Defending champ Beaver faces plenty of challenges in deep Class 1A loaded with potential contenders

Jul 26, 2024 - 05:51 PM

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Defending champ Beaver faces plenty of challenges in deep Class 1A loaded with potential contenders

As the head coach of the football team in Beaver, Jon Marshall would know that assembling a football team at the beginning of a season entails so many things, much like doing a massive jigsaw puzzle. You have to be willing to wait for a certain period of time before things start shaping up and moving in the right direction.

“That is something that I really like as a coach, every year is a new year, a new team, challenging is trying to put all the pieces together and find out is the fun,” Marshall said of his team that comes into the season with the preseason No. 1 ranking in 1A. “A lot of few players are going to be out there, but the expectations are still going to be set very high. ”

Heading into the playoffs a year ago it was really hard to say what is going to happen because four teams were clearly good enough to win the whole thing.

Thus, there is a similar sentiment as teams head into the beginning of the campaign, mainly because of roster changes. Beaver and last year’s runner-up Enterprise each lost the bulk of the players that competed a year ago.

Duchesne, the perennial 1A contender, is another team that will be experiencing some degree of unknown this fall with the hire of Tom Clark as head man replacing Jerry Cowan, now the head coach at Hurricane. Cowan had been associated with the programme at Duchesne for almost two decades.

Kanab is the only semifinalist that is returning a bunch of experience, however, the Cowboys are not without questions following the loss of a three year starting QB.

1A football in Utah

In terms of the other potential rivals, the 1A attracts a lot of attention when the average high praise from around the classification is analyzed. All three of these teams – North Summit, Milford and Millard are full of returning starters on both offense and defense and all three have the capability to upset people.

Technically, if North Summit continues expanding based on a solid summer, that skier visit number has the chance to take a massive leap.

It has now been a while since the players have had this experience, and it is entertaining to see seniors who were forced to play varsity as sophomores make their way into the weight room with more confidence, according to the North Summit coach, Jerre Holmes. “They’re hungry. They had a real successful freshman season, after that a lot of them were having to play varsity. ”

The coaches have pinned the Braves as favorite in 1A North region, and Holmes is sure that this will not be a exception as other teams that considered successes depend on line play.

“The focus that we have had in the last few weeks, yeah, we are going to be better up front, and that’s going to determine our season is how much have we improved up front,” he said. “That’s great,” said Peters, “if so, with our run and pass we’ll be pretty tough. ”

Jake Smith has been a three-year letterman starting quarterback who can possibly have his coming-out party for the North Summit team.

Beaver has the luxury of a returning starting quarterback as well in Bodie Wheatley.

Sadly, just having nine seniors on the Beaver roster this year, Wheatley will be loaded with juniors, which is what Marshall and his team get to solve.

“We are quite eager to see how our juniors perform; we are going to give a lot of juniors a game.
This senior football client has a really good juniors’ class,” remarked Marshall.

Kanab was only edged in the 1A semis by Beaver, and in Quarnberg’s view, this year’s team should excel in those hyped games.

“It has been a good vibe at the facility. Than having a more experienced team in general now than what we had last year in my case, we are also having a good seniority. We had a young defense a year ago; we expected some of those players to progress. We had several drills last season, and this helped many young talents gain experience at the facility,” stated Quarnberg, as personnel released revealed the Bears are returning seven

Only time will tell if all those experiences for North Summit and Kanab football will be sufficient to unseat the Beaver team that has been crowned the state champion thrice out of the last five tries, and these were all before they were transferred/relegated to the state’s smallest classification.

The same can be said for several other 1A programs who go into the 2024 season understanding that there is no blue blood team that has the field pinned on second best.

1A North projections
(Preseason rankings are based on coaches’ votes)

1. North Summit Braves

Head coach: Jerre Holmes

Season 2019 will mark Holmes’ fourth year in his second time around as North Summit High School head coach, with a total of his being overall football head coach for the 23rd season. During his pre-2010 coaching tenor at North Summit, he achieved 74-53, and provided the state title in both 2006 and 2007. Before that he was a coach at Rich, from 1991-1999 his teams’ records were 67-30, the achievements of 1994, 1995 & 1996 state champions. His collective record of instinctively coaching is 155-102. He went to Cokeville High School in Wyoming and the University of Utah for his higher education.

