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Show OUTLOOK: Viewmont realizes that Davis is going to have a strong club but then on, it looks like dogfight. "Whichever team is the best prepared and is the most competitive will be right in the hunt,' notes coach Hatch. The Vikes have no starters back from last year but they have a bunch make that a swarm of aggressive players who like contact, if the Smurfs can cause problems then so can the Vikes. By DAVE WIGHAM VIEWMONT ake Seniors Get Their Shot want those people who play varsity ball at Viewmont to look at it as an honor rather than just a matter of showing up and getting equipment. Being on this team should mean something to them. Heres a look at the links in the Viking chain. 50. Clipper Sports - VIEWMONT The shadows are gone and now its their time to shine. FOR THE past two years this years senior class at Viewmont has been in the shadow of the senior class that graduated last year. Even in football, for the past three seasons, the names have been the same. Now all of a sudden those name athletes are headed to various college campuses throughout the area and the unknown junior class steps forward to take their place in the sun. Its not that these guys have to prove themselves, they did that last season with a perfect record on the junior varsity level, but yet its a case of them getting the opportunity to knock heads with the varsity men. 1 QUARTERBACK. Senior Jeff Meservy has the inside shot at the starting job. Hes worked very hard this summer to prepare himself and since hes a senior hell get the shot first. Right behind Jeff pushing for some playing time is junior Bryan Hardy. Hes just a great athlete and even if he doesnt play quarterback well use him on defense. The coaches have 1 ONE OF our biggest strengths right now as a football team is the fact that these seniors are a very close knit bunch. We dont have a super-sta- r, someone we have to depend on, but these guys all pull for each other and the morale of the squad has been extremely high offered first year Viking coach Warren Hatch. The best way to describe this team is that we are little but well hit. And no one knows from what direction well hit he smirked. ALTHOUGH COACH Hatch is in his first year as head man at Viewmont he doesnt consider himself a rookie since he has been the head football mentor at Richfield High. I honestly feel the only difference is in the number of kids and the size of the coaching staff. Warren and his staff welcomed 115 kids to the practice field including several first year seniors. I think anytime you have a coaching change some of the seniors decide to give football a shot. HE DOESNT expect to keep all of these players though, Im a firm believer in the saying that you are only as strong as your weakest link. You can teach more with less players, right now we have about 65 players on ' A year ago Jeff Meservy guided the junior season and now first year head coach Warren Hatch is hoping his senior quarterback can provide the same leadership to the varsity club to a perfect 11-- 0 varsity ship. also been impressed with the leadership both Theyre signal callers have been showing, both leaders with the senior maybe being a little more mature. In the Hatch system of offense the quarterback better get used to the throwing motion and both these players can air the football out. This is the spot that the could feels be a strength for the staff coaching Vikes with four strong runners. Senior Troy Gortat is probably the main man right now, pound for pound hes the strongest kid weve got. Troy is quick and very hard nosed. Not far behind is senior Shon Wilson who is just about a Gortat clone in that hes another bowling ball type runner with good quickness. These two will split time at the fullback spot offerd Hatch. In the battle for the halfback spot is senior Wade Bevans and junior Casey Kleinman. These two give us different looks at halfback with Wade being a quick scatback type player and Casey has good agility but is more of a power runner. RUNNINGBACKS. RECEIVERS. Viewmont has always had some of the best receivers in the area and Kirt Tidwell, Chad Rasmussen and Jeff Sowell carry on that tradition. All three have good speed and can catch the ball as can Tim Jones and Lonnie King who are available for duty at this position. TIGHT ENDS. Coach Hatch calls this spot crucial. We just dont have anyone set as tight end right now. Were looking at a lot of people here and hopefully we can come up with a good one. The people most mentioned are seniors Dan Nelson and Garth Hogan along with junior Robert Cargee although he went on to add there were others who could very well turn out to be the starters. center spot down but Mike Kieth (6 1 170) would like to see some action as well. The guard situation seems tight with seniors Mark Zesiger (62 205) and John Stubbs (62 170) ahead of juniors Phil Lee (5 10 180) and Bill Southwick (62 180) while the tackle spots are a three man fight for two spots. Rory Howard (5 10 180), Shawn Pulley (5 10 160) and Brett Campbell (6 160) are three seniors battling for playing time. Coach Hatch has a simple philosophy concerning offense and defense. Offense brings the fans in but defense wins the championships. DEFENSIVE ENDS. The Vikes are loaded in this spot so depth is a big strength at this time. A couple of juniors Mike Hamilton (6165) and Alan Hansen (63 180) are mentioned first but the coaches are quick to point out Kyle Foster (61 170), Brian Reid (6 175), Mike Kieth and Rob Cargee. Again this is a position the coaching staff isnt set on but its always nice to be in the position of having a lot of quality players to choose from. DEFENSIVE TACKLES. When not blocking on the offensive line at their guard spots Gortat and Wilson will be like a couple of hungry the middle roaming vultures looking for lost sheep with Dave ' McIntosh, Craig Davies and Troy Crawford as backups. Three seniors, Lonnie King, Casey Kleinman and Jeff Putnam are in a heated battle for the Sam linebacker spot w hile juniors Billy Bagley and Brian Hardy are going head to head for the whip linebacker spot. The coaches feel good about the linebacking corps, especially the two animals in the middle. LINEBACKERS. SECONDARY. This is probably the biggest strength of the defense since they have so much quality depth at the positions. Wade Bevans, Chad Rasmussen, Keith Larsen, Mark Clifford and Bob Larson