This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
North Sanpete Hawks
The Hurry-up — North Sanpete finished 7-5 in 2015, and 4-1 in league play. The Hawks lost to Morgan, 43-22, in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A playoffs.
Rhett Bird, who was previously a quarterback coach, will make his varsity head-coaching debut in 2016. He isn't too nervous though. Right next to him on the sidelines will be his uncle and former Bingham coach, Dave Peck, who has coached for more than 30 years and will serve as the defensive coordinator.
"Being as young as I am in my first year, I don't have to worry too much about the defensive side because he's done it for such a long time," Bird said. "We're really excited defensively for what we have."
And while North Sanpete will be switching things up a bit with some important seniors gone, Bird expects nothing less than a state champion-type mentality.
"The expectation — and this has been said from day one that I got the job — is we're going to play like we're the No. 1 team in the state," Bird said. "That's what we're telling our kids. Every time we step on the field, we want to be that championship football team."
Quarterbacks — Bird has been working with rising junior and converted wide receiver Spencer Steadman to make sure he's up to speed on the expectations. Splitting time with another quarterback on junior varsity last year, Steadman will expectedly have some growing pains. But with an emphasis on having a strong run game — which should alleviate some pressure off the first-year starter — Bird said he'll be patient with his growth and, at the right times, try and find Steadman an opportunity to make some plays.
Running backs — Senior back Waylen Atkinson will have a lot of weight on his shoulders in his final season, as he's expected to fill the void Spencer Applegarth leaves after rushing for more than 1,800 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Receivers — Bird said he isn't going to rely too heavily on his passing game this season, but when he does, the offense won't have to worry about moving the chains. With upperclassmen Holden Atkinson and Jake Wrigth, the program is confident in its depth at this position and hopes to utilize it when opportunities arise.
Offensive linemen — One of the biggest holes to fill this season will be up front. Seniors Caleb Bailey and Shawn Ashforth are going to need to step up as the new voices on the line. Bird believes Bailey, at center, can be that new veteran figure.
Defensive linemen — According to Bird, this year's defensive line will be stout and won't allow much room to run. Featuring a plethora of seniors who will test out having the luxury of potentially playing just one way, Bird is excited to see what this group can produce.
Linebackers — Three-year starter Isaac Peterson has cut some weight and is transitioning into his new role as the starting middle linebacker. He's coming in at the right time, too. Bird called this the "core group" of the defense.
Defensive backs — Similar to the linebackers, the Hawks will return a number of key players, three of them being seniors: Colton Curtis and Kelton Christensen at corner and Colton Atkinson at safety.
Key Players
Waylen Atkinson, RB — It's always tough replacing a seasoned and tested back, especially if he capped off his high school career with an 1,800-yard, 19-touchdown season. But this is exactly what Atkinson has been preparing in the offseason to do. Getting the keys to the new car, Atkinson could very well make or break how well the Hawks do on offense — and possibly the season.
Isaac Peterson, MLB — It's going to be a wait-and-see situation after playing on both sides of the line for three years, but Bird is confident the move to linebacker is the right move long-term. So far, the transition has reportedly gone smoothly.
Caleb Bailey, C — The new voice of the offensive line, Bailey has an obligation to step up big-time as an upperclassman. He'll be looking to do that under the context of losing key seniors and creating chemistry with a new rotation.
Key Losses
Spencer Applegarth, RB — The highly-touted back "turned bad plays into good plays," according to Bird. The numbers speak for themselves, and there is no doubt Applegarth will be missed regardless of how Atkinson does.
Zac Lee, QB — Threw for more than 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2015.
Trey Sorenson, LB — Finished 2015 season the leading tackler, with 87 total tackles (61 solo).
Name To Know: There's no telling if Shawn Taylor will be a vital player to the Hawks this season, but he sure will be seeing the field a lot. Sitting out all of last year after a devastating four-wheeler accident, Taylor, a speedy player who impressively got varsity reps as a freshman on special teams, could not play any football as sophomore. Now, as a junior, he's ready for a return and isn't taking anything for granted. "He's been on the other side — not playing football — so he knows how much it hurts to be not be out there with all of his buddies," Bird said. "Hopefully he has one of those stellar seasons."
2016 Schedule
Aug. 19 — TOOELE, 7 p.m. (Won, 31-0, in 2015)
Aug. 26 — TIMPANOGOS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 — at Maple Mountain, 7 p.m. (Won, 26-9)
Sept. 16 — DELTA, 7 p.m. (Won, 44-7)
Sept. 23 — at Manti, 7 p.m. (Won, 44-15)
Sept. 30 — RICHFIELD, 7 p.m. (Won, 42-7)
Oct. 7 — JUAB, 7 p.m. (Won, 38-13)
Oct. 13 — at Canyon View, 7 p.m. (Won, 37-21)
Oct. 19 — Morgan, 7 p.m. (Won, 30-0, and lost, 17-14)
Verdict: There are some unavoidable questions that will need to be answered before North Sanpete can truly shoot for a title run. That, however, doesn't mean ts defense won't thrive under defensive coordinator Dave Peck and Waylen Atkinson won't rise to the occasion, which could be a deadly combo.
Projected finish in region: Second
hkim@sltrib.com
Twitter: @haydaykim