RICHFIELD, Utah-Thursday, the 3-A South Region football media day occurred at the Quality Center of Richfield.
The teams appearing at this venue were Richfield, Juab, Canyon View, Carbon, North Sanpete and Manti in order of media availability.
The event was moderated by Mid-Utah Radio news/sportscaster Robert Lovell with sportscaster /Mid-Utah Radio talent Tanner Wilkinson providing questions for the coaches and players.
The preseason coaches poll for the 3-A South region is as follows:
- Juab
- North Sanpete
- Richfield
- Canyon View
- Manti
- Carbon
Media availability occurred as follows
Manti
1:46 pm
The Templars were represented by head coach Cole Meacham, tailback/linebacker A.J. Cox, tailback Carter Stevenson and interior linemen Isaac Schoppe and Ashton Hirschi.
Meacham confirmed the Templars have but eight seniors on this year’s roster, making them an anamoly in high school football in The Beehive State.
Meacham stated his student-athletes would do well to cherish these years they have to play football.
Manti went 5-6 (4-1) last season.
Meacham stressed the importance for the Templars to improve weekly.
Meacham succinctly stated “we need to move the ball and score points” when asked what Manti must achieve to be successful.
Meacham concluded his remarks by saying he sees a lot of parity in the newly devised 3-A South region.
North Sanpete
1:26 pm
The Hawks were represented by head coach Rhett Bird, tailback Dakoda Harward, interior lineman Duncan Hendry, tight end/linebacker Andy Mower and quarterback/perhaps defensive back Landon Bowles. North Sanpete was 8-3 (3-2) last season.
Bird confirmed all of these student-athletes with him today are team captains.
Mower, speaking brazenly, said he wants to win a state championship this season, stating “we have the guys to do it.”
Bird confirmed the injury bug is an issue the Hawks will have to manage effectively to be successful as all teams must wade through it annually.
Bowles believes the Hawks’ defense will be doing big things this year, setting up opportunities for the offense to be successful.
Bird confirmed he wants to see 11 guys swarm to the ball this season defensively.
Carbon
1:06 pm
The Dinos were represented by head coach Phil Howa, receiver/linebacker William Carmichael, tight end/defensive end Jonathan Lenzi, quarterback/linebacker Keaton Rich and tailback/linebacker Davin Moss.
Carmichael said he does all he cans to help teammates out with any concerns they may have. Howa bragged him up, calling him one of the Dinos’ top returners from last season.
Howa said Carbon’s program is bolstered by student-athletes having to earn their spots every day at practice.
The Dinos who were 1-9 (0-5) last season, will go into a Wing-T pistol offense for the upcoming season, Howa stated.
Howa said he is looking forward to the Emery game August 13 because if the Spartans beat you, he confirmed “they rub it in.”
Howa wants his linebackers to maintain gap control this season, he confirmed.
Carmichael confirmed he looks up to Howa as he has has mentored him for seven years.
Canyon View
12:48 pm
The Falcons were represented by head coach Chris Sawyers, tailback Cooper McMullin, receiver Cole Springer, offensive lineman Dayne Hudson and tailbacks Gavin Foster and Adrian Ward.
Last season, in 4-A’s Region 9, Canyon View sported a record of 3-8 and 0-7 in Region 9 play.
The Falcons cited the importance of overcoming adversity.
Sawyers said that opportunities in “the adult world” have hurt Canyon View’s chances in previous seasons.
Most Canyon View players unanimously declared they were looking forward to their game against Cedar.
Juab
12:29 pm
The defending state champion Wasps were represented by defensive coordinator Jake Downard, receiver/defensive end Carter Lynn, tailback/strong safety Jared Dye, receiver/defensive end Cooper Shaheen and interior lineman Briggs Ludlow.
Dye cited the example of previous Juab players for helping the Wasps achieve their level of success. Downard substantiated these words in follow-up comments.
Downard cited the importance of the Wasps remaining in the top 4 in the RPI. The Wasps (12-1, 5-0 last season) will again face upper-classification powers Cedar and Salem Hills during the upcoming season.
Downard, in the absence of head coach Mike Bowring, confirmed it is important for the Wasps to play up to his [Bowring’s] standards.
Bowring was unavailable because of the passing of his brother-in-law. Downard called this “unfortunate,” citing “we are here to support him.”
Richfield
12:09 pm
The Wildcats were represented by head coach Ryan Shaddix and interior linemen Kaden Chidester, Tage Carroll, Nathan Sorenson and Nathan Young.
Per Lovell’s recollection, this is the first time in Mid-Utah Radio Sports Network football media day history that a team has been represented entirely by linemen.
Shaddix stated he did this because these student-athletes “receive no press” and wanted to give them recognition.
The Wildcats, who went 10-2 (5-0 in region play) in 2020, felt abandoned with a head coach leaving last season and another, in his stead, not showing up, last season, Shaddix confirmed.
Shaddix said this team’s expectation is “to be the best version of themselves.”
Sorenson said “we have lots of potential. Lots of good athletes” when speaking of his teammates at the “skill positions” as they are called in football parlance.
Chidester, who has been offered a scholarship to play at BYU, explained to Lovell how this came to pass.
Chidester attended a camp at BYU, was offered a scholarship by Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake, and came away impressed with the atmosphere. This caused him to commit, he said.
Shaddix called Chidester “fast and athletic” and while he is a Dixie State alum, he will honor BYU if need be for Chidester’s sake.
