Summit Academy coach Ryan Miller didn’t shrink back from speaking about expectations for his soccer staff this season.
“General for us our expectation is to win state, that’s what we’re going into the season as,” mentioned Miller, who’s getting into his second 12 months as head coach.
The Bears have been a semifinalist a 12 months in the past, and outdoors of two lopsided losses to eventual state champ San Juan have been aggressive with each different 2A staff.
With extra starters returning than any of the opposite 2A semifinalists, Summit Academy’s championship-mentality could be very achievable.
“Our expectation is to achieve success, but it surely comes again to us. We felt plenty of instances the place we fell quick was not essentially issues that different groups have been doing to us however us making errors ourselves — at the very least except San Juan,” mentioned Miller.
Whereas Beaver and San Juan within the 2A South area each determine to reload and be within the title hunt once more, within the 2A North area Summit Academy is the clear favourite based mostly on expertise and continuity.
Final 12 months’s northern champ, South Summit, has a brand new coach with Michael Ruf taking up this system, and with any new coach there’s invariably a little bit of an unknown. He’s inheriting a staff with an honest quantity of expertise, however there’s an enormous void to fill with the commencement of dual-threat quarterback Kyler Sudweeks.
South Summit’s unfold offense has been among the many finest within the state just lately, but it surely’s at all times predicated on nice QB play and solely time will inform if Ruf had that sort of participant ready within the wings.
For Summit Academy, it completely has that sort of participant with the return of senior QB Devin Watson. He’s coming off a season wherein he handed for over 4,300 yards and 42 touchdowns.
The larger situation a 12 months in the past was Summit Academy’s protection — one thing that also must be addressed — however with Watson slinging it across the Bears will outscore loads of groups no matter what the protection does.
“Having that basis actually permits us to begin from a a lot increased degree than we have been earlier than. Having a quarterback that threw for over 4,300 yards final 12 months is a large profit, however now now we have to ensure now we have the weapons round him to ensure he’s as productive as he could be,” mentioned Miller.
If Watson and Summit Academy’s offense comes wherever near duplicating final 12 months’s manufacturing, it’s powerful to see how anybody else in 2A North can sustain.
Whereas South Summit has its personal query marks with a brand new teaching workers, final 12 months’s third-place area staff Emery has much more query marks with solely a few returning starters on each side of the ball. It was no match for Summit Academy within the quarterfinals a 12 months in the past, and shutting that hole this season will depend upon how shortly a bunch of underclassmen get acclimated to varsity soccer.
The underside half of the 2A area a 12 months in the past was Windfall Corridor, Choose Memorial and American Management. Each Windfall Corridor and ALA have new head coaches, and of these backside three the staff almost certainly to problem the upper-tier groups is Windfall Corridor.
The Patriots had moments final season once they competed with groups like South Summit and Beaver for 1 / 4 or perhaps a half, however with eight offensive starters again and 7 defensive, they’re optimistic about sustaining that effort extra persistently over 4 quarters.
“We have now a core group of returning starters which can be dedicated and able to play all out. Expectations have by no means been this excessive for Patriot soccer,” mentioned first-year Windfall Corridor coach Jake Hardcastle.
As for Choose and ALA, they went a mixed 2-19 a 12 months in the past. Choose received shut out 5 instances, however nonetheless managed to file a victory over ALA on the ultimate day of the common season, 14-6.
Regardless of the apparent struggles each packages endured a 12 months in the past, the silver lining for every was they have been relying closely on underclassmen. A lot of these gamers are again which supplies each packages a strong basis to try to construct on.
2A South projections
(Preseason rankings are based mostly on coaches’ votes)
1. Summit Academy Bears
2021 file: 7-5 (second in 2A North with a 4-1 file).
2021 RPI rating: No. 4 in 2A.
2021 postseason: Misplaced to San Juan, 60-35, within the 2A semifinals.
All-time file: 72-41 (10 years).
