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Show AUGUST 19, 1986 L, Falcon Football Big names are gone, but big hearts not By KEITH DUNCAN jority of their games and when it came time to play Weber High, the eventual state champion, the Falcons knocked them off. These kids have what it takes to win, said Hancock, Theyve seen the good, bad and ugly too and - CLEARFIELD Therell be no monkey on the back of the Falcons when they kick-of- f against View-mo- nt on Aug. 29 in Bountiful. Now thats not to say this Clearfield club isnt going to continue to . I punish people defensively and eventually land a spot in the playoffs again, but a glance down the roster doesnt find any player coming back to suit up in the likes of a J.C. VanCollin, Jeff Parry, Craig Carter, Kim Thurgood, Vaun Waite and the such. Even in the coaching staff, the well-know- names are gone. n believe theyre on track to get the job done. Getting better and might be part of the motto the Falcons will be using in 86. There are players back like Andy Shavers at running back who suffered a severe knee injury a year ago during the Davis game and missed the remainder of the season. Hes quite excited for the new year to get underway to reprove himself. Darrin Starkey is back to improve as a defensive secondary defender, having played in that position a year ago. Even Coach Hancock would like to try things again . Last year I felt I made some awful mistakes of trying to platoon too many kids. But we wont ever do that in Re- tirement took the veteran Ken Hicks and John Flint has been gone for two years now. They have been replaced with much more inexperienced, but capable leaders. No, there just arent any big names and reputations to see or live up to. So with that the critics take the monkey off Clearfields back and they give it to someone else. again, not as long as But oh how fast things can Im the head coach. If it takes having eight kids playing both ways, then well do it. Whatever it takes to have the best players on the field at all times, change. Brent Hancock, in his ninth season as the head coach here, agrees e that the returnees are missing but at the same time says, people had better be ready to play us, always. And theres meaning in those words too. Despite a lackluster season a year ago, Clearfield stayed right in the thick of the ma- big-nam- BRENT HANCOCK ' Gardner and Gene Smith. the Throughout pre-seaso- clear-cu- t. At tail back Clearfield hopes Shavers can bounce back. He started at strong safety for the Fal- cons last season but the injury at Davis thwarted his season. Again there is another untested player. If we can get one-wa- y out of Andy, Ill be real happy, said Shacken-bur- 3, year. Poll, a guard, played some last season and hopefully a strong unit can be built around him. Toomer started the last few Clearfield games as a sophomore last year. The receiving troops appear solid with Bracken Larsen, Tommy Price and Lance King there. Coach Hancock likes their speed and all have good hands to catch. Star-ke- Hancock. Behind Shavers is Ed 190), Nate Chandler (6-Pat 230), Wyatt, Kevin Johnson, Sam Toomer, Todd Bingham, Travis Wilson, Will Broadhead, Jeff Kirkman, Dave McNaughton, and Pat White. All of these will be the primary choices to man Clearfields offensive line for the coming (5-1- 0, n coaching staff will look hard and long and finally make their ultimate decision before the team opens with Roy on Sept. 19. Maybe Gardner has the edge right now because he knows the system better, but theres nothing y, g. If were given some time to throw, we will get the ball to At full back is Andy Clawson (6-190) who should come through and behind him is Monte Guretens. The weight training at Clearfield hopefully will pay off for kids like John Elbrator (6-- 270), Chris Poll 2, them, said Hancock, I feel good about Gardner or Smith putting the ball up. At tight end, Hancock isnt sure now who will play there but did 5, well do it, said Hancock who is in his 23rd consecutive year of coaching. In a preview of each position, at quarterback, Clearfield will surely be untested. There will be a couple of juniors battling it out in Tim CLEARFIELDS - CLEARFIELDS CAPABLE TRIO of (1 to r) Chris Poll, Andy Shavers and Darrin Starkey hope to help keep up the Falcons good football tradition. They open against Viewmont on August 29th. mention Travis Hamblin as a pos- sible. Through the years, Clearfield has demonstrated true strength on defense and Hancock hopes the tradition can continue. Assistant Brent Lund has been elevated to defensive coordinator. The group that makes up the linebackers is led by Poll and people will probably see Will Broad-hea- d and Kirkman there too. The cornerman will be selected from people like Price, Roudell Ortega, Guretens, Shackenburg. Other defensive secondary folks include Starkey, Rob Hiatt, Shavers, Brent Cutler, Larsen and Clawson. The outside linebackers include Jeff Harris, Hamblin, Eric Radar, Scott Gill, Johnson, McNaughton and Jeff Von Collin. The defensive down linemen are players like Elbrader, Wilson, Harris, Chandler, David Olsen, Darren Duretch, John Gillette and Leon Wilcox. ...people had better be ready to play always. US, -- Coach Brent Hancock - ILflm&ws bmMgjjvy fm Others along the tackle line include Tim LaFitte 245), John Yeates 205), Art Herrera 205) and Jeremy Uptom. By KEITH DUNCAN (6-- LAYTON The mothers of the football players at Layton High School are perhaps the most frustrated mothers of all. They buy anything from steaks to sweets, but just cant quite quench a certain hunger embedded in their sons. Its too bad food cant do it. The only thing that will solve this dilemma is a chance to get on the football field and turn the corner in Lancer football fortunes. Second-yea- r head man, Joe Wood knows their hunger, and all too well. From an attitude standpoint, this years bunch is a