ST. GEORGE — A lot of people are talking about Snow Canyon football.
The Warriors have not made the playoffs for six years. The Warriors have underachieved. The Warriors are blowing up their program.
But inside the huddle, nobody is talking about these things.
“We have no doubters,” said Snow Canyon starting quarterback Warner Rigby. “This year, there’s a better feeling, a better atmosphere, a more intense atmosphere that we believe. No doubters this year.”
It seems as though the Warriors have rallied around new head coach Marcus Matua, in hopes of reviving a once-dominant football program that is 21-34 since making it to the state final in 2006.
The Warriors are anxious to return to the Friday night lights, following a 6-4 mark in 2012 — its first winning record since 2006.
Snow Canyon started last year 3-1 through preseason and blew out Canyon View 42-0 in their region opener before trading wins and losses for the remainder of the season.
One week the Warriors were blown out 42-0 by Desert Hills, and the next, they took down eventual state champ Dixie 28-21.
But now, both ups and downs are in the past.
“We’ve come a long way from our first padded camp,” said Rigby. “We’re really coming together well on offense and on defense, just knowing where to expect each other to go and where to have each others backs.”
Gone, too, with the past is Snow Canyon’s nightly highlight reel, running back Mitch Phillips. The recently-graduated Phillips averaged nearly 7 yards per carry, while amassing more than 1,200 yards, and grabbing 21 touchdowns. Not to mention head coach Jay Graft stepping down at last season’s end.
One thing that is not changing is the emphasis on the run.
“We’re primarily a run team. We’re going to run a lot,” said Rigby.
However, the Warriors have changed up their offensive formation from the Power I to a double-wing T, similar to what the Hurricane Tigers have used as a vehicle for turning their program around.
As a mobile quarterback, Ribgy is certainly a threat. With him in the backfield will be starting running back Connor Parry, who has drawn praise from his coach and teammates.
“(Parry)’s got good vision, with him being a rugby player. He’s capable of filling those shoes,” said Matua of Parry replacing Phillips. He also stated that the team has other capable backs who can fill in and make a name for themselves.
Trevor Horlacher was cited as one who should have an impact on offense. But there is no doubt that Horlacher will be the foundation of Snow Canyon’s defense — Horlacher was among the state leaders in tackles.
“We’ll have a better defense than we did last year,” said linebacker Brady Sargent. “We have a lot of new kids, and they’re helping out a lot. We weren’t as strong, weren’t as dedicated as we are this year.
“We’re more physical this year. We got bigger interior D-linemen, bigger backers than we did last year.”
After opting out of football the last two seasons, Nate Gottfredson, a 6-foot-7, first-team all-state basketball standout, has returned to the gridiron and will add much-needed size as a defensive linemen. Also returning after a two-year hiatus is Tom Jensen, who will also find work as a D lineman.
Despite new personnel and a new offense, Matua was direct in what he sees as the top area that needs change.
“It’s everybody buying in,” he said. “These boys know that. If they’re not going to buy in, they don’t need to be on this team.”
