophomore coaches stayed in contact with their kids pretty consistently. My kids kept hitting me up on Hudl on when we were going to go. I think they were just more antsy to get out there. We weren’t able to get a consistent schedule. ... We had to bunch it all together. I’m just trying to do my best not to burn my guys out before it counts.”

2020 Schedule

Aug. 14 — TAYLORSVILLE, 7 p.m.

Aug. 21 — at Hillcrest, 7 p.m.

Aug. 28 — at Cottonwood, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 — at Juan Diego, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 — EAST, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25 — RIVERTON, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 — at Jordan, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 — HERRIMAN, 7 p.m.

Oct. 15 — at Bingham, 7 p.m.

Copper Hills Offensive Snapshot

Offensive coordinator: Kai Kapele

2019 offense: 17.0 ppg (24th in 6A)

2019 offensive statistics

• 7 returning starters
• Spread offense

Returning offensive starters

• Kaden Bybee (OL)
• Noah Kaio (OL)
• Chris Lousiale (OL)
• Tommy Peake (WR) — moving to QB
• Marley Manuha (RB)
• Jaden Lalor (WR)
• Luke Barbee (WR)

Offensive newcomers to watch

• Viliatu Ta’ai (OL)
• Zeth Hein (WR)
• Kailer Laufiso (WR)

Coach Dodds’ keys for offensive success in 2020:

“Discipline. Understanding the clock, down and distance. Being smart with the football. We were really good at shooting ourselves in the foot. Even our opening drive against East, it was an eight or nine-play drive, got first down after first down and got to their side down close to the 30. We were moving the ball really well against a team that’s better than us, and then we false start. Then you run a play and miss a block. Now it’s second and 15 and then you’re calling a pass play that goes deep, and you take a sack. And now it goes from rhythm to chaos. One man can ruin the play, so if we just clean that up we’ll be OK. We just need to keep rhythm on offense.”

Copper Hills Defensive Snapshot

Defensive coordinator: Corey Dodds

2019 defense: 26.2 ppg (17th in 6A)

2019 defensive statistics

• 8 returning starters
• 4-3 defense

Returning defensive starters

• Kaden Bybee (DL)
• Viliatu Ta’ai (DL)
• Kailer Laufiso (LB)
• Walter Reed (LB)
• Keller Coester (LB)
• Luke Barbee (CB)
• Kolianitioni Lemau (S)
• Benjamin Bohne (S)

Defensive newcomers to watch

• Chris Lousiale (DL)
• Morgan Pommerening (DL)
• Zeke Foster (LB)
• Josh Fullmer (CB)
• Brant Faurscho (CB)
• Jazy Misifoa (DL)

Coach Dodds’ keys for defensive success in 2020:

“We need to be aggressive and tackling. We did a pretty job of corralling teams for the most part but then playing both ways, and our depth that really got us. When a one was out, our twos struggled against some of these bigger terms. This year, the dropoff isn’t much. A term we’ve been using around here is 1.5s instead of 2s. We’ve just got to be aggressive and don’t give up the third downs. ... If we can keep everything underneath us in third and long and force them to punt and kick field goals, we’ll be in good shape.”

Deseret News outlook for 2020

Success is measured differently at different programs. Last season Copper Hills started 3-0 against Taylorsville, Hillcrest and Cottonwood, and those three teams are again who line up the first three games this year. Another 3-0 start would be a great segue into region play where the goal will be to find a way to be much more competitive instead of being blown out by halftime.

Felt’s Facts for Copper Hills

• All-time record: 51-197 (25 years)

• Region championships: 0

• Playoff appearances: 4

• All-time playoff record: 0-4

• State championships: 0

• State championship record: 0-0

• Most played rivalry: 23 meetings with West Jordan dating back to 1995. West Jordan leads 23-1, and that one victory came in 2013.


Last 5 Seasons

• 2019 — 4-7 (0-5 in Region 3 – 6A First round)
• 2018 — 1-8 (0-5 in Region 3 - Missed playoffs)
• 2017 — 1-8 (0-5 in Region 3 – Missed playoffs)
• 2016 — 0-10 (0-6 in Region 3 - Missed playoffs)
• 2015 — 0-10 (0-6 in Region 3 - Missed playoffs)

Copper Hills coaching history


• 2017-Current — Corey Dodds (6-23)
• 2015-2016 — Tavita Sagapolu (0-20)
• 2013-2014 — John Teuscher (4-16)

• 2009-2012 — Kai Kapele (6-33)

• 2005-2008 — Art Erickson (13-27)

• 2000-2004 — Mike Smith (15-39)

• 1995-1999 — Ron Halbertson, Jr. (7-39)


Deseret News All-State Archives

Check out our archives of Deseret News all-state teams from 1929 to 2019 at Deseret.com.