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JUDGE MEMORIAL BULLDOGS
THE HURRY-UP
Judge Memorial finished 12-1 overall, 5-0 in league play, and beat Juab, 63-14, to win the Class 3A championship in 2014.
OFFENSE
The two-time defending Class 3A champions are making the hurdle into the 3AA classification this season, but as Judge Memorial coach James Cordova explains, it's nothing new during his tenure.
"Over my 13 years, we've never been in the same conference, league, anything for more than two years," Cordova said. "It's the two-year adjustment. You can look at it a lot of ways. All these teams are the same teams these seniors played against as freshmen and sophomores."
The Bulldogs posted a 12-10 overall record in 2011 and 2012 against the higher competition, which they're looking to improve upon this time around.
Sport Felamaka, who rushed for 271 yards and three touchdowns before breaking his thumb, will be the main focus in the offense this season, but with Xavier Price, a deadly deep threat committed to Air Force, available in the passing game, look for Judge to air it out more than usual this season.
DEFENSE
The majority of Judge's players start both ways, which is beneficial and hampering at the same time.
"We have a tradition of defense at Judge," Cordova said. "These guys are going to do great, as far as holding onto that tradition."
Schematically, Judge will rely on the same philosophy that produced gaudy defensive numbers last season — ranking in the top four in the classification in scoring, rushing, passing and total defense in 2014.
"We're very dogmatic in our approach. We don't really look at the opponent as much as we look at what we do," Cordova said. "I know a lot of people spend a lot of time on who they're playing — I'm not saying we don't pay attention to them, we know what they're doing offensively and defensively — but we try to improve on a week-to-week basis. That's been our approach since I've been here."
WHAT TO EXPECT
Judge has the athletes to compete in the higher classification, but the sledding won't be nearly as smooth. Expect the postseason, but don't expect the three-peat.
BIG SHOES
Sam Garcia, who has been a quarterback his entire career, and Kelsin Pupunu, a converted wingback, are competing to replace Ayden Auer behind center. "Whoever wins that job, it's a tough job," Cordova said. "You've got to manage a lot on every snap. We have a check package just as big as a spread passing game does. You've got to pre-snap manage it, then you've got to jump in, and run the option and make those decisions in a moment."
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH IN REGION: 2
2014 RANKINGS
OFFENSE AVERAGE REGION (of 7) CLASS (of 13)
Scoring: 36.3ppg 2 4
Rushing: 285.2ypg 2 2
Passing: 86.5ypg 5 10
Total: 371.7ypg 2 4
DEFENSE
Scoring: 13.4ppg 1 2
Rushing: 132.8ypg 1 3
Passing: 121.7ypg 3 4
Total: 254.5ypg 1 2
COACHING BIO
Name: James Cordova
Years with school: 12
Alma mater: Humboldt State
PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
QB: Sam Garcia (Sr.) or Kelsin Pupunu (Sr.)
RB: Keola Palau (Sr.)
RB: Sport Felamaka (Jr.)
WR: Xavier Price (Sr.)
WR: Nick Cline (Sr.)
TE: Stanley Falemaka (Sr.)
OL: Thor Cline (Sr.)
OL: Mason Knight (Sr.)
OL: Ben Jones (Sr.)
OL: Joey Walz (Jr.)
OL: Quincy Houston (Sr.)
DEFENSE
DL: Tofa Faingaa (Sr.)
DL: Stanley Falemaka (Sr.)
DL: Joey Walz (Jr.)
LB: Keola Palau (Sr.)
LB: Sport Felamaka (Jr.)
LB: Andreas Cordova (Jr.)
LB: Alex Barnett (Jr.)
DB: Rihan Deng (Sr.)
DB: Xavier Price (Sr.)
S: Nick Cline (Sr.)
S: Kelson Pupunu (Sr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Tim Hemmersmeier (Sr.)
P: Ethan Archibald (Sr.)
R: Rihan Deng (Sr.)
R: Kelsin Pupunu (Sr.)
2015 SCHEDULE
Date, opponent, time (2014 result)
Aug. 21, at Pine View, 7 p.m. (Won, 18-16)
Aug. 28, Woods Cross, 7 p.m. (Lost, 27-14)
Sept. 4, at Provo, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11, at Logan, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18, at Stansbury, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25, Ogden, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2, Park City, 7 p.m. (Won, 28-10)
Oct. 8, Ben Lomond, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14, at Bear River, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23, Tooele, 7 p.m.