American Leadership Eagles
Things have changed for the Eagles at the beginning of the 2022 season. Last season, the Eagles posted an overall record of 1-10 and 0-5 in region play. Kyle Purvis, longtime head coach of the ALA girls basketball team, looks to lead an Eagles team that returns 10 seniors from last year’s team.
Seniors Raj Singh and Champ Porter return to an offense that is returning just 11% of production from a season ago. Singh is a speedy wide receiver that totaled nine receptions for 80 yards. Singh also saw major time on the special teams unit as he had 85 return yards. Porter had seven receptions for 31 yards last year as he and Singh combine for 43% of ALA’s returning production. Senior quarterback Jake Nye will rely heavily on Porter and Singh to anchor the offensive side of the ball.
Champ Porter not only got it done on offense last year, but he also returns to play linebacker alongside junior captain Gabe Huff. Porter tallied 41 total tackles last season with 2.0 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. Huff will start at middle linebacker after finishing with 52 total tackles a year ago, six of which went for losses.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
Emery Spartans
After saying goodbye to one of the biggest senior classes in recent years, the Spartans will enter the 2022 season with several fresh faces at key positions.
Junior Wade Stilson is the new quarterback under center and while he attempted just 27 passes as a sophomore at the varsity level, he will have plenty of experience as far as offensive weapons are concerned.
Thrusted into the starting role last season, junior Dane Sitterud will once again be called upon to carry the load out of the backfield. Playing key snaps due to injury as a sophomore, Sitterud led the team in rushing yards with 446 and carries at 91. Returning on the outside will be senior Treg Miller and junior Creek Sharp, the team leaders in receptions from 2021.
Defensively the Spartans will bring back a wealth of experience in the secondary. Sebastian Hennes, Miller and Sharp will all take on key roles, while Ridic Potter returns after taking a season off to help carry the load.
After starting the season with back-to-back road games against 3A competition, the Spartans will have a bye on Aug. 26. Returning to the field on Sept. 2, Emery will host three consecutive games including the region opener against South Summit on Sept. 16.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
Judge Memorial Bulldogs
Will Hawes returns as the Bulldog head coach and brings 13 seniors back as well. The Bulldogs finished 1-9 overall last season and 1-4 in region play. This season, the Bulldogs will look to their senior class to provide production on both sides of the ball.
Senior running back Isaiah Hemmings and junior wide receiver Henry Thompson return the most production for the Bulldog offense this season. Hemmings provided the most offense last season for Judge as he totaled 58 yards on 29 carries. Hemmings also had 351 receiving yards on 21 catches. Thompson recorded 123 receiving yards on twelve receptions but did most of his damage on special teams as he tallied 235 kick return yards. Hemmings and Thompson will be key to the development of first year starting quarterback Ricky Bird.
Isaiah Hemmings was more than just a “swiss-army knife” on offense last year. Hemmings was the second leading tackler on the Bulldog defense a season ago with 39. Hemmings also had an interception, one of just four players last season with an interception. Seniors Lucas Maxwell and Jack Gose stand alongside Hemmings as the best returning defenders for Judge Memorial. Gose and Maxwell recorded 37 tackles each and will be important pieces to a veteran Bulldog defense.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
Providence Hall Patriots
Following the trend of most of the region, the Providence Hall Patriots will kick-off the 2022 season with a new coach at the helm. Jacob Hardcastle will take charge of an experienced Patriots team that went 4-5 overall and 2-3 in region play last year. Providence Hall returns 11 seniors from a season ago as they look to make a push for the top of Region 2A-North.
Sophomore Lucas Thompson will be under center for the Patriots this year behind an experienced offensive line that consists of juniors Lemuel De Jesus, Maile Fonua, and Pesi Fonua. Seniors Cooper Starks, Tate Edwards and Job Barlow will be consistent targets for Thompson.
Barlow, Starks, and Edwards anchor a defense that consists of mainly upperclassmen. Barlow will be joined on the defensive line by Justin Foster, another senior, as Starks and Easton Thompson round out the linebackers. Edwards, Cade Fox and BJ Smith will play in the secondary to try and complete an already stout defense.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
South Summit Wildcats
There were very few teams that had a better season than the Wildcats last season. After a perfect 9-0 regular season, the Wildcats played into the semi-finals of the 2A state playoffs before falling to Beaver 21-14. South Summit finished 11-1 overall and 5-0 in region play last season. This season, however, brings a fresh look to South Summit as Michael Ruf has taken over the head coaching job.
Part of the challenges of this new season comes with replacing last year’s quarterback Kyler Sudweeks. Sudweeks accounted for 4,639 total yards and 52 total touchdowns. While it is hard to replace over 83% of a team’s offense, South Summit is returning their two best receivers from last season. Caleby Thompson and Juan Ramirez, now seniors, return to help the next Wildcat quarterback. A season ago, Thompson totaled 1,522 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Ramirez pulled his own weight with 716 yards on 44 receptions and five touchdowns.
The defense side of the ball is returning just as much talent as the offense with Rocky Millburn and Brady Freeman back for more. Freeman, a junior, had 69 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 18 sacks, and one forced fumble. Freeman is the “do-it-all” player that all coaches dream of. Millburn will be the athlete on the back end to hold down the Wildcat defense. Millburn, a senior, tallied 39 tackles and two interceptions.
The Wildcats, who have just nine seniors, will have to depend on their 31 juniors and plethora of underclassmen.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
Summit Academy Bears
Despite an average of 37 points per game, the Bears finished 7-5 overall and 4-1 in region last season. Unfortunately for Summit Academy, their season ended in the semi-finals where they lost to eventual champion, San Juan. The successful season warranted a return from Ryan Miller as head coach.
Returning with Miller is senior quarterback Devin Watson who tossed an astounding 4,289 yards and 51 touchdowns. This type of production was due to the great play by receivers Koa Sylvester and Will Dayton, who returned this season as well. Sylvester had 1,382 yards and 17 touchdowns while Dayton had 245 yards and three touchdowns. Watson will play behind an offensive line led by seniors Logan Bastian and Drew Mellen.
The Bears return five players on defense that finished last year with 40+ tackles. Junior Owen Egler leads the defensive line after a 51-tackle season a year ago. Egler also had 15 tackles for loss and six sacks. Senior linebacker Larson Dixon returns with the most experience on the defense and will rely on seniors Koa Sylvester and Josh Gomez to hold down the fort in the secondary.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