State titles: 1 (2018).
Area titles: 3 (2016, 2017 co, 2018).
Head coach: Ryan Miller. Miller is heading into the second season as head coach at Summit Academy after beforehand serving as an assistant. The Bears went 7-5 in his debut season. He’s a graduate of Sir Winston Churchill Excessive Faculty in Canada and BYU.
Coach Ryan Miller’s common outlook: Summit Academy returns various key items for the 2022 season after a profitable 2021 marketing campaign which completed with a loss to eventual 2A champion San Juan within the semifinals. Summit will look to construct a extra balanced offense after counting on the move in 2021. Quarterback Devin Watson and his 4,400 yards passing will return, together with a number of key receivers, however Summit should be capable of set up a extra constant working assault in 2022.
Defensively, the state’s main tackler in 2021, Gabe Wilbur, has been misplaced to commencement, however Summit returns seven starters from 2021 and appears to enhance its physicality, notably in stopping the run. As is at all times the case in 2A, staying wholesome will play a key a part of Summit Academy’s success, but when the harm bug could be averted and the ball bounces the suitable approach a few instances, Summit hopes to construct on final 12 months’s end.
Offensive coordinator: Toby Stines.
2021 offense: 36.7 ppg (No. 2 in 2A)
- Six returning starters
- Unfold offense
Returning offensive starters
- Koa Sylvester, Sr., WR
- Drew Mellen, Sr., OL
- Logan Bastian, Sr., OL
- Josh Morrill, Jr., WR
- Devin Watson, Sr., QB
- Will Dayton, Sr., WR
Key offensive newcomers
- Kyle Energetic, So., WR
- Aden Stines, Jr., WR
- Tarun Perisami, Jr., OL
- Gavin Talbot, Sr., RB
- Bronson Dixon, So., RB
- Lane Despain, Sr., OL
Defensive coordinator: Justin Wilbur
2021 protection: 23.3 ppg (No. 7 in 2A)
- Seven returning starters
- 3-4 protection
Returning defensive starters
Larsen Dixon, Sr., LB
Khai Matagi, Jr., LB
Owen Egler, Jr., DL
Josh Gomez, Sr., DB
Will Dayton, Sr., DB
Koa Sylvester, Sr., DB
Sawyer Rasmussen, Sr., DL
Key defensive newcomers
Ace Dressler, Jr., LB
Braxton Smith, Sr., DB
Lane Despain, Sr., DL
Logan Serr, Jr., LB
2. Emery Spartans
2021 file: 6-6 (third in 2A North with a 3-2 file).
2021 RPI rating: No. 5 in 2A.
2021 postseason: Misplaced to Summit Academy, 37-14, within the 2A quarterfinals.
All-time file: 260-336-4 (60 years).
State titles: 1 (1987).
Area titles: 8 (1967 co, 1987, 1988 co, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999).
Head coach: Jon Faimalo. Coming into his seventh season as head coach at Emery, with a 18-45 file his first six seasons. He’s a graduate of Emery Excessive Faculty and Snow Faculty.
Coach Jon Faimalo’s common outlook: We misplaced plenty of seniors who performed key positions however have plenty of younger expertise which can be able to step in and fill these footwear
Offensive coordinator: Chris Justice
2021 offense: 23.3 ppg (No. 7 in 2A)
- Three returning starters
- Unfold offense
Returning offensive starters
- Creek Sharp, WR
- Treg Miller, WR
- Dane Sitterud
Key offensive newcomers
- Wade Stilson, QB
- Easton Thornley, OL
- Thomas McElprang, OL
- Sebastian Hennes, WR
Defensive coordinator: Jon Faimalo
Emery protection: 21.5 ppg (No. 5 in 2A)
- 4 returning starters
- 4-3 protection
Returning defensive starters
- Treg Miller, Security
- Kelby Jones, DL
- Koalton Curtis, LB
Key defensive newcomers
- Bowen Sitterud, DL
- Matt Olsen, LB
3. South Summit Wildcats
2021 file: 11-1 (first in 2A North with a 5-0 file).
