This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
STANSBURY STALLIONS
THE HURRY-UP
Stansbury finished 9-2 overall, 6-0 in league play, and lost to Dixie, 49-42, in the quarterfinals in 2014.
OFFENSE
Occasionally, it feels like Stansbury is still that new, up-and-coming, hot program that is building from the ground up. But the Stallions are established now, entering their seventh season as a customary powerhouse at the Class 3AA level. However, that success has been confined to the regular season thus far. Will that change this year with so many new faces? They certainly have the talent to compete, but are lacking experience after attrition from graduation.
"We're very talented, but we're really young. If we can stay healthy again, about midseason, I think we're a big-time threat," said Stansbury coach Clint Christiansen. "The problem is we had such a big class [last season], and these kids have all been stuck behind them, getting breather time. They haven't had a lot of prime time start. It's going to be very interesting, I haven't been this young in a long time."
Colton Christiansen, who started last season at receiver, Emilio Jaramillo and Mitch McIntyre are immersed in a heated quarterback battle currently, but McCoy Didericksen will be the headliner in the offense, which the coach said is vastly behind the defensive unit in terms of readiness. Production in the triple-option relies heavily on timing, which, with new personnel, takes, well — time.
"I feel like we've got some talented kids, but we're not where we were last year at football camp," Christiansen said. "We're not there yet; we're not even close. We've got timing issues we've got to figure out between now and the first game."
DEFENSE
As the offense prepares to acclimate to the speed of the varsity level, the defense will have to carry the Stallions in the early weeks. They'll employ a morphing scheme, bouncing in and out of multiple fronts, specifically 3-4 and 4-2-5 systems — a philosophy that produced impressive numbers throughout all of 2014.
The strength this season primarily resides on the defensive line.
"We're quick up front. I like our D-linemen," Christiansen said. "Our defense looked pretty good at football camp. I'm really happy with what we're doing defensively right now. The kids are scrappy."
WHAT TO EXPECT
Stansbury was absolutely gutted from graduation, losing several three-year starters on both side of the ball that carried the program to new heights. This year might be a rebuilding process, but counting out the Stallions would be a mistake.
BIG SHOES
Now graduated, Landon Stice rushed for 1,109 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2014. McCoy Didericksen, as a young sophomore, is tasked with replicating that production. "Stice was a big-time player for us last year. That's going to be big, big shoes to fill there," Christiansen said.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH IN REGION: 4
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing: None
Rushing: McCoy Didericksen (So.), 47 att., 363 yds., 1 TD
Receiving: Colton Christiansen (Sr.), 9 rec., 108 yds.
Tackles: McCoy Didericksen, 64
Sacks: Brennen Calder (Sr.), 2
Interceptions: None
2014 RANKINGS
OFFENSE AVERAGE REGION (of 7) CLASS (of 13)
Scoring: 43.5ppg 1 1
Rushing: 306.4ypg 1 1
Passing: 97.6ypg 4 8
Total: 404ypg 1 3
DEFENSE
Scoring: 21ppg 2 4
Rushing: 138.8ypg 2 4
Passing: 144.1ypg 5 7
Total: 282.9ypg 2 3
COACHING BIO
Name: Clint Christiansen
Years with school: 6
Alma mater: Grantsville High
PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
QB: Colton Christiansen (6-0, 175, Sr.), Emilio Jaramillo (Jr.), or Mitch McIntyre (Jr.)
RB: McCoy Didericksen (5-9, 170, So.)
RB: Brennen Calder (Sr.)
RB: Casey Roberts (5-11, 170, Jr.)
WR: Montana Newbold (Sr.)
TE: Jordan Roberts (Sr.)
LT: Mason Smith (Jr.)
LG: Daunte Thomas
C: Sitiveni Havili (6-0, 235, Jr.)
RG: Ethan Bigelow (Sr.)
RT: Clayton Stanworth (Jr.)
DEFENSE
DL: Daunte Thomas
DL: Sitiveni Havili (6-0, 235, Jr.)
DL: Brennen Calder (Sr.)
LB: Jordan Roberts (Sr.)
LB: Clayton Stanworth (Jr.)
LB: Dillon Cox (Sr.)
LB: Matt McIntyre (Jr.)
DB: Undetermined
DB: Undetermined
SS: Undetermined
FS: Undetermined
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Tarl Lewis (Sr.)
P: Tarl Lewis (Sr.)
R: McCoy Didericksen (So.)
R: Casey Roberts (Jr.)
2015 SCHEDULE
Date, opponent, time (2014 result)
Aug. 21, at North Sanpete, 7 p.m. (Won, 44-13)
Aug. 28, Salem Hills, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4, at Grantsville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11, Tooele, 7 p.m. (Won, 42-21)
Sept. 18, Judge Memorial, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25, at Park City, 7 p.m. (Won, 42-21)
Oct. 2, Bonneville, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8, at Logan, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14, Ben Lomond, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23, at Bear River, 7 p.m. (Won, 62-41)