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Show 2D Lakeside Review North, Friday, Nov. 25, 1983 Despite Successes, Sampson the Darts come back once again. The injury, as is often said in foot5 ball, was a freak. It came on a the when Hillcrest for situation center came at Sampson to block him. My thigh pad had scooted over and he put his helmet right into my leg, said Sampson. Although the injury hurt, it wasnt bad enough to keep him out of the game. But things changed by the next morning. Saturday and Sunday morning were bad, Sampson said. Things were so bad he couldnt walk down stairs. On Monday, I said, Coach, we have a problem." Sampson still hoped during the week that he would be able to play. That hope faded. The only thing Sampson was able to do with his usual efficiency was take part in the coin flip before the Despite his teams 12-- 1 record his senior year, despite being named to nuteams and despite all merous the brilliant games he played from his offensive and defensive line positions, the game Davis Highs Jeff Sampson may remember most from his high school days is the one he didnt play in. Sampson stood on the sidelines in his uniform, badly hiding the anguish, watching his Darts lose the state championship game to Alta, 19-Most would have thought it would have taken a tragedy of unspeakable proportions to keep this Sampson, no relation to the mythical hero, out of a state championship game. But a deep thigh bruise suffered in the second quarter of the semifinal game against Hillcrest kept Sampson out of the championship game and kept him hobbling on the sidelines, hoping the thigh would somehow loosen up and he could run on the field and help third-and-1- all-ar- ea 7. game. And not playing in the championship game will haunt Sampson like a bad Be Haunted Will Knowing that he wouldnt be able to contribute on the field for the Darts, Sampson said Dart Assistant Coach John Robison told him he had two choices. I could be really negative and down and it could have an effect on the team, or I could try and keep them hus- tling." And if you saw number 74 on the sidelines, you knew he was doing the latter. He was walking around nervously, talking to his teammates and staying near the Davis coaches for the entire just in case they needed him. game And when the end was near, Sampson volunteered to take his share of the loss only his third in two seasons as a starter exactly as he had taken all the wins. At the very end of the game I went to Coach Sawley and asked him to put me in," Sampson said. I told him, If were going to lose, I want to be on the field when it happens. Coach Jim Dickson that he couldnt play on the leg. ' Sampson did try to play for a time in the second half, but a lineman with only one good leg is like Nolan Ryan tryor ing to throw his fastball t, Dr. J. playing in a strictly patterned offense. It was not fun to watch. And it wasnt much fun to experience either, according to Sampson. I tried (to play) and got killed," he said. His first of five plays came on offense and the Davis coaches called a pass. The first play was against that 88 (Daren Handley), Sampson explained. He is about 4 and 230. I was pass blocking and set up and extended to hit him, and I put too much weight on that left leg. The results finally carried reality quickly home to Sampson. He ran over my face, Sampson said, not hiding his disgust about the left-hand- ed half-cour- debt turned over to a ruthless collection agency. For the rest of my life I will wonder what would have happened if I would have played," Sampson said Monday. Oh, he tried to play; He went to therapy sessions, didnt practice during and week and stayed off the leg as much as possible. But after going through basics, e warm-u- p the Darts drills, Friday, Sampson admitted to Assistant pre-gam- 6-- ugly thing. Altas Size Dominates Davos sOu4-H- ir oim OGiampion it made but Jeff Sampsons injury hurt us. I feel bad for him. But dont get the impression the Darts were blown out of the game. Although they were defeated with apparent ease, Davis did make a good ball game of it for a time. ' For example, after falling behind 0 to the Hawks, Davis started a drive of its own in the second quarter that consumed about six minutes from the clock before Steve Sargent took the ball over from the line. d The PAT was good and Davis led, 6 with 1:23 left in the half. The Darts were able to rely primarily on the run during the drive, playing their usual conseroffense. vative, It was a good drive and we executed well," Sawley said, adding that he thought if the Darts could do that again in the second half, they would have a KENT SOMERS Review Sports Editor Just SALT LAKE CITY once, Davis Football Coach Ward Sawley was thinking Friday, he would like to meet this Alta team under equal circumstances. No 160 pounders trying to block a defensive line that has an average weight of heifer fatted for market. Just once, Sawley may have been thinking, I would like to play Alta and not see my tough, linebackers be picked off like flies in the wintertime by d plus high school? players when we blitzed. And Sawley even took time after the game, in between explaining what went wrong, to wish out loud. Id like to play them on an equal basis one' time with the same size people, he said. But that's about as far as Sawley let himself escape from last Fridays 19-- 7 loss to Alta in the state championship game. And because Alta has now eliminated the Darts from the tournament in the last three years, some observers think the Hawks have the Darts number. But the main number Alta has on its side is size, according to Davis coaches. We just got said Davis Assistant Coach Jim Dickson. We were trying to good chance of winning their block kids with first state championship since I cant ask any more 1976. from them (the Darts), Dickson But Alta came back with a said: I love em! drive of its own using the pass. And Sawley, after he took a Quarterback Mike Jensen hit few minutes to gather himself Troy Long from 28 yards out emotionally after the game, and Long avoided two Davis said:Theyve got good big peo- tacklers and gave the Hawks a ple. They did the same thing to 12-- 7 halftime lead. everybody they played in the Sampson, standing on the playoffs. They earned a state sidelines as an injured, impachampionship. They