Canyon View Falcons- Head Coach: Burke Miller
Moving down from 4A to 3A last season, the Falcons gathered its most single season wins since 2015 as they finished 5-6 overall and 3-2 in region play. Now under the instruction of first year head coach Burke Miller, Canyon View will have to continue its progression with a cast of fresh faces.
Nick Macias, who saw limited time at quarterback in 2021, is expected to take control under center. Known as a “do it all” type player, Macias gathered well over 1,000 all purpose yards from multiple positions and was named to the 3A All-State Second Team as an “Athlete”. He will lead a total of five returning offensive starters, a group that includes outside options Traie Buhler and Karver Mock. Buhler finished second on the team in receiving touchdowns with three, while averaging over 10 yards per reception. Mock finished 2021 as a 3A All-State Honorable Mention at tight end.
Defensively the Falcons will return six starters from 2021 and will have a seasoned group in the middle at linebacker. Mock, Jake Hunter, and Marc Richardson combined for 133 tackles last season and will anchor the middle of the field. The core will have to find a way to replace the production of All-State standout linebacker Cooper McMullin, who led the team with 93 tackles during his senior campaign in 2021.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
Carbon Dinos- Head Coach: Phil Howa
The Carbon Dinos found early success in 2021 winning two of its first three games against Cottonwood and American Leadership. Ending the season on a seven-game losing skid, the Dinos failed to log a region win for the third consecutive year.
There is a justifiable amount of optimism floating around the program heading into year three under head coach Phil Howa. While the team said goodbye to multiple key contributing seniors in 2021, this year’s group will enter with plenty of varsity experience.
Earning varsity time during his sophomore and junior season, senior Wyatt Falk enters 2022 as the full-time starting quarterback for the Dinos. A multi-sport athlete at Carbon High School, Falk has shown growth during the short off-season after throwing for 313 yards and three touchdowns as a junior.
“Wyatt gets better every day,” said Howa. “He gets more confident every day and with that comes leadership. Right now, he is working hard and regaining that football touch. Football and baseball are two different sports, but he is working hard.”
Falk will be one of four returners who started four games or more on offense last season. Back in the fold will be senior wideouts Mason Vasquez and Cole Crips. In the trenches the Dinos will welcome back Hyrum Nelson and Jexton Woodhouse.
While Vasquez will add explosiveness to the Carbon offense, he will be a key anchor to the team’s secondary. One of just two starting returners on defense, Vasquez garnered a 3A All-State Honorable Mention as he finished second on the team in tackles with 58 and added two interceptions.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
Juab Wasps- Head Coach: Mike Bowring
A marvelous 2021 season ended prematurely for the mighty Juab Wasps as they suffered a 54-38 loss to the Morgan Trojans in the semifinals of the 3A State Tournament. While the ending was not what the No. 1 ranked Wasps envisioned, there is little to suggest they will not once again be among the favorites to hoist the title in 2022.
The defending region champions will return nine starters on each side of the ball, including quarterback Alex Jackson, wide receiver Wes Nielsen and center Will Harmon. The three seniors all earned 3A First Team selections in 2021.
Jackson led Juab to the No. 3 scoring offense in 3A as he finished with 3,170 passing yards to go along with 37 touchdowns. Six of the team’s top eight players in all purpose yards will return in 2022. Nielsen solidified his spot in the top tier of 3A receivers as he accumulated 1,018 yards and nine touchdowns through the air. Paired with senior Payton Park, who collected 692 yards and 10 touchdowns, the duo will represent the most potent 1-2 receiver punch in the classification.
Known for their defensive identity, the Wasps will welcome back nine starters on defense as well. Senior Wesley Nielsen will look to expand on his junior campaign where he led the team with 98 tackles. Junior Porter Anderson will once again join forces with senior Will Harmon at linebacker, where the two combined for 146 tackles last season.
Head coach Mike Bowring is entering his 18th season as head coach of the Juab football program. During that time, he has amassed a record of 152-60, including three consecutive region championships.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
Manti Templars- Head Coach: Cole Mecham
The Manti Templars managed to play its best football late last season as the team finished 3-7 overall, suffering a 34-28 loss to Ogden in the opening round of the 3A State Tournament.
