RICHFIELD, Utah-Tuesday, the Quality Center at the Quality Inn of Richfield hosted the 1A Football Media Day.
The participating schools were Water Canyon, Gunnison Valley, Enterprise, Kanab, Milford, North Sevier and Duchesne.
Eight-man football is being played for the first time in Utah this year and two of the teams (Water Canyon and Gunnison Valley) participating at this media day will be playing it this season.
The schedule is a bit nebulous at this stage as well as the site for a state championship game. Presumably, the first eight-man games will occur Week 3.
For instance, Water Canyon head coach Heber Horsley confirmed that the Wildcats are designated to play five eight-man games and five 11-man games.
The schools playing eight-man football this season are
Altamont
Gunnison Valley
Monticello
Monument Valley
Rich
Utah School For the Deaf and Blind
Water Canyon
Whitehorse
Duchesne
1:50 pm
The Duchesne Eagles, the defending 1A state champions, concluded the proceedings. They “appeared” via zoom technology.
Duchesne was represented by head coach Jerry Cowan, lineman Bronson Hartman, lineman Heston Wimmer and quarterback Parker Crum. Crum is excited at how far the Eagles can go this season.
Cowan likes the Eagles’ chances of repeating because Duchesne only had six seniors last season and was able to get past Layton Christian to secure the 1A state championship.
North Sevier
1:32 pm
The North Sevier Wolves were represented by head coach Wyatt Mason, quarterback/safety/defensive end Kannin Boswell, guard/defensive end/middle linebacker Blaine Anderson, center/defensive tackle Clayton Duckworth and receiver/safety Tyler Foote.
Anderson brought a rosy outlook to his remarks, saying that observers will see a different Wolves squad than they had in the past.
Mason expressed his disappointment that Richfield is not on the Wolves’ schedule this season. Despite this, he is also excited for North Sevier having several new teams on the schedule, such as Duchesne.
Mason also expressed exuberance for the Wolves having more returning seniors than any North Sevier squad since, by his estimation, the 2009 or 2010 season.
Mason lauded Anderson for being a three-year captain. He applauds his ability to be coached as he said “it’s easy to coach a kid like Blaine.”
In conclusion, Mason said he has great expectations for this squad, saying “we expect to be at the top.”
Milford
1:15 pm
The Milford Tigers were represented by head coach Thane Marshall, receiver/safety Trey Rose, quarterback, perhaps tailback Bo Hardy, offensive lineman/defensive lineman Elias Romero, outside linebacker Bryson Aklin and middle linebacker Quaid Thompson.
Marshall said the team has obtained a lot of maturity this summer and Thompson stated the practice sessions this summer have been effective.
Marshall also said that the injury bug is especially adverse for small schools because once it hits, you don’t have many replacements readily available, he stated. Nevertheless, he stated his old school credentials and said the Tigers will continue to hit at practice each day.
Marshall said he still gets goosebumps before each game which is why he remains a coach despite his supposed status as the “senior citizen of 1A football coaches.”
North Sevier
1:32 pm
The North Sevier Wolves were represented by head coach Wyatt Mason, quarterback/safety/defensive end Kannin Boswell, guard/defensive end/middle linebacker Blaine Anderson, center/defensive tackle Clayton Duckworth and receiver/safety Tyler Foote.
Kanab
12:56 pm
The Kanab Cowboys were represented by head coach J.R. Quarnberg, offensive lineman/defensive lineman Jaden Holder, offensive lineman/defensive lineman Preston Houston, tailback/linebacker Travis Stewart, defensive end/tight end/ “QB No. 3” Kason Janes and center/defensive lineman Max Kartchner.
The Cowboys are looking forward to the August 12 opener at home against Beaver but also the September 23 home game against Layton Christian. The Eagles downed the Cowboys in last season’s semifinals.
Quarnberg confirmed the Cowboys will continue to rely on a dominant running game as Stewart and his backfield mate, Parker Franklin, return. Stewart, when asked, said he hopes to exceed 1,000 yards again as both he and Franklin did so in 2021.
Houston said he uses pregame music to hype himself up before games as Kanab’s media time drew to a close.
Enterprise
12:40 pm
The Enterprise Wolves were represented by head coach Andy Messersmith, fullback Aiden Dougherty, receiver/tight end/middle linebacker Austin Humphries, defensive lineman/tackle Gage Schoeffler and guard/defensive end Sam Johnson.
Messersmith said he wants to ascertain the Wolves are ready to play each game. He called 1A South a “tough region.” He hopes for propitious bounces so Enterprise can succeed.
Enterprise has question marks at quarterback presently and Humphries confirmed he trusts his quarterbacks, whomever they should be, as the Wolves seek to get through a potential platoon situation at the position.
Gunnison Valley
12:23 pm
The Gunnison Valley Bulldogs were represented by head coach Patrick King, tailback/safety Tyrek Hopkins, tailback Skip Jackson, receiver Austin Jessop and quarterback Tyson Tucker.
Water Canyon
12:06 pm
The Water Canyon Wildcats, in their first season of varsity football, were represented by head coach Heber Horsley, quarterback Dylan Horsley, tailback Nick Timpson, linebacker/fullback Collin Kelsch and receiver/safety Jonathan Timpson.
Heber Horsley said the biggest challenge his Wildcats have is learning how to play football as they do not have previous experience in doing so in the community.
Heber Horsley said his kids are ready to start hitting and “we hit during practice.”
Water Canyon will play concurrently in two different regions: the eight-man football region and 1A South.
Heber Horsley hopes that Water Canyon will have Kanab as its rival, 10 years down the road.
Heber Horsley also said he hopes for Water Canyon to make their mark, as no one expects much of first-year programs.
As a returning quarterback, Tucker said he “wants to compete in every game we play.” He hopes for the offense to come together.
Jackson said he’s looking forward to “hitting people.”
King says he’s looking forward to the Bulldogs’ season opener against American Leadership. The Bulldogs host the Eagles August 12.
King lauded the cohesion of his unit, saying kids hang out in the locker room after practice.
