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PAYSON LIONS
THE HURRY-UP
Payson had a rough go last year, finishing the season winless with an 0-10 record and 0-6 mark in 3AA South. The Lions find themselves in a bigger region after the realignment, but will face familiar cross-town rivals such as Springville and Spanish Fork in Region 8.
OFFENSE
This year's team features a few new faces but also a few familiar ones on a team that failed to win a game last season. And with the region realignment and arguably a tougher schedule this season, the offense will need to be able to keep up on the scoreboard in a region that is very good offensively. But the Lions seem like they have the pieces to help them do that, including quarterback Buck Frazier. The junior is playing his first season under center, but has the speed and quickness to make a lot of defenders miss, so he will probably cause defensive coordinators headaches in Region 8. And with a fairly undersized line, having the speed that Frazier has will allow him to extend plays and buy him time to find receivers down field.
Bryson Tanner at running back will be a major player for Payson on offense, as well as the leading rusher returning from last year. Although he had limited action in the backfield, Chapman believes he can help keep defenses honest and provide a solid rushing attack with Frazier.
Thought Frazier will have to make a lot of plays with his feet, he will have to throw the ball quite a bit, and fortunately for him, he has some help on the outside with senior wide receivers Josh Sorenson, Isaac Birchett and Stephen Van Moos. Although they aren't the biggest group of receivers, or as athletic as last year's group, they have some speed and good hands, so they should be solid options for Frazier in the passing game.
DEFENSE
The Lions lost their two best defensive players to graduation from a year ago in Dalton Baker and John Harmon, who combined for 189 tackles. They have several seniors who played last season and will try to fill that void left by those two. Baker, who now plays for Utah State, had 58 tackles, while Harmon had a whopping 131. Overall, out of their top nine tacklers from a year ago, only seniors Paydon Osborn and Van Moos are coming back, but that should provide some experience for a team that doesn't have a lot.
Despite not having the experience on the field, Payson will have quite a few seniors on defense, including Tanner and Adam Marck on the defensive line, and players like Weston Banks, Kaleb Kirkpatrick and Birchett in the secondary. Junior Tyler Batty will also be a key player in the front seven for the Lions, and again, they'll need everybody to contribute in a much tougher and bigger region that they've played in the last several years. They are undersized, and don't have a lot of depth, but they should be able to hang in, at least for a little while, with most of the teams in the region if they avoid the injury bug.
WHAT TO EXPECT
You can expect some struggles in region play, as is expected with going up to a new classification after not winning a game the season before, but this team has some players that can cause other teams fits. Don't expect the Lions to just roll over and give up this team has some fight in it but it probably doesn't have enough to compete week to week with the really good teams in Region 8.
BIG SHOES
Dalton Baker might have been the best player for the Lions last season talent-wise, but head coach Jeremy Chapman said their leader and heart-and-soul of the team was linebacker John Harmon. Paydon Osborn is expected to fill that role as the team's leader, and he should be ready to do it. Osborne broke his leg a few weeks ago, but expects be ready for the start of the season to lead the Payson defense.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH IN REGION: 6
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing: Buck Frazier (Jr.), 7-of-17, 83 yards, 1 TD
Rushing: Bryson Tanner (Sr.), 24 carries, 58 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Stephen Van Moss (Sr.), 10 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD
Tackles: Paydon Osborn (Jr.), 50 tackles
Sacks: Paydon Osborn (Jr.), 1.5 sacks
Interceptions: N/A
2014 RANKINGS
OFFENSE
Scoring: 11.4 ppg – 7th in Region 8/25th in 4A
Rushing: 194.1 ypg – 3rd in Region 8/11th in 4A
Passing: 30.6 ypg – 7th in Region 8/24th in 4A
Total: 224.7 ypg – 23rd in Region 8/7th in 4A
DEFENSE
Scoring: 34.9 ppg – 7th in Region 8/22nd in 4A
Rushing: 169 ypg – 6th in Region 8/15th in 4A
Passing: 153.8 ypg – 2nd in Region 8/9th in 4A
Total: 322.8 ypg – 4th in Region 8/12th in 4A
COACHING BIO
Name: Jeremy Chapman
Years with school: 7th season, 16-45 overall record
PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
QB: Buck Frazier (Jr.)
RB: Bryson Tanner (5-7, 180, Sr.)
WR: Isaac Birchett (Sr.)
WR: Josh Sorenson (5-11, Sr.)
WR: Stephen Van Moos (5-10, 175, Sr.)
TE: Tyler Batty (6-5, 220, Jr.)
LT: Corbin Goal (Fr.)
LG: Brady Barker (Sr.)
C: Dalton White (6-0, 250, Jr.)
RG: Weston Banks (Sr.)
RT: Adam Marck (6-1, 205, Sr.)
DEFENSE
DE: Adam Marck (6-1, 205, Sr.)
DT: Bryson Tanner (5-7, 180, Sr.)
DT: Tyler Batty (6-5, 220, Jr.)
DE: Dalton White (6-0, 250, Jr.)
LB: Paydon Osborne (5-11, 180, Jr.)
LB: Chayce Loveless (5-11, 160, Jr.)
LB: Ryley Heidenrich (5-1, 150, Jr.)
DB: Isaac Birchett (Sr.)
DB: Kaleb Kirkpatrick (5-10, 150, Sr.)
SS: Wyatt Monroe (Sr.)
FS: Josh Sorenson (5-11, Sr.)
2015 SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time (2014 Result)
Aug. 21, Snow Canyon, 7 p.m. (Lost, 16-6)
Aug. 28, at Provo, 7 p.m. (Lost, 19-8)
Sept. 4, at Ogden, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11, at Uintah, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18, Wasatch, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1, at Salem Hills, 7 p.m. (Lost, 42-7)
Oct. 9, vs. Springville, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14, at Maple Mountain, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23, vs. Spanish Fork, 7 p.m. (Lost, 28-10)