Earning two of its three wins in region play, the Templars overcame a youth movement to grab the No. 8 seed in the final RPI rankings. With a total of 19 starters returning, along with the consistency of head coach Cole Mecham, the Templars are set to take big steps.
Larson Pogroszewski is one of only 11 underclassmen who garnered a 3A All-State First team selection in 2021. Labeled as an “Athlete”, Pogroszewski finished with 39 tackles and four interceptions on defense, while accounting for 810 all purpose yards and seven touchdowns on offense. Another key contributor returning to the field this season is Reggie Frischknecht. Named as a member of the All-State Second team, he found the end zone nine times as a receiver and gathered 466 yards. Both weapons should serve as legitimate options for quarterback Kayson Douglas.
Manti’s offense became more potent as the season progressed. Averaging 19 points per game throughout the season, the Templars posted a 25-point performance against Juab and 28 points against Ogden to close out the season. Those two outings may be a sign of things to come.
Defensively the Templars managed to place in the middle of the classification as far as points allowed. Early in the season Manti gave up just seven points in a win over Union and 14 points in a loss to Delta. In back-to-back games against Carbon and Canyon View, Manti allowed a combined 35 points, coming in under their season average and securing two straight wins.
Those numbers are incredibly important to a team that will return all but one starter on defense. Running out of a 4-4 scheme, the Templars will welcome back its entire linebacking core consisting of Bo Stevens, Dallin Sweat, Kelan Layton and Jace Wilson.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
North Sanpete Hawks- Head Coach: Rhett Bird
For the past three seasons the North Sanpete Hawks have had one of the most stable quarterback situations in the classification. Following the graduation of standout Landon Bowles, head coach Rhett Bird will have a new leader under center in 2022.
It seems like a daunting task to replace a three-year starter who collected more than 70 touchdowns during his career, but an injury last season forced this year’s starter Tyler Allan into the starting role. Making eight appearances throughout the season, Allan proved to be a competent replacement as he completed 76-percent of his passes, tossing three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Allan’s experience will be valuable in 2022 as a steady cast of returners will join him. Tyler Peckham, who earned a 3A All-State Honorable Mention last season, will return to anchor the offensive line. Owen Sunderland and Jacob Blackham will join him to give the Hawks experience up front.
Defensively the Hawks will return six starters from last year’s No. 6 ranked defense. Three times last season North Sanpete held their opponent to seven points or less. The most active of the group of returners is senior PJ Cook, who finished fourth on the team in tackles a season ago.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starters: Defense
Richfield Wildcats- Head Coach: Ryan Shaddix
The Richfield Wildcats encountered plenty of growing pains in 2021. With eight underclassmen on each side of the ball, the Wildcats finished the season with a 4-7 record. Heading into coach Ryan Shaddix’s third year at the helm, things are looking very promising for a now veteran group.
Offensively the Wildcats will once again rely on the athleticism of junior quarterback Reggie Hafen. As a sophomore Hafen threw for over 1,200 yards, nine touchdowns and completed 60-percent of his passes.
Fellow junior tight end Cort Moon, who proved to be one of Hafen’s favorite targets, will also be back. Moon led the team in receiving yards with 555 yards to go along with a team-high four touchdowns. At wideout the Wildcats will also have Brik Breinholt and Grant Kling, who combined for 400 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Protecting the second-year quarterback will be four returners on the offensive line. Andrew Christensen, Austin Nielson, Brevan Anderson, and Nathan Young will give the Wildcats a solid nucleus up front.
Richfield wracked up five 3A All-State awards on the defensive side of the ball in 2021. Four of those five players will be returning in 2022.
The leader of the group will be senior Grant Kling, who earned a 3A All-State First Team nod as he produced 36 tackles, three interceptions and 17 passes defended. Senior middle linebacker JJ Taufatofua will anchor the middle of the field after earning a 3A All-State Second Team selection. The strength of the defense may come from the front line as juniors Nathan Young and Ashton White return after taking All-State Honorable Mentions in 2021.
2021 Results
2022 Schedule
Returning Starters: Offense
Returning Starts: Defense
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