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When John Teuscher took over the Copper Hills football program in December, he didn't ask which starters were coming back this fall.

"I've made it my business to not really find out who played how much last year," the first-year coach said. "All I've been interested in is who can do what now."

Teuscher has coached at Snow College, Northern Arizona and Utah, and he knows the challenge that awaits as he takes over a program that won just two games last season.

"The No. 1 thing is trying to change the culture here," he said. "The thing we've been preaching to the kids like crazy is to go 1-0 in everything you do. Go 1-0 in the weight room, practice, academically, how you treat people. If we add up all those 1-0s, good things are going to happen to us."

The Grizzlies return quarterback Sam Taylor, who led Copper Hills in both victories early last year before breaking his collarbone.

"He lost the rest of the season and Copper Hills lost the rest of the games," Teuscher said.

Taylor will have a pair of nice weapons at his disposal in wide receiver Karl Kumpin and running back Tyler Smith, who rushed for 700 yards last season.

Still, the Grizzlies will have their work cut out for them in a stacked Region 3.

That suits Teuscher just fine.

"If we are trying to build a program that can eventually compete for a state championship, we have to compete in this region," the coach said. —

Copper Hills Grizzlies

ASSIGNMENT • Region 3

LAST YEAR • 2-8 overall, 0-5 Region 3

KEY RETURNER • Quarterback Sam Taylor piloted the Grizzlies to a pair of early season victories before suffering a season-ending injury. With Taylor gone, Copper Hills went winless the rest of the year.

PLAYER TO WATCH • Junior wide receiver Karl Kumpin will line up in the slot.

BIGGEST HOLE • Experience. Copper Hills won't return many starters from a season ago as the Grizzlies look to rebuild their program.

NEED TO KNOW • First-year coach John Teuscher has experience coaching at Utah, Northern Arizona and Snow College.