are all available as comerbacks while Tim Jones, Jeff Sowell and Jeff Meservy will get time as the safety. All of these people are quick to cover the pass and aggressive to cover the run. DESCRIBE VIEWMONT cc One of our biggest strengths right fact that now as a football team these seniors are a very close knit bunch. The best way to describe this team is that we are little but we'll hit. And no one is the LINE. Already the coaching staff are referring to their line as the Smurfs so right off the bat you have to figure out the Vikes arent big. But whats new? The Vikings have never been a team with big linemen. Craig Davies (510 165) appears to have the knows from what direction we'll hit. 95 Coach Warren Hatch T OUTLOOK: WOODS CROSS Unlike the big names of past years, Woods Cross sports a class of unified seniors. These guys have been with coach Eldracher since his first year at the school. The Cats have talented people going both ways, and barring injuries, will be competitive. By DAVE WIGHAM the job won here and hes one of the best around. Although smaller than some other tight ends Todd has the strength to block on the runs and then the speed to get open on the pass. Tight ends are where the action is and Todd thrives on that. OFFENSIVE LINE. A big strength for the Cats since they have three returning starters and a fourth player that saw considerable action. The anchoring factor of this years line are the two returning guards Dave Jones (61 200) and Robert Easton (61 205). Both these returnees are big, strong and quick. Tackle Kevin Hicks (64 230) is back this year to start again while Rick Forsgren (61 195), who saw plenty of action a year ago, and Mike Kattle-ma- n (62 195) are fighting for the other starting tackle spot. In the middle of the line senior Brad Larson (5T0 175) seems to have the inside track over junior Rick Hawley. Clipper Sports WOODS CROSS -- - The ign on the locker State room wall says it all. Best record What are you doing to change record this? 6-- 4. 0-- 0. THATS THE challenge facing the Woods Cross football team as they prepare for the upcoming season. For the record the Cats best season mark came several years ago when they posted that 64 record yet they have still to be represented in a state playoff in football. These just arent idle words from the coaching staff either as head man Larry Eldracher notes, Weve improved over last year because we have stronger leadership and character as a team this season. This is a very good senior class and weve got some seniors on the field taking charge. ABOUT HIS offense Eldracher is quick and We have strength and experience on the line, some quality running backs, a NOT ONLY does the coach feel his troops are improved in the leadership and attitude department but he sees the ability level higher, anyone we put on the field on offense can catch the ball, we have some excellent receivers. Our quarterback situation looks strong and the running back situation is much im- to the point. great receiving corps and a quarterback who can throw the football. This is the strongest offensive team Ive had a Woods Cross. On the defensive side the coach was a little disappointed in their showing a year ago and hopes to improve on it. I felt we played pretty good defense my first year here but then outside of one game last year we really didnt play that well. We have a strong defense but we have a lot of kids going both ways and that may be a telling point. proved. Another reason for the optimism running higher than usual in the Cats camp is the fact that the coach feels like this is his bunch of players. This is my third year as head coach, these guys were sophomores under my direction. I know these guys pretty well and they know me. This is the first senior class that has played under my system for all three years as Wildcats and that helps. QUARTERBACK. Woods Cross is one up on everyone else in the area in that they have a quarterback coming back with some varsity experience. Senior Mike Famer moved into the starting spot on. the varsity level about half that way through the season a year ago and At valuable. be could extremely experience is the Mike 185 signal biggest and pounds 63 caller around and he just happens to be one of the best passers as well. Hes throwing the ball well and his attitude is really good this season. One of his best assets though is that hesjust a tough kid and Mark Zesiger and John Stubbs will be on call to known down runners and quarterbacks. Another senior Jeff Archibald (6 1 70) w ill spell either one of them. DEFENSIVE ENDS. The Cats have a couple in seniors Travis McBeth and Lance Eden (63 195). These two are strong, quick and like to be where the action is. Most ends are either strong or fact, these two Cats are both. of dandy ones here Returning offensive lineman (clockwise from top) Kevin Hicks, Dave Jones, Robert Easton and Todd Grossenbachlook down on anyone trying to get past them to the quarterback. This line Is one of the big strengths of the Cat team. hell bounce back time after time. The Cats are also high on their junior passer Brad Worthen who has looked good in the early practice sessions. . ' RUNNINGBACKS. By their own admission the Cats looked to one back too much last year but that wont be the case this season. We have some good depth this year, theyre most ly unproven but we feel they can get the job done noted Eldracher. Senior Mike Ralph Dailey is back to anchor the runningbacks and another senior Duffy Williams has looked strong in practice. Then comes four juniors who the coaches indicate they wouldnt hesitate to use in any situation. Those four are Ron Gomez, Mike Chabries, Jeff Hawkins and Brady Anderson. RECEIVERS. A bright spot for the Cats according to their coaches with seniors Jr. Avei, Travis McBeth and Jeff Mortensen all bringing smiles to the coachs face. Avei and Mortensen are very quick while McBeth has deceptive speed to get up field in a hurry. We have a good corps of receivers, plain and simple they can go get the ball. TIGHT END. Senior Todd Grossenbach has TACKLES. Robert Easton is a returning starter and a solid performer and Rick Forsgren just has a nose for contact. The coaches indicated several other athletes could also play this spot but these two are the front runners. LINEBACKERS. Maybe the Wildcats dont . have the outstanding individual linebackers they have had in the past but as a unit they are solid. |