This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
PINE VIEW PANTHERS
The Hurry-up — Pine View finished 6-5 overall in 2015, 1-4 in the 3AA South, and lost to Dixie, 28-23, in the 3AA quarterfinals.
Pine View has never won a state championship in school history, but the program is predominantly viewed as a yearly contender. That, however, was far from the truth last season. The Panthers were competitive, with four of their five losses decided by one score, yet they never truly posed the formidable threat opponents are accustomed to facing, correlating with coach Ray Hosner proclaiming "without a doubt" the campaign was a letdown.
"To be honest, sometimes we just couldn't finish," said Tyler Heaton, a two-way starter in the trenches, who also said he believes this current roster is capable of hoisting the coveted hardware at season's end.
Senior receiver Lance Mandrigues attributed the subpar season to lack of leadership, saying, "I feel like no one really wanted to step up, so we had no sense of direction."
The shortfall of leadership is easily traced to the youth movement within the program, but coincidentally, the struggles from last season have positioned the Panthers to return to their successful roots. Although the depth chart is still cluttered with underclassmen, they're now fully acclimated to the varsity speed.
"We've got kids that have been in the program for awhile, so we're going to have some consistency," Hosner said. "A lot of these kids have been starting since their freshman and sophomore years.
Quarterbacks — Depth was a serious encumbrance at the most important position last year. Once the incumbent starter, Riley Livingston, suffered a serious concussion, the reins of the offense were handed over to two sophomores. Luckily for Pine View, those troubles have dissipated, with six players vying for the starting spot behind center. Highlighted by senior Jacob Brann and juniors Ryan Javines and Nick English, it's a wide-open race. "It's pretty even. It's fun — we finally have competition, which makes everybody better," Hosner said.
Running backs — Pine View is typically viewed as having an offense predicated on spreading the field and attacking weaknesses in coverage through the air, but its ability to generate yardage on the ground is often overlooked. Enter Kawika Santiago. As a junior, he rushed for 127 yards on 43 carries — obviously not attention-grabbing production, but as the featured back this season, Santiago is poised for a breakout season.
Receivers — Both slot receivers — Michael Moten, whom Hosner said "did a great job for us last year" and Lance Mandrigues are back in the fold. And according to Mandrigues, who will be the No. 1 target in the throw-game, the offensive scheme tweaked in the offseason, virtually eliminating the tight end in favor of promoting more touches for Hudson Reed, Carson Clarke and Jacob Mpungi.
Offensive linemen — The quickest way to reverse fortunes into positive outcomes in football is strong play in the trenches, and Pine View feels comfortable about its returning pieces up front. Heaton, who has started to receive attention from the next level, is joined by center Saxton Leavitt and left tackle Zach Spendlove. The tutelage from those three starters should expedite the learning curve for the two newcomers.
Defensive linemen — Operating out of a base 3-4 front, Heaton and Solo Katoa, whose brother, Thor, signed with Oregon State, are expected to apply pressure at the line of scrimmage. Specifically, Hosner said Heaton has slimmed down to 285 pounds and increased his burst and speed.
Linebackers — All four linebackers are back again this season, with four-year starter Dillan Robertson starring as the centerpiece of the unit. Brennan Bithell, Christian Reis and Austin Peterson are his partners in crime.
Defensive backs — By default, this appears to be the weakest layer of the defense, simply because of the returning contributors ahead of the secondary. But that doesn't mean talent is not readily available. D'Angelo Mpungi and Dylan Hendrickson shore up the hashes as returning starters at corner, with Paul Von Dincklage at safety.
Key Players
Tyler Heaton, OL/DL — The cliché is football is won at the line of scrimmage. The reasoning is simple: It's true. Heaton is paramount to the Panthers' success on both sides of the ball.
Kawika Santiago, RB — Pine View wants to be as balanced as possible, which means Santiago has to be productive on the ground.
Michael Moten, WR — As the second target through the air, Moten can induce headaches for opposing coordinators by stretching the defense from sideline to sideline.
Key Losses
Riley Livingston, QB — The senior completed 50 percent of his attempts for 1,847 yards and 17 touchdowns, but struggled with ball security, with 12 interceptions.
Kobe Topalian, RB — Racked up 977 yards and 12 touchdowns on 202 carries.
Steve Bangerter, WR — Named second-team all-state, Bangerter hauled in 59 receptions for 851 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Name To Know: With Bangerter gone, don't be fooled into thinking Pine View will be less aggressive through the air. Mandrigues said he's fully prepared to inherit a higher workload, and Hosner echoed the same sentiment, saying spectators might "be surprised" at what he's able to do.
2016 Schedule
Aug. 19 — at Judge Memorial, 7 p.m. (Won, 30-24 in 2OT, in 2015)
Aug. 26 — UINTAH, 7 p.m. (Won, 23-0)
Sept. 2 — at Manti, 7 p.m. (Won, 30-15)
Sept. 9 — at Cyprus, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 — DIXIE, 7 p.m. (Lost, 31-28, and, 28-23)
Sept. 23 — SNOW CANYON, 7 p.m. (Won, 8-6)
Sept. 30 — at Hurricane, 7 p.m. (Lost, 42-35)
Oct. 7 — at Desert Hills, 7 p.m. (Lost, 21-10)
Oct. 21 — CEDAR, 7 p.m. (Lost, 28-21)
Verdict: Pine View is not the type of program that finds itself stuck in the mud for long durations. It would be shocking to see the Panthers post another record three games below .500 in league play. With a relatively weak preseason schedule, three region games at home and a monster defense, look for this team to return to its typical success. However, there is one major disclaimer: there has to be stability at quarterback. Period.
Projected finish in region: Third