did an ex- tient observer, felt the second cellent job and whipped on us Hawk touchdown was the difference in the game. pretty good. The Darts were also hurt by an That touchdown at the end injury to Jeff Sampson, a of the second half killed us, he starting offensive and defensive said. lineman who watched the game Going into the lockerroom bewhile hobbling along the side- hind forced the Darts to abanlines. (See related column on don their conservative game this page.) plan, said Sawley, and Davis Sawley, however, said it was had to start taking chances. difficult to assess how much his But the Hawks also made adclub missed Sampson. justments at halftime and took Hes pne of our best lineman away an inside play to fullback on offense and defense. I cant Jeff Hammer that had been Dajudge how much of a difference vis most successful play of the 6-- two-yar- 160-pou- 7-- 200-poun- ball-contr- ol Id 4--A . like to play them on an equal basis one time with the same size Ward people. Sawley. out-horse- d, 250-pou- nd rs. THE DARTS had troubles running ball against a large Alta team in the state championship game last Friday, The Hawks played well o,n defense and held Davis run- first half. And like the previous weeks win over Hillcrest, Davis resort- ed to throwing the bajl. I thought we would have uTgo to the short stuff, Sawley said about the Darts plans to throw the ball. I knew we wouldnt have much time to throw. But Alta was able to stop the Davis passing game that had been so effective the week be- fore, and began to run the ball well offense. With the blocking of their line and the running of tailback Pete Morley, the Hawks . Staff Photo by Rodney Wright ning back Ryan Smith (22) and others to short gains for most of the game. added a touchdown late in the game. The score was really 12-Sawley said, explaining the rea- sons for the Hawks fourth quar- ten touchdown. That last one came from taking chances. And although the Darts and 7, , their fans will long remember this loss, there are also some positive things to remember, said Sampson, We were 12-he said, Thats the best the best record in the State of Utah (in the division. 1, 4-- A Defensive Team Continued From ID Hal Moore Clearfield, 1, senior. Although a small player, this tough senior was a consistently 155-pou- good performer for Coach Brent Hancock. Not only did he play well on defense, Moore was also a good runner for the Falcons and played a major role in his clubs stretch drive for a tournament berth. Jeff Hammer Davis, 5-- 9, senior. 165-pou- To show you how tough Hammer was during his two years a starter for the Darts, just take a look at the positions he played. A middle linebacker and fullback at Davis, must be one of the toughest kids around and Hammer played exeptional football for the Darts. Along with Chris Stevenson, Hammer made his Davis club tremendously strong up the middle defensively. position early in the season. Trujillo also played well on fense from his wide receiver position, and was the type of player Coach Gary Hansen could usually rely on to play Mike Trujillo Layton, 165-pou- nd senior. It didnt take long for Trujillo to make his mark for the Lancers, picking off numerous passes from his defensive back ' good clutch performer and also played well from his halfback . position. Jeff Parry 150-pou- Clearfield, senior. 6-- 0, well. Wade Bevans 0, Defensive Backs of- 160-pou- Viewmont, senior. A smart ball player, Bevans played a major role in several of the Vikings wins. He turned in his best performance against Bountiful in the final regular season game, picking off pass after pass and breaking up several other plays. Bevans was a Although Parry played most of the year at quarterback, he was inserted at times on defense and came up with several clutch plays to keep the Falcons in ball games. A tough player. Parry overcame an early season concussion and was instrumental in the Falcons improvement in the second half of the season. Wayne Tafoya Roy,' senior. 0, 150-pou- This small, but gutty, senior intercepted four passes during the season from his secondary possession and helped give Roy one of the strongest pass defenses in the area this year. Tafoya was equally strong against the run and was not afraid to come up aggressively to stop opponents outside attacks. Steve Sargent Davis, senior. One of the toughest players in the region, Sargent not only played in the secondary for the 6-- 3, 165-pou- Darts but also played quarterback for Davis. And, like most of the Davis seniors, he provid- ed invaluable leadership in helping to guide his team to a perfect regular season record. Mark Miller 170-pou- Davis, 6-- 0, senior. A quiet performers for the Darts, Miller continually did an outstanding job for Davis in his two years as a starter. He was able to provide the Darts with a running threat as well as making several good plays from his safety position. Offensive Team and to a Continued From ID Dave Facer Layton, 6-- 0, 190-pou- nd senior. starter for Gary Hansen, Facer proved his worth A two-ye- ar on both sides of the ball for the Lancers. His consistent play helped Layton make it to the first round of the state playoffs 5-- 5 season record.. Woods Cross, senior. The Wildcats best lineman, Forsgren came through for Woods Cross when he was most needed. He opened good holes for .Wildcat running backs and also played well on defense for Rick Forsgren 6--1, 190-pou- Coach Larry Eldracher. He and Coach Warren Hatch, was the McBeth gave the Cats a solid ability to pass block. Zesiger came through for' the Vikings defensive line. not only on offense but on defense as well. He also gave the Guards small Vikings added size in the line. Mark Zesiger Viewmont, senior. The key to Viewmonts offen- Gregg Folk Clearfield, sive success or failure, said 6-- 2, 200-pou- nd Folk played outstanding football for Coach Brent Hancock this year, giving Jeff Parry time to throw the ball. Also, this senior played well from his linebacker position and could have also made the team at all-ar- ea that spot. 6-- 0, 180-poun- Punter Jeff Yoshimura 185-pou- senior Roy, 0, Moved from quarterback to fullback this year, the versatile Yoshimura also helped the Royals field position with his excellent punting. Yoshimura was also a strong runner for Coach Ernie Jacklin. |