Wasatch Wildcats hope for a little bit of the limelight

The Wasatch Wildcats play semi-pro football, practicing twice weekly at a Lehi park and playing their home games in Orem at Mountain View High's Bruin Bowl.

Wasatch is affiliated with two leagues few fans have ever heard of: the Rocky Mountain Football League and the Minor League Football Association.

On the heels of a 6-2 regular season, the Wildcats will open the RMFL playoffs Saturday on the road against the Idaho Falls Mustangs. And in August, Wasatch will play two tune-up games before vying for an MLFA national championship.

While they couldn't be any farther from the limelight that ceaselessly shines on major professional sports in America, the Wildcats are chock full of human interest stories.

Take, for instance, head coach Eric Drage. The former BYU wide receiver played a year in the Canadian Football League following the conclusion of his college career in 1993. Upon returning to Utah, Drage couldn't resist the urge to coach and took a job as an assistant at Lehi High. Then, when the opportunity presented itself, Drage became a Wildcat.

"I just can't get football out of my blood," said Drage. "(The Wildcats) called me two years ago, asked me if I'd be interested in coaching, and I jumped all over it. . . .

"I interviewed at BYU when (Bronco) Mendenhall took over; I interviewed for the receivers coach there. They went with somebody else.

"But if I got an opportunity to coach at that level, I'd jump all over it. To be able to do this full time? This is the highlight of my week, when I come to practice and when we go to games."

Drage and assistants Everestt Matagi, Steve Clements, JP Salisbury, Joe Herrick and Setema Gali Jr. have molded Wasatch into a gritty squad that relies on a staunch defense and punishing ground attack.

Former BYU running back Marcus Whalen, averaging just less than eight yards per carry, spearheads the ground game. Sam Trulock, the quarterback who piloted Lehi to a 3A prep state title, is the Wildcats' signal caller despite still being in his first year with the club.

The trio of Matt Talilulu, Tracy Ita and Gali anchor an aggressive and active defensive front four. And Jeff Wissler — at 39, not just the oldest Wildcat but also the father of Wasatch wide receiver Mike Wissler — has picked off five passes from his spot as the starting strong safety.