Until last week's 42-35 loss to Mountain Crest, the Woods Cross football team was confident that it could compete in 4A. After that game, the Wildcats aren't so sure.

Having outscored its opponents 69-7 in the first two weeks of the season, Woods Cross lost to Mountain Crest when the Mustangs scored a touchdown with 20 seconds remaining.

"The game with Mountain Crest was going to be a game that told us a little bit about ourselves," coach Fred Fernandez said. "I felt like we should've won the game, we had our chances and we didn't end up doing it. I saw that we are a pretty good football team, but a not a really good football team."

Before the game against Mountain Crest, Fernandez said that he thought his team's strength was keeping opponents from scoring — but giving up 42 points changed his mind.

"We have to re-look at that, get back to only allowing seven points a game like we were prior to that," Fernandez said. "Of course, we played a pretty dang good quarterback and offensive scheme, but we still have room from improvement."

There have been positive things out of the Wildcats' three games thus far this season, including a balanced offensive attack and an offense that has scored 104 points.

Three of the Woods Cross players contributing to the offensive success have been receiver Darchon Taggart and running backs Masei Sauni and Anthony Kendrick. The trio has scored eight touchdowns and combined for more than 800 yards of offense in just three games.

"We have had some bright spots in our season so far," Fernandez said. "Sauni has been absolutely fantastic and had a great game [against Mountain Crest]. He'll be one of the premier backs in the state when it's all said and done."

Although Fernandez said he doesn't feel like his team has achieved the status of greatness yet this season, it's not because the Wildcats don't have talent.

For Woods Cross the weakness right now is simply lack of concentration and focus.

"We are not concentrating on what we are supposed to be doing and it ended up costing us the game," Fernandez said. "Communication and making sure everyone is on the same page and making sure everyone knows what we are supposed to be doing is the biggest thing we can do to correct the problem."

Despite last week's stumble, Woods Cross looks forward to what the rest of the season brings and working toward becoming a great team.

"I'm interested to see how we respond to adversity," Fernandez said. "We are a pretty good team and we want to be a very good team. Mountain Crest found a way to win ... and we didn't. I want to see if we can do the same thing."