After finishing 1-9 and missing the playoffs for the 15th consecutive year in 2015, the Carbon Dinos will look to grow in year two under head football coach Josh Huntsman.
The Dinos will have a much different look in the upcoming season as the team will have to rely on multiple underclassmen to be competitive in the difficult 3A North. With stability finally surrounding the coaching staff, the team can begin to build from the ground up.
Despite the struggles the team encountered in 2015 several seniors managed to shine as they attempted to lead the team into a new era. With the graduation of players such as Peyton Fausette and Dallyn Mower (both 3A All-Star selections), the team will have big shoes to fill on both sides of the ball.
“We’ve got kids who are stepping up in those positions and I think will do a good job,” said head coach Josh Huntsman Monday on KOAL’s Drive Time Sports. “Our younger kids are ready to step up into those leadership roles. We have to have that next man up philosophy because we are down in numbers.”
Once again Carbon will be working with minimal numbers, something that has plagued the team in years past. Because of the numbers Carbon will field two teams, a varsity and sophomore squad, and eliminate the junior varsity games in 2016.
“We had a few guys who decided it wasn’t for them and didn’t come back this year,” Huntsman said. “We’re looking around 50 kids, which will give us two teams. We’ll probably end up playing a freshman and sophomore group together, so there will just be two games a week.”
Offensively the Dinos will have only four returning starters from last year’s team. The majority of the varsity experience will come from the offensive line as Tristan Armstrong, Austin Sanderson and Ryan Jannoud make their return. The only other returner is running back Nathan Olsen.
Who will be under center for the Dinos when the team opens the season on Aug. 19 against Manti is one question that continues to loom. The field has been narrowed down to three; sophomore Noah Jones, junior Triton Abeyta and senior Braxton Swearingen. Each of the three have brought something unique to the table during camp.
“We have three guys that are vying for that position. The competition is a good thing for sure,” said Huntsman. “Having three compete keeps them on their toes and doing things the right way. We’ll make a judgment call once we get closer to the Manti game as to who our starter will be.”
Whoever gets the nod at quarterback will have to handle an expanded playbook. Running roughly three basic plays out of the double-wing set last season, the Dinos will add a pro set wrinkle to the equation. The additional formation will allow the team to be more flexible against opposing defenses.
“A lot of teams were packing nine, ten or eleven guys in the box and that’s tough to block that out of the double-wing,” Huntsman said. “If we can get into another offense to spread the field out a little bit and give us some time to find rush lines, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
Defensively the Dinos will also be rebuilding with mostly young talent. Expect Armstrong, Sanderson, Jannoud and Jacob Sauer to play a big role up front and in the middle. Olsen should again see plenty of action in the secondary.
Giving up 34 points per contest last season, the defense held the opposing team under 30 points just three times. In region play opponents averaged 37 points per game.
In order to improve last year’s 1-9 mark the coaching staff put a large emphasis on fundamentals during the summer months. Even with a younger group, Huntsman says the growth in knowledge has been obvious.
“Fundamentals and muscle memory were big for us this summer. During our first few practices you could see that some of that muscle memory has taken and things are getting a bit easier for our kids.”
Below is Huntsman’s recent interview on KOAL’s Drive Time Sports, and the complete 2016 schedule.