This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
ENTERPRISE WOLVES
The Hurry-up — Enterprise finished 5-6 in 2015, and 2-3 in league play. The Wolves lost to South Summit, 42-0, in the Class 2A quarterfinals.
First-year Enterprise coach Andy Messersmith is starting at square one. "I'm just trying to get kids out," Messersmith said. "That's the big thing, is trying to boost the numbers and, hopefully, if you have the numbers you can always find kids that will play the positions." Having coached the last five years as an assistant at Uintah, with prior roles on the staffs at Juab and North Sanpete, Messersmith wants to bolster the enthusiasm around the program by increasing the pool of players he has to choose from.
This season will be more of an experimental one, as Messersmith and his assistants feel out the best approaches on either side of the ball in accordance with the personnel he's quickly becoming acquainted with.
Quarterbacks — Jayson Holt, one of the Wolves' top four receivers a year ago, moves from out wide to under center in what will be a fluid attack. The various formations Enterprise plans on employing can certainly keep defenses guessing, but how Holt transitions to his new role and orchestrates those sets will directly influence his team's level of success. Although Holt's passing ability is yet to be seen, he's a dangerous runner with good speed.
Running backs — Caleb Koopmans and Jesus Morales will be leaned on significantly as two of the leaders of the offense, and both could be in store for dramatically increased statistical campaigns. John Oswald, Ryan Holt and Case Jones all received carries last year, and should factor in to the four-back rotation the Wolves are looking at.
Receivers — Oswald is the top returning receiver, and Jaylon Gardner adds another decent-sized option for Holt in the passing game. Enterprise is thin here, though, and unless more players emerge, it could be a limited downfield air attack.
Offensive linemen — Brady Tullis and Kasen Peterson return to anchor the line, while some young players are vying for time alongside them. Josh Lee looks poised to grab a starting spot as a guard or center. As one of the positions where their depth again isn't great, the Wolves are still searching for additional blockers.
Defensive linemen — Koopmans moves to end in what is now a 5-2 base defense, with Tullis at the nose guard. Lee can play one of the tackle positions, and Gardner has experience as the end opposite Koopmans. A more experienced defense gives Enterprise more options to choose from than they have offensively.
Linebackers — Morales and Oswald will cover a lot of ground as the main linebackers in the Wolves' revamped scheme. AJ Anderson started at the beginning of last year before breaking his ankle, and will provide a reliable option to spell Morales and Oswald.
Defensive backs — Holt will be the corner most often covering the opponent's No. 1 receiver, and his younger brother, Ryan Holt, will see added time at either the corner or safety position. Anderson can also play in the secondary.
Key Players
Jesus Morales, RB/LB — Coming off a 100-tackle season, Morales will be looked to for leadership on defense, and will be getting the ball much more at running back.
Caleb Koopmans, RB/DE — The Wolves' top returning rusher, Koopmans will be one of the featured backs. He's also the focal point in the Wolves' pass rush.
John Oswald, WR/LB — Oswald is now the go-to target in the passing game following his 20 catches for 410 yards and three touchdowns, and, with Morales, he'll carry much of the defensive burden following his 44 tackles and four interceptions as a junior.
Key Losses
Joey Paine, OL/DL — Paine was a headache for blockers, racking up eight sacks, 61 total tackles and 14 tackles for loss last year.
Brandell Shumway, QB/LB — Shumway's 2,484 yards of offense and 21 touchdowns were an integral part of the success Enterprise enjoyed.
Wyatt Peterson, OL/LB — Peterson was more than reliable in allowing Shumway time to throw, and, combined with his 66 tackles, was a worthy recipient of his first-team all-state selection.
Name To Know: Being handed the reins of the offense after his move from wide receiver to signal-caller, a lot of how the season develops will come down to the play of Jayson Holt.
2016 Schedule
Aug. 19 — DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, 7 p.m. (Lost, 42-13, in 2015)
Aug. 26 — at Parowan, 7 p.m. (Won, 39-6)
Sept. 2 — at North Summit, 7 p.m. (Won, 13-12)
Sept. 9 — MILLARD, 7 p.m. (Lost, 13-12)
Sept. 16 — NORTH SEVIER, 7 p.m. (Won, 43-20)
Sept. 23 — at San Juan, 7 p.m. (Lost, 41-6)
Sept. 30 — GRAND, 7 p.m. (Lost, 28-14)
Oct. 7 — SOUTH SEVIER, 7 p.m. (Won, 40-7)
Oct. 13 — at Beaver, 7 p.m. (Lost, 35-13)
Verdict: In transition in more ways than one, Enterprise will have its sights set on capturing multiple league wins and making it to the playoffs.
Projected finish in region: Fourth