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GRANTSVILLE COWBOYS
2014 RECAP
Grantsville finished 3-8, 2-3 in 3A North; lost to Juab in state quarterfinals.
OFFENSE
Looking up and down the Cowboys' roster, you won't find much in the way of seniors on the offensive unit.
But Grantsville might have just enough experience in the right places. Cody Riding will guide the pistol offense at quarterback for the first time, but the senior was an all-state player on defense a year ago. Kyle Peterson moves into the primary running back slot for his final season for the Cowboys.
On the offensive line, Colton Adams is a returning tackle who also gained accolades in 2014 as a junior.
Other than that, everyone else on the Grantsville offense is young.
But look for juniors like Gavin Eyre and Andrew Floyd to be dangerous at wide receiver, while speedy soph A.J. Rainer will also be on the receiving corps.
On the line, junior center Jake Williams is hoping for a full season after blowing out his knee in a scrimmage game prior to the '14 campaign.
DEFENSE
With Riley Smith and Cody Riding on defense, this side of the ball should be Grantsville's strength, at least initially.
Riding was an all-state selection at safety, a spot where Smith will also see some action although Smith will often look more like a linebacker in the Cowboys' defensive set.
Those two helped the team to a fairly strong effort last year against the pass as Grantsville allowed less than a hundred yards a game through the air. Floyd and sophomore Braxton Hanson will supply coverage at cornerback spots while Peterson will be at safety.
Eyre and Burke Boman will join Smith at linebacker, and they'll get good young help from sophomore Connor Ware.
Along the line, it'll be Adams at defensive end along with junior Jonah Bartley, while Williams hopes to tie up blockers from his nose guard position.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Don't be surprised if Grantsville rebounds from a disappointing 2014 campaign and make a better showing at the end of the season. That is at least the goal of new coach Ware, who was an assistant at rival Stansbury last year. This is also the expectation despite having only seven seniors on the squad. "The talent's there," Ware said. "My whole goal is to teach them how to win. I think we'll be fine."
BIG SHOES
Strong and athletic, Riley Smith will roam the Grantsville defense at either linebacker or safety depending on the situation. Though Curtis Ware is only in his first year as the Cowboys' head coach, he could see right away the effectiveness of Smith from almost any position. "He's very physical. He's just an athlete," Ware said. "At camp, we put Riley all over the field and he was good everywhere."
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing: Riley Smith, 2-3-56 yds
Rushing: Andrew Floyd, 47-192 yds, 3 TDs
Receiving: Gavin Eyre, 12-160 yds
Tackles: Corban Killian, 68
Sacks: Colton Adams, 4.5
2014 RANKINGS
Offense
Scoring: 17.0 ppg (4th in 3A North) (8th in 3A)
Rushing: 149.9 ypg (5th in 3A North) (9th in 3A)
Passing: 83.5 ypg (5th in 3A North) (10th in 3A)
Total: 233.4 ypg (4th in 3A North) (9th in 3A)
Defense
Scoring: 27.0 ppg (3rd in 3A North) (8th in 3A)
Rushing: 191.8 ypg (3rd in 3A North) (6th in 3A)
Passing: 97.1 ypg (2nd in 3A North) (2nd in 3A)
Total: 288.9 ypg (3rd in 3A North) (4th in 3A)
COACHING BIO
Name: Curtis Ware, 1st year
Record: 0-0
Career Record: 0-0
Alma mater: Grantsville H.S., Southern Utah
PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
QB: Cody Riding (6-1, 160, Sr.)
RB: Kyle Peterson (6-0, 180, Sr.)
WR: Gavin Eyre (6-3, 205, Jr.)
WR: A.J. Rainer (5-7, 150, So.)
WR: Andrew Floyd (6-0, 165, Jr.)
WR: Jonah Bartley (6-3, 225, Jr.)
OT: Colton Adams (6-4, 205, Sr.)
OG: Bronco Cloward (6-1, 270, Jr.)
C: Jake Williams (6-0, 225, Jr.)
OG: Corban Killian (6-2, 200, Jr.)
OT: Sage Leon (6-3, 225, Jr.)
DEFENSE
DE: Colton Adams (6-4, 205, Sr.)
NG: Jake Williams (6-0, 225, Jr.)
DE: Jonah Bartley (6-3, 225, Jr.)
LB: Riley Smith (5-11, 180, Jr.)
LB: Burke Boman (5-9, 200, Jr.)
LB: Connor Ware (5-10, 165, So.)
LB: Gavin Eyre (6-3, 205, Jr.)
CB: Andrew Floyd (6-0, 165, Jr.)
CB: Braxton Hanson (5-8, 150, So.)
S: Cody Riding (6-1, 160, Sr.)
S: Kyle Peterson (6-0, 180, Sr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
P: Kyle Peterson (6-0, 180, Sr.)
KR-PR: A.J. Rainer (5-7, 150, So.)
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 Tooele, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 at Juab, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 Stansbury, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 at Bear River, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Union, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 at Carbon, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 Juan Diego, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 Emery, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Delta, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 Morgan, 7 p.m.