Coach Jerre Holmes’ general outlook

“We have a lot of returning starters from last year. We are hoping for all that experience to bring us a successful season.”

Offensive coordinator: Devin Smith

2023 offense: 24.73 ppg (No. 6 in 1A)

Nine returning starters
Pistol Triple Option offense

Returning offensive starters

Jake Smith, Sr., QB
Buck Sargent, Sr., TE
Logan Judd, Sr., G
McKade Nelson, Sr., RB
Brenden Smith, Sr., T
Austin Aven, Sr., Slot
Dax Sargent, Sr., G
Tate Richins, Sr., T/C
Jonas Touchette, Sr., WR
Oswaldo Portillo, Sr., G

Key offensive newcomers

Ben Peck, Sr., OL
Easton Richins, Sr., WR
Taegen Johnstun, Sr., WR

Defensive coordinator: Jerre Holmes

2023 defense: 19.64 ppg (No. 5 in 1A)

Eight returning starters
4-3 defense

Returning defensive starters

Buck Sargent, Sr., LB
Jake Smith, Sr., SS/LB
Austin Aven, Sr., FS
Logan Judd, Sr., DE
Brenden Smith, Sr., DT
McKade Nelson, Sr., DE
Quaid Wilde, Sr., LB
Easton Richins, CB

Key defensive newcomers

Taegen Johnstun, Sr., CB
Tate Richins, Sr., DT
Ben Peck, Sr., DT/LB

North Summit overview

2023 Record: 6-5 (third in 1A North with a 2-2 record)

2023 RPI rankings: No. 6 in 1A

2023 postseason: Lost to Enterprise, 35-6, in the 1A quarterfinals

All-time record: 464-422-23 (98 years)

State titles: 7 (1964, 1972, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2007, 2008)

Region titles: 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)

2. Millard Eagles

Head coach: Stoney Myers

Millard having been coached by Myers in his two seasons after he joined the team stands at 7-15. He is a Southern Utah University alumni.

It is seen that coach Stoney Myers adopting a general outlook.

“Nobody probably expects much this season from the Eagles; however, we do have quite a number of people, who played a lot for us last season returning this season. We only managed a . 500 record last season, so, we expect to do better this season We have size, strength and some speed going into this season so we are looking forward to the season. ”

Offensive coordinator: Stoney Myers

2023 offense: 20.73 ppg (No. 8 in 1A)

Seven returning starters
Spread offense

Returning offensive starters

Kaden Turner, Sr., QB
Morgan Tingey, Sr., Slot
Preston Sanchez, Sr., WR
Connor Stevens, Jr., Slot
Rayce Adams, Sr., OL
Lex Ashman, Sr., OL
Dan Gates, Sr., OL

Defensive coordinator: Trey Ashton

2023 defense: 19.45 ppg (No. 4 in 1A)

Five returning starters
4-4 defense

Returning defensive starters

Rayce Adams, Sr., DL
Morgan Tingy, Sr., DB/LB
Preston Sanchez, Sr., DB
Connor Stevens, Jr., DB
Erick Gutierez, Sr., DL

Key defensive newcomers

Deegan Leathum, Jr., LB
Jensen Davies, Jr., LB

Millard overview

2023 Record: 5-6 (second in 1A North with a 3-1 record)

2023 RPI rankings: No. 5 in 1A

2023 postseason: Lost to Kanab, 14-13, in the 1A quarterfinals

All-time record: 603-304-22 (98 years)

State titles: 13 (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1958, 1960, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1995, 2001)

Region titles: 40 (1933, 1937, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947 co, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1967 co, 1969, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983 co, 1988 co, 1989 co, 1997, 1998, 1999 co, 2001, 2002 co, 2003, 2004 co, 2006, 2007, 2009 co, 2010)

3. Duchesne Eagles

Head coach: Tom Clark

Clark is appointed as the head coach at Duchesne having coached at a place in Georgia. He has his high school education from North Cobb High School in George and a university education from the University of West Alabama.

How a specific football coach named Tom Clark commonly thinks about coaching.

“Expectations are high for this 2024 team Early in this summer season, we have received strong leadership from our seniors and waiting for several new talents, in replacement for the 2023 seniors who are really good recording lots of victories.”

