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SALEM HILLS SKYHAWKS
THE HURRY-UP
The Skyhawks finished 10-2 overall, including a 5-1 mark in Region 8, and lost to Roy 28-12 in the state quarterfinals in 2014.
OFFENSE
Salem Hills featured one of the best offenses in 4A last season, with top-10 rankings in scoring, rushing, passing and total offense in the conference. Obviously their long-time starter at quarterback, Porter Gustin, is gone, but the Skyhawks still bring back a number of important players from last year's quarterfinal team, most notably wide receiver Cooper Smith and running back Vili Wolfgramm. Smith, who is also going to start at safety, returns as the No. 1 option for whoever the new quarterback will be (more on that in a second) after making 27 catches for 435 yards and four scores.
Head coach Joel Higginson has a lot of high praise for the senior, who he says is among the state's best at the position.
"We feel like we have one of the best receivers/safeties in the state [in] Cooper Smith," Higginson said. "[He's] just really great leader, he's a big, tall, long, athletic player at 6-4, runs really fast and really is a great playmaker. We really expect him to have a great year both offensively and defensively."
Wolfgramm likewise drew a lot of praise from his head coach. With Wolfgramm about to start his junior year behind a line that returns three starters, expectations are high for the running back.
"We're excited about the progress he's made in the offseason on working on his mobility and we really like what he's doing," Higginson said.
As to who will be handing the ball off and passing for the Skyhawks under center, there is currently a three-way race for the starting quarterback position, between senior Tristan Swenson, junior Kaden Kunz, and sophomore James Nelson. It's a pretty close race, and one that may even push Higginson to start the season with a two-quarterback system, something he's not all that opposed to. Whoever they end up with under center however, the Skyhawks will again be dangerous for opposing defenses.
DEFENSE
The defense doesn't return as many starters as the offense does, but many of the key players on offense will be just as important on this side of the ball. The aforementioned Smith and Wolfgramm will start at free safety and middle linebacker, respectively, anchoring a defense with only four returning starters. Joining those two are Sam Collister at outside linebacker and Brigham Hughes up on the defensive line. Together, the four of them will be joined by a number of capable players, many of whom are still competing for the open spots, such as Brook Viohi and Jackson VanTassell at linebacker, Keyne Christianson and Coleman Jacklin at strong safety, and Max Stewart up on the line with Hughes. This defense looks to once again be pretty good, but the approach this year will be more of a team effort than it has been in the past with guys like Gustin and corner Jordan Taylor.
"We've had a group of guys that have come together, that pull the cart together as well as anybody I've coached so far," Higginson said, adding that you can't single-handedly replace a guy like Porter defensively. "And we have two or three guys that have stepped up as a linebacker corps. That said, we really have to be the best linebacker corps we've had at Salem Hills."
The defense was among the best in the conference last season, and despite not many returners, this is a confident team that may even get better as the season gets going.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Despite losing one of the best players in the state in the USC-bound Gustin, the Skyhawks shouldn't skip a beat this season in a revamped Region 8. With a number of key starters back on a team that only lost twice a year ago, the Skyhawks will almost surely be at or near the top of the region standings by season's end, and primed to make a deep playoff run.
BIG SHOES
Besides Gustin, another key loss for Salem Hills was lineman Tyler Christiansen, who will be replaced by his younger brother Jacob. Filling the void left by his older brother shouldn't be difficult, as Higginson thinks he's just as good, if not better than Tyler.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH IN REGION: 2
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing: N/A
Rushing: Vili Wolfgramm (Jr.), 10 carries, 38 yards
Receiving: Cooper Smith (Sr.), 27 receptions, 435 yards, 4 TD
Tackles: Vili Wolfgramm (Jr.), 103 tackles
Sacks: Vili Wolfgramm (Jr.), 4.5 sacks
Interceptions: Vili Wolfgramm (Jr.), 4 INT
2014 RANKINGS
OFFENSE
Scoring: 28.3 ppg, 1st in Region 8/9th in 4A
Rushing: 249.2 ypg, 1st in Region 8/4th in 4A
Passing: 132.8 ypg, 3rd in Region 8/4th in 4A
Total: 382, 1st in Region 8/7th in 4A
DEFENSE
Scoring: 15.8 ppg, 1st in Region 8/5th in 4A
Rushing: 116.9 ypg, 2nd in Region 8/7th in 4A
Passing: 170.9 ypg, 4th in Region 8/14th in 4A
Total: 287.8 ypg, 3rd in Region 8/7th in 4A
COACHING BIO
Name: Joel Higginson
Years with school: 4th season as head coach, 21-13 overall record
Alma mater: Utah State University
PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
QB: Tristan Swenson (5-11, 165, Sr.)/Kaden Kunz (5-10, 175, Jr.)
RB: Vili Wolfgramm (5-11, 190, Jr.)
WR: Cooper Smith (6-4, 190, Sr.)
WR: Sam Callister (5-10, 185, Sr.)
WR: Jaxon VanTassell (Jr.)
WR: Coleman Jacklin (5-11, 155, Jr.)
LT: Jacob Christianson (6-3, 260, Jr.)
LG: Mitch Stephens (6-3, 290, Sr.)
C: Hunter Morganson (6-3, 312, Jr.)
RG: Talin Mortensen (6-1, 233, Jr.)
RT: Cody Young (6-0, 255, Jr.)
DEFENSE
DE: Mason McClellan (5-11, 165, Jr.)
DT: Brigham Hughes (5-9, 250, Sr.)
DT: Jarom Johnson (6-1, 240, Sr.)
DE: Max Stewart (Sr.)
LB: Brook Viohi (So.)
LB: Vili Wolfgramm (5-11, 190, Jr.)
LB: Sam Callister (5-10, 185, Sr.)
DB: Garrett Lloyd (5-10, 160, So.)
DB: Kaden Kunz (5-10, 175, Jr.)
SS: Keyne Christiansen (Sr.)/ Coleman Jacklin (5-11, 155, Jr.)
FS: Cooper Smith (6-4, 190, Sr.)
2015 SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time (2014 Result)
Aug. 21, Delta, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28, at Stansbury, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4, Juab, 7 p.m. (Won, 42-14)
Sept. 11, Spanish Fork, 7 p.m. (Won 21-16)
Sept. 18, at Uintah, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25, Wasatch (Won 48-14)
Oct. 1, Payson, 7 p.m. (Won 42-7)
Oct. 8, at Westlake, 7 p.m.
Oct 14, at Springville, 7 p.m. (Won 34-7)
Oct. 23, at Maple Mountain, 7 p.m. (Won 14-6)