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Clearfield Falcons

THE HURRY-UP

The Falcons finished with a 2-8 overall record in 2014, including a 1-5 mark in 4A Region 6. They did not qualify for the playoffs.

OFFENSE

To talk about the Clearfield offense without first mentioning Jace Haney would be incredibly misguided. The senior quarterback comes into his last year with very high expectations after throwing for 2,419 yards and 18 touchdowns during his junior season. He is the second-best returning quarterback this season in terms of yards, and top five in basically every other category. Unfortunately for him and the Clearfield offense, he lost his top three receivers in speedster Deondre Hambric, leading scorer Travis Gravely and Jaden Markos, who led the team in receptions in 2014. So heading into the 2015 season in a new region, Haney will have to rely on a very inexperienced receiving corps and try to make for it with his arm. Haney will have his No. 4 receiver from last year, senior Braxton Weaver, to help carry the load, but Weaver only had 19 receptions in limited action, so it's too early to tell how good he can be as the top target.

Head coach Andre Dyson is planning on having a more dynamic offense in his second season at the helm of the Falcons. While his team was almost exclusively pass-heavy a year ago, he hopes to have more balance offensively and play to what the opponents' defense shows them. That may prove difficult, especially for a team that rushed for only 452 yards last season. To put that in perspective, 26 different returning running backs rushed for more yards last season, and the Falcons only fared better than region foe Weber in that category. It goes without saying that the backfield production will need to improve if the Falcons hope to be less one-dimensional this season, but it's hard to tell if they have the players that can do it at this point; you'll just have to wait and see.

DEFENSE

While their offense kept them in games with its passing attack, the defense did just the opposite last season, giving up a lot of big plays and allowing opposing offenses to rack up the score into the 40s and 50s in half their games. In losses to Roy, Bountiful and Highland, the Falcons gave up 49 points, and then a season-worst 50 points in a loss to East. On the season, Clearfield gave up 38.1 points per game.

If you ask Dyson, he's quick to point out many of those scores were big plays his defense gave up, and if they can cut down on those types of gaffes defensively, many of their games would've been much closer.

In order for them to do that however, they will need a cast of young players who don't have a lot of varsity experience to step up. Many of the defense positions, especially the secondary, are still up for grabs. One can only hope that the late competition leading into the season will produce a bevy of players who are ready to step it, but with a team as young an inexperienced as this defensively, it's really a coin flip at this point. They have some safeties in Kenny Sanchez and Gage Burton who should provide some help over the top, but newcomers Brennan Marshall and Jaxon Manning at corner will have to be better than expected to improve the Falcon's abysmal pass defense from last year.

WHAT TO EXPECT

It's easy with a team that struggled as much as it did last year to just expect the same. But Dyson, in spite of the youth and inexperience, seems to have this team ready to compete in year two. While it's still a long shot for the Falcons to make the playoffs, the big losses might not be as often for them, and they may even surprise some teams in their region. It will all depend on the strength of Haney's arm and the ability to fix a porous defense, the latter of which is a huge question mark.

BIG SHOES

Deondre Hambric was a big play machine last season, hauling in 27 catches for 778 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 28.81 yards per catch. The Falcons don't have anyone with that same speed or athleticism, but they have guys like Braxton Weaver who will be ready to step up. Weaver is leading returning receiver and while his numbers weren't flashy last year, being the No. 1 option this year may give the senior a breakout season.

PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH IN REGION: 6th

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Jace Haney (Sr.) – 154-of-301, 2,419 yards, 18 TDs, 13 INT

Rushing: Austin Ewing (Sr.) – 17 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Braxton Weaver (Sr.) – 19 receptions, 222 yards, 1 TD

Tackles: Jaxon Pauline (Sr.) – 16 tackles

Sacks: Three players tied with 1

Interceptions: Three players tied with 1

2014 RANKINGS

OFFENSE: Average/Region/Class

Scoring: 22.4 ppg – 4th in Region 1/18th in 5A

Rushing: 45.2 ypg – 6th in Region 1/25th in 5A

Passing: 277.3 ypg – 1st in Region 1/2nd in 5A

Total: 322.5 ypg – 5th in Region 1/16th in 5A

DEFENSE

Scoring: 38.1 ppg – 7th in Region 1/25th in 5A

Rushing: 252 ypg – 7th in Region 1/27th in 5A

Passing: 149.9 ypg – 4th in Region 1/14th in 5A

Total: 401.9 ypg – 7th in Region 1/24th in 5A

COACHING BIO

Name: Andre Dyson

Years with school: 2nd season as head coach, 2-8 record

Alma mater: University of Utah

2015 SCHEDULE

Date, opponent, time (2014 result)

Fri. Aug. 21 at Davis – 7p.m.

Fri., Aug. 28 vs. Layton – 7p.m. (Lost 28-13 in 2014)

Fri., Sept. 4 at East – 7p.m. (Lost 50-33 in 2014)

Fri., Sept. 11 vs. Roy – 7p.m. (Lost 45-21 in 2014)

Fri., Sept. 18 at Sky View – 7p.m.

Fri., Sept. 25 vs. Fremont – 7p.m.

Fri., Oct. 2 at Weber – 7p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 8 vs. Cottonwood – 7p.m.

Wed., Oct. 14 vs. Mountain Crest – 7p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 22 at Northridge – 7p.m.