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BRIGHTON BENGALS
THE HURRY-UP
Brighton finished 10-2 overall, 4-1 in league play, and lost to American Fork, 58-28, in the semifinals in 2014.
OFFENSE
Memo for opposing defenses: Hold on for dear, sweet life. Brighton's offense has the potential to be one of the best the school has ever produced, with nine returning starters and a minimum of four players playing at Division I programs post-graduation.
"Our ones are really, really good," said Brighton coach Ryan Bullet. "If we're healthy, we'll be a tough team to beat, but we have to stay healthy. We don't have a lot of numbers up here. We're down in enrollment. But I like what we have."
Drew Jensen, committed to BYU, will conduct the offense at quarterback, a position he's appeared in off and on throughout his high school career. He's had an injury-riddled stint at Brighton, and if he can finally stay healthy, he's an All-State-caliber player. Jensen's go-to target undoubtedly is Simi Fehoko — the state's No. 1 prospect committed to Stanford. Fehoko led the state in receiving, hauling in 65 balls for 1,644 yards and 24 touchdowns. Dylan Pearmain and Alec Templeton are talented enough to demand attention in the outskirts, so defenses won't be able to blanket Fehoko in coverage.
Sione Heimuli-Lund will handle the duties in the backfield, and quite possibly could see an increase in production without having the split time with Osa Masina, who is now at USC. Jackson Kaufusi, another FBS prospect, is expected to contribute at running back, too.
Sione Hall, Jason Harmer and Mosese Tauteoli return upfront, and if Jack Koncar and Emmett Koozer — two unproven newcomers — can adjust to the pace of Friday nights, the offensive line has all the making of being highly productive.
DEFENSE
Brighton is loaded defensively, too, but what is surprising is how quietly the Bengals underperformed on this side of the ball last season. They ranked No. 17 in both scoring and total defense, while posting the fourth-worst pass defense in the 5A classification. The entire secondary remains intact, with Fehoko, Pearmain, Kaufusi starting on both sides, and Andrew Covey filling the opposite corner of Pearmain. Heimuli-Lund headlines the linebacking corps after recording 107 tackles as a sophomore last season.
But there is no time for error, especially considering Brighton has five opponents on the schedule that finished in the top 10 in total offense in 2014.
"We need to be physical. Our kids need to know they need to step up their level," Bullet said. "I don't think we're real physical right now. We're a little soft out here, it could be part of the two-a-day thing. Kids are tired. Herriman will wake you up. I know that. We've got to get physical in a hurry."
WHAT TO EXPECT
Brighton is one of the top programs in the state right now, bar none. Is this finally the year the curse of 1982 is broken — the year of the first and only championship the school has ever won? It might be.
BIG SHOES
Replacing Osa Masina is impossible, but a combination of players can subdue his absence.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH IN REGION: 2
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing: None
Rushing: Sione Heimuli-Lund (Jr.), 110 att., 941 yds., 8 TDs
Receiving: Simi Fehoko (Sr.), 65 rec., 1,644 yds., 24 TDs
Tackles: Sione Heimuli-Lund, 107
Sacks: Sione Heimuli-Lund, 7
Interceptions: Dylan Pearmain (Sr.), 4
2014 RANKINGS
OFFENSE AVERAGE REGION (of 7) CLASS (of 28)
Scoring: 39.6ppg 2 2
Rushing: 207.7ypg 3 5
Passing: 216.7ypg 3 7
Total: 424.4ypg 2 3
DEFENSE
Scoring: 25.3ppg 4 17
Rushing: 137.4ypg 2 10
Passing: 192.8ypg 4 24
Total: 330.2ypg 3 17
COACHING BIO
Name: Ryan Bullet
Years with school: 10
Alma mater: University of Utah
PROJECTED STARTERS
OFFENSE
QB: Drew Jensen (6-2, 195, Sr.)
RB: Sione Heimuli-Lund (6-1, 225, Jr.)
RB: Jackson Kaufusi (6-2, 200, Jr.)
WR: Simi Fehoko (6-4, 180, Sr.)
WR: Dylan Pearmain (5-11, 160, Sr.)
TE: Max Miner (6-2, 255, Jr.)
OL: Sione Hall (6-3, 275, Sr.)
OL: Jason Harmer (6-3, 275, Sr.)
OL: Mosese Tauteoli (6-0, 210, Sr.)
OL: Jack Koncar (Sr.)
OL: Emmett Koozer (6-3, 305, Jr.)
DEFENSE
DE: Doug Taumoelau (Sr.)
DT: Blake Oergel (Sr.)
DT: Sione Hall (6-3, 275, Sr.)
LB: Max Hoole (5-10, 200, Sr.)
LB: Sione Heimuli-Lund (6-1, 225, Jr.)
LB: Chubba Reece (5-10, 190, Sr.)
DB: Andrew Covey (5-11, 160, Jr.)
DB: Dylan Pearmain (5-11, 160, Sr.)
SS: Jackson Kaufusi (6-2, 200, Jr.)
FS: Simi Fehoko (6-4, 180, Sr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Michael Williams (Sr.)
P: Drew Jensen (6-2, 195, Sr.)
R: Simi Fehoko (6-4, 180, Sr.)
R: Dylan Pearmain (5-11, 160, Sr.)
2015 SCHEDULE
Date, opponent, time (2014 result)
Aug. 21, Herriman, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28, at Fremont, 7 p.m. (Won, 28-18)
Sept. 4, American Fork, 7 p.m. (Won, 24-23/Lost, 58-28)
Sept. 11, Cottonwood, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18, at Taylorsville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25, Jordan, 7 p.m. (Won, 78-76 3OT)
Oct. 2, at Sky View, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9, at West Jordan, 7 p.m. (Won, 66-26)
Oct. 14, Copper Hills, 7 p.m. (Won, 52-3)
Oct. 22, at Bingham, 7 p.m. (Lost, 24-0)