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Show UtahFootball Dixie coach 'comfortable' with 1992 Rebel squad Page 26 THE HERALD, Provo, Section, .Wednesday, August ST. GEORGE Dixie coach he is coining off a knee injury, so Greg Croshaw is comfortable with freshmen Stanley and Roger Cook his team, and its position in the (of Carbon) will have a shot at the polls as the 1992 football season starting job as well. The quarterbacks have the approaches. d The Rebels had some on and chance to operate behind a solid problems last season, to go offensive line. Despite some losses on the line, starters Troy Stoddard along with some outstanding comand Ryan Medina, who earned petitive performances that resulted in a 5 record. honors, return' to anchor Yet despite losing its top star. that unit. Wright is among several NJCAA Player of the Year Kalin newcomers who will be' vying for Hall t.ho moved on to RYU). some of the other slots. Dixie is ranked 15th in the NJCAA At running back, sophomores Butch Fihaki and Curtis Lindsay poll and appears ready are expected to step to the foreto move up. ( 15th) is a comfortable place front, with help from freshmen if you win. you move up." transfers Julius Davis and Myron to be Croshaw said. Sawyer. He added that his squad, which At receiver, the Rebels lost a y is purposely a bit smaller than last great deal of talent, but aren't bereft. Returned missionary year, appears ready to do just that. "I think we have a group of kids Daryl Larsen is "as good a tight end as we've had," ready to accept that challenge," he h in Croshaw'seyes. Winterton, said. "This year we are purposely Deckhart from Dixie, Cal down in numbers to keep the team Johnson of Las Vegas and Lance more manageable. " Several top local prep stars are Johnson, a sophomore transfer, among the reasons the future looks will compete for playing time at the wideout slots. bright for the Rebels. Provo quartOn defense, the Rebels will have erback Sherm Stanley and defena young line, but an experienced sive back Sasha Brown; picks Neil Winterton (kicker and linebacker corps with all starters receiver) and Caleb Ngatuvai from returning. Mike Sweat. Henry Ka-fuJulius Tucker and Tony West Timpview; and offensive lineman L.D. W right from Spanish Fork are expected to be the heart of the will be vying for playing time for defense. Ngatuvai is one of three freshmen expected to contribute the Rebels this season. Dixie has some key players redepth to that position. Three returnees in the secondturning, despite the absence of States FootHall and ary, Jack Damuni, Eddie Williams ball League honorees Kris Paronto and Paul Howard, will help make (receiver) and Mark Petersen and that unit a strong one. Brown Rod Stone (offensive linemen) and should be competing for playing time in that position. lineman Myron DaThe Rebels open Sept. 5 at Mesa vis. Phil Durbano. a 6-College, then host their first game sophomore returns after taking Sept. 12, welcoming Walla Walla over the starting quarterback slot to St. George. Homecoming is midway through last season. But, Nov. 12 against Snow. off-fiel- 6-- pre-seas- 'it com-plete- pass-catchi- Mi-ka- All-Sta- te si, rn 2, 185-pou- Snow expected to be tough on defense in '92 By RAY SCHWARTZ Herald Correspondent EPHRAIM Defensively, the Snow College 'ootball team is expected to be re. I tough this season. "Defensively, I feel we will be very strong," Badger coach Paul Tidwell stressed. "We are very excited about the defensive players we have com ing back . " Joining Jones on defense will be Bryan Walker, who had five interceptions and Cory Cook, who led (See SNOW, Page 28) By RAY SCHWARTZ Herald Correspondent - Ricks REXBURG, Idaho d College, boasting another football team, is looking ahead to another highly successful season in the junior college ranks. talent-ladene- The Vikings have already in the ceived polls by being ranked No. top-ranki- re- States pre-seaas- heavily-recruite- pre-seas- the Western Two of the linebacker positions and Harris have good hands, run debe filled by sophomore David will well and to good routes adjust Tuifua and transfer Jim Freeland fenses, according to Haun. Aside from Sparks, the only out of Arizona State. Tuifuais a pick. back returning from last year's team is Chad Kay, a Provo prodReturning defensive backs are uct, who was a starter for the Vi- Shandell Smoot and Cole Wilson. kings. But Ricks has freshman Smoot was a second team d Andre Noble, who was pick and a first team choice. He also was the by many Divison IA ball at schools and played prep Vikings most exciting punt returand snatched five interceptions ner Okla. Guthrie, last season. Wilson was a first Defensively, Haun feels the poand tential is there to produce and this team five interceptions, had who be defenders inspired player may year's by last year's unit which gave up one of which he ran back for a only 233 yareds per game and was touchdown. 