NEPHI, Utah-Wednesday, as the Mid-Utah Radio sponsored series of prep football press conferences concluded, the 3-A South football stars took the stage at Painter Motor in Nephi.
The Juab Wasps started the proceedings in their home town, featuring head coach Mike Bowring, slot-back/linebacker Alex White, slot-back/hybrid linebacker-safety Tucker Memmott, fullback/linebacker/punter Max Gurney and guard/tackle/defensive end Talon Mangelson.
Bowring commenced the press conference by saying the 3-A South is a “tough, tough region and there is not a lot of room for error” especially with newcomers Juan Diego and Summit Academy coming in.
Memmott confirmed he wants to become a better linebacker while Mangelson said he hopes to become a great leader on both lines of scrimmage.
Mangelson later confirmed that it’s been excellent during the offseason to see the upperclassmen lift the newcomers to the program up, suggesting there is great continuity in the Juab football program.
Bowring also addressed moderator Robert Lovell’s question about continuity in the program, saying it’s a continual process and revealing that next year, one of the challenges will be replacing White, Memmott, Gurney and Mangelson, among others.
Bowring also espoused Juab’s relationship with Delta, confirming the Rabbits always come to the Wasps’ football camp every off-season and that they are a “hard-nosed physical team.”
Bowring revealed his methodology behind preseason games, stating they are an opportunity to see what kids can do and that the coaches can more effectively evaluate the best places for them on the field.
Up next were the Manti Templars, featuring head coach Cole Meacham, offensive/defensive lineman Brenton Thomson, tight end/outside linebacker Cooper Parry, tailback Lance Fowles, offensive/defensive lineman Eli Butler and tight end/defensive end Brody Barson.
Meacham stated that his players understand that leadership must transcend physicality, seeing as the Templars sport only eight seniors on this year’s roster.
Meacham also confirmed that it’s paramount that his team prepare itself mentally and physically, with the region “being more solid than it has been.”
Meacham expressed the need for his team to overcome mistakes and “get ready for Carbon,” as the Dinos are the Templars’ first opponent of the season August 18.
Thomson said he has taken great pride in finishing all workouts well in hopes of preparing for a successful season, when fielding a question from Manti play-by-play announcer Larry Masco.
Meacham also said it’s “huge” getting former Snow College assistant coach Fred Taukeiaho back (as he coached the Templars before going to Snow), lauding him for his friendship, among other admirable qualities Taukeiaho possesses, such as coaching acumen.
Meacham also says with “the guys he’s got,” the timing was propitious to implement some new wrinkles in the offense.
Meacham brazenly said that in the preseason, such as the game against Class 4-A Pine View, the Templars may be overmatched, but optimistically chose to view it as an opportunity to get better.
Upon my question, Meacham did indeed confirm that he plans to throw the football more, while still remaining true to his traditional methodology of running the football.
Up next were the Summit Academy Bears, who are newcomers in Class 3-A and with their navy blue and gold uniforms look a lot like the California (Berkeley) Golden Bears of the NCAA’s Division I Pac-12 conference.
Summit Academy featured head coach Les Hamilton, new quarterback Hayden Reynolds, and other star players, including Jesse Hooper, Ammon Richards, Aaron Bailey and Gavin Davey at the press conference.
Hamilton confirmed that the Bears will have an excellent challenge in moving up to 3-A as all opponents from week-to-week include a different scheme.
Hamilton also sought to emulate his predecessor at the press conference, Meacham, by doing the best with what he has.
Hamilton additionally confirmed that in adding Union, Emery and Judge Memorial to his schedule, that it’s in Summit Academy’s best interests to play as tough of competition as they possibly can. He stated depth will likely be an issue for the Bears, seeing as they are newcomers to Class 3-A.
Reynolds, when fielding one of Masco’s questions, astutely broke down what opposing defenses do in hopes of flummoxing the Bears.
Hamilton confirmed the Bears’ offensive methodology, the Run/Pass/Option is executed with alacrity and mirrors the scheme run by Texas A&M when addressing a question from Mid-Utah Radio sports director Mike Traina who was on hand for the proceedings.
Hamilton closed his statements by saying “we’re ready for Union. It’s been a long, hot summer.” He also spoke glowingly of the Bears’ opportunity to play at Wendell (Idaho) which is between Twin Falls and Boise on Interstate 84.
Up next were the Richfield Wildcats, featuring head coach Eric Thorson, tight end Tason Lacorti, tailback Kale Morrison, linebacker Cayden Acord and elusive signal-caller Emmitt Hafen.
Thorson lauded his seniors on hand at the press conference, saying they had success as juniors on the JV squad. Morrison spoke of the importance of being a leader on and off the field and how he plans to fill that role for the Wildcats.
Acord astutely said he expects a lot out of himself this season concerning sportsmanship and Thorson echoed his statements, saying this is an emphasis for the Wildcats this season.
Hafen, in taking his leadership mantle seriously, says he plans to do what he can to keep his composure amid adverse situations, admitting that he has previously been a little hot-headed.
Thorson also said that the Wildcats’ primary focus is to play to the best of their abilities, “whether we finish 0-10 or 10-0.”
Thorson confirmed he has admiration for all of his fellow coaches in the 3-A South region and confirmed with Lovell that in the Wildcats’ preseason schedule, they’ve deliberately sought after teams that run the ball effectively.
Across the board, Lacorti, Morrison, Acord and Hafen all mentioned they were looking forward to playing chief rival South Sevier, while Acord is also excited about playing region newcomers Summit Academy and Juan Diego.
Up next were the North Sanpete Hawks who featured head coach Rhett Bird, outside linebacker Eddie Davis, guard/defensive lineman Cooper Rosenlund and quarterback Spencer Steadman.
Steadman says a focal point for him in his personal expectations this season is to “stay positive” especially when adversity strikes.
Bird says it’s essential that his Hawks stay as healthy as possible. This will be instrumental in any Hawks’ success in 2017 as the season starts with two 4-A foes (Tooele and Cedar) in the first three games.
Bird confirmed the Hawks will “rely heavily” on the run and should mirror the offense from last season. Rosenlund broke into a wide smile as Bird said this, as he said “I love to run block.”
Bird says the plan is, as well, to keep Steadman as healthy as possible, and this all starts with the offensive line executing properly.
Bird called his 3-A South foes “classy” and knows that he doesn’t have to worry about cheap-shot situations and that his Hawks will exhibit class themselves.
Bird, when speaking about his aforementioned tough schedule in the preseason, succinctly stated “if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”
The presser concluded with the two-time defending state champion Juan Diego Soaring Eagle taking to the podium.
They featured head coach John Colosimo, linebacker Max Butkovich, quarterback Zach Hoffman (who Colosimo says is a legit prospect in Division I as a wide receiver), tailback Alfonso Preciado and linebacker Matt Kobs.
Hoffman said “I just want to get better every day. I want to stay hungry and be the best I can be.” Preciado also stressed the importance of pushing everyone to be the best they can be.”
Colosimo, who by his own admission has been at Juan Diego since the program’s inception in 2000, says he’s blessed to have such great continuity among his coaching staff.
Colosimo also spoke of the importance for the Soaring Eagle to get better each and every week as they try to win a third consecutive state championship.
Incidentally, Colosimo also proved that he doesn’t know all things football as of yet, as he told Lovell he knew nothing about Summit Academy. Obviously, as of their October 13 game against the Bears, this will change.
This concluded the presser and we thank everyone who tuned into our broadcasts of the first-ever football media days.
We will commence our high school football broadcasts on August 18 with a schedule yet to be determined at this stage. Please remember to visit midutahradio.com often for the latest information on high school sports.