2021 RPI rating: No. 2 in 2A.
2021 postseason: Misplaced to Beaver, 21-14, within the 2A semifinals.
All-time file: 413-346-8 (84 years).
State titles: 8 (1977, 1978, 1984, 1988, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018).
Area titles: 13 (1925, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1977 co, 2000, 2009 co, 2013 co, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021).
Head coach: Mike Ruf. Heading into his first season as head coach at his alma mater.
Coach Mike Ruf’s common outlook: First 12 months taking up. Excited for the chance. Sky is the restrict with the group of boys now we have.
Offensive coordinators: Rob Gempeler, Mical Bracken.
2021 offense: 35.9 ppg (No. 3 in 2A)
- Six returning starters
- Unfold offense
Returning offensive starters
- Caleby Thompson, Slot
- Juan Ramirez, WE
- Stone Edmunds, OL
- JC Rockhill, OL
- Teagan Hutson, OL
- Gavin Ross, OL
Defensive coordinators: Mike Osguthorpe, Justin Rockhill
2021 protection: 14.92 ppg (No. 2 in 2A)
- 5 returning starters
- 4-4 protection
Returning defensive starters
- Brady Freeman
- Noah Gunnerson
- Maddoc Cox
- Rocky Millburn
- Bode Monninger
- Chris Sennas
4. Windfall Corridor Patriots
2021 file: 5-7 (fourth in 2A North with a 2-3 file).
2021 RPI rating: No. 7 in 2A.
2021 postseason: Misplaced to South Summit, 33-17, within the 2A quarterfinals.
All-time file: 9-22 (3 years).
State titles: None.
Area titles: None.
Head coach: Jake Hardcastle. Heading into his first season as head coach at Windfall Corridor.
Coach Jake Hardcastle’s common outlook: We have now a core group of returning starters which can be dedicated and able to play all out. Expectations have by no means been this excessive for Patriot soccer. Coming off our greatest offseason but, now we have leaders rising and we're stronger and sooner than now we have ever been. Patriot soccer has gone by means of plenty of adversity the previous few years and but now we have nice seniors and juniors which have come by means of all of it higher on the opposite aspect.
Offensive coordinator: Brian Jacketta
2021 offense: 25.6 ppg (No. 6 in 2A)
- Eight returning starters
- Professional unfold offense
Returning offensive starters
- Maile Fonua, Jr., OL
- Pesi Fonua, Jr., OL
- Lemuel De Jesus, Sr., OL
- Alex Reynolds, Jr., OL
- Tate Edwards, Sr., WR
- Cooper Starks, Sr., RB
- Job Barlow, Sr., TE
- Jaiden Reyes, Jr., WR
Key offensive newcomers
- Spencer Gaillard, Sr., RB
- Boden Welch, Jr., OL
- Robin Limutau, Sr., WR
Defensive coordinator: Dave Smith
2021 protection: 21.4 ppg (No. 4 in 2A)
- Seven returning starters
- 4-2-5 protection
Returning defensive starters
BJ Smith, Sr., DB
Justin Foster, Sr., DE
Easton Thompson, LB
Job Barlow, Sr., DE
Cooper Starks, Sr., LB
Tate Edwards, Sr., DB
Cade Fox, Jr., DB
Key defensive newcomers
- Dwayne Roebeck, Sr., DL
- Matheus Silva, Sr., DB
- Jacob Stanger, Sr., DB
5. American Management Eagles
2021 file: 1-10 (sixth in 2A North with a 0-5 file).
2021 RPI rating: No. 11 in 2A.
2021 postseason: Misplaced to Delta, 49-10, within the 2A first spherical.
All-time file: 41-122 (16 years).
State titles: None.
Area titles: None.