1 in Football League polls and No. 4 in the National Junior Athletic Association predictions. And under the direction of head coach Ron Haun, the Vikes have ???crecked??? the NJCAA postseason poll's top 15 seven times in the past 10 years and have posted an overall record. And this year the outlook is just as promising, since Ricks returns 16 starters, has five student transfers coming in and 13 additional players returning. Plus, the Vikings freshmen have 10 highly-toute- d pre-seas- 83-24- -2 gridders. Since the Ricks system is based atprimarily on a tack, the quarterback question it foremost in the minds of Viking fans. And the quarterback spoi looks pretty solid with the likes ol Rick Sparks and Kevin Stephens on hand. Sparks was the backup to startPaul Putman last ing signal-callseason. Seeing only limited action as a frosh, Sparks, who is 6-- 2 and 210, completed 35 of 78 passes he attempted for 528 yards and four touchdowns. Stephens, a 6-- 2 and 185 pound freshman from Phoenix, Ariz., may challenge Sparks for the starting nod. Four starters from last year's team return to the offensive line, including Dan Kauvaka, Scott Peahigh-power- ranked third in the nation last season. "We have four defensive linemen that are Division prospects and two very tough defensive backs are returning," Haun said. "If our linebackers come through we should be very strong defenA sively." On the defensive line are John Raass, John Loving, Tau Pupua and Alani Puhula. "Rauss is the best nose guard to come through Ricks in a long time and Loving could be the most consistent defensive lineman we've seen in a while," Haun said. er Glendale Community ninth-ranke- d College in Arizona and home games with Dixie and Snow will put the Vikings to the test. "Our schedule this year is definitely in our favor and with our experience and good size and speed we should have another successful season," Haun said. Van Roosendaal. Van Roosendaal, and 302, hails from Midway and is a pick, while Rhodes, called by Haun, his "best offensive lineman last year," was a first team player last season . 6-- 7 pre-seas- on ASSIST YOU WITH ALL TOUR GARDENING NEEDS. WE OFFER: Perennial & Annual Bedding Plants Shade & Ornamental Trees Nursery Stock Fruit Trees Flowering & Hanging Baskets Geraniums Roses Poinsettias Full Line of Fertilizers Gymnastics ................ Beginners & girls Gymnastics 245S.MountainlandDr.,Orem 226-361- 0 ARE READY TO OUR STAFF OF PROFESSIONALS On the receiving end of the Vikings' potent passing attack should often find Darin Dixon and Mark Harris, a transfer form Southern Utah State University. Both Dixon Competitive levels for boys Anes3to18 7 an Because of their winning tradition, most teams in the league are gunning for the Vikes, so Haun knows the season opener with cock, Kevin Rhodes and Matin Pre-scho- ol All-Americ- han- lollop CALL NOW FOR SIGN UP sparking the linebackers. "We will have the best group of defensive backs I've ever seen at Snow College, ' Tidwell empha-- . sized. The kicking duties will be dled by veteran Steve Evans SUS transfer Troy Veach. Wo Biota Beginning Aug. 24 sive line and Derrick Stapely A Ricks College ranked No. 4 jn NJCAA preseason grid poll FALL GYMNASTICS Snow College will return 10 former starters with team captain Darren Venu anchoring the defen- Andre Jones is the real gem among the defensive backs. He had several opportunities to go to Division schools last year after nine interceptions, including four for touchdowns. 26, 1992 f ........... vow & . Cobcade ohmmh PLAN VrrgVp I Chemicals ............ HOWWeOWItfSWmFOLLUHS CuAKUtNU:NlfcR . .. . uascaae Shadows o south state Pf0V0 377-426- 1 A II |