Offensive coordinator: Tom Clark

2023 offense: 28.17 ppg (No. 5 in 1A)

Four returning starters
Gun Spread/Wing T offense

Returning offensive starters

Jeshaun Johnson, Sr., WR/RB
Treyson Shaffer, Sr., OL
Aidan Adams, Sr., OL
Kasen Crum, Jr., RB

Key offensive newcomers

Nashden Goodliffe, Jr., QB
Bryson Fabrizio, Sr., WR
Tanner Stansfield, Sr., TE
Austin Apodaca, Sr., OL
Kade Thacker, Jr., RB
Jackson Stansfield, So., OL
Eli Lefler, So., OL

Defensive coordinator: Justin Parker

2023 defense: 15.42 ppg (No. 3 in 1A)

Five returning starters
3-4 defense

Returning defensive starters

Jeshaun Johnson, Sr., OLB
Treyson Shaffer, Sr., DL
Aidan Adams, Sr., DL
Rhett Clayburn, Jr., OLB
Kasen Crum, Jr., LB

Key defensive newcomers

Mykel Johnson, Jr., DL
Wyatt Christianson, Jr., LB
Brex Robinson, So., DB
Tanner Stansfield, Sr., DB
Dillan Remund, Jr., DL

Duchesne overview

2023 Record: 10-2 (first in 1A North with a 4-0 record)

2023 RPI rankings: No. 2 in 1A

2023 postseason: Lost to Enterprise, 18-12, in the 1A semifinals

All-time record: 312-224-1 (53 years)

State titles: 7 (2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)

Region titles: 19 (1983 co, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023)

4. Gunnison Valley Bulldogs

Head coach: Austin Jackson

The 34 years old Manti and Utah State graduate is entering his first season as a head coach in Gunison Valley.

Bear in mind that this is a general stance and it refers to Coach Austin Jackson only.

“This year, we are just going to try to improve from the work that has been done prior to this year and definitely implement a few other things that can hopefully help us out in our performance on field(side).
Moving forward, just better every day type thing going into the next year as much of our strong players are going to be fairly young so development is going to be a big focus there.
We feel that if we really hone in on that

Offensive coordinator: Austin Jackson

2023 offense: 28.36 ppg (No. 4 in 1A)

Five returning starters
Multidimensional offense

Returning offensive starters

Knightly Childs, Sr., RB
Max Draper, Sr., OL
Tyrus Roberts, Jr., OL
Wrigley Crouch, So., OL
Soren Jensen, So., RB

Key offensive newcomers

Jack Blackham, Sr., RB
Talan Dyreng, Jr., QB/WR
Landry Edwards, Jr., WR/TE
Braxton Picket, Jr., WR
Bronsen Allen, So., TE
Krew Donaldson, So., WR
Deegan Hill, So., OL

Defensive coordinator: Josh Ha’o

2023 defense: 26.73 ppg (No. 8 in 1A)

Six returning starters
4-3 defense

Returning defensive starters

Knightly Childs, Sr., LB
Max Draper, Sr., LB
Jack Blackham, Sr., LB/SS
Tyrus Roberts, Jr., DL
Wrigley Crouch, So., DL
Soren Jensen, So., LB

Key defensive newcomers

Talan Dyreng, Jr., DB/FS
Landry Edwards, Jr., LB
Braxton Picket, Jr., DB/FS
Bronsen Allen, So., DL
Krew Donaldson, So., DB
Deegan Hill, So., DL

Gunnison Valley

2023 Record: 6-5 (fourth in 1A North with a 1-3 record)

2023 RPI rankings: No. 8 in 1A

2023 postseason: Lost to Beaver, 42-0, in the 1A quarterfinals

All-time record: 96-233 (34 years)

State titles: 1 (2022)

Region titles: None

5. North Sevier Wolves

Head coach: Jay Ha’o

The previous assistant at North Sevier, Ha’o has been appointed as the new head coach for the Wolves for his 1st season. He obtained his education at Leilehua High in Hawaii and was active at Snow College.

This paper seeks to analyze Coach Jay Ha’o’s general outlook.

“The Wolves are ready to run out for another Football season Once again, it is about brotherhood and details this year We are looking forward to a good run Football is our business now Our solid coaches are back for another year and our great team players are sweating it, so we expect the best. ”

Offensive coordinator: Wyatt Mason

2023 offense: 11.91 ppg (No. 9 in 1A)