Head coach: Kyle Purvis. Beforehand the top ladies basketball coach at ALA, Kyle Purvis is taking up as the college’s head soccer coach. He’s a graduate of American Fork Excessive Faculty and UVU.
Offensive coordinator: Kyle Purvis
2021 offense: 12.18 ppg (No. 10 in 2A)
- Seven returning starters
- Unfold offense
Returning offensive starters
- McKay Twitchell, Sr., G
- Ryan Seely, Sr., T
- Wyatt Jacobsen, Sr., G
- Champ Porter, Sr., TE
- Tad Swarnes, Soph., RB/DB
- Raj Singh, Sr., WR
- Briggs Nielson, Soph., C
Key offensive newcomers
- Jake Nye, Sr., QB
- Noah Swarnes, Soph., WR
Defensive coordinator: Lee Nordyke.
2021 protection: 42.64 ppg (No. 11 in 2A).
- Three returning starters
- 4-2 protection
Returning defensive starters
- Tad Swarnes, Soph., DE
- Champ Porter, Sr., LB
- Gabe Huff, Jr., LB
Key defensive newcomers
- Colton Edwards, Jr., DB
- Chris Marble, Jr., DB
- Thomas O’Donnell, Jr., LB
6. Choose Memorial Bulldogs
2021 file: 1-9 (fifth in 2A North with a 1-4 file).
2021 RPI rating: No. 10 in 2A.
2021 postseason: Misplaced to Windfall Corridor, 44-12, within the 2A first spherical.
All-time file: 455-406-9 (95 years).
State titles: 11 (1948, 1949, 1959, 1953, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1981, 1983, 2013, 2014).
Area titles: 18 (1948, 1949, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 co, 1972, 1977 co, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1993 co, 2008, 2013, 2014).
Head coach: Will Hawes. Coming into his fourth season as head coach at Choose Memorial, the place his groups are 3-27 the previous three years. Beforehand coached at Layton Christian and Clearfield. He was at Layton Christian from 2007 to 2011, ending with a 21-29 file, and was Clearfield’s coach in 2012 and 2013 ending with a 5-15 file. He’s a graduate of Locke Excessive Faculty in California and Weber State.
Coach Will Hawes’ common outlook: Our staff mission this season is to place ourselves in place every week to win the sport. We need to play quick, exhausting and underneath management. We need to govern ourselves with class and carry out the Bulldog approach! We need to execute on all groups and have enjoyable whereas doing it.
Offensive coordinator: Jack Stahl
2021 offense: 6.9 ppg (No. 11 in 2A)
- Eight returning starters
- Unfold offense
Returning offensive starters
- Isaiah Hemmings, Sr., RB/WR
- Patrick Clark, Sr., WR
- Drew Hansen-Coomes, Sr., OL
- Kevin Pernich, Sr., WR
- Calvin McAward, Jr., QB/RB/WR
- Henry Thompson, Jr., Slot
- Ricky Hen, Jr., QB/WR
- Malakhy Smith, So., OL
Key offensive newcomers
- Tyrese Boyce, Jr., RB
- Tyree Pearson, So., OL /TE
- Kyle Fredericks, Jr., TE
Defensive coordinator: James Cordova
2021 protection: 40.5 ppg (No. 10 in 2A)
- 9 returning starters
- 4-3 protection
Returning defensive starters
Isaiah Hemmings, Sr., SS
Patrick Clark, Sr., FS
Drew -Hansen- Coomes, Sr., DL
Kevin Pernich, Sr., OLB
Henry Thompson, Jr., CB
Malakhy Smith, So., NG
Lucas Maxwell, Sr., MLB
Jack Gose, Sr., OLB/DE
Adrian Aguirre, Sr., DT
Key defensive newcomers
Kaden Merrills, Jr., CB
Tyree Pearson, So., DE/DT
Tyrese Boyce, Jr., OLB
Kyle Fredericks, Jr., DE