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WASATCH WASPS
THE HURRY-UP
The Wasps finished 4-7 overall, 2-5 in league play, and lost to Spanish Fork 21-0 in the play-in game, missing the playoffs.
OFFENSE
The Wasps have just three players coming back from last season in two-year starter at quarterback Garrett Davis, offensive lineman Ben Bos, and running back Kaden Trowbridge. With such a big senior class last season, many of the juniors and sophomores behind them on the depth chart didn't see a lot of playing time, so there will be some adjusting to the spotlight, but coach Steve Coburn thinks they'll pick up right where last year's class left off.
"Well, the challenge is not only for them learning the offense and the defense and their role in that, but also realizing that they're the seniors now," Coburn said. "Those guys that they've looked at for four years going through the program are gone now, and now it's their turn to be the guy that everybody else is looking to."
The three starters should provide the necessary leadership to bring everyone up to speed, and with new players at most positions, it will also present an opportunity to the offense to switch things up a little bit.
One of the best players offensively last season for the Wasps was Cade Cloward, who is set to be replaced primarily by Kaser McPhie.
"Kaser McPhie will be big for us. He's big now … we expect him to make some big plays for us," Coburn said. "We're designing offensive sets for him to be a one-on-one [matchup], so that's a big part of what we're trying to do."
McPhie will likely be a favorite target of Davis, along with a few other talented wide receivers like Nick Piscitelli, Carson Mahoney and Spencer Pennington.
DEFENSE
The Wasps' defense only has one more returning starter than does the offense, and that may prove problematic, without a lot of experience on the varsity level. They should have a solid secondary, anchored by Kaden Trowbridge and top kicking recruit Skyler Southam, who will play the strong and free safety positions, respectively. Trowbridge is the team's leading returning tackler after notching 72 last season. Piscitelli and Pennington will start at the two cornerback spots, although Coburn hopes to eventually have them start one way if other players can step up behind them.
Linebacker and defensive line will be big question marks for Wastach, with only two players coming back in the front seven. The Wasps, even with such a senior-laden squad last year, were pretty average in most defensive categories, and the lack of experience at these positions won't help much. But Coburn thinks he has the players that can step up; currently there are about 15 to 20 players competing for the vacant linemen positions on both sides of the ball, so where the Wasps lack experience, they may make up for it with depth.
But in a Region 8 that features some talented passers, the secondary will likely be the strength of the team and need to lead a young defense front-seven ahead of them in order to compete for a playoff spot by the end of the season.
WHAT TO EXPECT
It's tough to say what can be expected from such a young team, but despite uncertainty and youth, it should compete for one of those four playoff spots in Region 8. Don't be surprised to see a huge year from tight end Kaser McPhie, who will likely be the top option in the passing game for Davis, and maybe even one of the best in 4A.
BIG SHOES
In a class of 28 seniors, perhaps the biggest hole was left by linebacker/tight end Cade Cloward, and replacing him will take a team effort. Juniors Richie Haywood and Hayden Richards, along with senior Parker Gordon, will try to replace the production void left by the versatile and talented Cloward.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH IN REGION: 5
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing: Garrett Davis (Sr.), 102-of-236, 1,239 yards, 11 TD, 10 INT
Rushing: Garrett Davis (Sr.), 78 carries, 216 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Carson Mahoney (Sr.), 6 receptions, 70 yards
Tackles: Kade Trowbridge (Sr.), 72 tackles
Sacks: Nicholas Mair (Jr.), 1.5 sacks
Interceptions: Kade Trowbridge (Sr.), 3 INT
2014 RANKINGS
OFFENSE
Scoring: 19 ppg – 6th in Region 8/19th in 4A
Rushing: 118.5 ypg – 6th in Region 8/20th in 4A
Passing: 123.1 ypg – 5th in Region 8/16th in 4A
Total: 241.6 ypg – 6th in Region 8/22nd in 4A
DEFENSE
Scoring: 23.2 ppg – 3rd in Region 8/9th in 4A
Rushing: 167.9 ypg – 4th in Region 8/14th in 4A
Passing: 177.6 ypg – 5th in Region 8/16th in 4A
Total: 345.5 ypg – 5th in Region 8/14th in 4A
COACHING BIO
Name: Steve Coburn
Years with school: 4th season as head coach, 16-16 overall record
Alma mater: Ricks College
PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
QB: Garrett Davis (6-2, 165, Sr.)
RB: Kaden Trowbridge (5-9, 153, Sr.)
WR: Carson Mahoney (6-0, 168, Sr.)
WR: Spencer Pennington (5-11, 160, Sr.)
WR: Nick Piscitelli (6-0, 165, Sr.)
TE: Kaser McPhie (6-3, 203, Sr.)
LT: Blake Coburn (6-0, 233, Jr.)
LG: Jake Whiting (6-4, 272, Sr.)
C: Kaden Butler (6-2, 301, Sr.)
RG: Hunter Burchardt (6-2, 265, Sr.)
RT: Ben Bos (6-3, 247, Sr.)
DEFENSE
DE: Col Johnson (6-1, 182, Sr.)
DT: Mitch Nelson (6-1, 236, So.)
DT: Ben Bos (6-3, 247, Sr.)
DE: Kaser McPhie (6-3, 203, Sr.)
LB: Jake Davis (5-10, 205, Sr.)
LB: Ritchie Haywood (5-7, 155, Jr.)
LB: Parker Gordon (6-0, 170, Sr.)
DB: Nick Piscitelli (6-0, 165, Sr.)
DB: Spencer Pennington (5-11, 160, Sr.)
SS: Kaden Trowbridge (5-9, 153, Sr.)
FS: Skyler Southam (6-0, 165, Sr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K/P: Skyler Southam (6-0, 165, Sr.)
2015 SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time (2014 Result)
Aug. 21 at Ogden, 7 p.m. (Won, 33-13)
Aug. 28 at Westlake, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 vs. Orem, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 vs. Skyline, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Payson, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 at Salem Hills, 7 p.m. (Lost, 48-14)
Oct. 2 vs. Springville, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 vs. Maple Mountain, 7 p.m. (Lost, 23-7)
Wed., Oct. 14 at Spanish Fork, 7 p.m. (Won, 25-22/Lost, 21-0)
Oct. 23 vs. Uintah, 7 p.m.