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BOUNTIFUL BRAVES
THE HURRY-UP
Bountiful finished 8-3 overall, 5-1 in league play, and lost to Springville, 21-17, in the first round in 2014.
OFFENSE
Bountiful's offensive system has fluctuated in recent past, deviating from its old-school, three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust philosophy to incorporate more emphasis on the passing game. However, Larry Wall, who is in his 31st season at the helm of the program, knows a few things about winning games, and his underlining principle has not budged.
"I think our philosophy is you need to be able to run the football," Wall explained. "I know that's contrary to what's in vogue right now — everybody wants to the sexy, throw-the-ball-every-single-time; yes, we need to be able to throw the ball — we will throw the ball, but I think if you're playing good defense and you can control the football with the run game, you're going to be in every game."
Kaden Simmonds, who ran for 776 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, is the top workhorse in the stable of running backs, while Max Tooley — a highly-recruited safety — is another option on the ground. However, in order for those two to be truly effective, the offensive line needs to create openings — which happens to be the biggest question mark in the offseason after a senior-laden line was decimated by graduation.
"We've got some great kids there, but not a lot of experience," Wall said of his line, which still is a work in process to determine the starting five. "The experience this year is definitely with our skilled kids."
One of those skilled players is Austin Parkinson, who missed the second half of 2014 after injuring his non-throwing shoulder. Wall issued high praise for Parkinson, who also started at point guard for Bountiful's championship basketball team.
"Fierce competitor and great athlete," Wall said. "We expect big things from him. He's pulled the trigger for us in the past, and that's always good to have experience."
DEFENSE
The Braves truly shined on defense last year, boasting the second-best unit in total defense in the 4A classification on the back of the top-ranked secondary at defending the pass, relinquishing a paltry 114.3 yards in the air. That production should remain the same, if not improve with a wealth of experience returning, including Tooley, Bridger Salazar, Alan Kieatisinlapin, all of whom started last season.
Connor Lloyd and Brandon Bott are returning starters at linebacker, with Simmonds equally as capable at outside linebacker. Up front, the Braves are a mixture of lean and bulky, but athletic overall.
"We have high expectations, we want to build on last year. I think Bountiful — we take pride in our tradition here," Wall said. "We've won five state championships here. Expectations are always high. We're probably playing our toughest schedule that I can remember, and right off the bat we need to come out and be prepared and get after it and play good football."
WHAT TO EXPECT
Bountiful needs to improve in the passing game offensively, where it struggled mightily in 2014. All indications point to that happening with the confidence Wall has in Parkinson calling the shots. The Braves advertise one of the deepest skillsets in Class 4A, and if the offensive line can gel quickly, this team has the making of threatening for a postseason run.
BIG SHOES
The offensive line produced one of the top rushing products on the field last season. With no returning starters in the trenches, which players will emerge? And can they perform as effectively as their predecessors?
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH IN REGION: 2
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing: Austin Parkinson (Sr.), 11-26-170-2, 1 TD
Rushing: Kaden Simmonds (Sr.), 137 att., 776 yds., 10 TDs
Receiving: Kaden Simmonds, 8 rec., 32 yds.
Tackles: Connor Lloyd (Sr.) and Max Tooley (Sr.), 55
Sacks: Connor Lloyd, 2.5
Interceptions: Max Tooley, 4
2014 RANKINGS
OFFENSE AVERAGE REGION (of 6) CLASS (of 26)
Scoring: 30.5ppg 2 6
Rushing: 218.8ypg 3 6
Passing: 71.5ypg 6 22
Total: 290.3ypg 5 16
DEFENSE
Scoring: 14.5ppg 2 3
Rushing: 110.3ypg 3 5
Passing: 114.3ypg 1 1
Total: 224.5ypg 1 2
COACHING BIO
Name: Larry Wall
Years with school: 31
Alma mater: University of Utah
PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
QB: Austin Parkinson (6-2, 168, Sr.)
RB: Kaden Simmonds (6-2, 210, Sr.)
RB: Max Tooley (6-2, 190, Sr.)
WR: Bridger Salazar (6-0, 160, Sr.)
WR: Alan Kieatisinlapin (6-0, 150, Sr.)
TE: Sam Stringfellow (Sr.)
OT: Undetermined
OG: Kincade May (6-0, 230, Sr.)
C: Mason Hayes (6-1, 205, Sr.)
OG: Fua Puefua (6-0, 240, Sr.)
OT: Undetermined
DEFENSE
DE: Jaren Williams (5-11, 190, Sr.)
DT: Undetermined
DT: Spencer Sabir (6-0, 290, Sr.)
DE: Sam Parry (Sr.)
LB: Brandon Bott (5-11, 195, Sr.)
LB: Connor Lloyd (5-11, 205, Sr.)
LB: Kaden Simmonds (6-2, 210, Sr.)
DB: Bridger Salazar (6-0, 160, Sr.)
DB: Alan Kieatisinlapin (6-0, 150, Sr.)
SS: Max Tooley (6-2, 190, Sr.)
FS: Austin Parkinson (6-2, 168, Sr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Undetermined
P: Undetermined
KR: Undetermined
PR: Undetermined
2015 SCHEDULE
Date, opponent, time (2014 result)
Aug. 21, at Lone Peak, 7 p.m. (Won, 28-21)
Aug. 28, Viewmont, 7 p.m. (Won, 21-14)
Sept. 4, at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11, at Highland, 7 p.m. (Won, 19-14)
Sept. 18, Woods Cross, 7 p.m. (Lost, 10-0)
Sept. 25, at Pleasant Grove, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2, East, 7 p.m. (Won, 49-7)
Oct. 9, at Bonneville, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14, Olympus, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23, Box Elder, 7 p.m.