head above last years team. They are hungry, fighting hungry to do a good job to turn things around here, said -- - (6-- Perhaps another reason for optimism this year is the track re- cord of the present group of seniors. As sophomores they were big winners, losing only one game, they know what its like to win. Im really excited about this team, said Wood as practice began Monday, "As Ive stated, their attitude is right. When it comes to athletic ability, we could end up putting 2 of 22 better football players on the field this year. When 1 certainAugust 29th rolls around, case. the thats ly hope Around the league, opponents are noticing the Lancers in their football discussions. And it doesnt surprise Wood. Hed be picking teams too if they had as many skilled athletes as his has back this 1 year. 0, The guards include David (5-1- 1, 2, 0, 0, Taurone 180) and Mark Rochester. Center candidates include Tyler Sessions 205), David Jolly (5-1- 0, (6-- (6-- 4, 1, 205) and Dwaine Roth. Wes Wilkin is the new defensive coordinator, having met Wood while he coached at Utah State. Wilkin says this team is better conditioned than the Granger team he helped coach that made it to the semi-finalast season. There is a lot of depth and strength at the linebacker positions, just like the running back position. Both inside and outside 1 people include Phelts, Taurone, Boyd Murray, Darby, Russell Ter195), Chris Ashton, Mike ry (6-Barnes (6-175), Ruth, Neerings, 3 Parrish, Trevor Haycock and John Todd. Murray, Phelts and Taurone all started there a year ago. At defensive end Layton will go to Bryant, Harrison, Trujillo, Todd ls 0, long-awaite- years in a row. Its got to be very tough to handle learning three new philosophies and systems in three years, said Wood, Now well settle in and get mine down this year. (6-- Howell 180), Jason Barnes (6-230), Craig Webb (6-200), Michael Judkins (6-190), John Wood. And they say attitude is everything. If thats the case, then some d rewards are waiting for a school whose heralded football tradition has drug close to the bottom for several of the past years. The 1986 edition of Layton football just might have what it takes to turn things around. One thing certainly in their favor is that for the first time in four years, there is a coach who will be there for two 2, 2, 0, SPEED, EXPERIENCE AND quickness tell the story with these four Layton Lancers. Left to right, there is Craig Phelts, Richard Lovelace, William Reid and Carl Darby. Layton opens up against the Bountiful Braves on August 29th. But I hope too, that people will remember that in the past three seasons, this school hasnt had a winning season. Sure, our attitude is right, but weve still got to turn the corner in terms of winning. If we in dont win some football games the beginning, itll be tough on us. Look at Weber for instance. They struggled for a few years before finally turning the corner last year. And I can bet, no matter what theyve got coming back this year, theyll be competitive just because their kids know how to win. Weve got to turn the corner and begin beating some of the opponents were not supposed to beat. Hard work and preparation has been the motto around Layton this summer and a good many kids have been coming back almost since the day school let out last spring. The following is a breakdown by position of the 86 Layton Lancers. Coming back at quarterback is 175) who junior Troy Murray (6-- started most of last season. Wood is high on him in terms of his leadership and athletic abilities. Hes got a JimMcMahon type attsaid itude, hes a competitor, Wood. Behind Murray is Rick Sparks and Keith Lawrence. Experience and speed, even a lot of depth, are the ways to describe the Layton running backs. Richard Lovelace 165) is back at tail (5-- 8, 165) back and William Reid (5-returns as the fullback. They can do it all, either breaking tackles at the line or blitzing to daylight once the tackle is broken. Carl Darby 190) is a pleasant surprise, having not played last year. As a junior he will be a strength as a running back. Clint Brower (5-165), and David Briscoe will also run the ball. (6-- 1, At flanker Layton is blessed with three solid seniors in John Bryant 165) 175), Craig Phelts and Boyd Murray (6-185). Curl Smith will also play there. Gone is Rex Hrimhall as the tight (5-1- 0, (5-1- Neerings end, so in comes people like Dave Harrison 180), Brady (6-- 5, Neer-ings(6-- 180), Robert Trujillo (6-- 0, 2, 185) and Lance Chournos to try to land that spot. Harrison has the edge and has looked good in practice. 170) came Chris Parrish (6-into his own last year as a split end and has continually got better. Other receivers will be Darrell 175), Larry Cantarella, Gray (6-Tony Roberts, Chris Thompson and Curtis Williams. All of them can catch the football, said Wood. Move-i- n Jason Barker (6-240) helps make things interesting on the offensive line. But even before he came along, Wood was confident that the kids who were already there were better than a year ago and picking up the Layton offense All that means, said faster. Is that Im excited about our people there." Barker comes to laylon as a junior, having played at Montana high school where in one game he made 25 tackles. (6-- 185), Tyler Cox, Mike Gooch and Dan Dillingham. Defensive tackle spots will be under heavy gun by Jolly, Barker. Barnes, Judkins, Jason Stauffer, Craig Dennis, Rob Smith and Rick Cherrington. Gray has great potential at one corner spot and people like Reid. 165), Brower, B.J. Lovell Lovelace, Brian Embley, Mike Todd and Derek Marquardl will battle for the remaining spots. (5-1- LAYTON'S JOE WOOD At safety, Layton will choose from Tony Roberts 165), Kanchit Watson 165), Curt Smith 175), Jason Green and Jason Nielson. (5-1- (5-1- (5-1- Weve got to turn the corner and begin beating some of the opponents were not suppose-- to beat. Laytons Wood |