This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sky View Bobcats
THE HURRY-UP
The Bobcats finished with a 9-3 overall record, including a 5-1 record in 4A Region 5 in 2014. They lost to eventual champion Timpview in the state quarterfinals 45-8.
OFFENSE
Headlined by eight returning starters, this year's Sky View offense will be just as good, if not better, than last year's team that ranked in the top-10 in basically every offensive category in Class 4A. The Bobcats were led by quarterback Garrison Beach, who threw for 2,223 yards, and 22 touchdowns while only throwing for three interceptions all season. That's incredibly efficient at any level of play, and it's not likely there will be much a drop-off from his last season his 4A.
Coming back with Beach are all of his top receivers, including Bryce Mortenson, the big 6-foot-6 wideout who hauled in 16 touchdowns last season. Joining Mortenson in the receiving corps will be fellow returning starters Alex McRae, Zack Morrison and Braygon Holbrook.
Having that kind of experience and personnel, especially guys like Mortenson and McRae, with a spread offense gives Craig Anhder a lot of viable options in the passing game.
"[Bryce] had a great year last year, he plays hard, he blocks extremely well. That's what makes me most excited about Bryce — yeah he makes a lot of catches, scored a lot of touchdowns, but he blocks well," Anhder said. "You've got Alex McCrae playing slot receiver, and once again he'll get in there with the big boys and he'll kick out a defensive end if we need to."
One of last year's starting defensive ends, Mason Tye, will be making the jump to offense as a running back, where he'll have to fill in for graduated running back Isaac Herman, who scored 20 touchdowns a season ago. Tye is a huge body in the backfield, and will be a force both running the football and blocking in the pass game.
This team will once again be a top offense – maybe even the best in Region 1 when it's all said and done.
DEFENSE
Just like the offense, the defense comes back with eight starters from last year, and there's just as many play-makers on this side of the ball. Defensive lineman Jake Pitcher notched 12.5 sacks and 93 tackles a year ago. Pitcher and Max Christiansen gave teams fits all last season, as Christiansen got after the quarterback despite getting a lot of double-teams and still recorded nine sacks.
Last year's Bobcats only gave up 18.7 points per game, but against top offensive teams like Roy, Maple Mountain and Timpview, Sky View had the tendency to give up a lot of points. While this may be cause for concern for most, the amount of talent and experience coming back should propel this team to cut down on those big games for opposing offenses and establish itself as one of the best defenses in the region and the conference. Obviously the transition up a classification will provide some inherent challenges, but it's not often a team goes through that transition this deep on both sides of the ball.
However it ends up playing out, Anhder is excited for the change of scenery.
"There's a challenge to playing new teams," Anhder said. "But there is also an excitement, a fresh start, an eagerness to go out and test ourselves against these great teams that we'll play against."
Besides the defensive line, the Bobcats also bring back Riley Haderlie at linebacker and a secondary featuring JR Saxton, Kade McCulloch, Bryson Siddoway and Alex McRae. McCulloch and Siddoway each had four interceptions a season ago. As a group though, the pass defense wasn't spectacular, which is about the only thing that wasn't for last year's team. They will need to get better on that end with such elite passers in this region, but the ability to defend against the pass likely won't make or break this team's season.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Bobcats move up to 5A this season, but that shouldn't make much of a difference for a team as loaded as they are. Barring some very unforeseen circumstance, Sky View should be the team to beat in Region 1. Anything less than a deep playoff run and a shot at the region title would probably be a disappointment for this team.
BIG SHOES
Running back Isaac Herman rushed for more than 1,400 yards last season and 20 touchdowns, so he leaves a large hole to fill in his absence. Mason Tye will be the guy to fill that spot to start the season, as the senior makes the transition from defensive tackle to running back. He's definitely a different type of back, and coming in at nearly 250 pounds, he'll be a handle for opposing defenses.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH IN REGION: 1st
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing: Garrison Beach (Sr.) – 178-of-278, 2,223 yards, 22 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Garrison Beach (Sr.) – 94 carries, 449 yards, 6 TD
Receiving: Bryce Mortenson (Sr.) – 48 receptions, 862 yards, 16 TD
Tackles: Jake Pitcher (Sr.) – 93 tackles
Sacks: Jake Pitcher (Sr.) – 12 sacks
Interceptions: Bryson Siddoway (Sr.) and Kade McCulloch (Sr.) – 4 INT
2014 RANKINGS
OFFENSE
Scoring: 33.5 ppg – 2nd in Region 1/7th in 5A
Rushing: 190.6 ypg – 1st in Region 1/7th in 5A
Passing: 202.4 ypg – 3rd in Region 1/9th in 5A
Total: 393 ypg – 1st in Region 1/5th in 5A
DEFENSE
Scoring: 18.7 ppg – 3rd in Region 1/7th in 5A
Rushing: 82 ypg – 1st in Region 1/1st in 5A
Passing: 186.9 ypg – 7th in Region 1/23rd in 5A
Total: 268.9 ypg – 2nd in Region 1/4th in 5A
COACHING BIO
Name: Craig Andher
Years with school: 11th season as head coach, 72-41 overall record
Alma mater: Mountain Crest
PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
QB: Garrison Beach (6-1, 197, Sr.)
RB: Mason Tye (6-2, 250, Sr.)
WR: Bryce Mortenson (6-6, 219, Sr.)
WR: Alex McCrae (6-0, 170, Sr.)
WR: Zack Morrison (5-11, 165, Sr.)
WR: Braygen Holbrook (Sr.)
LT: Wes Anderson (Sr.)
LG: Dereck Tolua (6-4, 340, Sr.)
C: Colton Durrant (6-2, 280, Sr.)
RG: Helamana Samuela (Sr.)
RT: Bren Radford (6-2, 210, Sr.)
DEFENSE
DE: Max Christiansen (6-3, 220, Sr.)
DT: Colton Durrant (6-2, 280, Sr.)
DT: Jamison Maiden (5-10, 220, Sr.)
DE: Jake Pitcher (6-4, 225, Sr.)
LB: Riley Haderlie (5-10, 180, Jr.)
LB: JR Martindale (5-11, 10, Jr.)
LB: Stockton Boman (6-1, 190, Sr.)
DB: Kade McCulloch (6-0, 175, Sr.)
DB: JR Saxton (6-1, 170, Sr.)
SS: Braxton Ward (Sr.)
FS: Bryson Siddoway (Sr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Kyler Erickson (Jr.)
P: Mason Tye (6-2, 250, Sr.)
KR/PR: Braxton Ward (Sr.)
2015 SCHEDULE
Fri., Aug. 21 at Riverton – 7p.m.
Fri., Aug. 28 at Logan – 7p.m. (Won 28-13 in 2014)
Fri., Sept. 4 vs. Highland – 7p.m.
Fri., Sept. 11 at Weber – 7p.m.
Fri., Sept. 18 vs. Clearfield – 7p.m.
Fri., Sept. 25 at Northridge – 7p.m.
Fri., Oct. 2 vs. Brighton – 7p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 8 at Roy – 7p.m. (Lost 36-32 in 2014)
Wed., Oct. 14 vs. Fremont – 7p.m.
Fri., Oct. 23 vs. Mountain Crest – 7p.m. (Won 34-14 in 2014)