Valley looking at loaded T-birds, Knights

When analyzing the talent of high school football teams, coaches like to use two terms — "loaded" and "reloading."

The terms describe which level a team is at, because most schools seem to either be at a peak or dip in talent. The labels apply accurately to Utah County's prep football squads pretty much annually — with the exception of two schools. Timpview and Lone Peak don't seem to have low years.

Since Lone Peak's inaugural year seven seasons ago, the two teams have won a combined eight region titles. When both teams were in Region 6, from 1997 through 2000, Timpview won two crowns and finished second in 1999 to Lone Peak. The Knights were runners-up to the Thunderbirds in 2000.

From the 2001 season, when Region 6 split into two leagues, Lone Peak has won the Region 7 crown every year, and Timpview has finished atop its league twice, finishing second only in 2001 to Springville.

A poll from both regions' coaches indicates the T-Birds and Knights are again expected to be region title holders come this season's end. Timpview is the Class 4A coaches' pick to win the state title.

"We're going to be the big game on most people's schedule," Timpview coach Chad Van Orden said. "We've just got to show up and play every week.

The T-Birds are the clear frontrunners because they take the term "loaded" to another level. They return eight starters on offense and nine on defense from a team that went undefeated in league play and advanced all the way to the semifinals before losing a game they should have won.

"They've pretty much got everyone back, and the players they did lose weren't even the best ones," Springville coach Doug Bills said.

Returning for Timpview is star quarterback Stephen Covey, who has verbally committed to play college ball at BYU. As the fastest and most-elusive offensive player in the valley last season, Covey, is the perfect player to run Van Orden's spread offense. Offensive threats Luke Ashworth and Harvey Unga, both top college recruits, are also back to add more potency to the T-Birds offense. Lineman Matt Reynolds is the state's top college recruit, with Greg Atkinson, Preston Phillips, Taylor Barrett and Adam Crowley making up the valley's best defense.

"I don't know where they keep coming from, but Timpview always has good size, good talent and great athletes," Spanish Fork coach Scott Brumfield said.